Large Folk Art Bare Knuckle Boxer Carving

Circa Late 19th Century: Standing just shy of 24" tall on a 7.5"W x 6"D custom made museum stand, this formidable wooden carving in its orginal paint decorated surface depicts a bare knuckle boxer in a defensive pose. It is interesting to note that bare knuckle fighters more frequently used body blows rather than head shots because of the risk of injuring their hands. Today's boxers have their hands protected by gloves and use a defensive stance that shields the face unlike the stance of our folk art boxer who is defending his midsection. The statue's condition is excellent with loss to proper left foot and some typical minor age splits. The carving's large size, wonderfully emotive face, and superb painted surface vault its graphic intensity and make it a museum quality example of naive antique American folk art carving. Provenance: Robert Horn, Steve Sherhag