The Goddess of Liberty Wrapped in the American Flag

American, circa 1850
Carved walnut with a mellow, old surface. 15 x 7 x 3 inches

Among the rare nineteenth-century carvings of the Goddess of Liberty—typically static in form—this example stands apart for its remarkable sense of movement and animation. The figure’s dynamic presence and flowing treatment of the flag elevate it well beyond the ordinary, marking it as a truly iconic work within American folk art.

Provenance:
The collection of Barbara Johnson

Exhibited:
Liberties with Liberty: The Changing of an American Symbol, The Museum of American Folk Art, New York, 1986; traveled nationally