Artist

Date

Materials

Description

Wooden sculpture of a beaver standing on a platform. The beaver is standing on all four legs with its head angled to its proper right side. In its mouth, the beaver has a long piece of wood that juts out to the right and bends at a 90° angle before splitting into two pieces and curving under the proper left side of the body. The beaver’s eyes are black, its teeth are quite large, and its expression appears aggressive due to the deeper lines engraved in the face. The beaver’s tail is angled more to its proper right side and is quite detailed with a deeply carved crisscross pattern. Overall, the fur on the beaver is quite detailed and covers the entire body. The platform it stands on is less detailed with larger, shallower cuts. On the front of this platform on the right side, there is a carved inscription. On the bottom of the sculpture, there is a paper label with printed text. To the left of this label, there are two deep gouges with writing in them.

This wooden beaver was made by Abe Patterson, a woodcarver from Pembroke, Ontario who was active throughout the first half of the 20^th century. Most of Patterson’s carvings are of farm animals and wild animals, much like this beaver, but he also made household objects, models of buildings, and totem poles. He typically carved “in the round” from a single piece of wood that he harvested himself. Patterson’s work received international attention in the 1930s and the popularity of his art continued well into the 1960s. As such, many of his carvings can still be found throughout North America and Europe today. 

On June 2, 1962, John Diefenbaker flew out from Bonnechere Airport, where he was met by a crowd of about 900 people. From there, he went to Pembroke via a motorcade. While Diefenbaker was in Pembroke, he took part in a political meeting at the Pembroke Armories as well as a parade that went from Trafalgar Road to the Copeland Hotel.

Marks/Labels

“Presented to Mrs. Diefenbaker by Colleen Dodd, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Tommy Dodd on Saturday, June 2, 1962 at Pembroke, Ontario" typed on a sticker stuck to the base.

"a.m. Patterson

Pembroke" written on the base in black marker.

“CANADA” carved diagonally into the front right side of the platform.

"78.1.127" written in black pen on the base.

Category