Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 130, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 November 1903 — The Origin of Pyrography. [ARTICLE]

The Origin of Pyrography.

About a century ago an artist named Crauch was standing one day in front of a fire In his home at Axmlnster. Over the fireplace was an oaken mantelpiece. and* It occurred to Cranch that this expause of wood might be Improved by a little ornamentation. He picked up the poker, heated It red-hot and began to sketch fn a bold design. The result pleased him so much that he elaborated his work and began to attempt other fire pictures on panels of wood. These met with a ready sale, and Cranch soon gave all his time to his new art. This was the beginning of what is now known as pyrogrnpby. The poker artist of to-day uses many different shaped tools nnd has n special furnace In which they are kept heated. The art has been elaborated greatly. The knots, curls «Dd fibers of the wood are often worked Into the design and delicate tinting produced by scorching the panT.