Auction Item Details
Lot 626
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Lot Number: 626
Description: Significant Spalding folk art store display trade figure c.1915-20. Life size terra cotta two piece figure stands smiling with an outstretched hand holding a Spalding "Boys' Favorite" baseball. The back of the mustard color vest features hand painted lettering, "Spalding's L'il Ball Boy mascot". Hat has a similar hand painted "S" and a crossed bat and glove motif appears on both sides of the vest collar. The figure stands 43" tall positioned atop a painted wooden plinth that has been made for display (created more then 10 years ago). A small cylindrical piece remains attached to the back left leg area which apparently was used to anchor the figure to its original base or place of occupation. Retains a fine surface with an unusually large quantity of its original paint. The figure does have some restoration to a few cracks, some inpainting to areas of damage, and various minor fissures and areas of wear that one could expect from a piece of its size and original fragility. One of the more coveted baseball related folk art items that has come into the marketplace and is one of only three known exemplars. The other two were a matched pair (mascot similar to the offered lot and a matching batter). The matching batter figure remains in a private collection and the identical mascot was, unfortunately, severely damaged and ultimately destroyed many years ago by accident. The figures may have been intended to depict Clarence Duval, the mascot who was severely mistreated when he accompanied Albert Spalding and his 1888-1889 World Tourists throughout Italy, Egypt and Australia (see Peter Levine, A.G. Spalding and the Rise of Baseball), although the figure's later dating argues for a less direct inspiration. Clarence Duval "joined" the White Stockings as mascot in 1887 (newspapers referred to his "capture"). Spalding's eponymous company, more than any other in baseball's history, is responsible for standardizing the manufacture of the baseball itself and for commercializing the sale of baseball related products through exclusive licensing, athlete endorsement, and the publication of its annual guides. In addition to its significance as a baseball display rarity the offered statue is a poignant reminder of the social status of African Americans during the teens and 1920's era in this country. During this period baseball still resisted the inevitable integration that would eventually elevate the game to new levels of popularity and make the sport a true National Pastime in every sense of the title. Superb baseball display piece of equal import to both folk art and sports collecting: EX (With note to restoration)
Estimated Price: ($20,000.00-$30,000.00)
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