(ca. 1858) George Washington Wall Plaque. By Anthony W. Jones, New York. Cast Iron. Extremely Fine.
Approximately 38 inches x 29 inches. An immense piece in incredible relief, the portrait of Washington, after the Houdon Bust, standing approximately three inches in relief from the somewhat concave ground. The ornate frame is supported by sprays of oak and laurel at the base, while the top is ornamented by a ribbon motive. The central medallion was cast separately from the frame and is bolted into place on the back. The signature of the sculptor is on Washington's truncation, "A.W. Jones Sculpt. N.Y." In the lower curve of the convex ground is found "Patented 1858," though the final digit is very difficult to ascertain with certainty and it looks more like a 5. A small, thin rectangular copper plate has been added to the base, reading "PRESENTED IN MEMORY OF / MARIA MESEROLE KNAPP / BY HER SISTER / EVELINA KNAPP HOLLINS / 1935." The entire piece has a uniform black applied patina, but there are a few minor breaks in it at some of the finer recesses. The additional plate presentation plate is somewhat bent and has also lost the black patina in places. According to a website maintained by descendants of Jones, he was a born in 1792 and served in the War of 1812. More than one copy of this exceptional relief is known, including one referenced as having been gifted to the New York Historical Society by the artist in 1858, and another still in the possession of his descendants. In fact, the New York Historical Society seems to have two examples, one gifted in 1925 in addition to that that from the artist. The patina on the two NYHS pieces is similar to that seen on the present one. As noted above, the final digit in the patent date is difficult to discern, but both the family-maintained website and the NYHS site give the completion date of this piece as 1858. Jones also completed a relief of famous numismatist, Charles Ira Bushnell, sometime between 1855 and 1860, among other works. Jones' descendants point to this work as his "finest portraiture." Due to the size and nature of this lot, additional shipping charges apply. Please call 800-458-4646 for more information.