E-Museum of Pyrographic ArtAntique Pyrography Tools Exhibit
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J. William Fosdick In His Studio Posing With His Thermo-Cautery Tool Adapted for Pyrography Published in The Art Interchange in July 1894 Digital image by Sharon H. Garvey, © 2006 Article with images courtesy of Anna North Coit of the North Stonington Historical Society North Stonington, Connecticut, U.S.A. |
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The Art Interchange July-August 1894 issue, pages 14–16 Article by J. William Fosdick, including text and a photograph of the artist posing in his studio with his thermo-cautery tool adapted for pyrography and a work in progress on his easel. Also included are photographs of two of his works: Henry VIII and The Miller's Daughter. Digital image by Sharon H. Garvey, © 2006 Enhanced here with sepia for better viewing Article with images courtesy of Anna North Coit of the North Stonington Historical Society North Stonington, Connecticut, U.S.A. |
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The Miller's Daughter by J. William Fosdick Published in The Art Interchange in July 1894 Pyroinscription at the bottom of the burnt-wood panel: IT IS THE MILLER'S DAVGHTER. Digital image by Sharon H. Garvey, ©2006 Enhanced here with sepia for better viewing Article with images courtesy of Anna North Coit of the North Stonington Historical Society North Stonington, Connecticut, U.S.A. |
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HENRY VIII. ON THE FIELD OF THE CLOTH OF GOLD. BURNT-WOOD PANEL. BY J. WILLIAM FOSDICK Published July 1894 in "BURNT-WOOD DECORATION" in The Art Interchange Digital image by Sharon H. Garvey, ©2006 Enhanced here with sepia for better viewing Article with images courtesy of Anna North Coit of the North Stonington Historical Society North Stonington, Connecticut, U.S.A. |
The above article entitled "BURNT-WOOD DECORATION" by J. William Fosdick, was published in The Art Interchange in their July-August 1894 issue. It is fortunate that it includes a rare photograph of the artist posing in his studio with his enormous thermo-cautery tool adapted for pyrography. To learn more about his tool, be sure and visit the Antique Tools Salon in the Pyrographic Tools Exhibit here in the E-Museum.
This 1894 article addresses various issues of interest, including some detail about the curious pyrography tool employed; the type of woods preferred for pyrography, as well as those that are undesirable; the aspect of fading; and some history of Ball Hughes, J. W. Fosdick's predecessor and inspiration. He also spoke of the inspiration for his own "Middle Ages" approach to this art form that resulted from his visit to the Musée de Cluny. The panel of The Benedictine Monk he described above in that anecdote is likely his Gothic panel pictured in his 1896 article in Century Magazine. Also of interest (and perhaps as a topic of discussion) are J. Wm. Fosdick's thoughts about decorative/architectural art and the methods and applications that are appropriate for this art form.
In specific response to J. Wm. Fosdick's words from the article displayed here—"It is probably only a question of time when we shall have an electric burning tool and thus escape one disagreeable phase of the present cautery, the naphtha fumes."—is a letter to the editor submitted by Patty Thum in the following issue of that magazine. Her letter is accompanied by two astonishing drawings of her electric pyrography tool.
*** NEWSFLASH! 3 July 2009: A 1902 Delineator magazine has a fiction work entitled "The House That Jack and Jill Built" that, surprisingly, shows (without naming him) J. Wm. Fosdick's "The Miller's Daughter" in an illustration of a room with a fireplace. In a subsequent close-up illustration there, it also shows the panel again flanked by two others. Also worth seeing there is an interesting, typically Victorian leather work, which is described and illustrated in that story—as part of the story, supposedly done by Jill—with no mention therefore of the artist who actually did it.
If you have any questions or any information regarding this artist, his works, his tool, or this article, please e-mail the E-Museum Curator.
You are leaving the Salon of
J. William Fosdick's 1894 Article
Describing His Thermo-Pyrography Tool
You can return to the
Pyrography Tools Exhibit,
the Antique Art Hall,
or continue on your tour to one of the following
Pyrographic Art Exhibit Halls:
Portraits and Paintings
Decorative and Applied Art
Sculpture
Folk and Traditional Art
Children's Pyrographic Art
Special Pyrographic Art
The Book Store and E-Museum Library exhibits
Pyrographic Tools exhibit
Your questions and comments are welcome and appreciated. Please e-mail the E-Museum Curator.
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2007, 2009 Kathleen M. Garvey Menéndez, all rights reserved. Last updated 3 July 2009.
