This listing is for one hand-carved and painted folk art treen wood letter opener reading “OLD DEERFIELD” and artist signed “C. Alquist” presumably in ink with green paint detail.

It is large in size and measures 10 3/4” inches long and is one of ten similar pieces I am listing today. They likely date from the 1930s, when the historical preservation movement was first arriving to the village of Old Deerfield, Massachusetts.

The piece is the work of artist CLARA ALQUIST (1876-1944), a longtime resident of Deerfield where she was locally known, and now well documented, as a WPA easel artist, bird watcher and diarist. Her artwork and family papers are housed in the collections of Historic Deerfield and other local museums.

I was told these letter openers came from the estate of a relative or someone acquainted with Clara Alquist’s family in Deerfield. Presumably made for the tourist trade, they appear to have been stored away and forgotten for decades and never used.

They bear all the pleasing character and quirks of natural wood including minor splits, knots, pitting, etc. And there are traces of the craftswoman’s work in evidence — carving and sanding scratches and the conforming of each piece according to the irregular contours of the wood so that no two are the same.

I don’t know what type of wood was used (possibly a fruit wood?) — and it appears that wax or oil was used to preserve the pieces naturally, without an unattractive varnish-type topcoat. The wood is a rich honey color.

I have shown a photo of the entire collection for reference only. But again: this listing is only for the one piece cited above. If you’d like more than one piece I’d be glad to combine shipping — just wait for my invoice before paying.

Check all photos for details and ask any questions you may have. Thank you very much!

La