The Big Eraser That Set Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen's Auction Record

Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen, Typewriter Eraser, Scale X (1998-1999), sold for $8.4m at Christie's in New York on November 10, 2022. The work in stainless steel, fiberglass and acrylic polyurethane paint had been traded once in the past. Fabricated in 1999, the sculpture is number three from an edition of three plus an artist's proof.

One of Oldenburg and van Bruggen’s best loved sculptures, this editon belonged to the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, who lent the monumental work to the Seattle Art Museum for a decade. Another Typewriter Eraser, Scale X from the same edition takes pride of place in the National Gallery of Art's sculpture garden in Washington, DC.

Starting in the 1960s, Oldenburg began to visualize public monuments based on common objects, such as a clothespin, scissors or shuttlecock. The old-fashioned typewriter eraser had a special meaning for Oldenburg, who recalled childhood memories of playing with them in his father's office.

The sale beat Oldenburg and Van Bruggen's previous auction record by $8.04m, a 2,200% rise. The artists' previous record was set by Leaning Fork With Meatball & Spaghetti Iii (1994), which sold for $365,000 at Phillips on November 8, 2015. The work had been traded once in the past.

A Brief History of Oldenburg and Van Bruggen at Auction