Allan_Katz_Americana_II

CALIFORNIA GOLDEN GRIZZLY BEAR American. Anonymous maker. Carved and painted redwood and oak. Circa 1885. Measures: 15" H x 31" W x 3¼" D Condition: Excellent original condition. This unique carving was an “over the door” architectural element from the Native Sons of the Golden West Fraternal Lodge, Santa Rosa, California. An unusual depiction of the California grizzly bear, which is now extinct, this charming carving has a most expressive quality as the bear looks down upon the members of the lodge. It should be noted that folk art from California dating from the 19th century is extremely rare. ARROW BACK WINDSOR SETTEE American. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Original paint decorated surface with both stenciled and freehand design elements. Circa 1825. Measures: Height at back: 35½"; Height to seat: 17 ⅞ "; Seat Depth: 20¾"; Total Depth: 23 ⅞ "; Length: 80½" An elegant example of early American painted furniture. This vibrant red settee with eagle and shield and design elements of cornucopias, grapes, and leaves is among the best known. BULLDOG American. Unidentified maker. Cast iron with traces of old paint. Circa 1925. Measures: 14" H x 27" L x 12" W This bulldog is one of only five other known examples, all of which were discovered in Connecticut. Visually this object is very strong with a whimsical sensibility. GROUP OF FOUR CARVED ODD FELLOWS PLAQUES American. Western Pennsylvania or Ohio. Unidentified maker. Carved and polychrome painted wood. Mounted in their original deep dish frames. Circa 1910. Each plaque measures: 24" H x 24" W x 2¾" D Pictured: Animals in American Folk Art by Wendy Lavitt, page 95. The Independent Order of the Odd Fellows (IOOF) is an international fraternal organization dedicated to charitable and altruistic acts. These four plaques are symbolic of the moral code and life goals that the lodge members espoused: The “Globe” for Universal Justice and Unity; “The Lamb” for Innocence, Purity, Faith, Hope, Charity; “The Dove” for Love and Peace; and “The Bee Hive” for Industriousness and Productivity. Information written on the backs of these boldly carved plaques indicates that they were made by a member of the lodge. Based on the sensitive quality of the carvings, one could speculate that the maker’s trade involved wood carving. Pencil notations written on the backs also stipulate the colors to be used in painting these pieces. While there has been uncertainty regarding the origins of the Odd Fellows, the first documented lodge evidently appeared in England during the 1700s. One old and authoritative source explained “that common laboring men should associate themselves together and form a fraternity for social unity and fellowship and for mutual help.” These goals were such a marked violation of the trends of the times that they became known as “odd fellows.” Another source indicates “In smaller towns and villages, there were too few Fellows in the same trade to form a local Guild, so Fellows from a number of trades banded together to form a local Guild of Fellows from different trades, hence becoming known as “Guilds of Odd Fellows.” The Odd Fellows spread to America in the 18th century but suffered declining membership during the Civil War; however, by 1896, the World Almanac listed the Odd Fellows as “the largest among all fraternal organizations” and by 1889, “IOOF lodges were present in every American State.” MILITARY FIGURE TRADE SIGN American. Anonymous carving shop. Carved and painted white pine. In a remarkable state of preservation with mostly original and some historic “in-use” painted surface. Circa 1870. Condition: The lower section of the carved sword and the tip of the hat have been conserved. Measures: 47" H on a 13" diameter base During the 1930s when this figure was first documented for The Index of American Design, it was owned by Mr. Garfield A. Berlinsky of 857 North Howard Street, Baltimore, Maryland. Records indicate that Mr. Berlinsky was engaged in “the business of Antiques.” Baltimore artist Raymond Chard created the artwork for the figure to be used in The Index of American Design. Pictured: The Index of American Design, volume 1, page 67, figure 178. “Military and naval men were among the figures used on shop fronts: this one C. 1870.” The figure bears the rank of general. His hat is called a “Chapeau de Bras” and his coat is a double breasted frock coat with gold epaulettes and a sash of crimson silk. Provenance: Kennedy Galleries, New York City, New York. The Private Collection of Allan Stone.