Wallace Nutting Silhouettes
By Michael Ivankovich

This column will focus upon a very unique aspect of Wallace Nutting collecting...Wallace Nutting Silhouettes.

   Wallace Nutting (1861-1941) was a minister-turned-businessman who became extremely well known throughout the early 20th c, primarily through three categories of his work:

1. the millions of hand-colored photographs that he sold between 1900-1941
2. the 20+ different books that he authored  between 1917-1933
3. the thousands of high quality furniture pieces that he reproduced between 1918-1941

   As a leader within the Colonial Revival Movement Wallace Nutting became so well known that by 1920 hardly an American household was without something carrying the Wallace Nutting name. Nutting's hand-colored photographs were sold primarily to middle class households, his high quality reproduction furniture sold primarily to upper class households, and his books on travel and antique furniture cut across all economic lines. But like all fads, people's tastes change over time and by 1925 Wallace Nutting saw his sales declining.
   In 1925 while returning from a European trip, Wallace Nutting happened to meet a young man named Ernest John Donnelly. Donnelly, who was traveling alone from his native Ireland, was in search of a new life in America and needed a job. Coincidentally, at this same time, Nutting was looking to hire someone to help him in the day-to-day operations of his business. Although his picture business was running quite smoothly, he was becoming more involved in the many other aspects of his ever-widening business. He was in the middle of writing his 10-volume States Beautiful series, he was beginning work on his 3-volume Furniture Treasury series, his furniture reproduction business was rapidly expanding, as was his research into early American antiques, and many new speaking engagements were coming his way. Nutting needed a reliable person to take over many of his daily office duties and Donnelly seemed to fit the bill. Nutting hired him on the spot.
    So in 1925 Ernest John Donnelly began working for Nutting and, as he learned the ropes of his business, he gained the confidence of Wallace Nutting. And as it turned out, in addition to being skilled in bookkeeping and office management skills, Donnelly was a skilled artist as well. It's unknown whether Nutting or Donnelly first suggested the idea but by 1927 Nutting decided to market a series of silhouettes drawn by Ernest John Donnelly. These silhouettes seemed to be a perfect business proposal because not only were silhouettes becoming extremely popular with the American public, they could be machine-produced without the added labor expense associated with hand-coloring photographs.
   The silhouette production process was fairly simple. Ernest John Donnelly would draw the original silhouette in pen and ink. Once approved by Wallace Nutting, Donnelly's original pen & ink drawing would then be machine re-produced, with literally several thousand of each silhouette being printed. To further keep costs down these silhouettes were only framed as they were sold to the public or through their dealers. Hence, literally thousands of silhouettes remained unframed in inventory until finally sold.
   Distribution of the Wallace Nutting silhouettes started in 1927 and soon Wallace Nutting was marketing more than 60 different silhouettes which came in 4 distinct categories.

1. Women Silhouettes: These are the most common type of silhouettes and typically involve one woman in a garden or household setting. We are aware of at least 36 different Woman silhouettes and there may even be more. Common Woman silhouettes typically sell for $25-$50 each. Rarer ones can sometimes bring $50-$150 or more, especially from a serious collector trying the complete a collection.

Sizes: Wallace Nutting Women silhouettes came in 3 distinct sizes. The most common is the small format 3.75x4.25" size. Large format 7x8" silhouettes were the 2nd most common size, while medium format 5x5" silhouettes were the least common size. Although other silhouette sizes are sometimes found, these were typically one of the three primary sizes cut down to fit smaller frames. Women silhouettes were typically framed in a black wooden frame, usually square or rectangular, but sometimes in round or oval frames.

Signatures and Markings: Woman silhouettes are typically marked in three ways. Some carry an "EJD" in a circle, some are marked with a "(c)WN", and some carry both markings. All Woman silhouettes carried one of these three markings, unless it was inadvertently cropped in order fit it into a smaller frame.

2. Famous Couple Silhouettes: There are fewer Famous Couple silhouettes than Women silhouettes and they were typically sold in pairs, although many pairs have become separated over the years. We are aware of at least 8 different couples, including Abraham & Mary Todd Lincoln, George and Martha Washington, John Alden & Priscilla, James & Dolly Madison, Josiah & Harriet, Lord Byron & Hope, Jubel & Prudence, Thomas & Jane, and there may even be more. Famous Couple silhouettes typically sell for $100-$200 per  pair, with the rarest ones bringing top dollar.
 Sizes: Famous Couple silhouettes came in two sizes, with the small format measuring approximately 2.5x3.25" and the larger format measuring approximately 4x5".

