Featured 'Bayonet to sickle' sculpture: 2 Qs

I got this sculpture at a recent estate sale. I think it's a repurposed bayonet, one that looks old.

The famous Bible quote is hand-written on what sure looks like a manila folder, then scissored and glued to the wood base.

The artist is a local guy: https://portlandopenstudios.wordpress.com/2010/09/15/robert-mcwilliams-visionary-outsider/

Two questions:

1. I want to remove the quotes on paper, as I think they make it look cheap and maybe even over-explain it. Should I?

2. Would it have been more interesting (or valuable!) as a bayonet, and, if so, does that mean there's absolutely no hope for humanity?


(from the end of the 'mount', the blade is 22" / 56cm curved)

Thanks!



Gonna also tag @the blacksmith

 

I'm torn between leave it as the artist intended & relocate it to the bottom.

 

That's exactly me too.

 

After bothering to look at the article at the link you posted, I see that his pieces generally are of this punning, concept driven sort, but did not spot in any of the photos explanatory labels prominently placed. I had been going to say that if you had an eye to its future value to a collector, you should leave it in original condition. However, I am not now very sure this is the original condition, although I don't doubt the Bible verse goes with the work. Can the label be removed intact, without marring the underlying wood?

 

I got it at his personal estate sale (as well as other stuff), so I know it's not been added to by someone else. It's his handwriting too.

The paper is pretty 'on there.'

Thanks for the feedback, btw!

 

Then I think it had better stay there.

 

You know, I could probably fashion a kind of wood 'frame' to sit around the outside of the base, one that would conceal the quotes without damaging them. That might be a (literal!) work around.

 

I think the text should stay as the artist intended.

I was just going to suggest something like that.

 

I'd probably leave it; I think he did that with a fountain pen. To me, it's part of the work.

 

Thanks 2mb and evely.

 

Are we sure that it's the artist that wrote and applied the paper?

 

i get the impression the artist really wanted to explain his thought process, and felt strongly enough to add that

would it look better without ....... yep

would i remove it............hmmmm i dunno (tricky one)

 

another idea (not sure it would work)

is to frame the little quotes somehow (to make it look tidier)

little placed frames around each

its the untidiness of the paper that cheapens it (looking)

like i said though

 

the best (funniest) thing would be to see it reattached to a gun again

think the artist would certainly make his 'point'

 

That, for sure, is a hilarious image!

 

I feel pretty confident.... The estate sale was in his house, there were flyers for his shows here in P-town, and many of the other pieces were signed.

 

you could do a little makeshift border around a quote to see if it works, brass or something metal maybe

 

Alternatively, you could put a cloth band around the base, covering the paper.

 

THe only way I'd remove it would be to have brass plates engraved with the same verses, preferably duplicating the handwriting. Since that process would cost more than the sculpture did, by a lot, I'd leave things alone.

 

then leave it alone in it's original form.....the way the artist made it !!!