Halsey Munson Americana

204 North Summit Avenue

Decatur, Illinois  62522

Phone:  217-972-4645

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Life-Sized Carved Trade Figure

Wonderful 71” tall trade figure in the form of an 1880s New York policeman, carved from a single block of white pine and signed by Rhode Island master carver Armand LaMontagne. Full-sized commissioned sculptures by Mr. LaMontagne, which today run well into six figures, are in private collections and museums across the country, among them the Cordova Museum, a 26-acre collection of 20th C. art and sculpture, the Patton Museum, the Sports Museum of New England and the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. His life story has been the subject of an hour-long television documentary titled “Splendid Splinters,” and LaMontagne has been called both the most versatile American artist of the 20th century and the finest portrait sculptor in the world.

This figure—carved about 1960 and one of three life-sized carvings LaMontagne did of police figures—has been in a private collection for 29 years and before that is said to have stood guard in the lobby of a bank in Cincinnati, OH. Original paint with touchup to gilt buttons, badge and black hatband. Shrinkage cracks and minor repairs. This carving was authenticated in 2008 and a certificate to that effect, along with a hand-written note from the artist, accompanies the figure.

$9,500