Chat maître d'hôtel
Second version, circa 1967
Signed ‘Diego’ on the base
Description of the artwork
“Le chat maître d'hôtel (The Butler Cat)” is an iconic piece from Diego Giacometti's oeuvre.
Although created by Diego, the original design was developed in collaboration with his brother Alberto, resulting in two versions: one in 1961 (with a round or square tray) and a second version in 1967 (with a deeper tray) like ours.
The work was designed for the aviary of the Maeght Foundation in Saint-Paul-de-Vence at the request of Aimée Maeght: the cat was used symbolically to present seeds to the birds, mischievously reversing the natural role of the feline predator. The appeal of our piece also lies in the quality of its modeling and its magnificent patina, whose nuances give the sculpture its presence and strength.
Literature
Daniel Marchesseau, Diego Giacometti, Ed. Adrien Maeght, 2018, pages 141
Michel Butor, Diego Giacometti, Ed. Hermann, 1985, pages 121 (fig1 and 2)
Giacometti, a family of creators, Maeght Foundation, exhibition catalog July 3 to November 14, 2021, the same model reproduced on p. 251 (fig. 3 and 4)
Certificate of expertise by Messrs. Vincenot and Meier dated September 26, 2025, for the Diego Giacometti Committee, commissioned by the beneficiaries
Available artworks
75008 Paris, France
Saturdays from 2 to 7 p.m.