Mercury [Plaster]
Dublin Core
Title
Mercury [Plaster]
Subject
Figure sculpture, American--20th century
Description
Mercury, 1960
Plaster original
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall M. Fredericks
1991.038
Mercury, the equivalent of the Greek god Hermes, was a messenger for the gods and patron of racing and athletes. His special duty was to conduct the souls of the dead to the underworld. In time he also became the Roman god of commerce and merchants. His attributes were winged sandals, a winged cap or petasus and the caduceus, a winged staff with two serpents coiled around it.
The Mercury Division of the Ford Motor Company commissioned this sculpture in 1959 to advertise the 1960 Mercury. It was cast in Nickel and used for advertising. The polished nickel Mercury sculptures can be seen at the Benson Ford Research Center on the campus of The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.
Plaster original
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall M. Fredericks
1991.038
Mercury, the equivalent of the Greek god Hermes, was a messenger for the gods and patron of racing and athletes. His special duty was to conduct the souls of the dead to the underworld. In time he also became the Roman god of commerce and merchants. His attributes were winged sandals, a winged cap or petasus and the caduceus, a winged staff with two serpents coiled around it.
The Mercury Division of the Ford Motor Company commissioned this sculpture in 1959 to advertise the 1960 Mercury. It was cast in Nickel and used for advertising. The polished nickel Mercury sculptures can be seen at the Benson Ford Research Center on the campus of The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.
Creator
Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998
Date
1960
Rights
Use of this image requires permission from the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum
Type
Sculpture
Coverage
University Center (Mich.)
Sculpture Item Type Metadata
Physical Dimensions
24" x 19" x 18"
Materials
Plaster
Catalog Number
1991.038
Object Location
Main Exhibit Gallery
Provenance
1989 March, 22 Gift to Museum and SVSU Board of Control
Notes
Molly Barth copy:
The next piece (behind John F. Kennedy) is Mercury. This was done for the 1960 campaign for the Mercury Motors Division of Ford Motor Company. It was cast in nickel and used in their advertising. In 1988, that nickel cast was located in the office of Donald Peterson, then the Chief Executive officer of Ford Motor Company. A miniature version of Mercury is in the gift case. Again, the sculpture was used as part of an award.
The next piece (behind John F. Kennedy) is Mercury. This was done for the 1960 campaign for the Mercury Motors Division of Ford Motor Company. It was cast in nickel and used in their advertising. In 1988, that nickel cast was located in the office of Donald Peterson, then the Chief Executive officer of Ford Motor Company. A miniature version of Mercury is in the gift case. Again, the sculpture was used as part of an award.
Files
Citation
Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998, “Mercury [Plaster],” Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum, accessed May 2, 2024, https://omeka.svsu.edu/items/show/5087.