The work of an anonymous maker, this primitive carving of a woman proves just how powerful “simple” can be. The lowered eyelids, bare feet and hands resting in a meditative pose give this piece of American folk art a truly soulful quality. And that may well have been what the maker had in mind
The piece was originally collected in Seymour, Iowa, and dates from around 1910. In the early 1900s, the noted evangelist and former pro ball player, Iowa native Billy Sunday, spent some time preaching in the Seymour area, which inspired a religious revival among many in the community.
The haunting figure pictured here stands 15” tall and is attached to a 9” x 4” x 3/4” painted wood platform that was once mounted on a garden gate where it served as a one-of-a-kind garden ornament. I’ve taken the photos with and without flash to better capture the essence of the figure.
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