Monumental Hand-Carved Redwood Eagle With Serpent, American Folk Art, 1960's

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Few subjects have commanded the hand of the American wood carver with the same authority as the bald eagle, and … Read more Few subjects have commanded the hand of the American wood carver with the same authority as the bald eagle, and this exceptional example makes clear why. Carved from a single substantial burl of what appears to be old-growth redwood, the sculpture depicts an eagle at the precise instant of conquest, wings thrown wide and upswept, body low and aggressive, beak angled toward a rattlesnake pinned beneath its talons. The drama of the pose is matched by the ambition of its execution: at nearly three feet tall and spanning thirty-nine inches at its widest, this is a work conceived for a room that can hold it.

The carving throughout is confident and deeply observed. Each flight feather on the extended wings is individually rendered, layered in receding rows that catch light differently depending on the angle of view. The body feathers are worked in tighter, more tonal passages, conveying the density of plumage at the breast and shoulder. The serpent beneath, a rattlesnake discernible by its distinctive head and scaled coils, is carved with equal care, its eye still visible and its expression, improbably, communicating something like resignation.
The wood has developed a rich, complex patina over the decades, ranging from warm amber at the body to deeper chestnut and near-ebony in the shadowed recesses of the feather layers. The variation in tone across the surface, whether the result of original staining, selective finishing, or simply time, gives the piece an almost painterly quality that photographs can only approximate. The wings have undergone repairs at various points, consistent with the vulnerability of extended feather forms in any large-scale carving; some repaired sections show slight tonal variation from the surrounding material, evidence of a working object with genuine history. A few minor surface cracks are present and add character without compromising the structural integrity of the piece. There are no signatures or maker's marks.

Dimensions: 91.8 cm H x 99.1 cm W x 48.3 cm D (36⅛" x 39" x 19") See less