Thunderbird Mirror
Artist
Robert Woodman
(American, 1908 - 1983)
Datecirca 1945
MediumTin, painted glass and mirror
Dimensions27 1/2 x 27 x 1/2 in. (69.9 x 68.6 x 1.3 cm)
ClassificationsFurniture
Credit LineMuseum purchase with funds from the J. and R. Clarke Endowment, 2008
Object number2008.37
DescriptionDecorative tin thunderbirds around edge of mirror and colorful reverse-painted elements between.eMuseum Notes
This mirror is as unique design made in Santa Fe by the craftsman, Robert Woodman, c.1940-1950. While few other tinsmiths of the Revival period (Eddie Delgado and Pedro Quintana) were familiar with the tinwork designs of the 19th century, Woodman was also aware of contemporary design trends in vogue at the time. His wonderful take of on a Deco thunderbird was in keeping with the "Pueblo Deco" designs popular in the Southwest. (i.e. The Kimo Theater in Albuquerque).
The mirror is constructed primarily with terneplate, a commercial lead-tin alloy over steel that was generally used for roofing. Colorful reverse-painted panels are backed with mirror glass. The crisp details of the bird forms were created with a front and back scoring technique.
In fact, Woodman was for many years noted architect John Gaw Meem's tinsmith creating numerous chandeliers and light fixtures for homes and public buildings designed by Meem. Trained as an engineer at Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh, he was the most exacting tinsmith in his crafting of objects and was capable of creating very large scale lighting fixtures for churches, libraries and courthouses. Arriving in Santa Fe in teh 1930s he was active from the mid-30s until about 1970. In later years, he rarely sold work and often created only parts using templates.
Made for Woodman's personal home on Upper Canyon Road in Santa Fe, this mirror was sold as part of the retrospective estate exhibition at Dewey Gallery in 1989. This is a premier example of the work of Robert Woodman showing his creativity and incredible skill in a rather difficult medium.
The mirror is constructed primarily with terneplate, a commercial lead-tin alloy over steel that was generally used for roofing. Colorful reverse-painted panels are backed with mirror glass. The crisp details of the bird forms were created with a front and back scoring technique.
In fact, Woodman was for many years noted architect John Gaw Meem's tinsmith creating numerous chandeliers and light fixtures for homes and public buildings designed by Meem. Trained as an engineer at Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh, he was the most exacting tinsmith in his crafting of objects and was capable of creating very large scale lighting fixtures for churches, libraries and courthouses. Arriving in Santa Fe in teh 1930s he was active from the mid-30s until about 1970. In later years, he rarely sold work and often created only parts using templates.
Made for Woodman's personal home on Upper Canyon Road in Santa Fe, this mirror was sold as part of the retrospective estate exhibition at Dewey Gallery in 1989. This is a premier example of the work of Robert Woodman showing his creativity and incredible skill in a rather difficult medium.
On View
Not on view
circa 1960