Markings: Many Famous Couple silhouettes are marked with round paper labels, often with the name written onto the label in pen. If the paper backing is missing, often these silhouettes are unmarked.

3. Cards and Calendars: This category represents a catch-all category. Silhouette Calendars are the rarest because so many were thrown away after the year-end. Greeting Cards and Mother's Day Cards are usually unframed and blank inside where a message could be written. Unsigned, unused cards are more common than signed cards having a hand written message. In 1927 a silhouette-style card titled “A Somerset Highway” was issued. Drawn by Donnelly, this as no doubt a result on Nutting’s 1925 trip to England and Ireland. The Christmas Card, which features Wallace & Mariet Nutting signing Xmas Cards at candlelight, were actually used by the Nutting's as their 1939 Christmas Card, which was sent to friends and business associates. Signed cards are quite rare and will command a much higher price than unsigned, never-used cards. These items can bring anywhere from $25-$50 unsigned to $75-$150+ if signed by Wallace Nutting himself.

4. Foster Brothers Silhouettes Sold By Wallace Nutting: Apparently during the 1930's Wallace Nutting sold a limited assortment of silhouettes that were made by Foster Brothers of Boston, Mass. There is some speculation whether these silhouettes were originally drawn by Ernest John Donnelly, for Foster Brothers, with Nutting's approval, but I'm unclear whether this has been definitively proven. Few people really understand what these are and they generally bring in the area of $2.50-$10.00 each.

   The best and rarest silhouette finds of all are those that come framed in a Wallace Nutting Curley Maple Treenware frame. Wallace Nutting's 1930 Furniture Salesman's Catalog, the Wallace Nutting General Catalog, Supreme Edition, pictures more than 500 different furniture styles that Nutting was reproducing and selling in 1930. Included in this catalog are three different styles of curly maple frames, #1:  3 5/8"; #2:  4 3/4"; and #3:  5 5/8".  Although rarely found, the frame is actually worth far more than the silhouette and can command anywhere from $75-$200 each.
   And a very few framed silhouettes even include an original Wallace Nutting silhouette Paper Label on the back.

   Why are so many Wallace Nutting silhouettes framed in newer frames? As we discussed earlier, Nutting only framed the silhouettes upon their sale, or he sold them unframed to gift shops or department stores who ultimately framed them for their customers. With Wallace Nutting's death in 1941, and Mrs. Nutting's death in 1944, the entire Nutting estate, including all unsold inventories, were left to Esther Svenson and Ernest John Donnelly. Sometime after 1946 the unsold inventory of unframed silhouettes were sold to persons unknown. Many unframed silhouettes came back into the marketplace during the late 1970's-early 1980's when they were basically peddled along the East Coast to pretty much anyone who was interested in buying them, and many were framed by their new owners. Hence, the newer frames.
   Let me wrap things up by talking about fake Wallace Nutting silhouettes. Up to now, it hasn't been a major problem and relatively few fakes have appeared on the market. Yet these are so easy to reproduce, even on a common duplicating or copy machine, that I'm amazed that more silhouette reproductions haven't yet appeared. Original Nutting silhouettes have a glossy sheen and are often, but not always, darker around the edges from age. Beware of silhouettes that appear flat in color and depth and always ask yourself "Could this have been reproduced on a photocopier?". Your best defense is to only buy from knowledgeable dealers who guarantee what they sell.
   And finally, let me comment on a very questionable silhouette that has appeared on the Internet several times. This silhouette is titled "Mr. & Mrs. Sambo" and carries a full script "Wallace Nutting" signature marking. I believe this to be a fake for three reasons:
1) Wallace Nutting was a Congregational Minister and this caricature figure was unlike anything else he ever did. Why this silhouette is so different than all others that he approved and released?
2) None of Nutting's other 60+ silhouettes carries a full signature. Why is this the only one with a full script signature?
3) We never saw this silhouette appear in 25+ years of collecting...until E-Bay came into the picture. You have to ask yourself...Why?
   Anyway, with 60+ Wallace Nutting silhouettes available to collect, this can be a fun and challenging area for collectors.