-Turkey c. 1905 - 1935

Curator: This unassuming sculpture is entitled “-Turkey,” made by the A.C. Williams Company somewhere between 1905 and 1935. The materials include found objects and assembled metal elements. Editor: It has a delightful, weighty presence, wouldn’t you say? A miniature bronze titan… though I see its palette limited to brown and rust shades, the form has a tactile energy. Curator: The turkey, historically, takes on such a weighted meaning—at once a symbol of the harvest, of American identity rooted in thanksgiving traditions, and more recently, perhaps even a signifier of abundance bordering on excess. Editor: Precisely! The repetition of small, scalloped forms mimicking plumage gives it visual density and scale. A clear pattern lends it structure, drawing attention to its mass and three-dimensional presence. Note the conscious composition in the tail. Curator: Consider the symbolic journey the turkey has undertaken! Initially perceived by European colonists as a novelty, something uniquely 'American' to feast upon, and it evolved into a centerpiece for a celebration steeped in complicated colonial narratives. What a complex journey mapped into a seemingly simple figure. Editor: I see how those narrative layers complicate the material presence, its grounded realism…it becomes not merely decoration, but something more like social commentary! Curator: Right. This object really exemplifies the continuity of visual symbols over time, connecting folk memory, shifting values, and the cultural construction of traditions. Editor: Yes, the tension between surface charm and symbolic weight is compelling here, it provokes questions about what it means to look… and to see. Curator: Absolutely. Reflecting on this seemingly simple object uncovers layers about American identity, consumption, and tradition. Editor: Well, I am left appreciating its formal mastery and, yes, now reflecting upon those complex thematic undertones that this objet d'art holds!