My knee did not take kindly to overuse yesterday, so I spent today doing boring projects in the house. Nothing blog worthy! I will not post a picture of my knee because my skin is so pale and wrinkled and hideous that it looks like a cadaver leg. It’s only bruising, nothing at all interesting, anyway. Not only that, I didn’t get any good pictures of birds today, either.
Frosty breakfast for the birds 
Downy woodpecker and goldfinches 
The sun is warming up this cardinal
Harry spent all day working in the studio, with breaks for exercises and lunch.
Out in Montana, Nancy and Steve spent the day working cattle, vaccinating and branding. My projects were not worthy of pictures, so I am sharing Nancy’s project instead.
Two Dot is about to get vaccinated 
Ouch! This looks worse than hot shoeing!
Harry had an interesting email today. A guy on Long Island had found a sculpture at a flea market. He bought it, and read the name Weber in the bronze, which was quite inconspicuous, by the way. Then, he googled Weber sculpture and found Harry. Turns out, the sculpture he has is a rare one. Harry’s first two pieces were done in the early 1980s, probably 1981. One was a Foxhound At Work, and the other was a Coyote. Harry cast two copies of each. People were impressed with Harry’s work. Bonnie Starcher, a Bridlespur member, purchased a Coyote, so a third one was cast. Harry took a Foxhound and a Coyote with him on a trip to New York and showed them to Knoud’s – a store that specialized in fox hunting paraphernalia and sporting art. They, too, loved his work, and took the sculptures to sell on commission. There they were, Weber art at Knoud’s, alongside Remingtons and other famous sculptors. Heady stuff!
Then, Knoud’s was robbed. Thieves broke in and stole the valuable artwork, including two Webers, along with Remingtons and Bonheurs. Harry was paid by Knoud’s, who had insurance, and the theft inspired Harry to believe in his sculpture, if it looked good enough to be stolen along with famous artwork. The rest is history, and Harry has given little thought to what became of the Foxhound and the Coyote.
Well, the sculpture at the flea market was Coyote #2, stolen almost 40 years ago. We have Coyote #1, Bonnie had #3, and those were the only copies ever cast. The Long Island guy is delighted. Harry didn’t ask him what he paid for it, but it was considerably less than it is worth now. The flea market Coyote did not have a brass plaque. Weber is inscribed on the side of the bronze base.
Harry and Weedy settled in for the evening.
When Weedy got up for a drink of water, Roscoe leapt to the lap.
Stay safe, stay well.
Terrific story of the stolen coyote sculpture!!
What an amazing story about the coyote! it’s so cool to find it after all these years & that the buyer was able to track Harry down and has that history to go with it.
Wow! What an interesting story
Wow, what a story! Harry, your horses and dogs are my favorites. But walking around St. Louis to meet some of your people, the bull and the bear, was incredible. You make them breathe. I could hear them roar. Their bodies speak their intent.
Thanks Anne for sharing!
Peace
Harry is thrilled and humbled by your comment, Linda. As am I, daily.
I remember those sculptures and the fox. Were they in a fox huntiung magazine long ago? Love the story of Knoud’s. I’ve been there years ago of course. It had the most wonderful feel, small and classic, not like huge Kauffman’s. Your photo of the Cardinal is stunning! My God you can be hard on yourself! Once, in Iowa, I rode out with two guys I was in college with to do the same, vaccines, no branding, but some hog ringing.
My God that horse, 26 and did he know his job! See the found memories you inspire! Thank you!
You are blessed with a good memory, Jane!
The Coyote sculpture was featured on the cover of the long gone On Course magazine. I never went to Knoud’s but imagine it was like Swaine, Adeney, Brigg in London.
I sure hope your knee is feeling better.
What a treasure to find after all these years of being lost! The robbery was in the early 1980’s? Lucky man! It’s almost like going on Antiques Roadshow. Tell Harry that whenever I go to flea markets, I’m going to look for a Harry Weber sculpture. That will be a treasure indeed!