The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-11
THE WOODEN INDIAN i
How Cigar-Shop Signs Are Made in
the Image Of the Red
Man.
Chopped Out of Large Pine Logs
With Little Regard to
Art.
The Indian Displaced by Foreigners and
Dolly Vardens-A Very Good
Aborigine for $40.

The tobacconists' figures have undergone
many changes since they first came into
use. They have attained very respecta-
BILE degree of excellence in certain direc-
lions. and considerable inventiveness and
great variety of design have been shown IN
their production. Most of these figures are
made of wood. Some, however, are of
metal, cast in 1molds. These, of course,
are much more expensive, and the designs
are limited in number. The cause of this
is the greater cost of production. The
original model is usually work of some
artistic merit, and the cost of molds and
casting forms big item in the manufac-
turer's bill. But these metal images are
usually good-the best in the market, in
fact, from an artistic point of view.
The wooden figures, being more within
the reach of most dealers, naturally offer a
greater variety in design. Their produc-
ton also requires considerable skill, even
though pecuniary and other limitations
often prevent the artist workman from
carrying out the work as carefully as he
otherwise might. The wood used is gener-
ally white pine, which is bought in logs of
various lengths at the spar yards. The art
list begins by making the toughest kind of
an outline-a mere suggestion OF what the
proportions of the figure are to be. In tins
lie is guided by paper patterns. The log IS
blocked out with the axe into appropriate
spaces for the head, the body down to the
waist, the portion from there to the knee,
the rest of the legs (Which are at once d.
widely, and the feet. In its present en-
bryo state the figure to be is not very APP.
parent to the eye. The feeling for form IN
the chopped block is SO very elementary as
to have complete suggestiveness only for
the practiceu artist.
A hole is now bored into each end of the
prepared log about five inches deep. Into
each of these holes an iron bolt is placed,
the projecting parts of which rest on sup
ports, SO that the body hangs free. the
carver now goes from the general to the
particular. The surface of the wood soon
becomes Clipped up by the chisel and the
log generally takes on more definite form.
Then, when the figure Is completely evolved,
the finishing touches are put on with finer
carving tools. Detached hands and arms
are made separately and joined on to the
body with screws. Then the various por-
tions of the body are appropriately painted,
the whole is set upon a stand running on
wheels, and it is ready for delivery. Old
broken, that have split and cracked with
the grain, or are dingy and dirty and need
to be freshened up with now coats of paint.
are also brought to the shop and doctored
and polished up into respectable SEM
blance of newness.
taste. At first the red man ruled the mar
ket almost completely. Then came a
heavy sprinkling of other figures-fery
Scotchmen, English officers with small ia
tigue caps or high bearskins, and heavy
swells of ante-bellum times and the wal
80 ~AoI-
and waving mutton. chop whiskers, ogled
simpering Dolly Vardens with shortcut
skirts, bustles and hats tilted forward ovel
the eyes. Then came grave Turks, gor.
geous sultanas. and columbines with
alarminglv short skirts. Punch with rubi-
cund nose and Rrosuberan. , chin ,h was ia
tional plantation "nigger," with striped
pantaloons and a great expanse OF shirt
collar. Few of these old figures are seen
nowadays.
Meanwhile, the spirit of realistic art en-
tered more and more into the work of the
sign sculptors. The wooden Indians grew
better, quite artistic in some instances
Even the half nude was attempted with
mccess. In the latter respect. the best
work has undoubtedly been e1emplitied in
.he metal figures Of Indians and Pucks,
The ARTISTS" advancing in technique
grew ambitious; more variety became the
satchword. The dude. who had occupied
the pen of the writer and the pencil of the
artist, WAS now perpetuated in wood. Eli
giles of base ball players gave sign of pub.
lic-spirited nature, and there has been
quire an eruption Of Pucks, good, bad and
even to portraiture.
The price of these figures varies greatly.
You can get small Indian for SIG, or you
can indulge your artistic taste up to the
tune of $l25. Metal figures run up as high
as $40. Most figures that are ordered are
simply copied from existing ones, the same
design being often repeated. Such work is
xemplified in certain forms and types that
nave grown conventional and are familiar to
al. But some dealers, with discriminating
End fastidious tastes, or peculiar hobbies,
and with the money to indulge them, have
special figures made to order.
One old gentleman on Third avenue nea-
Ninth street. had himself cut out in wood.
in the uniform of some military company
to which he belonged. Another gentleman,
N Broadway, put up figure of Edwin For
rest. in Roman garb. redundant of muscle,
IN front of his store. This figure has since
town, in Tenth avenue, ordered the counter.
felt presentment of Boston's shining light,
John l.. sullivan, i'll his base ball suit
Another Tenth avenue man had al elephan,
and the golden calf made for his tive
saloons. One western man ordered figures
statue, somewhat altered from the original
The carver naturally is glad to gel out OF
the rut of WearisOme conventlonality some
times. aild puts his best foot foremost wher
filling such orders.
But the tobacconist is not by any meant
the only customer that the sculptor in wooC
has to supply. Chiropodists want large
white or gilt feet to display before then
ooors, glove sellers hang up wooden gloyed
hands as signs of their calling, and LIVERY
stable owners call for heads of horses. More
than that, our artist in wood is at times
called upon to exercise his cunning in man
ufacturing wooden hands for such persons
as have had the misfortune to lose one O
those that nature provided them with.
downtown firm puts spring in these, sc
that they can be used to some extent by tn,
wearer.
p. L. Barnum has been supplied with ,
number of wooden figures which appear in
his parades. They are all life size or larger
and include Bluebeard, Cinderella, Mothe
Goose. Sindbad the Sailor, Red Ridin.
Hood, aud the Old Woman that Lived in
Shoe. Forepaugh has an equestrian fipur
OF st. George and the Dragon. The TO
ures On Barnum's vans are also carved !,
wood.
One firm that deals in wooden rags had
inquire OF ragman nine feet high placed O,
top OF ITS building in Franklin street. nea
Center. When it moved to its present quar-
sets, In west street, near Canal, a simiia
ngure was put up for it, SO that there ar
TWO OF them now. Another we'll known tr
IRE ID the cow that is MIXED daily on Cone
Island. AT Narragansett Pier there r
huge dragon TWENTY three feet lone xvh;c