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19th Century American Diorama
(Item: CA-01)
A colorful riverscape diorama consisting of various primitive forms of media,
such as, colored cut paper fields between
a mirrored river and glass tube creek, a variety of paint decorated houses
and river town buildings, some of which are paint- decorated heavy
paper, carved veneers, and mirror. The cathedral steeples are of cut copper
and paint decorated. The foliage and trees are of natural colored moss supported
by rolled and cut paper trunks. The sky is brilliantly painted on an early
form paper mache. The care taken to achieve this riverbank view is remarkable.
At lower center looking up from the river's edge one is drawn to journey
right into town. Entertained by a flock
of sheep and it's herder, an occasional child playing between trees, or
a man or persons along for a walk on cut paths. On one's way to town
you would cross over various bridges as ascending the banks over mirrored
or glass tube creeks. The skyline of hills, buildings, houses are placed
in panoramic view. The shadowbox itself is of then cut planks with traces
of early wallpaper. Remnants of gilding on outer rim frame.
I believe this diorama artist is of the Ohio/Wabash river valley area, and
probably is of French descent. It is a fanciful rendition of perhaps,
one might have thought of home, while given their natural surrounding as
a foundation of this work. This diorama was found in Tippicanoe Co. Indiana
near Lafayette. Given the deep seated French heritage in that part of the
country and the fragile condition of this work, one would doubt it ever moved
far from its origin. Inner Dim. 29" x 17"
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