Outstanding Silvio P. Zoratti Uncle Sam Carving

Circa 1975: Silvio Peter Zoratti (1896-1992) was an Italian immigrant who came to America after being released from a WWI German prisoner of war camp. He had been trained as a stone carver in Europe and settled in Ohio, where, in 1923, he took a stonemason position on the Nickel Plate Railroad and worked there until his retirement in 1961. Zoratti did a few folk art stone sculptures for himself starting in 1958, and he began working in wood after his retirement and would continue carving until the 1980s when he stopped because of failing eyesight. Zoratti completed around 300 sculptures and had them displayed outside in his garden and around his tool shed. This 18" tall rendition of Uncle Sam impressed " Made by S.P. Zoratti 1975" around the top of Sam's famous hat is a museum quality example of the whimsical patriotic carvings Zoratti completed around the time of our country's bicentennial anniversary. The sculpture is hand hewn from a single piece of wood and features an eight color paint scheme including vibrant patriotic stars and stripes and three shades of blue that evoke Zoratti's love for America.