Mlles H. Blondeau. Sculptors. Wood carvers. Quebec City area. Active 1920’s-1940’s.
The Mlles Blondeau made souvenir carvings. They were one of the earliest artists in this field in the Quebec City area. Little is known about them – were they sisters? Mother and daughter? They were obviously very talented. The Mlles Blondeau did not work in the flat-plane tradition. They usually painted their carvings. Most of their work was naïve, painted low relief carvings or ‘bas relief’ although I have seen a shadow box by them occasionally. Who they are and their exact dates are is still a mystery Their range seems to be from the early 1920’s to the late 1930’s.
The Mlles Blondeau usually signed with a stamp (Mlles H. Blondeau, Quebec) or wood punch; sometimes the mark was burnt into the wood and sometimes just stamped. They worked in Basswood and their work was often very good and very colorful.
An example; two relief carvings of Quebec houses in winter. Signed in lower left corner under the paint:
Mademoiselles H. Blondeau. A Pair of relief carvings.
A Shadow Box of a Sugar Scene. Pine and Basswood:
Mademoiselles H. Blondeau Shadow Box. Sugar Scene.
Mademoiselles H. Blondeau Shadow Box. Reverse with stamp.
A round ‘bas relief’ of a cabin in winter. Basswood. Their stamp is just visible in lower left:
Mademoiselles H. Blondeau. Quebec City. Relief Carving Cabin In Winter.
A Relief Carving of a Sleigh in Winter:
Mademoiselles H. Blondeau. Relief carving. 1940’s.
And the reverse with a written note by the owner giving the date of purchase (1949):
Mlles. H. Blondeau. Relief Carving. Detail of reverse.
