Verbal Description Transcript:

Animated Coat Hanger was made in 1927. The sculpture is made of wire and it stands on a rectangular wooden base. It’s about 1 foot 8 inches high and its base measures 4 and a half by 2 and a half inches. The sculpture consists of a tall, thin form made from twisted rust-colored wire. The sculpture can be interpreted as a highly stylized and elongated female figure. Each simplified feature is formed by loops and twists in the wire. At the top of the head, curly hair is formed from a hoop of wire, which has been looped multiple times to form a border of smaller loops inside. Below, the single wire loops and curves to represent an eye, nose, and mouth in profile. At the ‘neck’, the single wire curves downwards to a point about 3 quarters of the way up the sculpture. Here, there is a knot in the wire leading to a pair of elongated loops that suggest breasts: at the tip of each breast is a smaller loop in the wire indicating nipples. The wire then continues down to hip level, where it coils tightly before dividing into two legs. The wires loop again at ankle level before forming simplified feet. The sculpture stands on a rectangle of wood, which has a rough, unpolished surface and several small holes. The sculpture doesn’t have moving parts, but it’s so elongated and delicate that changes of air currents do cause it to wobble and vibrate on its base.