Whirligig Circa 19th Century
Feeding time on the farm is always a popular time of day for the herd. Things are set in motion by turning the prop. The farmer’s wife’s arms move up and down holding a hand forged copper bowl. Her trusted companion stands by her side moving up and down keeping the sheep from straying. The sheep move gracefully back and forth and up and down, eating out of a hand carved wooden trough. Multiple pieces were carved from 100-year-old heart pine salvaged from a barn located in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. Buttermilk paint was applied in numerous layers and then removed to give the piece a time worn surface. The mechanism for all the moving parts is mounted inside a antique wooden box with key which functions as a base for display.