26/1/04

Brancusi's bird

Constantin Brancusi's work is exhibited from this week (29 January 2004) at Tate Modern, in 'Constantin Brancusi, The Essence of Things'. There were once problems for Brancusi. Customs officers in New York in the late 1920s were adamant that examples of his work should not be classified as art, and so must pay the 40% duty — of $4000 in one case. Edward Steichen is also claimed to have had a similar experience — with 'Bird in Space' he apparently had to fork out some $240. If they chose to export Maggi Hambling's 'Scallop' to New York, Aldeburgh today might not suffer the same fate. Customs officers are no doubt wiser nowadays.