Creatures By George Cockayne

Back to Auction

36 of 291 lots

Estimate:

CA$450 - CA$800

Sold

CA$125

Live Auction

Canadiana & Folk Art Featuring the Jim Fleming, Marty Osler, Susan Murray and Laing Collections

ARTIST

Sculptor George Cockayne (1906-1976) was born in England, and came to Canada as an orphan in the 1920s. He found work as a farmer and eventually purchased his own central-Ontario farm in the late 1930s. He discovered his affinity for sculpting when a loud, wind-slamming barn door prompted him to craft a doorstop. He found a piece of cedar wood that would do the job, but noticed it had the shape of a woman's torso. Eventually he carved and clothed her, and thus began his artistic journey. He created many animals and figure heads throughout his life, and continued to produce wondrous sculptures even as his eyesight deteriorated. Cockayne's work is found in the collections of the Canadian Museum of Civilization, and in many corporate and private art collections

Size

(1) 4.5" x 16.25" x 4". (2) 12.5" x 25" x 10".

Category

Folk Art

Description

Two (2). Madoc, Ontario. (1) 1976. (2) mid 20th century. Softwood, glass eyes. Two interesting creatures by celebrated carver George Cockayne. (1) An expressive small "swamp" creature made simply from a piece of found driftwood and blue marble eyes, possibly intended to represent an alligator emerging from the water. (2) This happy little character bearing purple with yellow spots and a short straight tail appears to be from the pig family. Painted wood with marble eyes. (1) Underside initialled and dated "G. C. 76". (2) Back initialled "GC".

Condition

Excellent condition.

Provenance

From the Marty Osler Collection.

Oh no, something went wrong

Please refresh to try again.