Childhood Friends [Plaster]
Dublin Core
Title
Childhood Friends [Plaster]
Subject
Figure sculpture, American--20th century
Animal sculpture--20th century
Animal sculpture--20th century
Description
CHILDHOOD FRIENDS, 1958
Plaster original painted green
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall M. Fredericks
1991.111
This playful relief created with children in mind, infuses fantasy with whimsey and warmth. It is located on the facade of the Jefferson Elementary School in Wyandotte, Michigan. The plaster model was painted green to mimic the patina on the bronze; plus Fredericks didn't want everything in the Museum to be white.
In 1993, the six-foot sculpture at the school was restored by a conservation firm through the efforts of the parent-teacher organization. Fredericks, then age 85, visited the class and explained the lost wax process for creating sculptures. The children wrote stories about the sculpture and reports about their understanding of creating sculptures.
This sculpture was featured, along with the sketches, on the September 1954 issue of American Artist. Fredericks used two of his children as models for the figures. In a transcript copy found in the Museum archives it states:
"The two children sitting close to each other were seated against a friendly bear, who was surrounding them protectively as if curious (about) what kind of cubs they might bye(His designs) are fresh and appealing, without being sentimental and not at all like the work of anyone else."
Plaster original painted green
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall M. Fredericks
1991.111
This playful relief created with children in mind, infuses fantasy with whimsey and warmth. It is located on the facade of the Jefferson Elementary School in Wyandotte, Michigan. The plaster model was painted green to mimic the patina on the bronze; plus Fredericks didn't want everything in the Museum to be white.
In 1993, the six-foot sculpture at the school was restored by a conservation firm through the efforts of the parent-teacher organization. Fredericks, then age 85, visited the class and explained the lost wax process for creating sculptures. The children wrote stories about the sculpture and reports about their understanding of creating sculptures.
This sculpture was featured, along with the sketches, on the September 1954 issue of American Artist. Fredericks used two of his children as models for the figures. In a transcript copy found in the Museum archives it states:
"The two children sitting close to each other were seated against a friendly bear, who was surrounding them protectively as if curious (about) what kind of cubs they might bye(His designs) are fresh and appealing, without being sentimental and not at all like the work of anyone else."
Creator
Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998
Date
1950
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
75" x 70"
Materials
Plaster and paint full-scale
Catalog Number
1991.111
Object Location
Main Exhibit Gallery
Provenance
1989 March,22 Gift to Museum and SVSU Board of Control
Notes
From Jennifer Lentz (Collection Documentation Intern 1991-1992)
Memo dated September 5, 1991
"RE: Works at Cranbrook Academy of Art Museum:
Two Sisters/Mother and Child
Childhood Friends
Torso of a Dancer
Persephone (Bacchante)
David Rau also showed me a small-scale Childhood Friends relief which is cast in bronze and patinated green. On the label it was dated c. 1950. Our records from Cranbrook (?) indicate it is from 1958 as is the plaster original in the gallery. This small-scale version looked like an early sketch model as the surface was not smooth and the details were not defined. I didn't measure it but it looked to be about 12 x 10 inches. Since it appears to be a sketch model it could be from earlier than 1958 but I would like to verify this date."
May 16, 1995 a small Childhood Friends was auctioned at Frank Boos Auction House in Birmingham, MI for about $1700. Presage estimate was $1200 - $1600. Mr. Fredericks signed the work before the auction. It was an early work in bronze and in need of cleaning. - Michale Panhorst
Memo dated September 5, 1991
"RE: Works at Cranbrook Academy of Art Museum:
Two Sisters/Mother and Child
Childhood Friends
Torso of a Dancer
Persephone (Bacchante)
David Rau also showed me a small-scale Childhood Friends relief which is cast in bronze and patinated green. On the label it was dated c. 1950. Our records from Cranbrook (?) indicate it is from 1958 as is the plaster original in the gallery. This small-scale version looked like an early sketch model as the surface was not smooth and the details were not defined. I didn't measure it but it looked to be about 12 x 10 inches. Since it appears to be a sketch model it could be from earlier than 1958 but I would like to verify this date."
May 16, 1995 a small Childhood Friends was auctioned at Frank Boos Auction House in Birmingham, MI for about $1700. Presage estimate was $1200 - $1600. Mr. Fredericks signed the work before the auction. It was an early work in bronze and in need of cleaning. - Michale Panhorst
Files
Citation
Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998, “Childhood Friends [Plaster],” Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum, accessed April 29, 2024, https://omeka.svsu.edu/items/show/5153.