Albert Zahn was a self-taught sculptor from the Prussian province of

Pomerania Pomerania ( pl, Pomorze; german: Pommern; Kashubian: ''Pòmòrskô''; sv, Pommern) is a historical region on the southern shore of the Baltic Sea in Central Europe, split between Poland and Germany. The western part of Pomerania belongs to ...

, who lived and worked in Door County, Wisconsin for most of his life. He is known primarily for his painted wood carvings of birds. Zahn is also well known for his depictions of angels and for the creation of the Albert Zahn House which he built with his wife Louise Zahn, and adorned with hundreds of his carvings. Albert Zahn carved most of his sculptures from cedar and then instructed Louise Zahn who painted them. Some of Zahn's other notable subjects include maritime workers, Prussian soldiers, dogs, and deer.

Life and work

Born in 1864 in Pomerania (now part of Germany) Albert Zahn immigrated to the United States as a child, settling in Door County, Wisconsin where he worked as a farmer. Zahn began his career in the arts after retirement. He was raised Lutheran, and his piety informed most of his sculpture. His relatives have attested to Zahn's familiarity with the bible, and it is possible to trace significance of almost all of his subjects within Old Testament Psalms. Birds held particular significance as a subject for Zahn, earning him the nickname "Birdman of Baileys Harbor". In 1924 Albert and Louise Zahn built a house in

Baileys Harbor The Town of Baileys Harbor is located in Door County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,003 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Peninsula Center is located in the town. The census-designated place of Baileys Har ...

, Wisconsin which he named Birds Park. Now also known as the

Albert Zahn House The Albert Zahn House is located in Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin, United States. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of ...

, the property was added to the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

in 2000. Zahn decorated the house and property extensively with his sculptures. Most of the pieces that decorated his home have now been dispersed into private collections. Zahn continued to build his large body of work until 1950 when his wife died. Albert Zahn died three years later in 1953. Inspired by his work, Albert Zahn's grandson and great grandson, Ed Zahn and Randy Zahn both became woodcarvers and often carved the same subjects as Albert Zahn.

Permanent collections

John Michael Kohler Arts Center The John Michael Kohler Arts Center is an independent, not-for-profit contemporary art museum and performing arts complex located in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, United States.Smithsonian Institution The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums and education and research centers, the largest such complex in the world, created by the U.S. government "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge". Founded ...

, Washington, D.C. *

Milwaukee Art Museum The Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM) is an art museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its collection contains nearly 25,000 works of art. Location and Visit Located on the lakefront of Lake Michigan, the Milwaukee Art Museum is one of the largest art museu ...

, Milwaukee, Wisconsin *

Art Institute of Chicago The Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago's Grant Park, founded in 1879, is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the world. Recognized for its curatorial efforts and popularity among visitors, the museum hosts approximately 1.5 mill ...

, Chicago, Illinois
Intuit
Chicago, Illinois
Carl Hammer Gallery
Chicago, Illinois

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zahn, Albert People from Pomerania 20th-century American sculptors 1864 births 1953 deaths People from the Kingdom of Prussia American male sculptors 20th-century American male artists People from Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin Sculptors from Wisconsin Immigrants to the United States