Designer:  Merle Steir (1936 – 1984)

Item: Two Hearts as One Sculpture Set

Manufactured by: Unknown

Country of origin: United States

Year made: 1978

Materials: Chrome-plated aluminum, velvet, cardboard

Dimensions: Sculpture assembled is 3” x 5” x 3”, Box is ½” x 4 ¾” x 4 ¾”

Description: Here is the iconic interlocking heart sculpture by Merle Steir designed and made for sale in the gift shop of the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York City.  Annually MOMA commissioned fine artists for the Christmas holidays to design objects, cards, calendars, sculptures, constructions, posters and other gift items for sale in its shop.  Most famously they commissioned Robert Indiana for his LOVE holiday card in 1966, but the list of important artists who participated in this program is significant.  Steir was the painter Pat Steir’s first husband and was himself a noted sculptor who was commissioned for some large-scale public outdoor sculptures, but who passed away young at age 48. 

Although these hearts are easily found on most internet sites for between $50 and $150, they are usually in lousy condition and missing their packing and velvet pouch.  We have handled several of these, including two others with their pouches, but this is the only example we have ever seen in its original box, with packaging, and labels.  We have seen the velvet pouches in red, blue and black, and some had the MOMA logo in gold lettering on them.  The box was cleverly designed so that the opening tabs were shaped as hearts. Stamped in the metal with the artist’s name and year as shown. These retailed in 1978 at the MOMA bookshop for $50 (see price label photo).

Condition: Very good, with its original box, velvet pouch and packaging materials. The sculpture does have some scratches as shown since someone obviously handled it. Our photos show fingerprints which we did not see prior to having this photographed, but which were easily polished off with a soft cloth. The box has some light stains as shown.

References: MOMA press release that first introduced this piece in 1972 at a price of $10, but it appears that primary production was in 1978 when all the examples we have seen were manufactured and sold.