> By the way, the fork shown looks very much > like a spare Schwinn Paramount fork I have, > 531/Nervex with the more extreme (touring?) > rake.
That's exactly the point. The idea of Duchamp's "ready-mades" was to make the viewer consider the inherent beauty in everyday objects, even if they don't have the imprimatur of the the people who claim to be the arbiters of taste/worthiness of "salon art."
In this case, even someone like myself - who has seen and examined numerous bicycle forks - was moved to fully appreciate the lines of the fork blades and the contours of the fork crown's cutouts. Perhaps it had the same effect on a view other viewers.
Another important aspect to piece (although this takes us off-topic) is that it is meant to be viewed at times with the wheel in motion, or with lighting tht creates ditinct shadows. In fact, at the current National Gallery exhibition, it is being displayed with that sort of lighting.
So while you might view this thing as "just a truing stand", please be appreciative that there are bofa-fide, college degreed, museum conservators/curators who are willing to acknowledge the beauty inherent in objects that you too cherish - i.e. mere bicycle forks. That's enough from me on this, Fred Rednor - Arlington, Virginia (USA)
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