You Naughty Boy Tabletop Sculpture

PeriodCirca 1870

Place MadeMilwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.A.

MediumPlaster, iron armature

Dimensions13 × 7.25 in. (33 × 18.4 cm)

ClassificationsSculpture

Credit LineMuseum Collection

Object number1845

DescriptionA molded plaster tabletop sculpture of seated womn, wearing a ruffled cap and an apron over a bustled gown, holds a washcloth in her right hand while she turns to a small boy who leans against her side. The small boy is dressed in the typical skirt and blouse worn by boys under about five years old. On the front of the sculpture base is a slightly raised rectangular plaque, with "You Naughty Boy" stamped into the space.The sculpture is coated in what is most likely the company's "bronze metal" finish.
Curatorial RemarksParlor sculptures were highly popular in the United States from the mid to late 1850s well into the 1880s and even 1890s. Usually smaller sized and able to be displayed on stands or in the center of a parlor table in a household's best room, parlor sculptures allowed families to display their artistic sensibilities and refinement to visitors. The best-known among the parlor sculpture artists was John Rogers (1829-1904). Rogers, himself a highly trained and gifted sculptor, produced larger sculptures based on literary and artistic influences as well as historic events and personalities. Once completed, the original sculpture would be used to create molds which were then recast and finished. Caspar Hennecke (1833-1892) was not himself a sculptor, but instead purchased and commissioned sculptures and "bric a brac" from a variety of individual sculptors and wholesale firms in both the United States and Germany. Hennecke's work was often less expensive than Rogers groups. By the late 1880s and 1890s, smaller sculptural works were fast falling out of favor. By the 1920s, these once-popular decor items were relegated to attics and basements, and many were simply broken up and discarded.NotesThis tabletop style sculpture was made by the firm of Caspar (sometimes spelled Casper) Hennecke & Company around 1870 or so. Caspar Hennecke was born in 1833 in Germany. His father was a locksmith, and Caspar learned the trade. After emigrating to the United States in 1854 , Hennecke first worked in a grocery store while learning English. He also attended commercial college. In 1860, Hennecke joined a group of adventurers traveling to Colorado during the Gold Rush on and around Pike's Peak. Hennecke soon realized he was not cut out to be a miner, and too uncertain to provide a steady income. He opened a small store and sold supplies to miners in the area. He settled in Akron, Ohio, where he opened a grocery store of his own. Hennecke partnered with a local crockery and ceramic dealer. The income from this side business was such that Hennecke decided to specialize in the crockery and stoneware aspect alone. In both the 1870 and 1880 Federal Census, Hennecke was described as a "wholesale dealer in Stone Ware." By the late 1880s, departments stores and art shops across the United States advertised Hennecke sculptures and decorative "bric a brac" in their advertisements. Hennecke specialized in smaller sculptures of tabletop size, featuring one or two figures in a wide range of topics. Hennecke himself did not make or design any of his company's offerings. Instead, he contracted with individual sculptors and smaller firms both in the United States and Germany to provide his inventory. The firm also supplied large-scale public sculptures including the grand fountain installed in front of the new Milwaukee Courthouse in 1877. One newspaper article noted that Hennecke's art stores in Chicago and Milwaukee were "considered one of the finest art collections in this country." The Hennecke family experienced serious tragedy. In October of 1882, the eleven-year-old Maggie Hennecke vanished after leaving school one day in an "agitated state." After more than four weeks of frantic investigation, and offer of $2,000 for her return, and prolonged searches, her body was discovered beneath a dock along the Milwaukee River. Even with this terrible tragedy, Hennecke continued to contribute both time and money to a variety of artistic endeavors in the Milwaukee area, including serving as one of the founders and board members of both the Milwaukee Museum of Fine Arts and the Association for the Culture and Advancement of Fine Arts. Caspar Hennecke died on September 11, 1892. His wife, Katherine Weisback Hennecke, stepped in to manage the company with the help of the firm's longtime bookkeeper. On December 10, 1882, a mysterious fire swept through the building that housed the Hennecke company, destroying everything. Newspapers reported that the loss was estimated at $80,000, while the company carried only $55,000 in insurance coverage. The firm apparently continued into the 1920s, offering sculptures, garden furniture and benches.

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