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This large weathervane depicting Knickerbocker is one of the best in The Farmers’ Museum collection. Everything about it -- the detail of the scowling face, the plump body overwhelming the poor, small chair, the tall hat, the pint he is drinking, and especially the surface patina (and bullet holes) -- speaks to its quality as an artwork and artifact. He used to sitting atop the barn of Edward Severin Clark's Fenimore Farm, the property that became The Farmers' Museum in the 1940s.
Artist
Unidentified Artist
(American)
Father Knickerbocker
Datec. 1820
MediumCopper
DimensionsOverall: 43 × 42 × 4 in. (109.2 × 106.7 × 10.2 cm)
Object numberF0048.1978
Credit LineCollection of Fenimore Farm. Gift of Stephen C. Clark
Photograph by Richard Walker
Label TextWashington Irving’s creation, Father Knickerbocker, was seen everywhere in the 19th century, in cartoons and editorials, magazines and advertisements. Even a weathervane that has a long history right here in James Fenimore Cooper country. Knickerbocker went on to become a character that represented New York much the way uncle Sam represents the United States.This large weathervane depicting Knickerbocker is one of the best in The Farmers’ Museum collection. Everything about it -- the detail of the scowling face, the plump body overwhelming the poor, small chair, the tall hat, the pint he is drinking, and especially the surface patina (and bullet holes) -- speaks to its quality as an artwork and artifact. He used to sitting atop the barn of Edward Severin Clark's Fenimore Farm, the property that became The Farmers' Museum in the 1940s.
On View
Not on view
c. 1885-1887
c. 1870
