“I was just gobsmacked”: Couple finds 150-pound mystery statue buried beneath their San Francisco home

A 150-pound limestone sculpture has been unearthed beneath a San Francisco home, leaving the property owners on a quest to solve a decades-old mystery. Greg Gatwood and his partner, Judy Gittelsohn, reportedly discovered the massive object while performing yard work at their residence in the Russian Hill neighborhood. historical find that has captured local interest and prompted a search for its origin.

As reported by Fox News, the discovery reportedly occurred when Gatwood began digging in the backyard. He initially attempted to pry the object loose with a shovel, but the density of the material required him to switch to a pickaxe. The situation changed drastically when he caught sight of facial features emerging from the soil. 

Gatwood described the moment he realized the truth, noting that he spotted lips and a nose peering back at him. He admitted that he briefly considered breaking the object into smaller pieces to remove it, but he stopped once the reality of the situation became clear. He later remarked that the experience was “like something you see in a movie, almost cinematic, you know — a big beautiful statue like this.”

It could be the work of Ralph Stackpole

Gittelsohn, who works as a professional artist, was present when the object was revealed. She expressed her immediate reaction to the discovery, stating, “I was just shocked. What an enormous find. I was surprised. I was just gobsmacked.” 

The couple now finds themselves working to piece together the history of the two-foot-wide statue. Because of her artistic background, Gittelsohn took the lead on researching the potential origins of the piece. She currently believes the sculpture dates back to the 1930s.

One of the primary theories regarding the statue involves the Works Progress Administration, also known as the WPA. This agency was reportedly established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the depression to provide income to the unemployed, and it often commissioned public art projects. 

The location of the couple’s home provides a strong geographic clue, as it reportedly sits near the former site of the San Francisco Art Institute. The renowned sculptor Ralph Stackpole taught at that institution for several decades. Gittelsohn suggests that the statue could be the work of Stackpole himself or one of his many students. 

Gatwood has his own theory regarding how the object ended up beneath the surface of their backyard. While it was buried deep enough to be hidden for years, he suspects it was not intentionally concealed in the traditional sense. He believes it is quite possible the statue was displayed in the garden and not so much buried, but just lost. Over time, the shifting of the earth and the accumulation of debris likely covered the piece entirely.

The story has generated significant attention, leading to several people reaching out to the couple to share their own insights. One particularly notable interaction involved a 93-year-old woman who reportedly traveled to their home via Uber with her walker to knock on their door. She shared that she had previously held an exhibition featuring the work of Ralph Stackpole. This interaction has encouraged the couple to continue their public search for information.