Figure of a Centaur

Attributed to “Mr. Dines,” Utica, New York, circa 1860
Carved poplar with original painted decoration. 22 ¼ x 9 ½ x 24 ½ inches

This striking centaur figure is attributed to the elusive “Mr. Dines,” an unidentified maker associated with a small and distinctive body of sculptural work. A possible identification is John M. Dines, a wagon maker recorded in Utica in the 1860 Federal Census.
Combining bold form with expressive surface, the figure stands among the most compelling examples of American folk sculpture, with a presence that is both imaginative and deeply rooted in vernacular tradition.

Provenance:
Found in Utica, New York;
Adele Earnest Collection;
The Guennol Collection;
David A. Schorsch and Eileen M. Smiles