Antique Pilgrim Silhouette C. 1920 Framed Cut Paper & Ink Art, Signed Provenance Judge Charles Barker Wheeler, New York Supreme Court

Details

Description

Pilgrims watching a clipper ship like the Mayflower from the shore: an original silhouette with documented New York State political … Read more Pilgrims watching a clipper ship like the Mayflower from the shore: an original silhouette with documented New York State political history.

This framed silhouette shows a Pilgrim man and woman standing on a grassy shoreline, gazing out at a three-masted sailing ship on the horizon. The figures are in solid black cut paper, with a fine pen-and-ink landscape of grasses, shoreline, and rippling water. Delicate embossed crescent marks in the sky suggest clouds. It's quiet and nostalgic, and a nice piece for a colonial, nautical, or Americana-themed wall.
Provenance
The original handwritten label on the backing reads: "Silhouette (ca 1920) by Hon. Charles Barker Wheeler, Justice of the Supreme Court of New York (born December 27, 1851 at Poplar Ridge, New York; died November 21, 1935 at Buffalo, New York)." A second typed label reads "Gift of his grandson, Charles B. Wheeler, 2000." Both labels are intact and taped to the backing, as shown in the photos.

Medium: black cut-paper silhouette with pen-and-ink detailing on cream paper
Date: circa 1920 (per label)
Artist: Hon. Charles Barker Wheeler (1851–1935)
Frame: black wood frame with gold and cream twisted rope molding, black mat, glass front
Backing: kraft paper with wire hanger and felt bumpers, ready to hang
Image size: 6.5 x 4.5" Overall framed size:10.5 x 8.6"

Vintage condition, consistent with age. The paper has gentle toning and a few small age spots (one visible above the man's hat). The silhouettes and ink work are crisp and clear. The frame shows light wear to the gilding along the rope molding. The kraft backing has some small tears and creases at the edges, shown in the photos. Glare and reflections in the photos come from the glass, not the artwork. Please see all photos and message me with any questions. See less