John Baird | (Bust of James Milton Baird)
Bust Statue of (James Milton Baird 1872-1876)
This shale portrait has been speculated to be one of the first works completed by Baird, the piece that inspired him to begin the carving of a collection of portraits.
It was created as a memory of his son, James who passed away at the age of 4.
The work was described in 1886 as a life sized bust ‘speaking in the remembrance of the original’
An important surviving work by John Baird.
Medium: Carved Kerosene Shale
Size: 49cm (height) x 31 cm (width) x 17 cm (Depth)
Provenance:
Trevor Kennedy Collection
John Hawkins Antiques
$24,000
BIO
John Baird (1834- 1894)
John Baird was born in 1834, in County Armagh, deep in Northern Ireland to Henry Baird, farmer, and Margaret (Noble).
Baird, most likely with his family, migrated to Australia in 1849.
In Sydney, in 1859 he married Jane Steggall.
Jane is recorded as being born in Suffolk, in 1843; however, on her arrival in NSW in 1857, her age was shown as 19 ie born 1838. It is possible Jane increased her age by 5 years in order to pass as an adult. This “error” continued throughout Jane’s life as her age when she died on the 1st January 1928 was shown as 90, rather than 85.
The Baird’s set up residence at “Chelsea”, a small terrace house at 633 Harris St, Ultimo which remains to this day. They lived there for the remainder of their lives having a large family of 11 children – 4 girls and 7 boys; although three pre-deceased John and four, Jane.
John Baird worked as a mail sorter and postman at the George St Post Office.
On 15th June 1886 an article appeared in the Illustrated Sydney News under the heading “Carvings in Shale – A Sydney Postman’s Discovery”. The article described the genesis of Baird’s artworks:
“A few years ago, the dark shadow of death settled silently down upon this man’s house and although there were few outward demonstrations, the chill presence was as unwelcome in that family circle as though it has visited Government House and lowered the flags of half the city.
“It was only a small boy that had gone but the vacant chair and the departed soul left gaping blanks in the household. The blinds were drawn, and the room in which the father mourned in the presence of death was dark and silent.
“What troubled this letter-carrier most after the loss of his child was that he had absolutely nothing in the form of a likeness with which to perpetuate its memory.”
Baird mused on this but knowing that he had never handled a paint brush, he had to find a different medium. He considered wood, putty, clay and many other substances but each had a fault – some were too hard, too soft, too brittle.
“At length came the idea of carving in shale. He had been accustomed to watch large quantities of shale carried backwards and forwards in truck loads.”
Baird realized that shale was inexpensive and could likely be worked successfully.
“Taking a bit of copper wire, that seemed thrown in his way for the purpose, he bent it carefully to the profile of his child ….”
And so, over time, Baird was able to create the likeness.
“Years after the death of the little one, the parents look with melancholic satisfaction at a life size bust of their child that does all but speak in remembrance of the original”
Baird continued to carve in his spare time but he never exhibited and likely made precious little money from his endeavors. His subjects included busts of public and famous figures with one of his wife Jane, residing in the collection of the National Gallery of Australia.
His works were described in the above article as “exceedingly good and exquisitely finished”
Baird died on the 21st October 1894 of a “malignant disease of the neck”. He is buried in the family grave with several members of his family, including Jane, at Rookwood Cemetery.
The child that led to John Baird’s carvings was most likely James Milton Baird (1872 – 1876)
Compiled by Col Fullagar, Principal, Integrity Resolutions Pty Ltd – October 2018
