1930 Irish Dale Plaque. By Laura Gardin Fraser. Bronze. Extremely Fine.
15.5 inches x 17.5 inches. Foundry cast bronze and framed in what appears to be walnut, with a plate-rail style presentation for the plaque. Dimensions of 25 inches x 26.5 inches overall. A large and incredibly impressive piece. Soft mahogany and tan patina with but a trace of light oxidation in one recessed area. Boldly signed by Fraser in at the top border, THE PLAINS VIRGINIA LAURA GARDIN FRASER SCULPTOR, and inscribed in the field above the horse IRISH DALE MCMXXX / HOME IS THE SAILOR HOME FROM THE SEA / HOME IS THE HUNTER FROM THE HILL. At the lower left is the insignia of the Orange County Hunt Club. This piece was acquired by our consignor from the estate of Nancy Penn Smith Hannum, the granddaughter of railroad magnate E.H. Harriman and his wife, Mary Williamson Averell Harriman. E.H. Harriman, along with a number of other wealthy New Yorkers which included August Belmont (namesake of the Belmont Stakes race), were members of the Orange County Hunt Club of Goshen, New York. It was a small, but exclusive group with an initiation fee of $10,000 and yearly dues of $2,000 -- substantial sums in the 1930s. The following is in the words of our consignor, who directly researched this important work: "The inhospitable New York weather prevented the members from participating in their favored sport during much of the winter months. Around the turn of the century, they purchased enough acreage near The Plains, Virginia, a tiny town in Fauquier County, not too far from Washington, D.C, that would permit them to extend their hunting season from November through March. "In an effort to discover the story surrounding this plaque, I researched the relationship between the Harriman family and the Frasers, James Earle and Laura. Through various resources I found enough information to make some plausible assumptions and "possible" conclusions. My research shows that James Earle Fraser had no less than four commissions from Mary Harriman. (1) The Harriman Fountain which was installed in 1909 at the family residence. Arden House, Harriman, New York; (2) The Harriman Memorial Medal awarded by the American Museum of Safety; (3) The Edward H. Harriman memorial bronze plaque executed in 1916 which initially was displayed at the Union Pacific Headquarters at Omaha, Nebraska; (4) A bronze relief of E. H. Harriman ca. 1945, also installed at Alden House. "Laura Gardin Fraser was said to be a "dear personal friend" of Mary Harriman and she did a number of pieces at the instance of the Harriman's. She was first commissioned by the son, Averell Harriman, in 1923 to do a polo pony award medal for the Horse Association of America. Subsequently, she did a sculpture of Miss Buck, a polo pony owned by Averell Harriman. Finally, in 1931 she did a bas relief of Mary Harriman, shortly before her death in 1932. "Considering all of the above, I am fairly confident that the commission for the Irish Dale plaque came from either Marry Harriman or her son, Averell. My best guess is that it came from Averell and Irish Dale was his hunter. How it came into the possession of his niece, Nancy Hannum, is open to conjecture. As far as I am aware, this is the only example of this plaque known." Due to the size and nature of this lot, additional shipping charges apply. Please call 800-458-4646 for more information.