A Carved and Polychrome Paint-Decorated Model of Circus Wagon. Attributed to Carl Furst, Sebastian Wagon Co. New York, Early 20th Century.

This Carved Model of Pawnee Bill’s Wild West Show bandwagon, which was made by the Sebastian Wagon Company in 1903. On one side, a tableau illustrates Columbus’ arrival in America; on the other, a tableau depicts Pocahontas saving Captain John Smith. The full-sized wagon is illustrated in Robert Bishop, American Folk Sculpture (New York, 1974), p. 274-275. Frederick Fried, Artists in Wood (New York), p 110-111. Fig 18a-18b. During 1903 Samuel Robb was hard at work rushing to get the carvings done for the order of thirteen wagons. Sebastian received an order from Major Gordon W. Lillie, better known as “Pawnee Bill,” for one new bandwagon and one Japanese wagon, with delivery specified for the spring ocf 1903. One side was to depict Columbus discovering America, after the Painting The Landing of Columbus, by John Vanderlyn (1775-1852) Col.l fig.18A); and the other, Pocahontas saving the life of John Smith (Figs. 84,85; Col. Fig. 18B).