Made by Lavinia Walker.
Circa 1876.
Beeswax, notions, leather, wool batting, wool thread, silk, satin, wool tweed, glass.

Stuffed and stitched dimensional silhouettes of a man and wife wearing fine
mid 19th century clothing. Amazing detail and craftsmanship.
A paper affixed to the back states “These negroes, a lawyer and his wife were made of beeswax. They were created by great aunt Lavinia Walker, Grandma Balbitt’s sister in 1876 and presented to Nora Campau Balbitt, now Nora Balbitt Harsh, singing teacher in Chicago, at Fine Arts Building 410 So. Michigan Ave. These negroes were made in Ypsilanti, Michigan.”

Partial hand-written label on the back of the picture along with partial printed label- National
Federation of Musicians Rock Island All Roads…Bicentennial … Convention, June 6-14, 1921.

Mounted on antique textured paper.
Some water stains in corners.
15.5″ x 15.5″x 2.5″ deep- frame
11 1/2″ x 10 3/8″-without frame
Lot 262
Sotheby’s 2011