Woodcarving, c. 1903-90

Component identifier:

Series 3

Content Summary:

According to family tradition, Blogg took up woodcarving as a hobby following the death of his first wife Annie in 1893. His immersion in the craft has also been attributed to an increasing deafness, although it is known that he had always decorated cabinet work and made items of furniture. The works were carved from solid pieces of wood using only hand tools, without joins or superimposition of timbers. In later years Blogg moved away from the decorated panels featured in his early work, to representations of native gums and wattles which were notable for their lightness of effect.

This series is chiefly comprised of photographs of Blogg's carvings, but also includes some design sketches of panels and details, and articles written about his work in wood. The photos include examples of his many commissions, such as the carved panel presented to the Governor of Victoria, Lord Carmichael (1859-1926) and decorated box given to the King Albert of Belgium (1909-1934), as well as the pulpits and hymn boards which decorate a number of Victorian churches.

Other papers and photographs relating to Blogg's carvings are filed in Series 2 and 6.

Immediate source of acquisition:

The papers of the industrial chemist, woodcarver and poet John Kendrick Blogg (1851-1936) were donated to the National Library by his grandson, Hugh Stevenson, in 1996.

Names:

John Kendrick Blogg

Contents

Access and use