Folk Art Huge 12 " Diorama Of Comstock Wagon In Light Bulb Bottle Provenance
Item History & Price
Wonderful Western Diorama Folk Art Scene- Comstock Wagon in a Huge Light Bulb This is a fantastic model of a Western Diorama showing aComstock Wagon being pulled by two horses built inside a huge 1000 watt lightbulb rather than the conventional bottle and measures a huge 12 inches high to make a very impressive display. The wagon is very nicely detailed with red spooked wheels and a redchassis and green wagon bed. There is a wooden water barrel with blackrungs suspende...d form one side of the wagon. The wagon is covered in theprairie schooner styled covered canvas which in this case is made from cloth.Inside the wagon is a red seat with two figures inside. Both are madefrom cloth and one is in a blue shirt and the other in a black and whitechecked shirt. The one in blue is holding the reigns to the horses. The horsesare painted brown and are nicely carved with horse collars and black threadrigging and harness. A Red wagon fork goes between the two horses. The wagon is rolling on a prairie of green made from woodenslats painted in a green color. There are two trees and 9 sage brushesplaced on the wooden slat base. There is an arch that goes from one sideof the wooden floor across the top of the glass to the other side. Thecurved sides are painted brown and the curved top is painted red. On one sideof the red arch is the phrase; "Two Miles To A Bucket Of Oats, " andon the other side: "Western Homes On Wheels." The bottle is inwonderful condition with all items securely fixed inside the bottle. There is alight hazing inside the light bulb. Considering that the light bulb is 61 yearsold is seems only appropriate that the horses may have stirred up a little dustduring their long journey.The whole scene is suspended near the lower part of thelight bulb and approximately one inch lower is another circular floor withlabels that state: " Made by R. E. Searight, 315 Norton St., Long Beach5., California" on one side and "Size of Globe - 1000 Watt, Date - 3- 17 - 1958, Ph - GA - 2 - 8205" The floor is supported by around wooden column the size of the bulb opening. On the front side is apicture of Robert E. Searight with a label underneath that has "R.E. Searight, 315 Norton Street, Long Beach 5, California." On theopposite side is a prayer: "For any bright vacation day, For things to do, and friends at play; For grass and trees and lakes so blue, For fields of gray, and mountains too; We thank thee, heavenly Father." The bulb is mounted ina square wooden box in natural wood. Under this box is handwritten: "Date-3-17-1958, Made by R. E. Searight, 315 Norton Street, Long Beach 5, California, Phone GA-2-8205."
Information about the ArtistRobert E. Searight was born in 1882 and died in 1978. Hebegan building scenes in bottles in 1900 and continued into the 1960's. He wasa retired telephone company worker and before that a school employee. Heand his wife moved to Long Beach, California in 1922.His earliest creations were in bottles but he began buildingscenes inside light bulbs as they became more available. I know of no otherartist who included as much provenance in their work as he did. He almostalways included his picture and a great deal of building information inside hislightbulbs. Among the information that he included with his light bulbs and onthe stands were his picture, first name, middle initial, and last name, address, city, and state, phone number, the month, day and the year ofconstruction, number of hours constructing, and the number of pieces used inthe building.
Shipping and Other ImportantInformationWhile we pack well to protect the item, it is impossible tosecure the contents of the bottle, so at our expense we will provide insurancefor the buyer in the amount of the purchase price. We will also ship thisbottle as a free service to the Buyer living in the continental Unites States.International buyers please inquire as to shipping cost. We require payment by PayPal, within 2 days of the auction'send. We try to describe our pieces very accurately and buyer understands thatthe item is being sold "As Is" so please ask questions beforebidding. The pictures included are to be considered as a part of this auctionsdescription and we are happy to provide additional pictures upon request. Thearticles shown in this auction about Robert Searight are for informational andrecognition purposes only and they are not included in this auction. We have additional bottles and other fine collectibles upfor sale so please visit our other auctions. Thank you for shopping with us!519
Information about the ArtistRobert E. Searight was born in 1882 and died in 1978. Hebegan building scenes in bottles in 1900 and continued into the 1960's. He wasa retired telephone company worker and before that a school employee. Heand his wife moved to Long Beach, California in 1922.His earliest creations were in bottles but he began buildingscenes inside light bulbs as they became more available. I know of no otherartist who included as much provenance in their work as he did. He almostalways included his picture and a great deal of building information inside hislightbulbs. Among the information that he included with his light bulbs and onthe stands were his picture, first name, middle initial, and last name, address, city, and state, phone number, the month, day and the year ofconstruction, number of hours constructing, and the number of pieces used inthe building.
Shipping and Other ImportantInformationWhile we pack well to protect the item, it is impossible tosecure the contents of the bottle, so at our expense we will provide insurancefor the buyer in the amount of the purchase price. We will also ship thisbottle as a free service to the Buyer living in the continental Unites States.International buyers please inquire as to shipping cost. We require payment by PayPal, within 2 days of the auction'send. We try to describe our pieces very accurately and buyer understands thatthe item is being sold "As Is" so please ask questions beforebidding. The pictures included are to be considered as a part of this auctionsdescription and we are happy to provide additional pictures upon request. Thearticles shown in this auction about Robert Searight are for informational andrecognition purposes only and they are not included in this auction. We have additional bottles and other fine collectibles upfor sale so please visit our other auctions. Thank you for shopping with us!519
