This leaf is unusual in that it is initialed on the front and signed on the back by Oskar J. W. Hansen.
He initialed leaves as "l-O-l" to show the H (for Hansen) with the O (for Oskar) inside the vertical bars of the H. You can see the "l-0-l" on the front of this leaf - at the right side of the stem with the stem facing away from you. The copyright symbol is to the right of his initials. See pictures 5, 6, & 7.
It is rare to find a POINSETTIA Leaf with Oskar Hansen's name and initials on it.
The back of the tray is hallmarked with the Virginia Metalcrafters foundry mark, and
3-44
COPYRIGHT 1948
OSKAR J.W. HANSEN
POINSETTIA
These older leaves did not carry the phrase "VA Metalcrafters".
Has none of the lacquer from the factory. The raised lettering on the back is very crisp and readable. Also Hansen's initials (OH) are smudged on the front of the tray but readable Clean; ready to use. Back has deep patina showing its age. I can clean it if you want.
The POINSETTIA leaf tray measures 6-1/2" long x 5" wide and 1-1/2" tall. The leaf tray weighs 8.5 ounces. The design number is 3-44.
The POINSETTIA is VMC's Leaf of the Month for November. Each leaf of the month has a quote associated with it. For the POINSETTIA, there is the following quote from Sir Walter Scott
"November's leaf is red and sear."
If you buy 2 or more VMC items from me, I will discount each additional item by $4. The 1st item has no discount.
----------------------------The following information can be found on the internet--------------------------------------
Virginia Metalcrafters of Waynesboro, Virginia was in business from 1890 – 2006.
Virginia Metalcrafters was one of the oldest foundries in the United States continually producing authentic sand-cast decorative wares, using specialty brasses and alloys.
Gifted Artisans such as Horace Burns and Oskar J.W. Hansen (internationally known sculptor of the Cherubim at the Hoover Dam) carved dozens of fascinating leaf patterns which were usually sand cast in Brass alloys and finished with a lacquer that has held up incredibly well, thru the years.
Older leaves have the artist’s initials HB or OH along with a copyright symbol usually appearing on the front of the leaf. These leaves range in size from less than 4” to about 40 inches; they have been mentioned in popular magazines by people such as Martha Stewart; they are highly sought after by collectors today.
Over the years Artisans at Virginia Metalcrafters experimented, casting high end decorative pieces in alloys of aluminum; today these “aluminum” pieces are very rare. Items that were finished as aluminum were so well done they look like steel to this day. They also took advantage of the light weight properties of aluminum alloys to cast very large leaves such as the Sea Grape and Large Lotus, which they then anodized in Gold.
Fine craftsmanship and careful attention to detail were reflected in all items made by Virginia Metalcrafters; they were sought after by museums, foundations and historic preservationists to replicate antiques. They were also call on to product special presentation gift for companies such as Philip Morris.
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