08-14-201108-14-2011
Skinner Auctions
Skinner AuctionsMarlborough MA
August 14, 2011 10:00 AMCalender
82

Folk Art Whirligig Tavern Sign

Sell one like this
 
Auction: American Furniture & Decorative Arts - 2558MLocation: MarlboroughDate / Time: August 14, 2011 10:00AM

Description:

Folk Art Whirligig Tavern Sign, Connecticut, c. 1870s, carved laminated wood in the form of a woman wearing a broad-brimmed hat, a narrow-waisted dress with full skirt, puffy sleeves, with wide paddle hands, the dress and hat painted tan, with red wavy-line borders, and red bowknots on the sleeves, faceted black glass eyes, relief carved nose and ears, painted mouth, (imperfections),ht. 29 in.

Literature: This whirligig reportedly stood at the "Halfway House," a tavern and inn halfway between the towns of Darien and Stamford, Connecticut, established in 1876. Photographs of the inn are pictured in Stamford Connecticut: Journey Through Time, by Carl Lobozza, historian, Stamford Historical Society Inc., p. 29.

The whirligig is illustrated in the Architectural Digest magazine article: "Antiques: In the American Spirit," December 1983, p. 109. A photocopy of the article and the magazine accompany the whirligig.

Estimate $8,000-12,000

The figure had some repairs done before it was removed from the outdoors. Rod attaching arms probably replaced, proper right hand paddle with glue repair, left paddle possibly replaced. Rear portion of hat brim repaired. Old repaint, with some areas of later retouch: line down both paddles, area on throat, three patches on the torso, two areas on the right arm, one area on the proper left side of face, and a few scattered dots on proper left arm. Paint on one eyebrow is missing.
A 1994 conservator's rerort is availiable for inspection.


section on back of hat reglued,

Keywords

Connecticut, Stamford, Stamford Historical Society Inc., historian, Carl Lobozza, Architectural Digest, American Spirit