E-Museum of Pyrographic Art

Antique Art Hall



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to the Ball Hughes Salon No. 16


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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.



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.




You are leaving the Ball Hughes Salon No. 16.

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Antique Hall

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Pyrographic Art Exhibit Halls:


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Traditional and Folk Art

Children's Pyrographic Art

Special Pyrographic Art


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© 2006, 2009 Kathleen M. Garvey Menéndez, all rights reserved.
Last updated 8 November 2009.