Fan

Date1873

Artist Frederick E. Parker (b. 1848, ac. 1867-1874)

MediumWood, possibly holly, with a brass fastener, graphite

DimensionsOverall (closed): 6 7/16 x 1 3/4 x 9/16in. (16.4 x 4.4 x 1.4cm)

Credit LineGift of Eunice G. Smith in memory of her great-uncle Frederick E. Parker

Object number2002.701.13

DescriptionA folding fan, the inscribed, shaped spokes made of wood and secured by a brass fastener at the their tips.
Label TextWoodcarvers are seldom bored. Their moments of leisure may be snatched between chores or stretched into endless winter nights, but as long as pocket knives and spare blocks of wood are handy, they have the ingredients for relaxation, contentment, and amusement.
Frederick Parker readily mastered lengths of chain, traditional show pieces meant to test a whittler's deftness and patience. The Folk Art Center's collection of Parker's work includes other wooden chains, as well as other, more unusual carvings, such as a knife blade, swivel, bolt, screw, bit, file, hinge, padlock, keys, and nails. A puzzle, cake print, footstool, and two folding fans complete the collection.
This is the larger of the two fans, both of which appear to have functioned as means of recording autographs, sayings, and sentimental verses supplied by friends and relations. Included among the various inscriptions on this fan are, "Oh! A starry night for a ramble," "remember the clam bake," and "to err is human, to forgive is divine." Engraved sketches also appear here. For instance, one signer wrote his name on a representation of a card held aloft by a hand, another supplied Masonic symbols, and still another depicted a small frame structure.
InscribedThe spokes, or ribs, have been transcribed in the following manner. For identification purposes, each separate rib has been assigned a letter ("A," "B," "C," etc.), with the sides of each rib being assigned "1" (the side facing in the same direction as the word "Autographs" on the outermost rib) or "2" (the back of the same rib). Unless otherwise indicated, inscriptions are in pencil in script.

Rib A, side 1: engraved lengthwise in Gothic-style lettering is, "Autographs" and, engraved widthwise in block-style lettering, is "FRED.E.PARKER/JULY 1873/GOLDENS BRIDGE.NY."

Rib A, side 2: "[S.?]. T. C. R./Hattie Parker/[Jones? or Loner?] E. Travis".

Rib B, side 1: "Oh! A starry night for a ramble./Frankie Travis/[C. B.?]"

Rib B, side 2: "Hattie Emlich/New York/H[illeg.][Todd?]/Remember the/21th [sic] Sunday/Eve/Purdy Connell"

Rib C, side 1: "P[hite?] Travis"

Rib C, side 2: "W[sn?] Dalrymple"/Jane [or James?] Hoyt/G[illeg.][illeg.]ton" [N.B. the last two lines are scratched out]

Rib D, side 1: "Sadie Allen/New York./George. O. Clarke".

Rib D, side 2: "Remember the/[vin?]ing, of Aug 9th/George A. Quick/[another illeg. word perpendicular to the preceding]/Chips/Miss B"

Rib E, side 1: "Sarah E Mead/Lennie W Merritt/[Yasmine? Janine?] N. Fuller/New York".

Rib E, side 2: "S K [or H?][Scecs?]"

Rib F, side 1: "Martha E Travis"

Rib F, side 2: "[M]ary A. Parker/July 4th/1873/Va. Miller/J. D. Rathbun/Sept 25th 70".

Rib G, side 1: "Frederic [L.?] Olmstead/Returne une perle dans la/[part missing]moiré pour."

Rib G, side 2: "Stephen [Whit?]er [or Whuter?]/Samuel Hil[rest missing]/Angie B. [illeg.]ap/New York".

Rib H, side 1: "Albert Hoyt/Sarah L. Mead".

Rib H, side 2: "Delia [G.?][Ferrier?]/Frank K Washburn/New York/B[ib?]".

Rib I, side 1: "Steve Lailes [or Sailes?]/Katonah".

Rib I, side 2: "John W. Wyeth [or Lyeth?]", plus other illeg. writing

Rib J, side 1: "Electra [illeg.]ich/[Friday?] Oct the [26?]/I like a game of [Crapies?] July. 19.1874. C. [rest illeg.]".

Rib J, side 2: only illeg. markings are found here, on the outside of the outermost bottom rib

ProvenanceThe group of carvings eventually passed through the line of Frederick’s youngest sister, Harriet (b. 1858), who married one of the fan signers, Purdy Cornell (b. 1851). Their daughter, Mary Cornell (b. 1879), married John Homer Smith (b. 1875) of Putnam, New York. The donor of the carvings, Eunice G. Smith, was their daughter, and was a lifelong resident of Washington, D.C. Eunice was the great neice of the carver.