Other people say the current interest in Wallace Nutting is a result of the renewed interest in the Colonial Revival movement...some say that the high quality of his work is finally becoming recognized...while still others are simply trying to cash in on what they perceive to be the low end of a market.
Regardless of the causes for all this interest in Wallace Nutting, you must first understand that there are three different and distinct Wallace Nutting markets. This article will attempt to explain each distinct market, and then bring Wallace Nutting into better perspective.
It was shortly after 1900 that Wallace Nutting retired from the Ministry due to ill health. As part of his recovery, he began touring the New England countryside by carriage or car, taking photographs of rural America. Nutting was one of the first to recognize that the American scene was changing. Industrialization was altering the way America looked and our pure and picturesque country would never look the same again. He seemed to feel it his divine calling to record the beauty of America for future generations.
Beginning first in Vermont, then Massachusetts and Connecticut, and eventually throughout the rest of New England, Nutting began photographing country lanes, streams, orchards, lakes, and mountains. Wallace Nutting would take the photograph, assign a title, and instruct his colorists how it should be hand-tinted. Each picture that met Nutting's high standards of color, composition, and taste would be affixed to its matting and signed by his employees with the Wallace Nutting name. (He hardly ever signed any pictures himself). Those pictures that did not meet his strict standards were destroyed.
Beginning first with outdoor (Exterior) scenes in New England, Nutting eventually traveled throughout the United States and Europe, taking photographs in 26 states and 17 foreign countries between 1900-1935. Overall, he took more than 50,000 pictures, 10,000 of which he felt met his high standards. The balance were destroyed.
It was around 1905 that Nutting began taking his first indoor (Interior) pictures. Supposedly one day while it was raining outside, Mrs Nutting suggested that he take a more `personable' picture indoors. So, he set up a colonial scene, had an employee dress up in a colonial fashion, and took several different pictures. These sold relatively easily which encouraged him to expand more into this area.
Nutting's love of antiques, his passion for the pilgrim period, and his unquestionable desire to turn a profit led him to eventually purchase and restore 5 colonial homes:
*Webb House, Wethersfield, CT
*Wentworth-Gardner House, Ports-mouth, NH
*Cutler-Bartlett House, Newburyport, MA
*Hazen-Garrison House, Haverhill, MA
*Saugus Iron Works (Broadhearth), Saugus, MA
Nutting purchased these homes because he felt each represented a different period of early colonial American style and taste. It was here, along with his own Nuttinghame (Southbury, CT) and Nuttingholme (Framingham, MA), that the majority of his Interior pictures were taken.
Nutting`s desire to provide the most correct and appropriate settings for his Interior scenes led him in his quest to gather one of the best collections of early American furniture ever assembled. He would use the best examples of early American furniture in his Interior scenes and, when he couldn't find it, he would reproduce it. (We'll focus on his Furniture later).
Working in Southbury, CT from 1905-12, and then in Framingham, MA from 1912 until his death in 1941, Nutting sold literally millions of his hand-colored photographs. He claims to have sold around 10,000,000 pictures although, knowing his habit of exaggeration, that number is probably somewhat high.
Whatever the true number, it was large. Wallace Nutting pictures were sometimes called `poor man's prints'. Sold throughout the first quarter of the 20th century, well before the invention of color photography, these pictures initially sold literally for pennies. His market was primarily the middle and lower middle classes...those households which could not afford finer forms of art. Because of their low price, Wallace Nutting pictures were purchased in large numbers. By 1925, hardly an American middle-class household was without one. They were purchased as gifts for weddings, showers, Christmas, birthdays, and for just about any other reason imaginable.
Nutting sold many pictures directly through his studios where he also provided his own framing. But he also sold his pictures through many other outlets as well: department stores, drug stores, and gift shops, all around the country. He even had full-time salesmen on the road whose sole job was to sell his pictures to these retail establish-ments. (Salesmen whom, he claims, sold enough pictures to retire quite handsomely themselves.)
