Wood Sculpture of Robed Monk
The sculpture was carved by my Grandfather's best friend, Svend Ericksen. Svend was a graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and worked as a wood carver / artist for the Works Progress Administration Federal Art Project. After the Depression and WWII, Svend made a living as a commissioned artist. I was told as a child that Svend was hired to perform the wood carvings on the replica of the HMS Bounty, which was built for the 1962 film Mutiny on the Bounty and was sunk by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. I'm also told that Svend also was commissioned to build and carve a headboard that was presented as a gift to Queen Elizabeth. There are no scratches or damage, and there are a couple fine cracks in the wood grain, likely from changes in humidity over many yearly cycles.
7" wide across the elbows and 18" tall including the base
Inherited
Yes
Hello, this item is a hand-carved wooden sculpture of a robed monk, measuring approximately 18 inches tall including the base and 7 inches wide across the elbows. According to the provenance details, it was created by Svend Ericksen, an American woodcarver active during the mid-20th century, known for working under the Works Progress Administration Federal Art Project and for contributing to notable commissions such as the replica of the HMS Bounty and a headboard gifted to Queen Elizabeth. The sculpture shows clean lines and a stylized depiction, reflecting both Asian-inspired aesthetics and American craftsmanship traditions from the 1930s–1960s.
Given its direct provenance, artist background, and association with the WPA era, this sculpture would primarily hold value within the market for American folk and decorative arts rather than as an Asian antique. Sculptures by known WPA-affiliated artists can command between $800 and $2,500 USD, depending on size, condition, and documented history.
