Grain-by-Grain (2): the amazing sand bottles of Andrew Clemens

Sand has always provided a medium, a muse, an inspiration in many ways, but the way in which it inspired Andrew Clemens was extraordinary - and unique. Clemens was born in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1852 (or 1857, reports vary), one of the six sons of German and Prussian parents whose shipboard romance began as immigrants to the U.S. His father was a locksmith and wagon-maker who moved the family to McGregor, Iowa, to take advantage of the business provided by the gold-rush and settlement of the west. At the age of five, Andrew was struck by "brain fever," encephalitis as we now know it; lucky to survive, he lost his hearing and speech. He was sent to the Iowa Institute for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb in Council Bluffs, but as a young teenager he most enjoyed his time in McGregor, working in his father's business - and visiting Pictured Rocks. 

In what is today Pikes Peak State Park, the classic Paleozoic formations of the central U.S. form bluffs and gullies along the Mississippi River, among them the Ordovician St. Peter Sandstone. This classic sandstone is famously pure and white, its well-rounded quartz grains providing the raw material for glass-making and other applications. But at Pictured Rocks, waters percolating down through the overlying limestones, charged with a variety of minerals, have stained the St. Peter with a dazzling palette of natural colours (photo from Iowa Geology 2001, 26, Iowa Department of Natural Resources).

Clemens loved this place, and collected a spectrum of sand samples of subtly different hues, greens, reds, browns, yellows, grays and blues. Back home, he would carefully sort the grains by both colour and size, and then go to work. In bottles of different sizes and types, he would, grain-by-grain, construct small works of art. Using specially devised tools - fish hooks and wands made of hickory - he would sort and position his fine-grained sands into, at first, geometrical designs and later, as he developed his incredible craft, meticulously detailed images (photos courtesy of the State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines).

The image of George Washington on his horse is perhaps the most famous, but the designs range from personalized greetings to dramatic eagles, via ships, floral designs and documentation of local events, often with words and mottoes. His pieces, of necessity, were constructed upside-down, each bottle later sealed; he used no glue, no pigments, nothing except naturally-coloured sand grains and his patience and genius. How many bottles he made is unknown, for they are fragile and many have been broken over the years, a work of art becoming just a pile of coloured sand on the floor. Indeed, for a while Clemens worked at the South Side Museum in Chicago, constructing simple designs as the public watched, which were then dramatically smashed with a hammer to demonstrate that no magic was involved; understandably, Clemens did not find this activity to his liking and soon returned home.

Clemens's extraordinary skill and creativity became recognized, but only modestly. The Editor of the North Iowa Times wrote in 1888 that "McGregor has an artist nowhere equaled in this world in his line of artistic work. He invented and became skilled in an artistic work all unaided and alone. He invented and made his own tools. He has thus brought to a surprising perfection an art of which he alone is the inventor, the master. We refer to the pictures wrought from sand from Pictured Rocks by Andrew Clemens. Our people do not properly appreciate this art. The master doesn't seem to know its worth nor does he seem to realize his exalted position among the inventors of the world. Mr. Clemens lately completed what may be regarded as a masterpiece. He has made many fine efforts before. This last one is a perfect picture of General Washington on horseback. The artist has surpassed the copy, he gives the coloring, shadowing, form, all complete and perfect and all done in sand. The work shows a Mississippi River steamer running at full speed, a group of Indians in camp, the flag of our country, fields, harvest scene, all perfect and wrought with natural colored sands in a glass jar. The jar is open at the bottom and the work is commenced at the top of the picture. But to appreciate this wonderful work one must see it as we have seen it. It is one of the wonders of the age and ought to have a place among the great art of the world."

Clemens died, tragically young, in 1894, probably of tuberculosis. His bottles had sold for fifty cents or a few dollars but today the survivors sell for thousands.

