Carved Bust of Lady Columbia

American, mid-19^th c.
Carved pine
Excellent condition with some wear commensurate with age, wonderful patina from natural oxidation.
Provenance: Collection of Robert Horn.
This finely carved wall-hanging bust of Lady Columbia or Miss Columbia is adorned with a crown, flowering drapery, and a necklace. This fictional female figure personified the United States and its values with origins dating back to 1697 from the suggestion of Chief Justice Samuel Sewell, who wanted to name the American colonies “Columbia” after Christopher Columbus. This iconic figure gained popularity in the 1800s but declined following completion of the Statue of Liberty in the late 19^th century.