Lot 1263
  • 1263

SWANAMERICAN SCHOOL, CIRCA 1900 | SwanAmerican School, circa 1900

Estimate
30,000 - 50,000 USD
bidding is closed

Description

  • polychromed wood decoy
  • Height 21 1/2 in. by Length 33 in.

Provenance

Ricco Maresca, New York.

Literature

Tom Geismar and Harvey Kahn, Spiritually Moving:  A Collection of American Folk Art Sculpture (New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1998) cat. no. 49, illus. in color.

Condition

The underside with eyelet ring rig and cast iron weights. Age cracks, losses, and touchups to paint consistent with age and use. IMPORTANT NOTICE: Purchasers may pay for and pick up their purchases from any of our Americana Week sales taking place from January 17-20, 2019, at our York Avenue headquarters until the close of business on Sunday, January 20, 2019. After this time, all property (sold and unsold) will be transferred to our offsite facility, Crozier Fine Art, One Star Ledger Plaza, 69 Court Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102. Once property has been transferred from our York Avenue location, it will not be available for collection at Crozier Fine Arts until Friday, January 25, 2019. Crozier's hours of operation for collection are from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday-Friday. Please note, certain items of property, including but not limited to jewelry, watches, silver and works on panel will remain at 1334 York Avenue. Invoices and statements will indicate your property's location. For more information regarding collection from our offsite facility, please visit sothebys.com/pickup.
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

Swans were common companions of the large groups of ducks that rafted and fed together in the upper Chesapeake Bay region, so commercial market gunners often added a swan decoy or two to the large rigs they set out. This heavy solid-bodied swan carries a substantial metal weight on its underside to balance it out in the water.