One of the first works of art in the Houston public art collection, Brownie, depicts a little bronze elf in a pointed cap and pointed shoes. He holds out a bowl, as if asking for a handout. Brownie was made possible by the children of Houston through a penny drive more than 100 years ago. The sculpture is by artist Louis Amateis. It was originally placed in what is now Sam Houston Park, in 1907. In 1935, Brownie was stolen. It was recovered and returned to the park, and then stolen again. To safeguard it, the sculpture was put in storage. Decades later, in 1968, Brownie was rediscovered and relocated to the Houston Zoo. It has been in its current location in the reflection pool since 2001. In 2002, the sculpture was conserved to restore its patina.