Cross-Generational Art
Updated: Oct 26
Although I never met him, I had a very artistic and imaginative great grandfather named Gustave A. Hillebrand, who was from Stewartsville, MO.
Grandpa Gus had a little woodworking shop where he made the most intricate and lovely tiny furniture . He used only hand tools and smoked Mixture 79 tobacco in a pipe while he worked. When one of his grandchildren visited, he would sometimes swap out what he was working on and say "I was just working on this for you!"
Today, every member of our family has some of these little chairs and tables. Some have intricate inlays and are pretty amazing. There are also handmade boxes, little wagons, cradles, and even jewelry.
Luckily for me, my aunt had a box full of seconds and damaged chairs ... some had water damage, some were broken, others were unfinished or asymmetrical. I've always loved miniatures, and this box started me off on a little project to work with my long gone great grandfather.
Using my favorite two-part epoxy clay and various found objects and seashells, I made little creatures to sit on these thrones. I introduce to you The Chair Sprites!
FYI: Here are some of the tools my great grandfather used to create his wonderful pieces:
