Overview
- The couple discovered the carved stone while doing yard work in May when Greg Gatwood unearthed an object that turned out to be a carved face.
- The sculpture is carved limestone about two feet wide, roughly 150 pounds and buried nearly two feet underground, and the couple and a local sculptor say the workmanship suggests an experienced hand.
- The find has prompted the owners to raise the possibility it was made by Art Deco sculptor Ralph Stackpole because of stylistic echoes and the home’s location across from the former San Francisco Art Institute.
- As of the latest coverage on August 11, no expert or institutional committee has confirmed authorship and the couple is contacting university specialists and museum committees for formal verification.
- If authenticated as a Stackpole the work could have cultural and monetary significance, but experts will need comparative analysis, material testing and provenance research to reach a definitive conclusion.