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"Flight, " Beautifully Carved Stone Paperweight with Dove and Clouds

$2,900
£2,157.11
€2,525.55
CA$4,046.48
A$4,528.13
CHF 2,364.38
MX$55,668.65
NOK 29,829.34
SEK 28,069.26
DKK 18,842.53
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About the Item

Highly distinctive and unique, this cylindrical paperweight is decorated on its upper surface with exquisitely detailed sculptural relief: a dove in flight, shown flying over a cluster of clouds and the word "FLIGHT." Although it shows a beautiful bird, storied in mythology and literature, this sculpture also hints at the flight of man, and the curving sides of the piece are decorated with Art Deco geometric forms, sharply incised into the stone. The artist was Brenda Putnam, who used this same image for one side of her well-known bronze medal, also entitled "Flight", issued in 1941 by the Society of Medalists. The carver was Giuseppe Bessi, an Italian artist who was known for sculpting a stream of beautiful young women in marble and alabaster, sometimes a bust and sometimes a full length sculpture.
  • Creator:
    Giuseppe Bessi (Sculptor),Brenda Putnam (Artist)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 1 in (2.54 cm)Diameter: 2.75 in (6.99 cm)
  • Style:
    Art Deco (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    circa 1920
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Overall excellent condition. Minor darkening of stone.
  • Seller Location:
    Philadelphia, PA
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU865122314902

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