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The Sailor Whirligig Maker Revealed (Folk Art Sculpture in an Original Photo

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    Posted 14 years ago

    JimLinderman
    (203 items)

    What at first seems to be to be a fairly routine real photo post card of a country shop provides seldom seen documentation for an American folk art form and regional craft, while at the same time reminding that a picture does indeed tell many tales.

    "Nantucket' or "Sailor" whirligigs abound to this day, but the early ones for the most part have always been anonymous. The form is common (a bowlegged, bell-bottom wearing sailor twirling his paddle arms in the wind and looking ridiculous) The whirligig supposedly has origins in strict early day religious practices which forbid play on Sunday. A Sympathetic father would whittle a toy to entertain his bored children without tainting their hands with the devil's stain...hence, a twirling motion toy which moved by wind alone! That I have never believed this tale doesn't mean anything much, but it is an interesting tidbit. Anyway, the Massachusetts or Cape Cod whirligigs are popular as craft today, and the 19th century versions, with their weathered surfaces and original paint are among the most valued folk art objects and prized by collectors.

    It appears to me this gentleman in his tiny Chatham "Shavings Shop" may be the source of dozens, if not HUNDREDS of original late 19th and early 20th century whirligigs. Chatham is part of Cape Cod, and he obviously had a rousing business in the objects...at least enough to have paid to produce a real-photo post card documenting his work. Close examination reveals many folk art prizes (on the roof, several "full-bodied" whirligigs of considerable size, a fish weathervane, a large airplane whirligig and several silhouetted carvings of sailors) The porch exhibits many additional, if more standard sailor whirligigs, numerous windmill toys and a violin...perhaps our carver made fiddles as well, but at the least I am certain a visit to his shop would have been a rousing time if he felt like entertaining. That his products were called "ball bearing mills" indicates his windmills would have been state of the art. Unfortunately, the oval window sign is indistinct, it appears to read Edwards novelties. Did Mr. Edwards invent the sailor whirligig form? The card was produced by the Charles H. Smalloff Mayflower Studio in Chatham, Mass on Artura Stock of a type used around 1910 and was mailed from Massachusetts using a 1 cent stamp issued in 1912. The postmark date is obliterated, but the stamp design was superseded in 1923.

    I hope this photograph reaches someone who can provide additional information on this remarkable, pipe-smoking artisan, and until I hear more I'll simply treasure the find and be happy my scanner revealed some fascinating information which contributes a bit to the history of an art form I've loved for years. I suspect Mr. Edwards was more in the habit of pushing his crafts rather than his postcards. If any others survive I would be surprised, but would love to know.

    Real Photo Postcard "Shavings Shop Chatham Mass" Charles H. Smallhoff Mayflower Studio c. 1910 Collection Jim Linderman

    from the Jim Linderman Collection "In Situ: American Folk Art in Place Arcane Americana" Dull Tool Dim Bulb Books 2010

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    Comments

    1. Savoychina1 Savoychina1, 14 years ago
      That's why they say a picture is worth a thousand words! I enjoyed that.
    2. JimLinderman JimLinderman, 14 years ago
      Thank you very much
    3. camerafan camerafan, 14 years ago
      I remember seeing this image the first time I went to the Dull Tool Dim Bulb blog. Since then, I've always been excited to point out whirligigs to my friends. I use this as reference to explain to them just what a whirligig is. I have a friend who makes them out of found "junk" from a junk yard he works in.

      Thanks for sharing this portrait!
    4. john, 12 years ago
      Living as I do in Chatham I see whirligigs for sale on occasion. Noy signed so I don't know if they are from Edwards' shop. Last windmill I saw was $300.00--a large one.

      John
    5. john, 12 years ago
      HAVE A LOOK AT THIS PAGE. Can you respond to this email?

      http://books.google.com/books?id=Y4SqZXCBpysC&pg=PA126&lpg=PA126
      &dq=shavings+shop+chatham+ma+edwards&source=bl&ots=MJtmAYPGdI&si
      g=OKTvjqAxTf76t4kVPbRSO9K5PGM&hl=en&ei=gX6LTqGBPeXo0QHGwsmEBQ&sa
      =X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&sqi=2&ved=0CEcQ6AEwBA#v=one
      page&q&f=false
      ---------------------------
    6. stepback_antiques stepback_antiques, 12 years ago
      Great picture of a bygone time. Thanks
    7. ho2cultcha ho2cultcha, 12 years ago
      my grandfather used to make them. i remember watching him cut out the pieces w/ a little jigsaw and a complex set of vice grips he had on his workbench. as a kid, i spent more time in his workshop than any other place i can remember. i wonder if they originated next to a salt marsh like in your photo because lots of scraps of wood wash up in them. salt marshes are great places to search for 'drift lumber' as i call it. i regularly visit them near my house to look for lumber to make outdoor furniture with.
    8. alternative7man, 4 years ago
      Hi, I have very recently discovered and now own one of his violins in the original case as pictured...possibly the same one. It is signed and dated 1917. I also was able to purchase one of these same original post cards (or perhaps this very one?) online last night. The violin showed up t a flea market in South Carolina. I had it setup and it is a very high quality violin with a sound that is unbelievable!
    9. PhilDMorris PhilDMorris, 3 years ago
      Don't have your address otherwise I would send you a more readable photo..
    10. PhilDMorris PhilDMorris, 3 years ago
      I see on the oval it says noveltie for sale as he spells it. What does the rest of the sign say as your copy should be clearer than one published on CW.

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