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"Flight", Important Pair of Art Deco Sculptural Maquettes with Nude & Airplane

About the Item

Stunningly sculpted and highly evocative of a harrowing period in American history, this pair of original plaster maquettes, beautifully finished in an old gold paint, were made by Brenda Putnam in preparation for her 1941 bronze medallion commissioned by the Society of Medalists. One maquette depicts a nude male youth readying to send a model airplane into the air, while the other shows a flying dove over a cluster of clouds, with the text "FLIGHT" underneath. Given that America would enter World War II within a year of this medal's issue, the theme is highly poignant and meaningful. Putnam was among a new generation of American sculptors who specialized in garden sculptures featuring children and animals in the early and mid-20th century, and she also sculpted animal figures that are much collected today. The Society of Medalists was established in 1930 to encourage the American public to appreciate and collect the work of the nation's finest sculptors, and it released medals until 1995. Putnam's "Flight" medal was one of two issued in 1941. The maquettes are mounted on a stained wood panel; each maquette is 10 inches in diameter.
  • Creator:
    Brenda Putnam (Sculptor)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 11.75 in (29.85 cm)Width: 24 in (60.96 cm)Depth: 1.5 in (3.81 cm)
  • Style:
    Art Deco (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Plaster,Cast
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1941
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Overall very good condition; the maquettes show some damage where the metal clips grip the plaster.
  • Seller Location:
    Philadelphia, PA
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU865135998952

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