"Control Tower Stay Clear!" – Vintage Mid-Century Kinetic Balance Sculpture by Jim Hacker (1975)

This dynamic, mid-century kinetic folk art sculpture beautifully captures the playful, mechanical spirit of 1970s studio metalwork. Hand-built in 1975 and signed by the artist Jim Hacker, the mixed-media piece features a highly detailed, vintage-style metal monoplane counterbalanced against a solid brass sphere.

The plane and the sphere ride on a slender rod that pivots atop a central, torch-patinated copper pylon. The warm reds, golds and greens are fired into the copper with a flame - this is a patina, not paint. The column mimics a rustic control tower, playfully complete with a small, hand-lettered parchment sign reading "CONTROL TOWER STAY CLEAR!". Set the plane moving and the arm see-saws and swings around the tower before slowly settling. This is a true gravity balance - there is no motor, no crank and nothing to wind.

The entire assembly is anchored to a thick, organic live-edge wooden slice base. The base is hand-signed by the artist with a copyright mark, dated 1975, and carries the separate inscription "1911" - a nod to the pioneering era of early aviation that inspired the plane's design. Melding industrial copper tones, rich wood grains, and lighthearted humor, this rare kinetic piece serves as a captivating desktop conversation starter or an eye-catching shelf display for aviation enthusiasts and collectors of vintage americana.

Please note: the balance arm rests on a pivot point and lifts off if tipped. It displays and travels best upright.

Pre-Owned

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