Happy Halloween Whirligig

Happy Halloween !

Whirligig

from the American Folk Art Museum! 
This whirligig is simple in construction, comprising a brightly painted elemental figure with a propeller at the front. Its interest is derived primarily from the unusual imagery of a witch riding a broomstick, as witches are infrequent subjects of American folk art. The witch appears to fly around when the propeller is turned by the wind.

Image: "Witch On A Broomstick Whirligig" Artist unidentified, New England, United States, late nineteenth century, paint on wood with twigs and metal, 12 1/4 × 12 1/4 × 5 1/4", collection American Folk Art Museum, gift of Leo and Dorothea Rabkin: 1987.13.1. 
Photo credit: John Parnell

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