Expert: Eileen Cronk - 1/10/2009

Question
I have A wood carving stamped on the back with the Flemish Art co. of new york #880. It also has whats left of a label marked Mosaic stones and pyrographic novelties. The carving is of the front of 3 horses jumping what appears to be a fence bordered on the top with a whip and horse shoe and the whole thing is bordered by a colored mosaic pattern. any idea as to what this is?

Answer
Hi Ray
Nice to hear from you.
I was asked a similar question some time ago and am enclosing my answer here for you. I cannot give credit to the quote and I apologise to the author.
Here was my answer at that time in its entirety.
I hope this helps a bit.

I am sending you what I could find on this Flemish Company.
Not much I'm afraid.
In the article below, you will see the word "pyography".
If you have never heard this word it means wood burning.
Pyography started in Victorian times as a craft for ladies.
They first used a hot poker for their wood burning, then The Flemish Art Co. started to sell tools made for this purpose.
The first reference I can find for the company is in 1880.
I have no idea when it actually started.
Is the piece you found a wood burning?
I have seen some of this art, and because it is beautifully colored it can fool you into thinking its painted. If you look close, the shading in the color is actually burnt wood.
I think I mentioned to the lady you referred to that my father spoke Flemish and came from Belgium, so that makes me think the Flemish Art Co. was probably started by someone from "The Old Country"
as my father would say :-)
And the bear symbols were familiar to me as I had seen them on some of Dads old papers from Belgium.
Here is the piece I found, and I thank you for writing about this most interesting topic.
Also be aware that pyography as a collectable is becoming popular and prices are rising.
Regards
Eileen

"Factories
It was inevitable that factories would materialize to supply the demand created by the invention of the benzine-fueled tool and the ladies magazines. First and foremost among suppliers of tools and wood items was The Flemish Art Company of New York, so much so that the name "Flemish Art" became one more generic term for pyrography, along with burnt wood and wood etch as well, and poker work or poker art from its earlier life.

The Sears Roebuck Company started to offer some of the Flemish Art Company's supplies in the Sears catalogue. Later they switched and got their supplies from the competition, Thayer and Chandler of Chicago, Illinois."

Regards
Eileen