AC

“Artist’s copy.” Example from an edition series.

 

Akari

The artist’s nomenclature for the lamps he designed and produced in the traditional Gifu methods of paper-lantern construction beginning in the 1950s. The Japanese word Akari means light as illumination, but also implies the idea of weightlessness.

 

AP

“Artist’s proof.” Example from an edition series.

 

Base

A detachable structure designed by the artist that is used for the artwork’s display and presentation and is essential to the presentation of the artwork.

 

Bibliography

The list of literature concerning an artwork, or the complete list of published and unpublished writing concerning the life and work of Isamu Noguchi.

 

Cast

An artwork manufactured via a process during which molten metal or liquid plaster or clay is poured into a mold to create one or multiple reproductions of an original design represented by the mold.

 

Constructed (edition)

An artwork manufactured in multiple to replicate exactly an original design without the use of a mold-casting process.

 

Design

Generally, a term applied to objects and concepts created by the artist for utilitarian purposes, ranging from mass-produced, limited-production, and unique objects to environments.

 

Destroyed

An original artwork that has been entirely demolished by the artist or by others, or significantly altered from its original state or condition without the artist’s involvement or approval. If exact conditions are not fully evident, an artwork suspected of being destroyed is listed as “lost.”

 

Discarded

An object rejected as an artwork by the artist.

 

Edition

Used when categorizing an artwork: an artwork by the artist that, through fabrication, is an exact replica of an original artwork.

Also used as information on an artwork entry: the series to which an artwork is related, which may include an original artwork, editioned copies, and secondary versions of the original in the same or different material.

 

Element

Within a single artwork: a separate but dependent or relational component in a composition, which in concert with other elements constitutes a complete artwork.

Also used to refer to an individual artwork that is part of a larger project, such as discrete components of the artist’s landscape designs or stage sets.

 

Inscribed

Marked by the artist with a carving or engraving on the artwork’s surface in order to identify the work’s authorship. See definition of “Signed” for other mark styles.

 

Lost

Generally, an unlocated work, thought to have been destroyed, for which evidence to confirm this belief is incomplete. Artworks listed as “lost” in The Sculpture of Isamu Noguchi, 1929–1979: A Catalogue, by Nancy Grove and Diane Botnick (Garland, 1980), and that have not since been located, retain this term in place of a current collection credit. Other works that have not been located since the publication of the Grove/Botnick catalogue instead are listed, as “whereabouts unknown.”

 

Lunar

The artist’s nomenclature to describe artworks created in the 1940s that incorporate electric light components under thin burlap-reinforced magnesite (see definition of “Magnesite”) structures.

 

Magnesite

The artist’s nomenclature for Sorel cement (also known as “magnesia cement”). Finding it superior to traditional cement for thin-walled constructions, Noguchi used this material, reinforced with burlap, to make sculpture in the 1940s.

 

Manufactured object

A design conceived of by the artist that was mass-produced or intended for mass production.

 

Model

A preparatory object for an artwork or project.

 

Pedestal

A detachable structure used for the display of an artwork that is inessential to the presentation of the work, and/or interchangeable.

 

Posthumous

Objects or elements of objects conceived of by the artist but executed or completed partially or wholly after his death on December 30, 1988.

 

Private collection

A collection credit designated by an artwork’s owner or owners who wish to remain unidentified in the publication.

 

Project

A large-scale artistic enterprise, usually commissioned, including but not limited to the artist’s creation of and proposals for spaces such as gardens, plazas, playgrounds, public sculptures, stage and theater designs, and interior designs.

 

Provenance

The history of an artwork’s ownership and whereabouts, including past collections, auctions, and consignments.

 

Published

The research status of an artwork, exhibition, or bibliography entry for which research is considered finalized per the date indicated at the bottom of the record’s page.

 

Reconstruction

An artwork by the artist that has been partially rebuilt or reformed using new materials and/or processes not original to the artwork.

 

Reproduction

A version of an original artwork by the artist that has been entirely rebuilt or reformed, often created as an example of the original for the purpose of exhibition or representation after the original was lost or destroyed.

 

Research pending

The research status of an artwork, exhibition, or bibliography entry for which research is currently ongoing or outstanding. Research-pending entries represent anticipated content of the digital Isamu Noguchi Catalogue Raisonné, and may be updated and reclassified as “Published” once research is complete.

 

Research suspended

The research status of an exhibition entry for which all presently known research resources have been consulted. In the case of some of the earliest exhibitions of Noguchi’s art, particularly those exhibitions from the 1920s and 1930s, detailed exhibition listings, photography, or other archival materials were either not produced, or are not known to have survived. In these cases, the INCR Project has chosen to publish the exhibition entry under the "Research Suspended" status, along with a brief explanation as to any open questions. The date that research was suspended is noted. A complete log of archival resources consulted is available upon request. Should new information come available, we will update the exhibition entry accordingly.

 

Research status

The state of research being conducted on an individual artwork, exhibition, or bibliography entry, classified as either “published,” “research pending,” or “research suspended.”

 

Signed

Marked by the artist with pencil, pen, or other writing implement to identify the work’s authorship. See definition for “Inscribed” for other mark styles.

 

Site–specific

A sculpture or project existing in an environment that is integral to the artwork’s composition.

 

Undocumented cast by Roman Bronze Works, New York

This cataloging designation indicates that the casting of a particular work is undocumented as having been directed by Isamu Noguchi. These few examples are inscribed with the foundry markings of the Roman Bronze Works, N.Y., and are believed to have been cast during the 1920s. These bronze versions are either unknown casts of known plaster works by Noguchi, or additional casts of known but unnumbered editions in bronze by Noguchi. These casts came to the attention of the INCR since the death of the artist, and at the present time, no documentation has been located to show that Noguchi did, or did not, authorize or direct the castings of these particular works. These particular bronze casts are provisionally listed in the INCR with a Research Pending status, pending new evidence to explain the circumstances around their casting.

 

Unrealized

A concept that was not ultimately constructed, or a work not constructed to the original specifications.

 

Unfinished

An artwork that was not completed at the time of the artist’s death.

 

Version

An artwork by the artist that is a physical variation in size or material of an original concept.

 

Whereabouts unknown

Artworks for which the present collection or location is indeterminable.

 

WP

“Working proof.” Example from an edition series.