Penguin

Augustus Aaron Wilson, Penguin, ca. 1900-1940, carved and painted wood with metal, 19 1⁄2 x 9 3⁄4 x 10 1⁄4 in. (49.5 x 24.7 x 26.0 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson, 1986.65.344

Artwork Details

Title
Penguin
Artist
Date
ca. 1900-1940
Location
Dimensions
19 1⁄2 x 9 3⁄4 x 10 1⁄4 in. (49.5 x 24.7 x 26.0 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson
Mediums
Mediums Description
carved and painted wood with metal
Classifications
Subjects
  • Animal — bird — penguin
Object Number
1986.65.344
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1986.65.344

Artwork Description

The Nantucket Yacht Club used these two penguins as fence post ornaments. Augustus Wilson carved the wooden birds using simple tools, including a Boy Scout knife from the five-and-dime store, a handsaw, a hatchet, and a chisel to shape the bodies and outline the wings.

Works by this artist (2 items)

Augustus Aaron Wilson, Penguin, ca. 1900-1940, carved and painted wood with metal, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson, 1986.65.386
Penguin
Artist
Dateca. 1900-1940
carved and painted wood with metal
On view
Augustus Aaron Wilson, Penguin, ca. 1900-1940, carved and painted wood with metal, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson, 1986.65.344
Penguin
Artist
Dateca. 1900-1940
carved and painted wood with metal
On view

More Artworks from the Collection

Browse All Artworks
Unidentified (American), Dalmatian, 20th century, carved and painted wood with metal and resin, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson, 1986.65.292
Dalmatian
Artist
Unidentified (American)
Date20th century
carved and painted wood with metal and resin
On view
Unidentified, Articulated Man with Hat, ca. 1900, carved and painted wood with metal and fur, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson, 1986.65.320
Articulated Man with Hat
Artist
Unidentified
Dateca. 1900
carved and painted wood with metal and fur
Not on view
Augustus Aaron Wilson, Penguin, ca. 1900-1940, carved and painted wood with metal, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson, 1986.65.386
Penguin
Artist
Dateca. 1900-1940
carved and painted wood with metal
On view
Unidentified (American), Whirligig with Man Sawing Wood, 20th century, carved and painted wood with metal, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson, 1986.65.374
Whirligig with Man Sawing Wood
Artist
Unidentified (American)
Date20th century
carved and painted wood with metal
Not on view