.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
This eagle, and one sold previously at Christie's, New York, 20-21 January 2005, lot 375, were created as important symbols of the new Republic for the Boston courthouse and displayed in Pemberton Square in Government Center until the early 20th century.
Isaac Howard Fowle was born in Medford, Massachusetts in 1783. He apprenticed to the highly regarded Simeon Skillin Jr. (1756-1806) and was the brother-in-law to John Skillin (1745-1800), both extremely skilled ornamental wood carvers and responsible for such pieces as the carving atop the Samuel McIntire chest-on-chest at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Fowle and another former Skillin apprentice, Edmund Raymund, advertised in 1806 to have commenced business at the late Simeon Skillin's shop on Skillins' Wharf, carrying on the family's dynastic tradition of ornamental ship and house carving. Fowle is primarily known as a carver of ships' figureheads and examples of his work of this type are located at the Peabody Essex Museum and also at the Bostonian Society at the Old State House. Ornamental woodcarvers such as Fowle also often employed their skills in carvings for wealthy individuals and storeowners seeking advertising, and also for civic celebratory purposes.
Isaac Howard Fowle was born in Medford, Massachusetts in 1783. He apprenticed to the highly regarded Simeon Skillin Jr. (1756-1806) and was the brother-in-law to John Skillin (1745-1800), both extremely skilled ornamental wood carvers and responsible for such pieces as the carving atop the Samuel McIntire chest-on-chest at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Fowle and another former Skillin apprentice, Edmund Raymund, advertised in 1806 to have commenced business at the late Simeon Skillin's shop on Skillins' Wharf, carrying on the family's dynastic tradition of ornamental ship and house carving. Fowle is primarily known as a carver of ships' figureheads and examples of his work of this type are located at the Peabody Essex Museum and also at the Bostonian Society at the Old State House. Ornamental woodcarvers such as Fowle also often employed their skills in carvings for wealthy individuals and storeowners seeking advertising, and also for civic celebratory purposes.