I’ve recently become attracted to roosters and chickens in general, and these regal characters are really great! This wall-hanging is depicted in the Tom Tru Spring wall scroll catalog for 1959. Attributed to Robert R. Bushong, although the signature on this one is missing the G. Since the signature is so close to the edge we believe the G just did not make it into the screen printing process. This example is what was advertised in the catalog as: powder, royal, sage, brown on black texture. Otherwise known as powder blue, royal blue, sage green, and brown. Its solid walnut top and bottom mouldings are just beautiful as are these fantastic chanticleer, the name for roosters especially in fairy tales.
Robert Bushong (1922-1995) studied at the Museum School in Boston and the Worchester Art Museum school with Walter Gropius. He enjoyed a successful commercial art career in New York City and was one of many artists who designed works for the Tom Tru Corporation. This stable of artists contracted by Tom Tru created all manner of wall art which was distributed by Raymor Imports (1941-1980) who was founded by Irving Richards and located in Lambertville, New Jersey.
With all this history surrounding it, you know you need these roosters!
