Full Breakdown
San Francisco Couple Unearths 150-Pound Limestone Sculpture
8/29/2026, 9:52:23 PM
Discovery of the Hidden Statue
In May, Greg Gatwood was doing yard work at his and Judy Gittelsohn’s Russian Hill home when he uncovered a two-foot-wide, 150-pound limestone figure that at first appeared to be a concrete slab. After prying it loose with a pickaxe, Gatwood recognized facial features—a nose and lips—indicating a sculptural work rather than debris. The couple, both artists, immediately began researching the piece.
Possible Origins and Historical Context
Gittelsohn, a professional artist, believes the statue may date to the 1930s and could be linked to the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which funded public art during the Great Depression. Their home sits near the former San Francisco Art Institute, where prominent sculptor Ralph Stackpole taught for decades. A 93-year-old woman who once curated a Stackpole exhibition visited the couple after the find went public, suggesting a potential connection to Stackpole or one of his students. The use of relatively inexpensive limestone, rather than marble or granite, aligns with WPA-era garden sculptures that were sometimes displayed outdoors and later lost.
Official Statements & Responses
Gatwood described his initial impulse to break the object apart, then realizing it was a statue, as “almost cinematic.” Gittelsohn expressed shock at the craftsmanship and size, adding that the discovery has attracted attention from local historians and art enthusiasts. The couple plans to exhibit the sculpture publicly at the American Messenger Gallery in September, inviting experts and the public to help identify its creator.
Data and Physical Details
- Material: limestone
- Approximate weight: 150 pounds (?68 kg)
- Dimensions: about two feet wide
- Location of discovery: backyard of a Russian Hill residence, San Francisco
- Time since burial: unknown, but hypothesized to be several decades based on style and material
Verbatim Quotes
- “I thought, well, maybe I should just break it into smaller pieces,” — Greg Gatwood
- “We think someone will eventually recognize it,” — Greg Gatwood
