DepartmentHispano

Tin Sconce

NameSconce

Artist Artist not recorded

Place madeNEW MEXICO, United States, Southwest, North America

MediumMetal (tin)

Dimensions14 9/16 × 14 3/8 in. (37 × 36.5 cm)

Credit LineMuseum of International Folk Art, gift of the Historical Society of New Mexico, A5.1959.15a

Object numberA5.1959.15a

Collections

DescriptionOne of pair. Tin pantalla (sconce) with fans at top and bottom, 8 profile birds of two sizes are around edges, candle holders at left, right, and bottom center. Small old square mirror in the center for reflecting the candle light.

These pantallas should be attributed to Higinio V. Gonzles based on the form of the cut-out birds, and the embossing on the tin, particularly the curvilinear pattern formed by a scallop-shaped die around the mirror, at the interior of the embossed design. These are from the collection of Mary Cabot Wheelwright. See pages 125, 130, 141, and 235 of Dixon's "The Artistic Odyssey of Higinio V. Gonzales" for other examples of the bird form. - Carla Gilfillan