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whimsey books
selected excerpts from experts - books and articles about folk art whimseys Tramp-art.com
| Webmaster's comments: In the1980s & 90s, the term whimsey (or whimsy) appeared in magazine articles and became a popular term among collectors. The preferred spelling seems to be "whimsey" or plural, "whimseys." The internet and auction sites such as eBay, are "keyword" dependent. Keywords allow finding information and navigation on the internet possible. Thus the webmaster has used this popular convention to describe objects that have been variously known as "hobo art," "whittling," "knife-craft," "stunts," or "novelties." |
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*1930 The Art Of Whittling by Walter I. Faurot. The Manual Arts Press, Peoria, Illinois |
| Lots of illustrations and instructions
in this "how to" book devoted to whittling whimseys. Included
are chapters on; Puzzles, The Chain, Cage & Ball, Double Cage &
Ball, The Swivel, Balls within Spheres Etc., Pliers, Scissors, Building in
Bottles, Fans, Sliding Multiple Joint, Trick Dovetail Joint, The Dogs and
more. Author notes lack of published information on what he
variously describes as, whittling or stunts
"Although constantly on the lookout, I have come across very little published work upon the subject. My information is, therefore, first-hand and everything herein describe has been thoroughly tried out and found to be practicable." *page 6 recommended collector and whittler reference |
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*1936 Whittling and Woodcarving by E. J. Tangerman. Pictured edition published 1962 by Dover Publications Inc. New York. |
| "THE" classic
"HOW TO" book on whittling and woodcarving. The popularity of
this book by Tangerman is evidenced by the fact that it has never been
long out of print and the Dover edition is still available today.
Includes 27 chapters on whittling projects such as "Puzzles,"
"Chains," "Ball- in- Cage," "Fans,"
"Joints," and "In Bottles." Tangerman writes-
"The term "whittling" early came to mean that particular branch of carving with a knife that deals with such stunts as the fan, the ball-in-a-cage, and the chain. Sailors, woodsman and farmers, habitual knife carriers, learned the versatility of the knife and adapted it to whole groups of specialized pieces ..." *page 10 recommended collector and whittler reference |
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*1996 The Carvers Art: Crafting Meaning from Wood by Siamon J. Bronner, The University Press of Kentucky. Updated version of earlier work The earlier book was published in 1985 as Chain Carvers: Old Men Crafting Meaning |
| A scholarly and folklorist approach to
understanding whimseys and their crafters. This study is confined
to whittlers (from Midwest USA) of chains and similar objects and has a lot to teach us,
by offering glimpses into the
motivations and circumstances that drove individual crafters of this universal craft.
Bronner dislikes the term "whimseys" (or whimsies) as he
searches for and finds deeper meanings than is suggest by this term. Bonner
writes -
"Aren't those whimsies?" the journalist from Country Home asks me, referring to the traditional carvings of chains and related forms. "Hardly," I bluntly reply, and add, "Have you talked to any carvers?" Attracting onlookers with their playfulness, the carvings often have serious messages when they are grasped, they become catalysts to conservation with the carver turned trickster or riddler" *page 157 "As form and function, symbol and story, the chains, canes, cages, fans, pliers and other forms in the carver's traditional art convey images that speak to matters of living and aging, creativity and conformity, self and society. As a concept to grasp, as an item for friends to observe and admire, as a keepsake for family, carving, like other arts, creates community by tangibly connecting one hand to another." *page 176 recommended reading |
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*1977 MOONEY the Life of the World's Master Carver by John P. Hayes, Dove publishing Co., Midvale, Ohio |
| The author celebrates the life and
work of Ernest Warther. Ernest's nickname was Mooney. Mooney was a
trickster, a showman, a home town boy and a world famous whittler of
steam train models and whimsey pliers, pliers whittled from a single
piece of wood. Mooney was born into poverty (his Parents were Swiss immigrants
to US) and this book shows how Mooney became a self made man of distinction
in his neighborhood / community and a famous artist / model-maker /
whittler, exhibited and admired throughout the United
States.
""Whatcha doin'?... "Carvin' a plier tree," Mooney explained. Mooney had read that a man once cut one hundred twenty-seven pairs of tiny pliers into a piece of wood twenty four inches long and he intended to better that record. It was a meaningless project, Mooney agreed, but it had to be done. He cut a piece of black walnut thirteen inches long, three quarter of an inch wide and five-eights of an inch thick. Mathematically Mooney figured he cut five hundred eleven pairs of pliers into the block of wood and when he opened the plies they would form a tree like object. .... Every day between June 24 and August 28 Mooney spent six to eight hours working on the project.... Finally after thirty-one thousand cuts, Mooney carefully opened each tiny pair of pliers until, indeed, they formed a tree." page27 "Mooney had never forgotten the lesson of the hobo who had introduced him to the wooden pliers and through the years he had improved on the hobo's method so he could produce the pincers by making ten quick slices in a block of wood three and a half inches long. ... Many days Mooney cut between three and four hundred pair of pliers ... Mooney could cut a pair of pliers in fifteen seconds and his best time was recorded in Shelby, Ohio on September 26, 1935 ... when he produced a pair of pincers in ten seconds" page 93 Lots of information about Mooney's fascination with steam power, as seen through his educational exhibit on, the evaluation and history of steam trains. This exhibit, of obsessively realistic model steam engines, carved by Mooney, was shown at many venues across the United States, including rural ones. recommended reading |
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*2003 Genius in a Bottle, The Art and Magic of Bottle Whimseys by Susan D. Jones, White Holme Press, New Hartford Ct. |
| Collecting folk art can be a solitary pursuit,
collectors secretly acquiring items and carefully restricting the knowledge
and sources of their collecting passion. Then there is Susan Jones,
who's selfless passion for bottle whimseys and her encyclopedic knowledge
of this collectable is celebrated by this must read
book. Susan might have used her extensive collection
to interpret this folk art craft, but this book reaches out to all
collectors and enthusiasts of bottle whimseys and this book is and shall
remain "THE REFERENCE", and a standard to which all collector
/ authors might aspire.
Bottle whimsey are difficult to photograph. What strikes one right away is that, not only is this book filled with lots of excellent photographs, but lots of HUGE photographs of bottle whimseys and with extensive captioning The extravagant use of large photographs and detail shots bring this art form alive. The author covers the construction, history and makers of bottle whimesys. All the variety of contents or forms this craft might take are carefully interpreted. "What an incredible range of subjects has been assembled in the confining space of a glass bottle with bits of wood, paper, metal, small objects, glue an imagination! These wonderful creations are called "whimsey bottles" or "bottle Whimseys." A whimsey, related to to the word "whim" is in general defined as a fanciful, eccentric or fantastic object or creation made for no functional purpose but as a "whim" of the creator" page 2* recommended collector reference a MUST visit web site take me to Susan Jones Folk Art in Bottles thanks for visiting Tramp-Art.com |
