Onanistically Speaking, £7000 Is A Lot For A Painted Typewriter

Conroy Maddox's “Onanistic Typewriter II” at Bonhams in London.

It was once a working Imperial Model 55.

One dictionary offers as its third meaning of the word “onanistic” “serving only for intellectual or emotional self-gratification; unproductive”. I won't go into the first two definitions. But talking of which, Wiktionary says, “Of or pertaining to masturbation (onanism). In a manner which suggests masturbation; hence, fruitless, self-congratulatory, self-absorbed, pointless.” Why am I mentioning all this? Because Bonhams auction house in London last week put up for sale “Onanistic Typewriter II” by the English surrealist artist Conroy Maddox (1912-2005).

Conroy Maddox

Someone is said to have said of the context, “This one-man confessional performance could be either an exercise in onanistic self-regard, or something that exposes its performer for a deeper purpose in which others can participate.” Well, having repainted a few old Underwood and Imperial standard typewriters, I wouldn’t mind “participating” myself – especially since Bonhams estimated the going price would be up to £7000. That’s $12,605 Australian dollars, $9230 American dollars. And my machines still work - though, admittedly, I've never glued tacks on to the keytops.

My 2016 paint job on an Imperial 55. Worth £7000? I don't think so.

But this Underwood which I was given by Richard Amery about 15 years ago, different story!

One of my more recent paint jobs.

Maddox’s second version of the “Onanistic Typewriter”, made in 1990, came up at “The Mind’s Eye” surrealist sale. Out there somewhere, apparently, is another “Onanistic Typewriter II”, made in 1991 – go figure.

“Onanistic Typewriter II”

The so-called “subversive” “Onanistic Typewriter”, I’m informed, “was greatly influenced by Man Ray, specifically his [1921] piece “Cadeau” (meaning 'Gift') - a flat-iron with brass tacks glued down the centre. On the day of the opening of his first solo exhibition in Paris, Ray went into a hardware store and bought the iron, some glue and nails, and went to the exhibition gallery, where he made the object on the spot. He intended his friends to draw lots for the work, but the piece was stolen during the course of the afternoon.

The first “Onanistic Typewriter” (1940) is a wide-carriage Underwood.

Maddox, a collagist, writer and lecturer and a key figure in the Birmingham Surrealist movement, had painted the first “Onanistic Typewriter” in 1940 and it was displayed as part of the “British Surrealism” exhibition at the Dulwich Picture Gallery two years ago. Both I and II feature tacks, sharp end upwards, on the keytops. Maddox had intended to create 10 Onanistic Typewriters but only two more were eventually made, “Onanistic Typewriter II” x 2.

Maddox was born in Ledbury, Herefordshire, and discovered surrealism in 1935, spending the rest of his life exploring its potential through his paintings, collages, photographs, objects and texts. Inspired by artists such as Max Ernst, Óscar Domínguez and Salvador Dalí, he rejected academic painting in favour of techniques that expressed the surrealistic spirit of rebellion. Maddox officially joined the British Surrealist Group in 1938. After World War II he moved to Balsall Heath and began his most active period. He died in London, aged 92.