The height of Wallace Nutting picture popularity was 1915-25. During this time Nutting had nearly 100 colorists in his employment, along with another 100 employees who acted as framers, matters, salesmen, manage-ment, and assorted administrative office personnel. Let there be no mistake about it...Wallace Nutting pictures was big business.
But by the late 1920's, people began to tire of Wallace Nutting. As with any other fashion or style, tastes began to change. Wallace Nutting pictures became passe and sales showed a steady decline. Even the introduction of different matting styles, greeting cards, pentype silhouettes, and lower priced machine-produced process prints could not rejuvenate sales.
The Wall Street crash of 1929 and the following depression all but sealed the fate of the Wallace Nutting picture business. Although it remained in operation even after his death, the output was inconsequential after the early 1930's.
Over the years, millions of Wallace Nutting pictures were probably thrown away. Many of those that remain show the signs of 60-90 years of wear after being stored in attics and basements: water stains, broken glass, dust, dirt, and mildew.
As the original owners of Wallace Nutting pictures have grown older or passed on, their Wallace Nutting pictures have also been passed on to another generation. Some were given directly as gifts, others were inherited by children and grandchildren. Those that weren't passed along to families were sold at auctions, estate sales, tag sales, and flea markets.
Are all Wallace Nutting pictures worth big money? Absolutely not. In 1976, you had to spend around $25 to buy a decent sized Exterior scene. Today in 1996, you might have to spend $100-$150 for that same picture.
Interior scenes which cost around $50 in 1976 now cost $150-$300. Perhaps a greater rate of appreciation than the more common Exterior scenes, but still, compared to prices of other non-antique items, this is not all that great of an increase for a 20 year period.
What are collectors looking for? Just as in Wallace Nutting's time, Exterior scenes have the widest appeal. Interior scenes have a more limited appeal, but since they are rarer, they typically command a higher price than Exterior scenes.
The most desireable pictures to serious Wallace Nutting collectors are Miscellaneous Unusual Scenes. These are pictures which fall outside the more standard Interior and Exterior scenes: Architecturals, Children, Florals, Foreign, Men, Seascapes, and Snow scenes. Just as in other areas of collecting, the rarest examples in the best condition are the easiest to sell, regardless of price. Pictures with men and Children which once sold for the same $50 Interior price in 1976 now sell for $500-$1000; pictures with animals which once sold like common Exterior scenes now sell in the $500-$1500.
But just as important as rarity and subject matter is condition. Collectors want pieces in excellent condition and things such as water stains, blemishes, poor coloring, or damaged frames can all signifixantly reduce value.
He was widely known for his `States Beautiful' series. As Wallace Nutting traveled throughout America taking his photographs, he wrote eight books about states that he visited. Each book contained approximately 300 of his photos taken throughout the state. Nutting would elaborate about key regions of each state, and its houses, people, history, and charm.
These books had 2 primary markets. First, the residents of each particular state. Most people like reading about themselves, or at least about something near and dear to them...their home state. As a result, he would sell a considerable number of books to residents of each state that he wrote about.
Secondly, this was an era before travel became inexpensive and convenient. For the average person, commercial air travel had not yet arrived, transatlantic ocean voyages were lengthy and expensive, and the automobile was still being perfected. Books were they easiest way to travel. Libraries were frequent purchasers of his States Beautiful books, as well as those individuals interested in learning about and seeing new and far-away places.
Overall, Nutting published 10 States Beautiful books:
Vermont Beautiful
Massachusetts Beautiful
Connecticut Beautiful
New Hampshire Beautiful
Maine Beautiful
Pennsylvania Beautiful
Ireland Beautiful
New York Beautiful
England Beautiful
Virginia Beautiful
Five other States Beautiful books were under consideration: Ohio, Colorado, California, New Jersey, and Florida, but none of these were ever published. The dust jacket of the 1st edition Connecticut Beautiful went so far as to state that Florida Beautiful was released in 1924 but that never occurred. Approximately 25 pages of the unpublished manuscript were found, but no such book was ever published.
