?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 800 - $ 1,200
PAUL COLIN (1892-1985) GHAM - BO. Circa 1930. 22 1/2x14 1/4 inches, 57 1/4x36 1/4 cm. Arrington, Paris. Condition A- / A: minor repaired tears and restoration at edges; minor creases in image. Framed. At first glance, this image appears to promote a magic act. In reality, Gham-bo is a board game. Based on a fortune-telling principle, it is played with little numbered sticks that are pulled out of a cylinder. The numbers correspond to a list in a booklet, and whenever a stick is pulled, a horoscope-like story is read. The game was introduced to Paris by Juliette de Gamboa (most likely a pseudonym), who contended that she discovered it in China. Along with the booklet came a host of printed celebrity endorsements from some of Juliette's famous friends. Josephine Baker is quoted as saying "With your game, dear Madame, children remain children and grow up to become children again!" Maurice Chevalier could only add "To Juliette de Gamboa with sincere greetings for her game of Gham-bo." The poster Colin created for this obscure product is a mysteriously intriguing balance of Art Deco and Dada, perfectly suited to the arcane allure of the game's pretense. The manner in which the hand, letters, numbers and eyes are rendered is reminiscent of work by Francis Picabia. The Hand 31, MoMA 78.1990.
