Andy Anderson carving

[eco802]

I inherited an Andy Anderson carving and would like to slowly start a small collection. I would like to know if the "Shotgun Wedding" carvings on Ebay are original? The paint seems smudged and sloppy on some of the figures --something I don't see on my piece. I would appreciate your opinions on these carvings.

[Mitchell]

Do you have pictures?

Rick-in-Seattle is a member here and he is the best person that I know of in giving appraisals. He can also be reached at Little Shavers.

[gene-messer]

Wow .. who wouldnt want to start a collection of Andersons work ..

most of the ebay works that claim to be Andersons work are authenic .. but you will know because Andersons work is quite pricey today ..

Stark Museum of Art | Orange TX

The stark museum in orange texas has one of Andersons largest collections of work .. they probably could also help you if Rick cant ..

just interested .. what piece did you inherit ?

Gene

[Mitchell]

Ooops. Misunderstood the post.

The question is if the current carving listed on ebay is authentic.

[gene-messer]

I just looked at the set of carvings on e bay and they definately look original . I dont think anyone could carve like Anderson and it not show ..

yes the faces look a little smugged .. but alot of times that has to do with how well they were taken care of ..

they definately look original and you can see by the price they arent cheap

Gene

[Lynn O. Doughty]

There was a relative of Andy's by the name of Bud Odell. I can't remember whether he was his son, nephew or whatever, anyway I think he pretty well stole Andy's style after Andy either died or quit carving. I saw some of his work in Santa Fe years ago and it looked just like Andy's work. I think the saying "Buyer beware" would play a role here.

[scooter]

I looked at the pictures on the ebay listing. It could've been the photo quality, but to me the painting looked kind of sloppy. My first thought was, 'Looks like someone tried touching them up.'.

Which isn't to say the carvings aren't authentic...

S~

[gene-messer]

Scooter .. you are right .. the painting did look smugged somewhat .. But Lynn is right about Bud Odell .. I forgot about him .. his work looked alot like Andersons

Now the seller claims .. Andersons signature is on the shoulder and hips of the carvings ..

That would be a key to find out from a museum or collector if thats the way Andy signed his work at all ..

I agree though .. it looks like someone added too much red on the faces and the lipstick on the woman is not painted very well ..

Gene

[Iowa Carver]

I have ready where some of Andy's carvings were kind of rough on the painting side. Could fall into the equation.

Corey

[rick-in-seattle]

Not sure Bud O'dell and H.S. Anderson were related, but they had some close association since they carved together.

I have Anderson and O'dell carvings; and find it pretty easy to tell who carved what. (But I admit I don't know when each piece was carved).

One of my (late) carving buddies knew them both; and said that Anderson left his tools to O'dell when he checked out; so the must have been close.

Not sure this holds water or not, but every O'dell carving I have seen (3) has been carved in butternut and left unpainted.

My guess is that the paint is original, I have two horses by Andy and they both appear to have been painted by a child. Even my cowboys and shotgun wedding scene are painted like he was riding in a pickup bed down a dirt road with chuckholes.

In Minneapolis; the curator of the American Swedish museum allowed me to hold one of Andy's courtroom scenes. It was roughly painted; but a fantastic carving none-the-less.