Name/Title
The Village BlacksmithEntry/Object ID
1991.46.3Description
Carved wooden diorama showing the interior of a building in which several men are working. One is shoeing a horse or donkey, two are talking, and another is working a large, ceiling-mounted bellows and forging an object within a fire. Objects around the room include tools, a barrel/bucket, a broom, a tool case, and an anvil. The bottom front is carved with the title, "THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH". On the upper right corner is the inked label, "REPLICA PETE HURLBERT SHOP STOWE ST WATERBURY VT 1814".Artwork Details
Medium
WoodSubject
Interior of a Pete Hurlbert's blacksmith shopSubject Place
Town
WaterburyCounty
Washington CountyState/Province
VermontCountry
United States of AmericaContinent
North AmericaContext
Made by Napoleon DeGuise of Waterbury, VermontAcquisition
Accession
1991.46Source or Donor
Tarbell, CorneliaAcquisition Method
GiftMade/Created
Artist
DeGuise, Napoleon F. (1894-1950)Date made
1945 - 1950Place
Town
WaterburyCounty
Washington CountyState/Province
VermontCountry
United States of AmericaContinent
North AmericaLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Secondary Object Term
CarvingNomenclature Primary Object Term
SculptureNomenclature Class
ArtNomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication ObjectsDimensions
Dimension Description
OverallHeight
10 inWidth
21 inDepth
13 inInterpretative Labels
Label
Napoleon DeGuise was born in 1894 and began whittling in 1932, "to save the old ways...for the younger generation."
DeGuise whittled during his free time while running his barber shop. He gave many pieces away, but his work also traveled to craft shows around the country and was featured in <i>The Saturday Evening Post</i> in 1944 and the book <i>Handicrafts of New England</i> by Allen Eaton in 1949.
DeGuise was born in Burlington and used Vermont pine and a knife or his own electric barber's clipper to create most of his carvings. DeGuise's work not only depicted life at the time, but showcased New England traditions of handcrafts and woodcarving.
The Village Blacksmith contains about 20 pieces, from a large bellows to a tiny horseshoe. This diorama seems to highlight the bustle of a blacksmith shop, with one man working the forge and another shoeing a horse. Even the two men not at work appear to be having a discussion, possibly about the horse next to them. While both dioramas are places of work, the Blacksmith's shows a busier side.