I have no information on this bronze Indian plaque. It is unsigned and has no marks on it whatsoever. The seller told me it was found in a box lot with a collection of antique tools that was purchased at a local auction. The bronze is held on to the wood with three Philips head screws through the back. I have no idea how old it is. The patina has come through in rather odd bands - it may have been partially covered for many years. I just don't know. It appears to be a copy of a much earlier plaque sculpted by someone thought to be named "Bern Schutte" (the other original plaque was signed "Bern," the original of this one was signed "Schutte") for National Cash Register as an award, around the first decade of the 1900's, just like my Lake Compounce bronze plaque posted earlier. If anyone knows where this came from or who made it, please let me know!
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| Indian Head Plaque on wood, bronze, specifics unknown |
I have an original version of this plaque given as an award to my father by the National Cash Register Co. shortly after WW1. It also is blank on the back, but the hanging hook has broken and been replaced - this might have had a name on it.
ReplyDeleteCongrats! Usually if the original stand is missing, there will be two horizontal pairs of lugs cast on the back for the hinge pins of a decorative stand to snap into and clear text on the front with "National Cash Register" and "Copyright" along with a date, along with other text (I forget what else it says). The signature of the artist should either say "Bern" or "Schutte", depending on which plaque it is, and it would usually be found just below the cut off area of the neck toward the front of the face.
DeleteIt sounds like you have a really nice piece! That's exactly what I shop for, too. ;)
Frank
The Bronze Hound
hi there i wright from germany i have found on the antiquemarket the same one here in berlin in better condition if interessted to buy i will send fotos j.f.schwartz@hotmail.de it will be sold by the end of march 2017
ReplyDeleteGreat post, It looks absolutely amazing! I am so in love with the creativity behind this project. It was definitely informative Post. Your site is useful. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteBronze cast plaques
Thank you very much! That was deeply appreciated. ;)
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI've just come across a similar Indian Head Bronze "plaque" like you show above. I have NO idea what it is. If I sent a picture, would you be able to tell me more?
Oliver Peters
Sure! I'd be happy to look at it.
DeleteThe majority of the plaques like this one were, I believe, originally designed by or for the National Cash Register Company (NCR Inc.) about a century ago, likely by the legendary advertising company Woodward & Tiernan. I have seen the copyright assigned in 1901 to W&T but have also seen the plaques marked copyright NCR. Were they work-for-hire from the ad company, or did NCR create them and assign the designs to W&T? I don't know. NCR cash registers of the day were heavily built of highly decorated bronze panels, so either scenario could be correct. They could also be the result of a cooperative effort between the two companies as part of an ad campaign.
I have also seen where the original award plaques were copied (called "surmoulage" by art pros, it's the act of creating a new mold from an existing bronze work), molds being made and widely available in the early half of the 20th century. I've seen them in just about every metal commonly used for casting, and were likely available to trade schools that taught foundry and/or metalworking for class projects ("Students, buy a mold from the school store and we'll all cast plaques!"). I have also seen them in ceramic. I have not found one of the original molds, but given the process of lost wax casting, they likely would have been destroyed.
The research is ongoing and still unfolding.
Frank
The Bronze Hound
Saudações,
ReplyDeleteFinalmente depois de mais de 10 anos de pesquisas, encontrei referência dessa linda peça. Recebi de presente de minha falecida mãe, ela encontrou em meados de 1960 em um lote de terra que ela cuidava para um médico. Ela faleceu em 1988, morou nas terras deste médico por mais de 30 anos, plantava e morava em troca de cuidar do patrimônio juntamente com meu avó. Atualmente, todos são falecidos e acabei herdando a peça que guardo juntamente com minha coleção de moedas e cedulas antigas.
Parabéns a todos pela postagem, vou colocar referência na peça para futuras consultas.
Clairton Jesus Garcia dos Santos