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I. W. Wells
Salon No. 4

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Independence By I. W. Wells, 1866 Pokerwork on framed wood panel, inside frame 10-3/4 in. wide by 13 in. tall outside frame 14-1/2 in. wide by 17-1/2 in. tall Image thanks to Richard White

Independence, verso, detail By I. W. Wells, Sept. 1866 Inscription, verso, reads: Independence Burnt By I.W.Wells Sept. 1866. Note that the artist's name could easily be interpreted as J. W. Wells rather than I. W. Wells because of the calligraphic style. However, the same is true of the signature shown for this artist in his inscription on the 1866 panel in the Pinto Collection of the Birmingham Museum in the U.K. Pokerwork on framed wood panel, inside frame 10-3/4 in. wide by 13 in. tall outside frame 14-1/2 in. wide by 17-1/2 in. tall Image thanks to William Vernon

Independence, View 2 By I. W. Wells, Sept. 1866 Pokerwork on framed wood panel, inside frame 10-3/4 in. wide by 13 in. tall outside frame 14-1/2 in. wide by 17-1/2 in. tall Image thanks to Richard White

Independence, View 3 By I. W. Wells, Sept. 1866 Pokerwork on framed wood panel, inside frame 10-3/4 in. wide by 13 in. tall outside frame 14-1/2 in. wide by 17-1/2 in. tall Image thanks to Richard White

Exhibited here in this salon is an intriguing portrait of an unknown man by I. W. Wells, which is dated September 1866. This work—in its original frame—currently resides in the U.K. in the collection of Richard White.

A picture of Wells' work can be seen in the companion book that was written by Edward and Eva Pinto, the original owners of that work and of about 19 others that were acquired by the Birmingham Museums and today form the Pinto Collection there. Four works in pyrography are on display at the web site of the Pinto Collection in Birmingham, England, but not their work by I. W. Wells.

Susan Millis, who has an advanced degree in the conservation and restoration of pyrographic works, has studied at length and under magnification the works in the Pinto Collection. She is encouraged that the 1866 Wells work "Independence" displayed here could well be by the same artist who did the 1866 panel "Waiting for the Plough" that is in England. Notes on that important collection, including on I. W. Wells, were given by Susan Millis in an interview for Pyrograffiti at the link here.

Richard White, the owner of the panel and an antiques dealer, knows little of the provenance of the panel "Independence" displayed here—only that he acquired this work from William Vernon, who bought the panel only a little over a year before.

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This Wells panel is for sale. If you are interested in buying this superb work, or if you have either any questions to ask or any additional information to offer about I. W. Wells or this panel by him, please e-mail Richard White and the E-Museum Curator.

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