“Passion for the object leads to it being looked upon as a thing made by God. A collector of porcelain eggs is liable to believe that God never created a form more beautiful or more singular, and indeed that he devised this form solely for the greater delight of the collector.”
From La Vie étrange des objets, 1959
Art objects live their lives at an intersection of meanings that we (the viewers, curators, collectors and admirers) can apply to them according to our needs. Whether our requirement is for something profound, something provocative or something beautiful, these mutable things can become altered in our understanding of them, enriching our lives and encouraging discourse.
Similarly, the act of collecting can serve many different purposes. It can be historical, seeking to define a genealogical narrative and thus clarify the present; it can be fiduciary, assigning value according to rarity and context, thus generating a return for the canny investor; and it can also be deeply personal, something inexplicable that stems from the immediate experience the collector has with the work.
The Future Perfect has always held a special place for this third, personal relationship. Ours is work that is meant to be lived with and kept in a special spot of adoration in the home. We are always thrilled to facilitate the acquiring of objects that will, over the years, develop their own voice and presence within their new homes – because they are things with homes.
With that in mind, we have put together this special curation of our most collectible works. Objects that promote long-term interest and contemplation, if not outright obsession. These are pieces that are sometimes functional, but always inexplicable. A collection of things that can, each in its own way, bring you what the auctioneer and art historian Maurice Rheims called a “greater delight.”
Experience Greater Delight in our New York gallery through August 23.