Mahogany Sculpture of "Little Charleston Bench"

Description

Photograph of a mahogany sculpture of a park bench that was used as the pattern for many park benches throughout Charleston, including Waterfront Park, various bus stops, the Charleston Visitors Center, various parking garages, Wragg Square, etc. Many of those benches bear the artist's name "Runyon." The design consists of gargoyles capturing birds of paradise and other ornamentation, and was based on a ca. 1880 "Little Charleston Bench" a/k/a "Battery Bench."

J&M Foundry (Charleston), with which the donor/artist was affiliated, was contacted by the City of Charleston to design and cast the benches. Mr. Runyon was retained to sculpt the pattern.

The photograph is dated November 13, 1989, with sign "Sculpture by D.R. Runyon."

See photo of some of the actual benches, 2009.021.2a.