Bull Elk

Founder Cast by Gorham Manufacturing Company American

1904; cast 1905

Not on view

Harvey, who trained in Paris with the noted animal sculptor Emmanuel Frémiet, often drew inspiration from the denizens of zoos, especially those in the New York Zoological Park in the Bronx (popularly known as the Bronx Zoo). Here, a male elk, one of the largest North American mammals, appears alert. Harvey described its impressive antlers as being as “sharp as bayonets.” “Bull Elk” was cast in both monumental and statuette versions. The work serves as an emblem of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and examples are installed in and around fraternal lodges across the United States.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

Title: Bull Elk
Artist: Eli Harvey (American, Ogden, Ohio 1860–1957 Alhambra, California)
Founder: Cast by Gorham Manufacturing Company (American, Providence, Rhode Island, 1831–present)
Date: 1904; cast 1905
Culture: American
Medium: Bronze
Dimensions: 33 1/4 x 23 1/4 x 9 1/2 in. (84.5 x 59.1 x 24.1 cm)
Credit Line: Morris K. Jesup Fund, 2011
Object Number: 2011.202
Curatorial Department: The American Wing

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