Sculptural Tall 1986 Ball in Cage Whimsy by John Coppess vintage tramp art box but a nice object

but a nice object

and in addition to the relief carved features of his face

I just really like laying them out on the table and moving them around

The bodies of most appear to be made of old tool handles

Sculptural Tall 1986 Ball in Cage Whimsy by John Coppess vintage tramp art box but a nice objectThis particular form, a long and tall ball in cage feeling as much a modernist sculpture as a whimsy, seems to have been the specialty of John E. Coppess of Sunfield, Michigan, who signed it on the bottom, and by whom I found a very similar whimsy several months ago dated 1975! A quick search reveals that Coppess was born in 1910, so would have been well into his 70s when he carved this one, and I have to imagine making it gave him quite a lot of