As a result, Nutting sold quite a number of these books. Based upon comments in Wallace Nutting's Biography, approximately 10,000 copies of most 1st editions were sold.
These books were so popular that by the 1930's, each of the States Beautiful books were reprinted in a 2nd edition. The way to easily distinguish 1st editions from 2nd editions is simply by the color of the cover. 1st editions had dark green covers (with black & white dust jackets, when remaining); 2nd editions had tan covers (with colored dust jackets, where remaining). In the 1970's, as Wallace Nutting collecting was being revived, Bonanza books reprinted some of these titles as well.
Somewhat surprisingly, a Wallace Nutting autograph doesn't add that much value to a book. You should recognize that Nutting was a great marketer and promoter. In order to promote book sales, Nutting frequently attended book signings. So although an autographed copy of a States Beautiful book is somewhat rarer, it's not all that unusual.
What is the value of States Beautiful books? Today, they seem to be retailing for $25-50, with the earlier, more plentiful books bringing the lower amount. Condition is extremely important in obtaining the higher end price.
If Wallace Nutting became well-known for his States Beautiful series, he became even more famous for the books he published on his true passion: Antiques of the Pilgrim Century.
Nutting claimed that the search for attractive backgrounds for his Interior, hand-colored pictures was responsible for his quest for antiques. As mentioned earlier, Nutting had purchased and restored 5 houses. His objective was to provide a series of homes furnished in the styles from 1640 to what he termed `the decline of taste', ie, the end of the Empire Period.
Although Nutting began purchasing antiques in the early 1900's, he did not begin collecting seriously until he moved to Framingham in 1912. It was here that his picture business reached its peak, the demand for his `authentic' Interior scenes was at an all time high and Nutting needed a great deal of furniture to furnish his series of colonial homes.
Through the accumulation of antiques for his homes, Wallace Nutting had the opportunity to see such a diverse assortment and large quantity of antiques that he began to record what he saw...through his camera.
It was in 1917 that he published his first book on antique furniture... American Windsors . . . the first definitive book on windsor chairs. American Windsors, nearly 200 pages long, was the first serious study of the Windsor form, with chairs dating from 1725-1825. Picturing nearly 100 different Windsor forms, this book included an in-depth discussion of Windsor variations, and each piece's merit, dating, and relative frequency of occurrence.
Nutting's passion for antiques then led to his publication in 1921 of Furniture of the Pilgrim Century. This work went well beyond the Windsor form to include American chests, desks, tables, other forms of chairs, mirrors, clocks, utensils, and hardware.
Nutting felt that World War I stirred a great deal of patriotism and stimulated interest in the work of our forefathers. Some credit him with playing a significant role in the Colonial Revival Movement. More than 500 pages long, and including more than 1000 photos of items dating between 1620-1720, Wallace Nutting tried to include only things made in America...of native American woods.
Wallace Nutting took most of the photos used in this book, and wrote the entire copy. Except for the more serious collectors, this extensive publication was all but forgotten because it was eclipsed by his most important work ever...the Furniture Treasury.
The Furniture Treasury, still available in bookstores today is really not one book, but 3 separate volumes. Volumes I & II, published in 1928, contain more than 5000 photos of American furniture and utensils. Somewhat overlapping the Furniture of the Pilgrim Century, this work covers 1650 to the end of the Empire Period, which, according to Nutting, `brings us to the beginning of the degraded styles.
In 1933, Nutting published a 3rd volume of the Furniture Treasury. Intended as a supplement to Volumes I & II, this book supplied additional details concerning styles, dates, construction, and origins of the previous volumes. It also provided a listing of early American clock makers, which supplemented another book that he wrote, The Clock Book. Unlike the first 2 volumes of the Furniture Treasury, volume 3 had no photographs. Rather, it was illustrated with hundreds of sketches , mostly drawn by his assistant, Ernest John Donnelly.
It was Wallace Nutting's love of antiques...and his uncanny sense of entrepreneurial spirit...that led to his least profitable, and according to some, most important business venture of all.
