June Online Antique & Art Auction
Pair of Antique Bristol Vases "The Spirit Of 76" ARCHIBALD WILLARD AKA Yankee Doodle. Measure 14 3/4" High x 7.5" Diameter. Archibald MacNeal Willard (August 22, 1836, – October 11, 1918) was an American painter who was born and raised in Bedford, Ohio. He was the son of Samuel Willard, the pastor of Bedford Baptist Church.[1][2]Willard had an interest in art ever since he was a child and often scribbled on barns and other structures at home. As a young man, Willard moved to Wellington, Ohio, and began working for the wagon maker, E.S. Tripp. He began as a basic wagon painter but eventually was allowed to paint elaborate decorations that were popular at the time.[3] Willard joined the 86th Ohio Infantry in 1863 and fought in the American Civil War, but was not heavily involved. During this time, he painted several scenes from the war. The current owner acquired these “The Spirit of ’76 Vases” in 1966. The vases were created by Archibald M. Willard, artist of “The Spirit of ‘76” (originally titled Yankee Doodle) for his personal enjoyment, who kept them on the mantel in the east parlor of his home at 4933 Holyoak Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, in accordance with the signed affidavit signed 8-11-1967 by his adopted son Alden B. Hare, who was raised by the artist in his home. Upon the death of the artist A.M. Willard on October 11, 1918, “The Spirit of ‘76 Vases” were obtained by Mrs. Frances Hampton, a fashionable Cleveland philanthropist. In the 1950s, “The Spirit of ’76 Vases” was obtained from Mrs. Hampton by Ms. Patricia Wisegarver, the wife of the notorious gangster Al Powers (executed at Leavenworth Penitentiary), a colorful student of American objects d’art and antique dealer in Vermilion, Ohio. In 1959 “The Spirit of ’76 Vases” was purchased from Ms. Wisegarver by Mr. Richard Myers, a deputy sheriff of Ashland, Ohio who enjoyed them for nearly a year before he was forced to part with them. Here called, “I really liked them, but my wife made me sell them because they didn’t match her drapery. ”In 1960 Mr. Myers sold “The Spirit of ’76 Vases” to Mr. Theo C. Willis, owner of the “Possum Run General Store, ” 1324 Cleveland Avenue, Ashland, Ohio an early American “1875 era” museum of acclaim. On April 9, 1966, “The Spirit of ’76 Vases” was sold to the current owner who did arrange to have the vases inspected by Alden B. Hare, the adopted son of Archibald M. Willard. On August 11, 1967, Mr. Hare examined the two Bristol Glass Paintings and concluded he was convinced “they are the two vases which rested on the mantel of the east parlor of the house of Archibald M. Willard at 4933 Holyoake Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio approximately 60 years ago when he lived there”. Mr. Hare did execute an affidavit of authenticity. In the century since A. M. Willard’s death, the vases have seen seven owners, the first six had only relocated “The Spirit of ‘76 Vases” a mere 50 miles from the artist’s Cleveland home. They have since been with the seventh owner who has had them stored in a vault for decades. Except for a “one day only exhibition” on March 25, 1968, the Governor of Utah and the owner jointly and personally displayed “The Spirit of ’76 Vases” for the first time since their creation at “Gallery 268” a professional art showplace in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah as reported by ABC-TV news. On April 12, 1970 “The Spirit of ’76 Vases” was exhibited to the public for the second and final time, in the fine arts gallery of Celebrity Centre International in Los Angeles, a sanctum for stars of stage, television, and motion pictures. The one-day event was photographed and published on that day in the Los Angeles Times. With “The Spirit of ’76 Vases” comes the full story with provenance and complete 44-pagedocumentation with signed affidavits to attest to the information and true knowledge of the vases.
Share this lot:
