William and Bruce Friedle 1960's Wire Starburst Wall Sculpture
Fabulous mid-century Brutalist mixed metal wall sculpture by William and Bruce Friedle, featuring a dramatic circular sunburst design with hundreds of slender metal rods radiating from a richly textured, two tiered sculptural center. A distinctive example of mid-century modern Brutalist metalwork that makes an impressive statement as a large-scale wall accent. MEASURES 31" x 31" x 2.5" CONDITION In fantastic vintage condition, with an authentic Friedle signature sticker in verso. A welded washer is on the back for easy hanging. FRIEDLE BROTHERS Working with brass and copper William and Bruce Friedle were metal sculptors who opened a showroom called Sculptsmith in 1961. It was located at 138 West Tenth Street in New York City's Greenwich Village, which was a thriving artistic community at the time. They specialized in creating brass and copper abstract sculptures, with their most popular designs being the sunbursts. They created both floor and wall sculptures. Their sunburst designs are credited with introducing the sunburst design/movement of the 1960s, and many consider the Friedle brothers to be the originators of mod metal starburst designs. Their starburst designs were especially popular during the 1960s, and their collectors included Malcolm Forbes, Sammy Davis, Jr., Henry Morgan, Jim Henson, former President Nixon, Ted Kennedy, and many other notable collectors. By the end of their shop, Friedle sculptures were selling for up to $60,000. The Friedle brothers' metal sculptures were also popular in Hollywood during the 1960s and appeared in various movies and TV shows of that time. For instance, their sunburst design was featured in the opening credits of the popular TV series "The Dick Van Dyke Show" (1961-1966). The sculpture was mounted on the wall of Rob and Laura Petrie's living room and became a famous symbol of the show. Additionally, their sculptures were used as props in other TV shows and movies, such as "Bewitched" and "The Graduate" (1967). In the latter, the iconic "Mrs. Robinson" bedroom scene featured a Sculptsmith wall sculpture in the background. Their sculptures were also used in the decor of various public buildings, including the San Francisco International Airport and the Bank of America building in Beverly Hills. Most of their work was unsigned (they just didn't feel like signing it!) or 'signed' with a with a Friedlel label. While William Friedle retired in the very early 70's; Bruce Friedle's last location at 304 E 76th St New York , NY closed in the early 1990s. PACKING AND SHIPPING Packaging vintage items for shipment requires special attention and consideration to ensure that they arrive at their destination in the same condition they left in. When purchasing from Phat Dog Vintage, you can expect safe, clean and professional packing. We use an abundance of bubble wrap and other packing materials to properly insulate your purchase from damage during transit. At Phat Dog Vintage we strive to be as transparent and descriptive as possible with all of our items. If you have any question about this item or any other item in our store, please do not hesitate to contact us. Thanks for looking!