Laughing Man

Object NameSculpture

Maker Stephen Paul Day (b. 1954)

Made Fromnon-lead glass, enamel

Date1986

Place MadeUnited States

Techniquefused enameled glass, engraved, copper leaf, cast

SizeH: 43 cm, L: 37.2 cm, W: 12.4 cm

Accession Number92.4.114

Credit LineGift of Laurie and Irvin J. Borowsky

Curatorial Area(s)

Postwar and Contemporary

Exhibitions

Title Unknown (Anne O'Brien Gallery)

Not On View

Physical DescriptionColorless non-lead glass with amber stain, orange enamel, mettalic gold and copper (some patination); sheets of industrial glass are painted then fused/fired enclosing embossed bits of copper leaf, polished, engraved, mounted (Dow-Corning silicone) in cast bronze framework. Assymetrical free-standing cantilevered bronze sculpture in C-shape with flat base; shape originally assembled of "scrap" machine parts decorated with modeled applications including a stylized vine that extends around "C" and above top, overlapping leaves create an extended "plume", base has small male nude falling backwards, bird on one toe, one hand shaped into paddle/wing, upper section of metal frames rectangular window of three fused glass panels depicting enameled, lustred, and engraved outlined profile of figure with outstretched arms reaching towards internal copper bits including arrow and small embossed female face over small block letters 9appearing white) forming words in stepped layout "HOW HE FALLS THE LAUGHING FOOL", one side of window has bronze "frame" in high relief; metal base ground flat; inscribed/painted (?) in glass near lower edge, small block letters appearing in reverse to other lettering: "REMEMBER 1986 DAY".
Provenance

Source Laurie Borowsky

Source Irvin J. Borowsky