- 596
Gilded iron, zinc and wood banneret with bird and heart weathervane Possibly New England, circa 1880
Estimate
60,000 - 80,000 USD
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Description
- Banneret with Bird and Heart
- Iron and zinc with gold leaf and wood
- height 34 by depth 48 in.
- C. 1880
Provenance
Eden Galleries, Salem, New York, 1972
Literature
Schaffner, Cynthia V.A., and Susan Klein, Folk Hearts: A Celebration of the Heart Motif in American Folk Art, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1984, p. 80
American Radiance: The Ralph Esmerian Gift to the American Folk Art Museum, pp. 346-347, fig. 310
American Radiance: The Ralph Esmerian Gift to the American Folk Art Museum, pp. 346-347, fig. 310
Condition
Wonderful oxidized surface; wear and shrinkage appropriate to use and age.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
Catalogue Note
By linking several traditional motifs, this distinctive weathervane synthesizes two popular 19th century types, the banneret and the scroll. Bannerets were characterized by their rectangular shape reminiscent of flags and pennants, as seen in the central section of this example. Scrolls were composed of any number of different openwork elements arranged along a horizontal axis. Here a bracketed arrowhead is followed by a large heart, a pair of neoclassical S curves, and a sun wheel variation.
The shorebird is an unusual feature and was probably not an original design element. Bannerets and scrolls were generally quite formal and nonrepresentational, and while new types could certainly be ordered by customers, in this case the banneret and bird are made of different metals. Patterns of weathering indicate that this bird has been in place for many years, though, suggesting that it was attached at an early date in the piece's history. By adding it, the owner personalized his weathervane, creating an unusual and imaginative interpretation of an old theme. -R.S.
The shorebird is an unusual feature and was probably not an original design element. Bannerets and scrolls were generally quite formal and nonrepresentational, and while new types could certainly be ordered by customers, in this case the banneret and bird are made of different metals. Patterns of weathering indicate that this bird has been in place for many years, though, suggesting that it was attached at an early date in the piece's history. By adding it, the owner personalized his weathervane, creating an unusual and imaginative interpretation of an old theme. -R.S.