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ELIJAH PIERCE
American, 1892-1984
Love Birds, 1940
Paint and glitter on carved wood, 16 x 15”
Gift of T. Marshall Hahn, Jr. 2001.14

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Love Birds

The son of a church deacon and an ordained Baptist preacher himself, Elijah Pierce believed that God also led him to preach through his carvings. Though known for his religious subjects—“sermons” in wood—animal carvings were a favorite subject. Love Birds is an engaging expression of nature, directly carved and tidily painted, with such finely executed details as the individualized feathers on the birds.