Walking Stick

Date1847

Artist/Maker Thomas Purkins (1791-1855)

OriginAmerica, Virginia, King George County

MediumHolly wood, ink, and paint

Dimensions41" x 1" (104.1 cm. x 2.5 cm.)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1984.708.1

DescriptionWalking stick carved with, beginning at top; the forepart of a snake's body decorated with red and black pigments and ending in his mouth gripped over stick; two oyster shells with a frog stitting on top of one; a spiral shell; a painted plant with red fruits on it; two scallop shells and a snail shell; a painted cornstalk; a saddle with painted decoration on it; a horse's head; a flat scallop shell (different from the two preceding in its flatness, probably a different type of shell. A turkey; a chicken or rooster; a painted insect (bee?); pig's head; dog's head; and the entire figure of an embryo-looking animal (possom or dog?).
Label TextNearly a dozen walking sticks carved and painted by Thomas Purkins are known. This example and an 1846 stick also owned by the Folk Art Center are the earliest two recorded. A third stick (dated 1848) is also inscribed "King George County," but all others found thus far appear to have been made after Purkins's move to nearby Stafford County, Virginia. This stick is inscribed "The growth of Wakefield the birthplace/of Washington in Westmoreland/County Va." and, in another spot, "Made by Thos Purkins/King George Co V, a,". Family tradition maintains that Purkins had his slaves bring him holly wood from Wakefield plantation, George Washington's birthplace, to use for his cane carving.
InscribedInscribed in ink adjacent to an oyster shell carving near the top of the cane is: "The growth of Wakefield The birthplace/of Washington in Westmoreland/County V,a,". Also inscribed beside two scallop shells lower down on the cane is: "Made by Thos Purkins/King George C'o Va./1847".
ProvenanceBought by Nebbia from a collector in Mass. Nebbia reports that the Massachusetts dealer recently (before selling to Nebbia), bought it back, having originally purchased it 25 years ago from a man who had "found it behind the fire wall of a house in Baltimore." (conversations with Nebbia 8/24 and 2/14/84).