Folk Art Bird Tree

Attributed to Schtockschnitzler Simmons (active 1885–1910)
Berks County, Pennsylvania, circa 1900
Possibly sassafras and dogwood with original painted decoration. Height 15 inches

This charming bird tree is attributed to the itinerant carver known as Schtockschnitzler Simmons, a German immigrant active in southeastern Pennsylvania. His distinctive constructions—formed from shaped saplings and adorned with brightly painted birds—stand among the most recognizable expressions of the region’s folk carving tradition.
Examples of Simmons’ work are held in major museum collections, and his bird trees remain particularly sought after for their inventive form and lively presence.

Provenance:
American Folk Art Gallery, New York;
Collection of Mrs. Olive Beaupre Miller;
Private collection