Broadside: Miss Honeywell's Cuttings

Date1831

Printer Columbus Sentinel

Primary Author Martha Ann Honeywell (ca. 1794-after 1847)

OriginAmerica, Ohio, Columbus

MediumInk on paper

DimensionsPrimary Support: 11 1/4 x 7 11/16in. (28.5 x 19.5cm) and Framed: 14 1/2 x 11 1/4in.

Credit LineGift of Mary B. and William Lehman Guyton

Object number1994.1100.4

DescriptionA press-printed broadside advertising the opening of a gallery of cuttings and needlework by Miss Honeywell.
The 1-inch silver gilded molded cyma recta frame is a period replacement.
Label TextMartha Anne Honeywell was born with only stumps for arms; her feet were also truncated, and she had only three toes (all on one foot). Despite these physical challenges, she contrived ways to master a variety of arts and crafts, and she supported herself by widespread demonstrations and exhibitions in both America and Europe.

Newspaper advertisements and broadsides reveal much about Honeywell's unusual skills and give glimpses of the public's reactions. Profile portraits (silhouettes) cut from paper were a staple of her repertoire, but she also cut decorative pictures and texts from paper, the latter including the Lord's Prayer. She was also proficient at handwriting, drawing, and stitching and created wax-works, artificial flowers, and watchpapers. Mouth and toes were used to thread needles and sew, operate scissors, and wield pens. Exactly how she managed is uncertain, but her ads often enhanced the magnitude of her achievement by clarifying that she used a "common" pair of scissors.

This informative broadside is believed to have been printed shortly before or during the time that the artist advertised in the Columbus [Ohio] Sentinel March 15-June 7, 1831.
InscribedA couple of handwritten additions were made to the press-printed broadside but are given under "Marks," which see.
MarkingsThe press-printed broadside has handwritten script inscriptions added in ink in two places; at the top is "For two Days only" and, about mid-way down (in the blank space following the press-printed statement "IS NOW OPEN AT"), is "Mr. Williams.s Hotel".
The press-printed portions read as follows:
"MISS /HONEYWELL'S/Splendid Gallery of/CUTTINGS/AND/NEEDLEWORK,/IS NOW OPEN AT [blank filled in with handwriting noted above]/THOSE Persons therefore, who wish to‚ obtain their fami-/ly likenesses. (Cut in a few seconds , by Miss Honey-/well;)are invited to embrace the present opportunity. /This interesting Lady, though born/WITHOUT ARMS,/Has acquired such use of a common pair of Scissors, by/holding them in her Mouth, as to be able to cut out of paper,/the most curious and difficult pieces of/CUTTING,/Ever attempted, such as the likenesses of distinguished/Americans and Europeans:/ Together with a variety of others, such as ‚ Watch Papers, Flowers, Landscapes, and even the Lord's/Prayer, perfectly legible; not only the outlines, but to resemble copperplate engravings. She writes,/draws, and does all kinds of Needle Work, with the utmost facility and ease. She has travelled through/Europe, where her work has been universally admired. An extensive variety of specimens of her/elegant performance, are for exhibition in the house she occupies. All her elegant works are for sale./She can be ‚ seen at her various occupations, from 10 o'clock, A. M. till 9 P. M./Admittance, including a Profile Likeness, (cut in a few seconds, without hands, by Miss Honeywell,)/ 25 cents; Children half price. (Printed at the Office of the Columbus Sentinel."
ProvenanceGuyton (see "Source") provided no previous ownership for this piece.