Hand

Sculpture

-

Vermont Historical Society

photo for publication

Name/Title

Hand

Entry/Object ID

1978.24.1

Description

Large, wooden statue fragment of a hand, in two pieces. The sculpture has three fingers and a portion of a fourth. It is covered in a thick layer of grey, showing significant crackling.

Artwork Details

Medium

Wood

Subject

Ceres

Context

The hand is from the Ceres statues that sat atop the State House dome. The statue was made by Larkin Mead in 1858.

Acquisition

Accession

1978.24

Source or Donor

Nye, J. Richard

Acquisition Method

Gift

Made/Created

Manufacturer

Mead, Larkin Goldsmith (1835-1910)

Date made

1858

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Statue

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Sculpture

Nomenclature Class

Art

Nomenclature Category

Category 08: Communication Objects

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Overall

Height

13 in

Width

13 in

Relationships

Related Places

Place

Building

Vermont State House

City

Montpelier

County

Washington County

State/Province

Vermont

Country

United States of America

Continent

North America

Place

City

Montpelier

County

Washington County

State/Province

Vermont

Country

United States of America

Continent

North America

Interpretative Labels

Label

Ceres Hand, 1858 Larkin Goldsmith Mead (1835-1910) Montpelier, VT Wood Gift of J. Richard Nye, 1978.24.1 Larkin Goldsmith Mead's artistic talent was recognized when he shaped a particularly fine snowman that led to training with a local sculptor. Commissioned in 1858, his statue of Ceres, the Greek goddess of Agriculture, for the top of the new Vermont State House dome was his first important work. The statue was so well-received that he subsequently carved the statue of Ethan Allen that still stands by the State House front door. The figure, carved out of wood, stood until 1938. Exposure to the elements means that it was in poor shape when it was removed, and this hand and the head of the statue (now lost) were the only remnants.