Attributed to Minnie Adkins (American, 1934 to present). Sow and 3 piglets - painted wood carvings, ca. 1990s CE. An endearing ensemble of 4 wood sculptures attributed to American folk artist Minnie Adkins depicting a mother pig lying on her side as 3 piglets surround her preparing to nurse. All 4 animals are enveloped in black pigment with a vertical white stripe across their torso and display barrel-like bodies with slender limbs and coiled tails formed from pieces of rope. Sizeable, petaloid ears rise from each head, towering above annular eyes and short snouts with incised nostrils. Ten spikes protrude from the belly of the mama pig, representing teats. Size of largest (mother): 22" L x 18.3" W x 9.5" H (55.9 cm x 46.5 cm x 24.1 cm)

Minnie Adkins is a Kentucky folk artist known for her hand-painted wood sculptures of animals. Self-taught, Adkins was interested in whittling wooden sticks from a young age and was gifted a pocketknife from her father, encouraging her to take up a hobby that was then predominantly practiced by males. She continued carving in her adult life and began to sell her work at local outdoor markets in Ohio and then a craft gallery in Morehead, Kentucky where she was noticed by folk art dealer Larry Hackley who introduced her pieces to collectors and galleries throughout the country.

Pieces by Minnie Adkins can be found in the permanent collections of many highly esteemed museums and galleries, such as the American Folk Art Museum, the Smithsonian Institution, the American National Gallery of Art, and the Kentucky Folk Art Center, as well as private collections, such as those of Oprah Winfrey and Barbara Streisand.

Provenance: ex-private Bishop Family Trust collection, the Trust of the late Bill Bishop, a noted antiquarian with shops in Scottsdale, Arizona and Allenspark, Colorado, USA, acquired before 2010

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#173310

Mother pig and 1 piglet have been professionally repaired with repainting over break lines. All have some light surface wear, stable hairline fissures, and fraying to tails. Otherwise, all are very nice with great presentation and nice remaining pigments.