Images(13)

Carved Walking Stick

Date1884

Maker Alanson Porter Dean (b. 1812)

OriginAmerica, New York, Oswego

MediumMaple

DimensionsOverall: 35 1/2in. (90.2cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number2023.708.2

DescriptionElaborately carved walking stick with a handle in the form of a pipe with eagle and “E PLURIBUS UNUM” on the bowl. The shaft is craved with various scenes including a preacher, angel, lion and lamb. Psalm 116:7 and the Lord’s Prayer twist along the spril-carved section.
Label TextAlanson Porter Dean was born in New Ashford, Massachusetts in 1812 to Isaac Dean and his wife, Rachel Staples Dean. Alanson and his twin brother, Horatio Nelson Dean, learned the tanning business from their father and both worked as tanners throughout their lives. Alanson also worked as a farmer and he is listed as such in several census records. In 1836, Alanson married Caroline M. Dean and in the 1860s the couple relocated to Chancellor, Virginia. By 1872, the Deans had moved back to New York, settling in Oswego.

Dean was an amateur carver and produce several examples of intricately carved walking sticks that survive. The canes always have "A.P. Dean" carved on them as a signature as well as the recipient's name. This cane is one of the more intricate examples and includes the artist's full name "Alanson P. Dean" without a seperate recipient name suggesting that this piece was carved for the artist to use himself.

Provenance1888, from the maker to his wife, Caroline M. Dean [1818-1902] (Owego, New York); 1902 by inheritence to her daughter, Lydia Dean Carlson [1860-1945] (Owego, New York); 1945 by inheritence to her son Clarence Carlson [1883-1951] (Owego, New York); 1951 by inheritence to his son, Eugene Smith Carlson [1925-2002] (Ohio), 2002 by inheritence to his son, Eugene Smith Carlson Jr. [1961-2022] (Chardon, Ohio); 2022 by inheritence to Private Collection; 2023 sold to The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation