Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Bookmark |
Donor |
Gerlings, Birte |
Description |
Wooden bookmark with a carving of a woman's head on the top. The woman has a red head-covering on with white dots, tied under her chin. Over her shoulders is a light blue scarf with darker blue checks. When face up, the woman is facing the viewer's left. Below the head is a brown, unpainted and unvarnished wood clip. The front and back are separated, allowing something to be slipped between. The front sliver is slightly shorter than the back. Nothing on back. |
Dimensions |
W-0.75 L-4.125 D-0.25 inches |
Creation Date |
ca. 1946 |
Place Of Origin |
Denmark |
Owned By |
Petersen, Ellen Nielsen/Gerlings, Birte |
Material |
wood |
Associated People |
Petersen, Ellen Nielsen Gerlings, Birte |
Search Terms |
Petersen, Ellen Nielsen Gerlings, Birte figurine art carving |
Provenance |
These objects belonged to the donor and her parents. Her father Louis Petersen (1897-1970) immigrated in 1918 and was an engineer. Her mother Ellen (Nielsen) Petersen (1903-1976) immigrated in 1924 and was a housewife. She never obtained her citizenship as Louis did. The laws of both countries were such that she was claimed by neither, so she was only here on a green card that she renewed multiple times. She was unable to vote. Louis and Ellen knew each other in Denmark, having met at dancing school, and married in Brooklyn, New York. Their first child, son Keld, was born in New York in 1932. The donor was born during an extended visit back to Denmark, and came to the U.S. when she was two years old. The wood carvings were Ellen's. The donor does not know if they were gifts or purchases, but they were from Denmark and would have been acquired in 1946 or after, as people were once again allowed to travel to Denmark after WWII. |
Date Received by Museum |
10/20/2015 |
Images |
252\2015049003.JPG |
Accession number |
2015.049 |
Object Identification Number |
2015.049.003 |