Harriet Whitney Frishmuth 1880 - 1980

Laura Villaseñor, Texas
Acquired by the present owner from the above

Charles N. Aronson, Sculptured Hyacinths, New York, 1973, pp. 80, 138-144, illustrations of another example
Janis Conner and Joel Rosenkranz, Rediscoveries in American Sculpture: Studio Works, 1893-1939, Austin, Texas, 1989, p. 39, 40
Janis Conner, Leah Rosenblatt Lehmbeck, Thayer Tolles, Captured Motion: The Sculpture of Harriet Whitney Frishmuth, A Catalogue of Works, New York, 2006, no. 1924:3, pp. 38, 77, 174, 248, 253, illustration of another example p. 248

Plumbed as a fountain, recently re-patinated (by Patrick Kipper, Colorado), fountain pipe in the rear frog's mouth is missing, some minor pock marks on her thighs and a very small abrasion on the figures left waist.
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 Charles Aronson's 1973 publication, Sculptured Hyacinths, Ruth Talcott, Frishmuth's long-time secretary and companion, recounts her memory of Playdays: "Desha [Delteil, one of Frishmuth's main models] brought this youngster, about twelve or thirteen years old, to the studio. Harriet wanted to do a study of a young girl just entering adolescence, and Desha said she knew just the girl: a very young pupil at the school of the dance, a Madeleine Parker. It turned out that this youngster was ideal for the study. Frishmuth asked young Madeleine what she would do if she were standing a flat rock in a shallow pool and there were frogs nearby, and the girl said that she would probably try to tickle the back of one of the frogs. 'Like this.' And this is the pose of Playdays. The darling girl's age and her playfulness suggested the title, of course" (Sculptured Hyacinths, p. 140).