digger27
Bronze Member
- May 18, 2011
- 1,506
- 3,225
When you find your junk isn't really junk...it's art!
Thought it was trash at first but the more I cleaned it the more the truth came out.
This was made by the J Arthur Limerick Co. Foundry in Baltimore Maryland.
A major foundry that casted plaques and statues that are all over New England and the NE.
Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Maryland and more.
The earliest statue I found is one that is sitting of Chief Justice John Marshall below...dedicated in 1884 and used to be at the US Capital but now sits in front of the supreme court building.
Others down there too, just a few of them that I found, this was a major casting foundry that did this sort of thing for years.
From what I can tell this Limerick guy was an artist and dabbled in paint and other media but eventually got into 3D stuff and sculpting, then casting when he started his foundry.
I have no clue why he made this hair clip, dress clip or whatever it is or when, but the date on the thing could be a big clue.
I found letters on the back the same as what is marked on his statues and plaques so he definitely made it...
J Arthur Limerick Baltimo Md
He marked all his stuff Baltimo...thrifty with letters back then I assume.
This thing was crusty and covered with thick black dirt so I thought just an odd shaped piece of junk at first, then rubbing the back those two pins emerged and then I rubbed hard on the front and saw this was very fancy with scroll work and maybe some lettering.
Later at home I scrubbed and scrubbed and this is what it looks like now.
I am thrilled, this piece of junk was not junk but made by an artist so I am going to call this art.
Seems to be copper plated so a run though my tumbler and I will see if I can get it even better looking than it is now.
Twice in my life I almost threw away great treasure that I thought was junk, a canister shot cannonball and a rare token, this one might not be in that class but it is still cool treasure to me.
Check your finds closely out there...they might have way more history behind them than you think.
Thought it was trash at first but the more I cleaned it the more the truth came out.
This was made by the J Arthur Limerick Co. Foundry in Baltimore Maryland.
A major foundry that casted plaques and statues that are all over New England and the NE.
Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Maryland and more.
The earliest statue I found is one that is sitting of Chief Justice John Marshall below...dedicated in 1884 and used to be at the US Capital but now sits in front of the supreme court building.
Others down there too, just a few of them that I found, this was a major casting foundry that did this sort of thing for years.
From what I can tell this Limerick guy was an artist and dabbled in paint and other media but eventually got into 3D stuff and sculpting, then casting when he started his foundry.
I have no clue why he made this hair clip, dress clip or whatever it is or when, but the date on the thing could be a big clue.
I found letters on the back the same as what is marked on his statues and plaques so he definitely made it...
J Arthur Limerick Baltimo Md
He marked all his stuff Baltimo...thrifty with letters back then I assume.
This thing was crusty and covered with thick black dirt so I thought just an odd shaped piece of junk at first, then rubbing the back those two pins emerged and then I rubbed hard on the front and saw this was very fancy with scroll work and maybe some lettering.
Later at home I scrubbed and scrubbed and this is what it looks like now.
I am thrilled, this piece of junk was not junk but made by an artist so I am going to call this art.
Seems to be copper plated so a run though my tumbler and I will see if I can get it even better looking than it is now.
Twice in my life I almost threw away great treasure that I thought was junk, a canister shot cannonball and a rare token, this one might not be in that class but it is still cool treasure to me.
Check your finds closely out there...they might have way more history behind them than you think.
Amazon Forum Fav 👍
Attachments
-
user10659_pic74623_1490188629_PerfectlyClear0001.jpg -
user10659_pic74624_1490188629_PerfectlyClear.jpg -
user10659_pic74627_1490190840_PerfectlyClear.jpg -
photostudio_1490193052808.jpg -
photostudio_1490192963288.jpg -
photostudio_1490192846388.jpg -
Statue_of_Robert_Morris_(by_Paul_Wayland_Bartlett)_Independence_National_Historical_Park.jpg
Last edited:
Upvote
18
