The Whistling Boy
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325757)
Rockingham, Australia
January 21, 2017 7:56am CST
I have two ornaments that I've inherited from my parents. They are made of plaster and I've dozens of these in antique shops and markets. I think they were like the flying ducks that once adorned everyone's walls. Something you 'had to have' if you were anybody.
We have a friend who used to stay with us from time to time. The 'boys' stood on the dressing-table in the spare bedroom. When the friend left, I'd always find one boy facing the wall. Our friend always thought that, from behind, he looked like he was relieving himself.
25 people like this
25 responses
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
21 Jan 17
Hard to pee with your hands in your pockets! Maybe it's a case of 'you had to be there in person'.
7 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
22 Jan 17
@JudyEv I'll take your word for it. LOL
2 people like this
@Ceerios (4698)
• Goodfellow, Texas
26 Jan 17
@AbbyGreenhill - Ms Abby - It is not so disconcerting to pee with the hands in the pockets, less so than peeing in the pockets directly I suppose. -Gus-
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
21 Jan 17
Well, it's either that or (face on) he's "jingling his coins" (to put it politely). Certain minds will see whatever takes their fancy, I suppose!
Actually, if he were relieving himself, his hips would be further forward, his legs apart slightly (so as not to splash his boots) and his shoulders further back. He would also probably be looking down!6 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
21 Jan 17
Thanks for the visual of someone peeing.
5 people like this
@JudyEv (325757)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Jan 17
@AbbyGreenhill You're welcome! :)
2 people like this
@GreatMartin (23677)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
21 Jan 17
Never seen or heard of them before! I like your friend's interpretation!!
4 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
21 Jan 17
Do you have any idea what year vintage are they?
4 people like this
@JudyEv (325757)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Jan 17
I found one on a website but it is slightly different. The figure has braces. It was made in 1920 which I reckon would be about right as Mum was born in 1910. They belong to Dad's Mum originally. I haven't been able to find one exactly the same yet. Just went looking for the boy with the cherries (see next post) and found the following "These were very popular during the Depression. It was made by Boston Plastic Art Co., which was in Boston from about 1900 until the early 1920s. The statue itself was first produced around 1906."
3 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
21 Jan 17
They are adorable and that is so funny about your friend.
3 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
21 Jan 17
now that you mention it..... it kinds does! lol
3 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
22 Jan 17
@JudyEv totally, funny that she does that
2 people like this
@Gita17112016 (3611)
• Trinidad And Tobago
21 Jan 17
Now that you mention...it does seem so. Why are they in the garden?
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@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
22 Jan 17
The Whistling Boy seems to have been a quite popular subject in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. Just a quick search turned up two paintings by American artists (Frank Duveneck in the Dallas Museum of Art and Joseph Frank Currier in Indianapolis) and an Art Deco 'chalkware' (painted plaster) statuette for sale at $371. Somewhere, I suppose, there must be an 'original' art work from which all of these were more or less derived but I haven't been able to trace it.
Declaration: Art Deco Statue Whistling Boy Chalk Ware Plaster Original Paint has been declared an antique and is approved for sale on sellingantiques.co.uk.
2 people like this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
22 Jan 17
I also found a (cement) garden ornament listed on eBay which is quite similar to your plaster statues.
Whistling Boy. Green Man wall plaques. Quality stone cast Statue. The Statue stands 61cm high and weighs approx 10KG. Browse some of our other categories. Griffin's. As with all our designs our products are made from solid cast stone and come in an very au
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325757)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Jan 17
I found the one for 371 but I thought it was pounds, not dollars. And it is a bit different in that the figure has braces and the stance is a bit different - speaking of stances! Haha,. I found a reference to the boy with the cherries which says it is from the Boston Plaster Art Co which was producing items between 1900 and 1920. The cement one is quite similar. Thanks for the links.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130066)
• India
22 Jan 17
It is only after reading your post that I felt your friend was right (lol)
2 people like this
@allknowing (130066)
• India
22 Jan 17
@JudyEv The image does give that impression
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
23 Jan 17
Thanks for the laugh. I'm going to send both of these posts to my antique dealer and see what they say.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
24 Jan 17
@JudyEv very interesting I will mention that to my dealer..
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
24 Jan 17
@JudyEv I just looked it up and didn't see any yard art. Lots of fancy small things and that company appears to still in business,,
