Wilhelm Schimmel (Cumberland Valley, Pennsylvania 1817 - 1890), rare large carved and painted pine figure of a tiger devouring a soldier, the jagged-toothed tiger is holding an unfortunate victim in his jaws, 5 1/2" h. x 10 1/2" l. The hapless human was Hector Sutherland Munro, who was hunting on Saugur Island in West Bengal in 1793. The subject matter is unique as this is atypical of Schimmel, whose art was typically of local animals and pets. This horrific event fascinated people both in Europe and America. The Sultan of Mysore, who had little love of the British, celebrated the event by having a life-size tiger devouring Munro built with mechanical devices to simulate screams and roars. This device is in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Staffordshire potteries produced pearlware figures to commemorate the event. It is most likely that Schimmel saw one of these representations somewhere in his travels of rural Pennsylvania, and desired to duplicate the figure in his unique manner. The present tail is a faithful replacement. Provenance: Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Walter M. Jeffords, Sotheby's, New York, October 28 & 29, 2004, private collector.