Standing Woman, Anna Larkin

Anna (Jonsdotter) Larkin began carving as a child in Sweden. Her first success came at age 10 with the sale of a carving to a sea captain. She continued developing her skills and earned local fame sufficient to win the patronage of King Oscar II, who purchased two models of horses. In Sweden she taught at several schools and won many awards before immigrating to America in 1887. Here she met and married John Larkin and moved with him to McPherson, Kansas, where she resided until her death.
Larkin liked to carve white pine in particular. An average carving took about two days. First she sawed out the rough shape; the next day she carved details with a paring knife. For finishing, she rubbed the work with a piece of glass, followed by two grades of sandpaper.
Inspired by Larkin’s figures and works by other female carvers, I once proposed an exhibition of “Women Who Whittle.” Alas, it remains unrealized. CCE