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Lot # 647: Stunning Set of Four Handpainted Folk Art Bats Created for the American Museum of Folk Art

Category: Sports Fine Art

Starting Bid: $500.00

Bids: 13 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed

Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Masters17",
which ran from 9/27/2017 10:00 AM to
10/27/2017 10:00 PM



Set of four bats were specifically created for the exhibition, "The Perfect Game: America Looks at Baseball," at the American Folk Art Museum in New York City. Running from June 2003 to February 2004, the exhibition centered on the history of baseball folk art in America. Pieces were culled from some of the finest baseball collections in the world and these bats are an excellent representation of the artistry in the tradition of American Folk Art. The venerable museum sought out respected folk artists to decorate bats as a fundraiser for the museum. Each is one-of-a-kind and beautifully executed: 1) 'Silhouette Bat' painted by Linda Carter Lefko of the Historical Society of Early American Decoration using historic silhouette stenciling techniques most common to America in the 18th and early 19th centuries. 2) 'Bat of Timeless Beauty' was painted by Barbara Knickerbocker of the Historical Society of Early American Decoration using historic bronze powder stenciling technique. 3) 'Untitled' by Rubens Tales is a lovely village scene, calm and pastoral, reminiscent of the early game. 4) Also 'Untitled' is a gorgeous country painting by Nancy Toombs. Back is 2003-04, this one-of-a-kind set sold for approximately $2,000. The bats come with their original American Folk Art Museum shipping labels to bolster authenticity. Exhibition curator Elizabeth Warren said at the time that she hoped "to introduce baseball fans to the world of folk art" as well as to bring "a major part of American culture" to the "folk art enthusiasts who are not already enamored of the national pastime."

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