Dinosaur1915–19259 3/8 × 24 5/8 × 3 1/2"Carved and painted woodGift of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Dumas1977.2.101534801888Fred AltenSculptureCopyright for this work is under review. WyandotteWyandotteUnited StatesMichiganTreasures of Folk Art: Museum of American Folk ArtThree Dimensional WorksWyandotteThe child of German immigrants, Fred Alten lived the first part of his life in Ohio, where he worked in his father’s foundry. In 1912, he moved to Michigan and worked at a variety of occupations, including laborer, piano mover, and carpenter. Alten was an introverted man who spent all his spare time in a woodshed carving his animals in solitude. In 1975, Alten’s entire life’s work was found in a garage where it had remained unnoticed for thirty years. Also in the garage was a copy of Johnson’s Household Book of Nature, the inspiration for Alten’s carvings of modern and prehistoric animals.The child of German immigrants, Fred Alten lived the first part of his life in Ohio, where he worked in his father’s foundry. In 1912, he moved to Michigan and worked at a variety of occupations, including laborer, piano mover, and carpenter. Alten was an introverted man who spent all his spare time in a woodshed carving his animals in solitude. In 1975, Alten’s entire life’s work was found in a garage where it had remained unnoticed for thirty years. Also in the garage was a copy of Johnson’s Household Book of Nature, the inspiration for Alten’s carvings of modern and prehistoric animals.
Elizabeth V. Warren and Stacy C. Hollander, "Dinosaur," Expressions of a New Spirit: Highlights from the Permanent Collection of the Museum of American Folk Art (New York: American Folk Art Museum, 1989), 11319151925 1977 2 1 The child of German immigrants, Fred Alten lived the first part of his life in Ohio, where he worked in his father’s foundry. In 1912, he moved to Michigan and worked at a variety of occupations, including laborer, piano mover, and carpenter. Alten was an introverted man who spent all his spare time in a woodshed carving his animals in solitude. In 1975, Alten’s entire life’s work was found in a garage where it had remained unnoticed for thirty years. Also in the garage was a copy of Johnson’s Household Book of Nature, the inspiration for Alten’s carvings of modern and prehistoric animals.
Elizabeth V. Warren and Stacy C. Hollander, "Dinosaur," Expressions of a New Spirit: Highlights from the Permanent Collection of the Museum of American Folk Art (New York: American Folk Art Museum, 1989), 113