As previously mentioned, Nutting`s involvement with antiques began early on with his desire to restore and furnish his chain of colonial homes, each representing a different period. But even as early as 1915, with many people actively collecting American antiques, frequently the finest examples were unobtainable...anywhere...at any price. Being the entrepreneur that he was, Nutting was quick to recognize this. He saw that if he was having difficulty obtaining the finest forms of Pilgrim Century furniture, so were other collectors. Many could not afford the finest forms and quite often, those that could afford it...could not find it.
Beginning first with Windsor Chairs around 1917, Nutting gathered the finest Windsor forms available. (If you look in the American Windsor book, you will notice that Nutting was the owner of approximately 75% of those pieces). Nutting would have his craftsmen take the original piece apart very carefully. They would measure each leg, stretcher, spindle, and seat...analyze it's special features...and reproduce it exactly...piece-by-piece...turn for turn.
Although other people were reproducing furniture around this time, Nutting sought to be the very best. He expended a great amount of time, energy, and money trying to make his reproductions resemble the original as closely as possible.
The techniques used by Nutting resembled those of the early furniture makers wherever possible:
*all legs and turnings were finished on a hand lathe
*all seats were finished by hand...always 18" from front to floor...cut away from a 2" plank
*the combs were bent in wet steam and carved entirely by hand
*the spindles ran through the arm rail, and any and all higher bows to the top, in one piece, penetrating the bow or hoop
*all legs are raked 4" in 18", with the back legs 1/2" shorter than the front
*Every part of every chair was finished 5 times by hand...3 chairs per day was all that a finisher could finish
*only the finest woods were used...rock maple legs...knotty pine seats...and hickory spindles and rails
In 1917, he produced his first Reproduction Furniture Catalog called Wallace Nutting Windsors...Correct Windsor Furniture, which offered more than 100 reproduction variations of the Windsor form...Chairs, Settees, Candlestands, Cribs, Small Tables, and Beds. By the mid-late 1920's, Nutting had moved beyond the Windsor form to reproducing other types of furniture: Chippendale, Hepplewhite, Pilgrim Century...Philadelphia and New England...Beds, arm chairs, side chairs, benches, chests, highboys, secretaries, and settles.
The earliest Nutting furniture was clearly marked with a paper label. This label would identify the piece as an original Wallace Nutting reproduction, and serve as an advertisement for the Wallace Nutting business as well.
Nutting`s reproductions were so good that, on occasion, unscrupulous dealers would remove the paper label, loan the piece to a family with children in order to accelerate the aging process, and then sell the piece as an original antique.
When Nutting learned of this he began literally branding his name into the piece with block letters.
In the early 1920's, Nutting sold both his picture and furniture business...along with the right to use his name. The `new Wallace Nutting Company', although using his designs and specifications, began cheapening the production process in order to turn a profit.
For example, instead of seats being made from 2" solid planks, they were made from planks comprised of 5 separate pieces glued together before shaping. Carvings were generally not as detailed, and dimensions were not as closely adhered to.
Furniture produced by the `new Wallace Nutting Company' was generally marked with a hand-written, or script, Wallace Nutting signature brand.
Infuriated at the degraded production process and negative impact it was having on his good name, Wallace Nutting decided to repurchase his business from the new owners. Being short on cash, Nutting sold his own personal collection of antiques...one of the finest collections ever assembled...to J.P. Morgan, who, in turn, donated the Wallace Nutting collection to the Wadsworth Atheneum where it is still on display today.
Nutting used the proceeds to buy back the picture and furniture business and restore his good name. Picking up where he left off, Nutting continued to gather the finest examples of furniture he could find and continued to reproduce top quality furniture.
In 1930, Wallace Nutting published his largest and most complete reproduction furniture catalog ever, the Wallace Nutting General Catalog, Supreme Edition. This catalog is important for 2 reasons. First, it shows the Wallace Nutting reproduction furniture business at its peak. It not only includes nearly all of his successful reproductions, its includes some of his own personal adaptations of items for the office..items which were of his own creation, including office desks and chairs, banking tables, and radiator covers.
