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Maker(s):Unknown
Culture:American
Title:The Duke and Duchess of Windsor
Date Made:ca. 1936
Type:Sculpture
Materials:wood with polychrome
Place Made:United States
Measurements:overall: 19 3/4 x 10 1/4 x 5 5/8 in.; 50.165 x 26.035 x 14.2875 cm
Narrative Inscription:  unsigned, undated, inscribed on front base under thin layer of paint: DUKE AN (sic) DUCHES (sic) OF WINDSOR
Accession Number:  SC 1978.53
Credit Line:Purchased
Museum Collection:  Smith College Museum of Art
1978_53.jpg

Description:
two figures standing on a platform, the man in brown suit and woman in blue coat, hat, fur collar and white heels; man; woman; portrait; costume/uniform

Label Text:
Carving wood figures was and still is a common pastime in many rural areas. This carving of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor were most likely made by an amateur artist working in rural Pennsylvania. Folk art often looked to popular culture as a source for subject matter, and artists carved likenesses of public figures from politicians to famous celebrities to local entertainers. In this case the sculptural portraits bear little resemblance to King Edward VIII of England and Wallis Simpson, whose storied romance led to Edward's abdication on December 10, 1936, so that he could marry the commoner an divorcee. They became international socialites as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, the titles they were given by King George VI after Edward renounced the throne. The source for this work was probably one of the many newspaper photographs of the famous couple.

Tags:
men; women; costume; royalty

Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=SC+1978.53

Research on objects in the collections, including provenance, is ongoing and may be incomplete. If you have additional information or would like to learn more about a particular object, please email fc-museums-web@fivecolleges.edu.

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