Early 20th Century New England Folk Art Hand-Carved Wooden Fish Trade Sign

Details

Description

A wonderfully primitive early-to-mid-20th-century hand-carved wooden fish, believed to have originally hung at a seaside restaurant in Massachusetts. Carved with … Read more A wonderfully primitive early-to-mid-20th-century hand-carved wooden fish, believed to have originally hung at a seaside restaurant in Massachusetts. Carved with an expressive open mouth, articulated fins and tail, and suspended from its original-style metal chain, the piece retains scattered traces of old painted decoration that give the surface an especially appealing weathered character.

At nearly two feet wide, it has enough presence to stand alone while remaining easy to incorporate into a collected interior. Particularly good in a Nantucket or Cape Cod house, Hamptons cottage, Palm Beach retreat, seaside restaurant, boutique hotel, or bar, where its folk-art character feels considerably more interesting than conventional nautical decoration.

Origin: United States; said to be from Massachusetts
Period: Early to Mid-20th Century
Styles: American Folk Art, New England, Coastal, Nautical
Dimensions: 23.75"W × 1.5"D × 9"H
Materials: Hand-carved wood, metal chain
Condition: Good vintage condition with surface wear, weathering, and traces of earlier painted decoration consistent with age
Notable Features: Hand-carved construction; hanging chain; expressive mouth and fins; remnants of old paint
Provenance: Reportedly used by an old seaside restaurant in Massachusetts See less