-Roosevelt c. 1933 - 1936

This little Roosevelt bust, probably made of cast metal around the mid-20th century, has a kind of earnestness about it. The maker, Kenton Hardware, wasn’t trying to trick you with virtuoso detail, but you sense they put their back into it. There’s a directness in the approach that’s appealing. The surface is a kind of bronzy color, but it's mottled, like an old penny that’s been kicking around a while. The texture isn’t smooth; you can see the marks and pits, like the traces of its making are still visible. It reminds me of those busts and statues you see in old libraries – a bit worn but still full of presence. Look at the way the light catches the ridge of the brow and the set of his jaw. Those little details tell a story. It's like seeing the past through a slightly blurry lens. It brings Marsden Hartley to mind, with that same feeling of homespun and no-nonsense American modernism. Ultimately, it's more about the touch and feel than historical accuracy.