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Exhibition History"Sign Sculpture: Shop and Cigar Store Figures in 18th and 19th C. America," Heritage Plantation of Sandwich, Sandwich, MA, May 11, 1997 - October 26, 1997; Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore, MD, February 19, 1998 - April 12, 1998; The Museum of American Folk Art, New York, NY, November 8, 1997 - January 25, 1998.
“Folk Art from the Collection of the New York State Historical Association,” Museum of American Folk Art, NY, January 11, 2000 – February 18, 2000.
“American Folk Art: Collection from the Fenimore Art Museum,” Mona Bismarck Foundation, Paris, France, January 25, 2001 – March 24, 2001.
ProvenanceB. Drenel; Jean and Howard Lipman, Wilton, CT; Stephen C. Clark, Cooperstown, NY
Workshop of
Samuel A. Robb
Girl of the Period
Datec. 1875
MediumPainted wood
DimensionsOverall: 81 × 21 3/4 × 19 1/2 in. (205.7 × 55.2 × 49.5 cm)
Object numberN0148.1961
Credit LineCollection of the Fenimore Art Museum. Gift of Stephen C. Clark
Photograph by Richard Walker
Label TextThe first shop figures made in America were the work of ship carvers who were well-versed in the current trends of the fine arts. Shop and cigar store figures now represent one of the largest and most expressive of American sculptural traditions. The source of the image for the Lady of Fashion is a satirical print entitled “The Grecian Bend” that pokes fun at the vain, fashion-conscious young women of the period. The Lady of Fashion was probably carved in the workshop of Samuel Robb in New York City. Carrying a cigar in one hand and tobacco leaves in the other, and wearing a distinctive hat, she is thought to have advertised Squirrel brand cigars.Exhibition History"Sign Sculpture: Shop and Cigar Store Figures in 18th and 19th C. America," Heritage Plantation of Sandwich, Sandwich, MA, May 11, 1997 - October 26, 1997; Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore, MD, February 19, 1998 - April 12, 1998; The Museum of American Folk Art, New York, NY, November 8, 1997 - January 25, 1998.
“Folk Art from the Collection of the New York State Historical Association,” Museum of American Folk Art, NY, January 11, 2000 – February 18, 2000.
“American Folk Art: Collection from the Fenimore Art Museum,” Mona Bismarck Foundation, Paris, France, January 25, 2001 – March 24, 2001.
ProvenanceB. Drenel; Jean and Howard Lipman, Wilton, CT; Stephen C. Clark, Cooperstown, NY
On View
On view
