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"Johnny Appleseed", Important WPA Ceramic Sculpture by Hanson(m), 1930s

About the Item

This important example of WPA art, which celebrates American history and folklore like so many murals and other artworks in the 1930s, presents the bearded figure of Johnny Appleseed. Like an allegorical painting or sculpture from Renaissance times, Appleseed is replete with symbols of his life planting seeds across the Midwest -- an apple sapling at his feet, an opened bag of apple seeds to one side, and one of the books he gave away which introduced settlers to The New Church, known as the Swedenborgian Church today. The artist, Nils Hansom (or Hanson), was one of a circle of ceramicists and sculptors in the Cleveland area -- such as Elizabeth Seaver, Grace Luse and John Tenkacs -- who created a series of works that told stories and celebrated American life. The piece is signed and well marked on the bottom.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 15.5 in (39.37 cm)Width: 6 in (15.24 cm)Depth: 5.5 in (13.97 cm)
  • Style:
    Art Deco (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Ceramic,Glazed
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    Circa 1930s
  • Condition:
    Overall excellent; one chip at bottom edge.
  • Seller Location:
    Philadelphia, PA
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU865135787242

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