Qualitative assessment of a work by Jannis Kounellis, Untitled, 1974
Verification of the composition of materials in order to complete export procedures to the United States.
In 1974, Jannis Kounellis, one of the leading figures of Arte Povera, created a series of works in which the act of combustion became an expressive language. Untitled, Combustion of Fuse on Asbestos (edition 14/70, 50.2 × 69 cm), represents a significant moment in his research: fire, a vital and destructive element, leaves irreversible traces on a humble industrial support, transforming the material into a visual and conceptual testimony.
The work is signed and numbered on the back and bears the label of the Galleria Paolo Tonin in Turin, which played a significant role in promoting Arte Povera. It was put up for auction by Aste Bolaffi (Turin, 9 November 2021) with an estimate of between €6,000 and €10,000, confirming the market’s attention to Kounellis’s production, even in multiple editions.
Result of the appraisal
From a technical standpoint, the asbestos substrate (marketed as sirite), consisting of rubber-bonded and vulcanized asbestos fibers, can be classified as a stable matrix. According to the provisions of ADR 2019, Special No. 168, this material, if properly packaged, does not release breathable fibers and therefore is not classified as dangerous goods for transport. This clarification allows for safe handling and storage of the artwork.
This case study demonstrates how knowledge of materials and regulations is essential for the valorization and protection of contemporary works. Technical intervention integrates with historical and artistic analysis, offering collectors and market participants a comprehensive overview: on the one hand, the poetic power of combustion, which renews the tradition of Arte Povera; on the other, the certainty of proper and informed management of the work, a necessary guarantee for its transmission to the future.