Exceptional American Polychrome Paint-Decorated and Carved Wooden Counter-Top Shop Figure, Manner of Asa Ames (1823-1851), 19th Century

Fred Giampietro, New Haven, Connecticut;
Brian Ehrlich, Mystic, Connecticut.

This remarkable sculpture shares a number of characteristics with the workmanship of the celebrated American sculptor Asa Ames (1823-1851).  Namely the execution of the ears and the wardrobe relate to a bust of a young man in the collection of the Huntington Museum of Art, Huntington, West Virginia (acc. no. 1978.13) (see Jack T. Ericson, "Asa Ames, sculptor," Magazine Antiques (September 1982), 522-9 and Stacy C. Hollander, Asa Ames Occupation Sculpturing, (New York: American Folk Art Museum, 2008)). There is also similarity with the work of American sculptor Charles J. Dodge (1806-1886). A bust sculpture of Mrs. Charles Dodge at the Brooklyn Museum of Art (acc. no. 60.36) and another of Jeremiah Dodge at the New-York Historical Society (acc. no. 1952.349) has related rendering of clothing.  A small figurehead from the ship Eunice H. Adams in the collection of Mystic Seaport (acc. no. 1956.745), possibly from the Dodge workshop, also displays similarities. Sotheby's would like to thank Brian Ehrlich for this information.