Highlights Archives
Commemorative Wisconsin Ornament
No, we're not talking about another trinket in the shape of the state. Rather we are referring to an ornament based on the gilded statue named "Wisconsin" that adorns the top of the state Capitol. She will be the centerpiece of the second annual Wisconsin State Capitol commemorative ornament, available beginning Saturday, November 19, for $17.
This special collectible is inspired by the bronze-and-gilded statue — the crowning feature of the Wisconsin State Capitol's dome. The statue, designed by famed sculptor Daniel Chester French, is a classical strong female dressed in an ancient-styled stola and robe. Her head is adorned with a helmet covered by a plentiful harvest of Wisconsin's fruits and vegetables, and is capped with the state animal, the badger. Her left hand holds an eagle perched on a globe. Her right arm is raised high representing the state motto, Forward.
The statue is constructed of hollow bronze covered in gold leaf. It stands 15 feet 5 inches and weighs approximately 6,000 pounds. She faces southeast, toward the nation's capital, overlooking the Lake Monona side of the city's isthmus.
The State Capitol Commission approved the statue in 1908. One figure seriously considered for the honored position was sculpted by Helen Farnsworth Mears, a Wisconsin native, but the commission ultimately awarded the work to the more well-known sculptor. French, who named the Capitol's most prominent statue, designed it to symbolize our state motto and represent the spirit of Wisconsin. The statue began her long reign over Madison's skyline when she was hoisted atop the dome on July 20, 1914. Americans, however, are most familiar with French's sculpture completed eight years later — the pensive seated Lincoln in the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
In 1990, in conjunction with the State Capitol Renovation Project, the statue was cleaned, conserved and regilded. The gilding process used approximately 12,275 3-inch sheets of gold leaf totaling nearly one pound. The statue can be seen for miles, and is one of Wisconsin's most famous and treasured sights.
Proceeds from your purchase support the State Capitol Restoration Fund. Your purchase allows the state of Wisconsin to acquire items for the ongoing restoration of the Wisconsin State Capitol. Thank you for your support.
:: Posted November 22, 2005
|
