110: A CAST IRON OWL SHOOTING GALLERY TARGET IN GREAT DETAIL

During the first quarter of the 20th century, there were no less than three foundries in Chicago producing very similar, if not identical, figural owl shooting gallery targets. The owl was a popular target with many manufacturers and the firms of H.C. Evans & Company, Emil R. Hoffmann and F.C. Mueller & Company were no different. This owl shooting gallery target could have been made by any one of these three Chicago Shooting Gallery Manufacturers. Only a couple of this rare version are known to exist. It leads the pack with its greater cast detail of feathers, face, wings and feet; thicker than the other three examples, it is of higher quality overall. The old paint, probably original, adds to its desirability. A very similar example is pictured on page 79 of an H.C. Evans catalog described as one of three 'Cast Iron Decorative Targets' with part number 103; a Hoffmann catalog lists it as one of several 'Cast Iron Targets for Stationary and Moving Galleries, part number 57; Mueller includes a similar owl in Gallery S-119 of their catalog. (Figures 5.27 and 5.28).

Pictured on page 75 of Sellers' book (Figure 5.26).
Measures 11 x 5.25 inches, excluding stand.
Very fine original condition, free from damage or repair.
$1,000 - $1,500