Elf at Shaving Horse

Dateca. 1900

MediumOak and iron

DimensionsOverall: 33 1/4 x 30 7/8 x 11 3/4in. (84.5 x 78.4 x 29.8cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1980.701.2

DescriptionA freestanding woodcarving of a figure of an elf seated at a shaving horse.Label TextFolk sculpture is remarkable for its surprising variety of themes and subjects. Local events, personal experiences, and common workaday tasks have traditionally been inspirations for the folk artist, but humor and fantasy often played equally important roles. Elf at Shaving Horse combines a working model of a familiar woodworker's tool and a pipe-smoking elf. The sculpture may have been made to display in a carpenter's or another craftsperson's shop to amuse and entertain the customers.ProvenanceHerbert W. Hemphill, Jr., New York, NY