Completed Anyone know the American sculptor J. Caldwell?

[Schnabeltier]

I purchased this original one-off sculpture of the Northern Cheyenne warrior "Roman Nose" from a business called "The Little Tin Soldier Shoppe" on Lake Street in Minneapolis, Minnesota about 30 years ago. It's a fine piece -- about 140mm head to toe -- but I don't know anything about the artist. I half-painted it long ago, and it needs to be repainted to higher standards. I am thinking about adding his war shield to the left forearm, as I think it might have been there on the original but lost before I acquired it. To the best of my recollection, the sculpture was signed "J. Caldwell." Anyone know of him?

Thanks in advance.

 

[TWOMOONS]

Yes...Back in the Jurassic Era, when I wanted to be a sculptor, I had commissioned him to do about 4/5 figures for me....in fact, I just found a Dakota Indian woman warrior I commissioned in a box I hadn't opened in over two decades.
He would do anything you wanted.... also looking at a Blackfeet in a capote with a pack dog he did for me. He was versatile and fast, too.
They are a bit beat up from being packed away and moving around so much, I may restore them. I used to wait like a kid for a Kellogg's cereal toy for them to arrive.
Don't know if he still sculpts...I know he used plain 'ol Sculpey...I don't think Super was around yet back then.
Forget what he charged...must have pretty reasonable though.
Learned a lot from looking at his sculpts...and sort of "copied" his techniques.
You should do it over with a shield. There's quite a bit out there on Roman Nose. Good luck with it and make sure you show us what you complete. All in all, J Caldwell was pretty great, wasn't he?
I do remember one odd thing about the whole commission process: If you called the shop and inquired about your piece, and tried to talk to Caldwell, you never could. I wanted to talk to him and pick his brains, but the guy on the phone would run interference...so it never happened; don't xactly know why. Maybe fear off making private deals or whatever...or maybe Caldwell was shy?

Cheers

 

[Schnabeltier]

Thanks, Twomoons. With which shop was he affiliated? I recall there were two or three other Indian figures in the shop at the time I bought Roman Nose. One was Geronimo, but I can't recall the others. His technique is quite good. It's interesting to see how he put them together.

I spent a hour or so looking for a description of his sheild, but all I came up with is a recent portrait (http://www.joanmarcusfineart.com/ahrendt1.htm). I've pinged the artist in an attempt to find out if the portrayal of the shield is based on fact, or if it's just a reasonable facsimile of what RN might have carried.