An Important Woodbridge Figures Family

Woodbridge, New Jersey
Circa: 1900-1920
Size: range from 4” - 7 1/4”
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As the only objects represented in both Ricco/Maresca’s Folk Art bibles, the Old Testament (American Primitive) and the New Testament (American Vernacular), the Woodbridge Figures remain one of the most provocative and compelling bodies of folk art sculpture found over the years.

In the late 1960s, while excavating the land for a mall, a large cache of wooden carved human figures was discovered in a shed near the old clay pits of Woodbridge, NJ.

The explicitly carved male and female figures are idiosyncratically carved. All are without arms, and each has robust legs (many with black painted boots), genitals, painted nipples, dark hair, most with rosy cheeks; and many of the larger adult figures have small, removable dowels atop their heads, the males with phallic pegs and the females with miniatures naked torsos.

Though the purpose of the fetish-like figures is unknown, they suggest some ritualistic practices. The explicit nature of them, along with the additional hidden sex organs, may indicate some fertility rite.

Originally acquired by Ricco/Maresca and sold into private collections, the bulk of the original cache now reside in a private institution. However, the four figures herein were found separately from this primary cache in Irvington, NJ, by the noted collector/author Milt Simpson and were featured in his book Folk Erotica. These four represent a family of a mother, father, son, and daughter. The parents have the aforementioned removable pegs from atop the heads, but the kids do not (maybe a sign of their youth), and the little girl has a bow on the back of her head.

HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGES AVAILABLE.

Provenance: Milt Simpson collection

Literature: pictured in Folk Erotica, Milt Simpson, 1994

Other Media: [TV Program] Real Personal with Bob Berkowitz, 1994, exhibited and discussed on the program.

Condition: Excellent with wear commensurate with age and use.

Price: $18,500.00

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