Silverpoint Drawings of Historic Artifacts, Carousel Figures

White Pony
This carousel figure was carved by the Armitage Herschell Company, circa 1885. My silverpoint drawing of the pony measures 11 1/2″ in width by 9 1/2″ in height. It was drawn on prepared paper measuring 11″ by 14″.

The Bell Pony
I named this silverpoint drawing of a carousel horse, The Bell Pony; it is a Herschell/Spillman carving, circa 1916. The measurements are 11″ by 14″ prepared paper and the silverpoint drawing measures 11 1/2″ in width by 9″ in height.

Seahorse
This silverpoint drawing of a Seahorse is based on a carving by Dare, circa 1890 . I used prepared 11″ by 15″ paper with an acrylic ground. The silverpoint seahorse measures 11″ in width by 9″ in height.

Carousel Dog
A Saint Bernard carousel figure carved circa 1906, produced by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company.
The prepared paper measures 11″ by 15″. The silverpoint figure of the carousel dog measures 9 1/2″ in width by 7″ in height.

Dappled Horse
A carousel horse carved by Dentzel circa 1895. The silverpoint drawing measures 8 1/2″ in width by 8 1/2″ in height. This pose was called a Stander.

Hippocampus (Seahorse)
One of two drawings in silverpoint on prepared paper of a hippocampus; a carving by Dentzel, circa 1895. This first silverpoint drawing was too large for the paper and so only partially drawn. It is 11 1/2″ by 15″ prepared paper with the silverpoint image 9″ in width by 9″ in height.

Hippocampus
On this second effort to draw a hippocampus in silverpoint I paid attention to the drawing as a whole rather than just starting at the edge of the page. The prepared paper is 11 1/2″ by 15″, the silverpoint image measures 8 1/2″ in width by 10″ in height.

SILVERPOINT
For these earliest drawings I used traditional sterling silver wire, as well as the acrylic ground and 140 lb. paper.
Over time I have experimented with different gauges of silver wire and paper of varying weight.
The drawings featured on the New Work page are also drawn using silver wire and 140 lb. paper but I have begun using a different ground on my recent drawings which I prefer.

A Carousel Band Figure
A silverpoint drawing of a carousel Gavioli band figure circa 1910. The drawn figure is 6″ in width by 10 1/2″ in height.

Ancient Roman Dice
My silverpoint drawing of this grouping of ancient Roman dice measures 3 3/4″ by 3 3/4″. This drawing was influenced by a small photo in a book on ancient Rome.

Ancient Military Corinthian Helmet
This Corinthian helmet was pictured in a book of undersea artifacts. My own notes and collected information were unfortunately badly water damaged. Relying on current internet information this type of helmet is bronze; circa 500 BC.
The paper measures 9″ by 12″ and the silverpoint image of the helmet is 6 1/2″ in width by 7 3/4″ in height.

Thoroughbred
The subject of this silverpoint image is Citation, the 1948 Triple Crown Winner. I came across this photo in a library book of horse racing history.

Seagull
I found this alabaster stone carving of a seagull in a second hand shop in Hampton Bays, New York. It measures 3 1/2″ long by 1 3/4″ across. The artist is unknown. It has a very pretty color range. Light tan, speckled beige, a wash of red on the tail with darker streaks of red brown on the body.
The image showing is 7 1/2″ in width by 3 1/2″ in height. It was drawn using silverpoint on prepared paper.

Lion and Ivy Garden Vase
For this drawing of the Lion and Ivy Garden Vase I applied 2 coats of acrylic on Arches hot press. The paper measurements are 6 1/2″ by 9″. I stopped working on this image. It is too lovely to rush and I felt I was over working the details.
This image was in a magazine featuring very old “lost to time” gardens. There was such a softness in the tiny photo; old ivy and moss growing quietly in a shadowed niche and clinging about a weather worn lion faced vase.
As each silverpoint image I draw certainly needs time, patience, attention to details; I think this one has a special requirement, I need to convey sentiment; for all the old gardens.

Lion Parade Helmet
My silverpoint drawing of the renowned Lion Parade Helmet displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, New York. This drawing measures 6″ in width by 5 1/2″ in height. It is drawn on 9″ by 12″ prepared paper.
The added information of materials used was from the placard in the display case; however now it is noted as gilt copper covering the steel helmet with glass eyes instead of gilded bronze and semi-precious stones.

Gladiators
When I first saw these figures I thought they were chess pieces, when in fact they are terracotta figurines of gladiators that were given as favors at the games. The accompanying information on the page stated they are from Pompeii. The figures are almost end to end with the paper which measures 13″ in width by 7″ in height.

A Garden Pot
I came across a small photo of this marble lotus shaped garden pot in a magazine years ago. I thought it would be a challenging subject for a silverpoint drawing. This image measures 6″ by 4 1/2″ on 11″ by 14″ paper.

Female Bather
Shown, the head of a woman, drawn on prepared paper using silverpoint. This image was not so much drawn as “painted” resulting in the image shown. I used silverpoint shavings on a wetted prepared paper and painted with a brush, the portion of the figure shown measures 1 1/2″ in width by 2 1/4″ in height.

Jockey Cap
This jockey cap was a small photo in a book with the old wood pulp pages I bought at a library sale. The photo itself, however, was very well done and even on the dry, yellow page the cap's detail was there. The image of the cap measures 7 1/2″ by 4 1/4″.

Angel on Wood
A figure of an angel drawn with silverpoint and ink on wood. This is a small drawing measuring 2 5/8″ in width by 4″ in height.
This image has been printed as a magnet.