Bull’s Head

Miles Burkholder Carpenter, Bull's Head, 1972, carved and painted wood, rubber, and thread, 21 ¹⁄₄ x 12 x 15 in. (54.0 x 30.5 x 38.0 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson, 1986.65.234

Artwork Details

Title: Bull’s Head
Artist: Miles Burkholder Carpenter
Date: 1972
Location: Smithsonian American Art Museum
/
Luce Foundation Center
/
3rd Floor
/
27B
Dimensions: 21 ¹⁄₄ x 12 x 15 in. (54.0 x 30.5 x 38.0 cm.)
Credit Line: Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson
Mediums: nails
rubber
thread
wood
Mediums Description: carved and painted wood, rubber, and thread
Classifications: Sculpture
Subjects: Animal — cattle
Object Number: 1986.65.234
Linked Open Data: https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1986.65.234

Artwork Description

Miles Carpenter was known around Waverly, Virginia, for filling his truck with life-size wood carvings of people and large animals and driving it around town. Bull’s Head was part of the original collection in the truck. Carpenter parked his truck next to his roadside store as a way of attracting customers.