137: A CAST IRON SPREAD WING EAGLE SHOOTING GALLERY TARGET

Though eagles were of course patriotic symbols and frequently seen in shooting galleries around the turn of the last century, very few of this particular form are known to exist. The casting boasts extra details like the crested head, pronounced beak, wing outline, feather detail, legs and talons, much of which retains a considerable amount of distressed original paint. Its manufacture is attributable to H.C. Evans, Emil Hoffmann, A.J. Smith or F.C. Mueller, all of Chicago, IL. 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.

Illustrated on page 79 of an Evans catalog, part number 1, and on page 65 as part of Gallery O; in a Hoffmann catalog, part number 5; in a Smith catalog, part number 2; and in a Mueller catalog on Gallery A-13.

Pictured on page 76 of Sellers' book (Figure 5.30).
Displayed on custom iron stand.
Measures 10 x 21.75 inches, excluding stand.
Very good original condition, there are no issues of damage or repair, there is however an exceptional surface created unintentionally over time and the effects of thousands of strikes from soft lead bullets on old painted, now dry, surface.
$1,500 - $2,500