late 19th century, cast iron, in the form of a snarling wolf head, from the facade of the American Trust Company, San Francisco, California, probably original painted surface, head 12-3/4 x 13 x 8-7/8 in.; later wood mount 15-3/4 x 10 in.

Provenance: An Important Southern Institution

Note: The original American Trust Company building was built in 1873 and demolished in 1959. It sat at the corner of California and Leidesdorff St. and featured a cast iron exterior. According to consignor notes, this wolf head was a part of the cast iron facade.

attractive worn, rusty and weathered surface, scattered chipping and losses to finish commensurate with age and outdoor use, drilled mounting hole at center forehead, with later bolt attached; attached to later mount, mounting holes at backboard corners, wear to surface