Two Bears [Plaster]
Dublin Core
Title
Two Bears [Plaster]
Subject
Animal sculpture--20th century
Description
Two Bears, 1965
Plaster original
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall M. Fredericks
1991.003
Two Bears was originally created for Lincoln Square, Urbana, Illinois. A large and small bear sit back to back in quiet contemplation. In nature, these two animals are enemies, however, Fredericks portrays the two in a gentle humanistic way, stressing tolerance. Notice the differences in the bears ears and noses. Also if you look closely at the small bear's knees you will notice a tear drop sculpting style, known as one of Fredericks' trademarks. Other sculptures that display this characteristic are The Thinker, Lion and Mouse, and the Male Baboon and Female Baboon sculptures.
Plaster original
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall M. Fredericks
1991.003
Two Bears was originally created for Lincoln Square, Urbana, Illinois. A large and small bear sit back to back in quiet contemplation. In nature, these two animals are enemies, however, Fredericks portrays the two in a gentle humanistic way, stressing tolerance. Notice the differences in the bears ears and noses. Also if you look closely at the small bear's knees you will notice a tear drop sculpting style, known as one of Fredericks' trademarks. Other sculptures that display this characteristic are The Thinker, Lion and Mouse, and the Male Baboon and Female Baboon sculptures.
Creator
Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998
Source
Animal sculpture--20th century
Date
1965
Rights
Use of this image requires permission from the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum
Relation
Type
Sculpture
Coverage
University Center (Mich.)
Sculpture Item Type Metadata
Physical Dimensions
80" x 41" x 75"
Materials
Plaster full-scale
Catalog Number
1991.003
Object Location
Main Exhibit Gallery
Provenance
1987 November 30, Gift to Museum and SVSU Board of Control
Notes
From Jennifer Lentz (Collection Documentation Intern 1991-1992)
Memo dated October 23, 1991
"RE: Two Bears
All of the photos in Mr. Fredericks' studio are dated to 1969. Molly has acknowledged that the correct date is 1964. This is inscribed on the plaster original."
September 18, 1991
Memo to file
From: Jennifer Lentz, Collection Documentation Intern
Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Gallery
Re: TWO BEARS - small-scale at Quarton Elementary School in Birmingham
They have a small-scale bronze dated to 1967. There is no plaque but it is titled "Friends Big and Little."
August 7, 1991
FROM: Jennifer Lentz, Intern
Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Gallery
RE: Two Bears at Southfield Public Library
The sculpture is located in the Youth Services Area. It is bronze with brown patination and it rests upon an oval shaped black marble pedestal which is on a light colored marble base. There is a plaque mounted on the base which indicates is was a gift of the Friends of the Southfield Public Library. It is signed and there is a foundry mark - Bedi-Rassy NYC. I spoke with Carol Miller at the library and she said it was acquired in late 1969 or early 1970. However it must have been cast before 1970 because that is when the foundry changed it's name from Bedi-Rassy to Bedi-Makky.
Note: A Full-Scale bronze in 1990 sold at auction by Leslie Hindman Auctioneers for $40,000, and had a personal estimate of $4,000/$6,000.
Molly Barth copy:
This is a full-size plaster model of the "Two Bears". Don't miss the little one that's hiding back behind. One's a brown bear, and one's a black bear, and, normally, they don't get along very well, but the big one's looking out for the little one. This was cast in bronze, and it's located at the Sterling Heights Public Library in Michigan and the little children went around collecting all the pennies that they could toward the donation of the casting in bronze. It's also located at Interlochen and also at Brookgreen Gardens in South Carolina, and also at the University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois.
Memo dated October 23, 1991
"RE: Two Bears
All of the photos in Mr. Fredericks' studio are dated to 1969. Molly has acknowledged that the correct date is 1964. This is inscribed on the plaster original."
September 18, 1991
Memo to file
From: Jennifer Lentz, Collection Documentation Intern
Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Gallery
Re: TWO BEARS - small-scale at Quarton Elementary School in Birmingham
They have a small-scale bronze dated to 1967. There is no plaque but it is titled "Friends Big and Little."
August 7, 1991
FROM: Jennifer Lentz, Intern
Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Gallery
RE: Two Bears at Southfield Public Library
The sculpture is located in the Youth Services Area. It is bronze with brown patination and it rests upon an oval shaped black marble pedestal which is on a light colored marble base. There is a plaque mounted on the base which indicates is was a gift of the Friends of the Southfield Public Library. It is signed and there is a foundry mark - Bedi-Rassy NYC. I spoke with Carol Miller at the library and she said it was acquired in late 1969 or early 1970. However it must have been cast before 1970 because that is when the foundry changed it's name from Bedi-Rassy to Bedi-Makky.
Note: A Full-Scale bronze in 1990 sold at auction by Leslie Hindman Auctioneers for $40,000, and had a personal estimate of $4,000/$6,000.
Molly Barth copy:
This is a full-size plaster model of the "Two Bears". Don't miss the little one that's hiding back behind. One's a brown bear, and one's a black bear, and, normally, they don't get along very well, but the big one's looking out for the little one. This was cast in bronze, and it's located at the Sterling Heights Public Library in Michigan and the little children went around collecting all the pennies that they could toward the donation of the casting in bronze. It's also located at Interlochen and also at Brookgreen Gardens in South Carolina, and also at the University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois.
Files
Citation
Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998, “Two Bears [Plaster],” Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum, accessed December 21, 2024, https://omeka.svsu.edu/items/show/5052.