XI
TO repaint a figure cost from $10 to $15. They were always painted flashily with high-grade paint and trimmings of genuine gold or silver or whatever metal was called for. Some had earrings, others beads, bracelets or necklaces to repaint fancifully. Then the feathers of the Indian required the highest artistic blending of colors.
Mr. Caspari had scores of paint pots used in connection with this branch of his business. Each held a different colored paint.
As a rule figures required repainting every 18 months, although Mr. Fricke’s Indian, bought 25 years ago, has had but three coats of paint.
“But they never could get the color again as it was at first,” says Mr. Fricke.
The 2-foot law as applied to obstructions of sidewalks has been one of the main causes for the removal of the Indian and such figures.
Mr. Hutchingson has in front of his store on Gay street an Indian maiden which came into his possession with other stock in 1896. A former owner once recognized it and stated that he had had it for 30 years.
Mr. Hutchingson says this is the only Indian that experienced and survived the big fire of 1904. The Church of the Messiah, corner of Gay and Fayette streets, was the only church that burned, and this Indian saw it burn and was herself blistered and cracked. Since then she has had a new coat of paint.
George Eikenberg, on East Fayette street, has had a figure in front of his store for 30 years. Mr. Decker, of North Gay street, above Belair Market, has an Indian made by a Mr. Gato on North Caroline street. Mr. Decker bought it in 1879, and the only repairing done has been on one arm that was accidentally broken off. It has been painted every two years and has always done good service.
Incidentally, Mr. Gato, the sculptor, was a short man and had to stand on a chair to carve part of the Indian, which is itself a small one.
Place aux Dames