Artist/Maker Unidentified maker

Cake board

1825-1835

Place madeNew York, New York, United States, North America

Mahogany

Overall: 8 x 14 1/2 x 1 in. ( 20.3 x 36.8 x 2.5 cm )

Purchased from Elie Nadelman

1937.1562

This object was once part of the folk art collection of Elie Nadelman (1882-1946), the avant-garde sculptor. From 1924 to 1934, Nadelman's collection was displayed in his Museum of Folk Arts, located in the Riverdale section of the Bronx. The Historical Society purchased Nadelman's entire collection in 1937. Molds created in New York were often elaborate and large, depicting major events of the day or simply embellished with symbols of luck and the New Year. This double sided cake print with a hand drawn fire engine on each side is an unsophisticated example of this art form. Each side features a pointed oval enclosing an early engine pulled by three firefighters, the leader with his speaking trumpet raised as if directing his fellow volunteers to a fire. One side depicts an engine with the number "17" on the cylinder and the name "SUPERIOR" above; the other has the number "8" and the name "MANHATTAN" in the same locations. With deep crisp gouging, the carver rendered the engines with detail suggesting first-hand knowledge of fire vehicles, even delineating the decoration on the condenser cases at the rear.

DescriptionRectangular wooden cake board carved on one side with image of three firemen pulling Manhattan fire engine number 8 within a swag and star oval frame; reverse carved with image of three firemen pulling Superior fire engine number 17 within an oval foliate frame.

MarkingsCarved on obverse: "MANHATTAN" (above fire engine) and "8" (2 times on engine); carved on reverse: "SUPERIOR" (above fire engine) and "17" (on engine)

ClassificationsHOUSEHOLD TOOLS & EQUIPMENT

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