1938 “Mystery Tower of the Game of Life” Carving
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GUEST:
This was carved from a single piece of wood, a white pine post, and it was carved over a period of four years by Theodore Strollo. He carved out these little windows in the outer, uh, section, carved on between them, so that he could separate it, and it's two pieces. And then the inner piece... Is actually the carving. And it has different parts, some that turn in these little windows here. And there's a scroll that accompanying it, the sculpture, that describes his theory of life, which this is a physical representation of. It's named "The Mystery Tower, or Game of Life." I became acquainted with a gentleman who was a friend of Theodore's. When Theodore died, the gentleman inherited this. I didn't pay anything for it, it was gifted to me, just because he was looking for a home for it.
APPRAISER:
Apparently, he lived in a shack on the creek and did this over a period of time, and I guess had various odd jobs to sustain himself while working on this and, and other things. Is there any other work known by him?
GUEST:
Not that I'm aware of. This is the only thing I know that he did. And when he finished it in 1938, it was exhibited at the International Exposition at Treasure Island in San Francisco, in 1939. It was later exhibited at the World's Fair in New York City as part of Ripley's Oddities, and it was in Ripley's Oddities in New York for a period of time before Theodore retrieved it.
APPRAISER:
And, and I've sort of gathered from reading a newspaper account that that was his dream. He truly wanted this to be exhibited because it was, well, it was four years of his life. Theo has signed it at the base, and it continues, saying 1938 is the year in which it was completed, right?
GUEST:
Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER:
And we continue here. This is California, and it, it was completed...
GUEST:
Los... Los Gatos.
APPRAISER:
So, he wanted to make sure that we knew who he was and where he performed this. I truly think it's a remarkable piece of sculpture. It's unique, and it...
GUEST:
Yes.
APPRAISER:
How often can you say that? There's not another one in the world that...
GUEST:
It's one of a kind.
APPRAISER:
It really is. So, coming up with estimate as to what, like, what something like this is worth, you get all kinds of opinions. I think this can be called a piece of outsider art. So I think, being in the auction business, we're thinking somewhere, let's say $5,000 or more. A little bit of guesswork going on here.
GUEST:
Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER:
But there are people in America who collect outsider art pieces, and this one is of great quality. It's an amazing thing. And I want to thank you for lugging it in here.
GUEST:
(laughing) Well you're certainly welcome. Thank you for the appraisal. I had no idea what it was worth.
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