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The Old Blind Soldier and His Granddaughter By Ball Hughes, Boston, Feb. 14, 1866 Poker work on framed wood panel, 21 in. tall by 18 in. wide (inside of frame) 28.5 in. tall by 26 in. wide (outside of frame) Digital image by Suzanne Ballas

The Old Blind Soldier and His Granddaughter By Ball Hughes, Boston, Feb. 14, 1866 Detail of his initials B.H. and the date 1866 in the lower right hand corner of the pyrography Poker work on framed wood panel, 21 in. tall by 18 in. wide (inside of frame) 28.5 in. tall by 26 in. wide (outside of frame) Digital image by Suzanne Ballas

The Old Blind Soldier and His Granddaughter By Ball Hughes, Boston, 1866 The inscription on the verso of the panel, a detail of the pyroengraved inscription, and another showing the signature, date, and place Inscription on the back reads: "The old blind Soldier and his grandaughter who used to sit at the gate of the Blacksmiths Shop at Gretna Green. always receiving alms from the happy couples who had been there to make a hasty marriage He became quite rich before he died. This Picture was burnt with a red hot Poker experessly for Charles Magarge. Esq. Boston Feb. 14 1866. Ball Hughes. Fecit" Digital image by Suzanne Ballas N.B. The transcription shows a period after the abbreviation Esq. and Feb. However, in reality they each appear as a superscript of the letter r. All other anomalies in the inscription were left as the artist wrote them.

The Old Blind Soldier and His Granddaughter, Detail of the two figures By Ball Hughes, Boston, Feb. 14, 1866 Poker work on framed wood panel, 21 in. tall by 18 in. wide (inside of frame) 28.5 in. tall by 26 in. wide (outside of frame) Digital image by Suzanne Ballas

Stephen G. Kokas acquired the above signed and dated piece at a recent estate sale. It is known to be a piece by Robert Ball Hughes, the famous 19th century pyrographer, engraver, and sculptor. Little is known of its provenance, except for the name of its original owner, Charles Magarge (1804–1883), a Quaker, educated at the Friends' Academy, who entered the business world of his time at the young age of 13. He became a prominent businessman and owner of a very successful paper mill in the Wissahickon Valley in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. His Germantown mansion still stands today and is used as the Settlement Music School.

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If you have any questions or any additional information to offer about Ball Hughes, please e-mail Stephen G. Kokas and the E-Museum Curator.

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