War Babies (2005) by Peter and Daniel Macchiarini
Peter Macchiarini (1909-2001)
Daniel Macchiarini (1954 – )
Bronze Plaque 9 x 13 x 0.5 in

The plaque was designed by Peter Macchiarini who originally carved the design in wood in 1944 near the end of WW2. It was his emotional expression and response to the human slaughter of 55 million people during that war many of whom were killed by mass bombing of cities on both sides as well as the projected development of the atomic bomb which almost a year later killed 200,000 in the two cities in Japan when it was dropped. He never had this cast in bronze during his lifetime as the original wooden sculpture was purchased by a collector. Peter’s son, Danny, located the wooden sculpture and got it returned on loan to create a mold of in 2005. Peter allowed up to 9 editions of his works, so this is the first one (and so far only, as of 2024) that got cast in bronze.

Don’t miss the fact that the bomb holds a figure inside of it. We give birth to both life and death.