But even more importantly, this catalog tells us something about his furniture market. Unlike the picture market which targeted the lower and middle classes, his reproduction furniture market was predominantly the upper middle and upper classes: Doctors, Lawyers, Bankers...the white collar and professional class.
The back of the General Catalog includes his 1930 price list, listing each piece he was reproducing in 1930...along with prices. Prices included side chairs up to $190; arm chairs up to $230; mirrors up to $300; settees up to $500; tables up to $690; desks up to $1250; and cabinet pieces up to $1350!
And this was in 1930...in the midst of the worst depression this country has ever seen. Quite obviously, the people who bought Wallace Nutting`s reproduction furniture were not the same people who generally bought his pictures.
By the mid-1930's, the Wallace Nutting furniture reproduction business began to wind down. Like most other businesses, it was adversely impacted by the great depression.
It was also adversely affected by Wallace Nutting`s age. By this time, age began to slow him down and his many other outside interests began to distract him. More and more of the day-to-day business was delegated to key employees while Nutting devoted time to lecturing, writing his autobiography, and other diversions.
But the primary reason for the eventual closing of the Wallace Nutting furniture business was that it never made any money. As a matter of fact, it lost money, right from the beginning. Nutting's desire for the highest quality possible drove production costs prohibitively high. Profits from the picture and book publishing businesses covered the continual losses in the furniture business.
The most common form you will find is the Windsor chair. He was reproducing this longer than anything else, and had so many variations. Some Windsor chairs are quite common, others are very rare but, overall, this is the most common Wallace Nutting reproduction you will find.
I think a safe rule of thumb is that the larger, more elaborate, and more expensive a piece was originally, the rarer it is today.
Some other very obvious and basic rules of thumb:
*formal furniture is rarer than primitive furniture
*arm chairs are rarer than side chairs
*case pieces are rarer than mid-sized and smaller sized pieces
*the later a piece first appears, the rarer it will be
*the more difficult a piece was to produce, the fewer remaining examples you will find
And, as in all other areas of antiques, condition is the most important determinant of value.
*sold nearly 10,000,000 pictures, all bearing his name
*published nearly 20 books, all bearing his name
*gathered one of the most extensive collections of important antique furniture ever assembled . . . still on display in a major institution...still bearing his name
*reproduced thousands of the finest pieces of furniture ever made, all bearing his name
There is a word in the English language called synergy. Quite simply defined, this means than the total effect of an action is greater than the sum of the individual parts. This, I feel, is what is happening to the Wallace Nutting market today.
*The Wallace Nutting picture market, by itself, has become a major market.
*The Wallace Nutting furniture market is a separate and distinct market.
*There are 20 different books, all written by Wallace Nutting, that are being collected today.
Wallace Nutting. It's the synergy of the name...it's the inter-relationship of the different markets...it's the diverse combination of high and low end collectors...that is causing the widespread attention to the Wallace Nutting market.
As always, the spotlight will eventually shift to another area. It always has...it always will. But, a strong Wallace Nutting market will remain. Because the name Wallace Nutting means quality . . . it means style . . . it means Americana.
Americana is here to stay. And so is Wallace Nutting..
(Editor's note: Michael Ivankovich is the author of The Price Guide to Wallace Nutting Pictures; The Alphabetical & Numerical Index to Wallace Nutting Pictures; The Guide to Wallace Nutting Furniture, and The Guide to Wallace Nutting-Like Photographers of the Early 20th Century.
His latest book, The Collector's Guide to Wallace Nutting Pictures, was released by Collector Books in February, 1997. He also runs 3-4 Wallace Nutting Specialty Auctions each year, with the next one to be held on June 27th in Manchester NH.. Anyone interested in obtaining any further information can reach Mr. Ivankovich at Box 2458, Doylestown, PA 18901. (215) 345-6094. You can also preview his Wallace Nutting Web site at www.wnutting.com.)