Gerald ‘Pat’ Hannah. Sculptor. Born in Montreal (Verdun), Quebec. Moved to the U.s in about 1948. Active mid 20th century.
One of the original three Hannah brothers (Charles, Pat and Tom) who became wood carvers in the 1930’s in Quebec. “Pat” Gerald Hannah and his brother Charles learned wood carving from Carl-Johan Trygg (the founder of the Trygg family of artists in Canada.) who had a carving school near Saint-Sauveur, Quebec. He was called Pat because he was born on Saint-Patrick’s day; though living in the predominantly Irish Burrough of Verdun may have had some influence. The Trygg influence is apparent in many works done by him and the other family members who learned their techniques from Pat and Charlie Hannah. After a brief stay in Florida, Pat Hannah re-located in North Poultney, Vermont in 1948. He carved character figures in a full range; from Mounted Police to sailors, famous people and just ‘folks’ in various sizes typically about 6 inches high. All in bright paint and in Pine wood or Basswood. Unlike the Trygg carvers, who applied their bases, Most of the the Hannah sculptors carved the base into their works. In the carvings by ‘Pat’ Hannah, illustrated below, the bases are applied, as the Tryggs were. He signed P. Hannah or Pat Hannah, usually on the bottom of the base with a pencil or later, with a chisel. His son, Duncan Hannah, of Vermont, was also a carver of figural characters (see his post). He had another son, Pete Hannah, who may have carved. Carvings stamped “Hand Carved by P. R. Hannah, Quebec” are seen occasionally. See the Listings of the other Hannah artists.
Gerald ‘Pat’ Hannah. Verdun, Quebec. Some Carvings:
A Group of Three by Gerald Hannah:
Gerald ‘Pat’ Hannah. Verdun, Quebec. Three Carvings. Image: Mark Zannis.
Gerald ‘Pat’ Hannah. Three marks:
Gerald ‘Pat’ Hannah.Three Marks. Image: Mark Zannis.
A Craving of a Quebec Woman by Pat Hannah:
Gerald ‘Pat’ Hannah. Verdun, Quebec. Carving of a Quebec Woman. Image: Mark Zannis.
A detail:
Gerald ‘Pat’ Hannah. Detail of ‘A Woman’ Image: Mark Zannis.
And the Mark:
Gerald ‘Pat’ Hannah. Quebec. Image by Mark Zannis.
A rare photo of Pat Hannah carving. Florida, 1959:
Pat Hannah at work in Florida. 1959. Photo from The State Archives of Florida.
With thanks for the Illustrations and History to Mark Zannis. Montreal, Quebec.