(quotation and information from http://members.tripod.com/clipclop/andrew/, a site which has detailed information and pictures of many of the surviving works. For the geology of Pikes Peak State Park, and further material on Clemens, see http://www.iowageology.org/gb70/stop-05.htm, the source of the picture of Clemens, above).

Comments

[Matthew S. Moore]

Good to see that Andrew Clemens's extraordinary creations are getting a bit of publicity! DEAF LIFE Magazine is featuring a cover story about him, and I wager that it will come as a surprise to many of our readers. Until a bit ver a month ago, I didn't know about his story, either.

[Kfreebir56]

I always love to learn something new, and learning about Andrew Clemens was inspireing. I think the art world should add him to their list of GREAT ARTIST!! If you want to learn about him, Google: Grain-by-Grain: the amazing sand bottles of Andrew Clemens. By the way, if you find one of his bottles, the Road Show just appraised one for about
$3,000.-$5,000.

[David Graham]

Just saw his works on Antiques Roadshow. I may not be 'schooled' in the fine arts, Mr. Clemens' work is simply incredibly beautiful! I find his art to be the 'coolest' thing I have seen in the last few decades, if not ever! My mother was a decent painter, but I have trouble drawing a stick figure. The talent and gift Andrew Clemens showed in his sand bottles is nothing less than amazing.

[ANNE CLAYTON]

i wish I could see just how he did these!! Incredible!!!!!

[David Winter]

It's Friday night Feb 18, 2011 and I'm in Tallahassee, Fla. I also just saw the sand bottle work of Andrew Clemens on Antique Road Show and it is utterly amazing! As in amazing! It seems impossible but there it is! I couldn't refrain from looking him up and here I am. I guess I've seen a few sand bottles somewhere at sometime but I hardly knew this type of craft existed. I'm searching for more words but I guess it's just a what can you say type of thing. From what I read, Andrew Clemens was dealt blows early in life but he didn't stand down. Kudos Mr. Clemens!

[Alexa Bradley]

The work of this artist is exceptional. It is almost unbelievable, but I believe it! I had never heard of him until Antiques Road Show. Thank you to them for introducing Mr. Clemens to the public. I wish more people could see his work. This was an unusually gifted man who even posthumously is truly deserving of more publicity and recognition.

[Kathy Hoover]

I too watched the Antiques Roadshow from Des Moines, Iowa. Never heard of Clemens before. Was fascinated by his work. One week later, with my friend, we are doing our usual Goodwill, Salvation Army etc. End up in a building where several dealers have stuff. The owner buys estates and puts it on a shelf. YES! I sure did find one on the shelf. 100% certain it's for real. Noone else on the planet could have done this work. Has between 10-11 different colors. Geometric work. Design flows with the actual pattern found on the bottle. Been reading everything on the web. Amazing man, brilliant artist. Taking it to the Iowa State Historical Building Tuesday, Feb. 22. Here's the kicker. Paid $3.99. My friend has been doing this sort of thing for years, me just a newbie. I'm so excited. Get this, it's not about how much it's worth (I could use some cash) but rather having this piece of history entrusted to me.

[Sandglass]

Kathy - please follow up with a comment here after your visit - the suspense is killing me!
Michael

[Kathy Hoover]

Michael- I did take the bottle to Mike Smith the main curator at Iowa Historical Museum this afternoon. I live in West Des Moines. Took a friend to hold it while I drove. I was shaking inside. Was able to see Andrew Clemens exhibit while there. Mr. Smith had the aura of a curator. LOL He did not indicate one way or the other whether he thought it was the real deal. Which I'm sure it works that way for anyone bringing things in. He asked to keep it so he could look at it better and make some phone calls. He said that he had never seen this kind of bottle used. It's very Victornia looking. This comment did not bother me. I'm telling you there is no way anyone else could have done it. Didn't say how long it would be before he called me back. Which I understand. I took some pictures last night. Not a computer nerd but if you are comfortable giving me your email I will attempt to send those to you. Anxious to hear from you.

PS Made the decision last night, since I couldn't sleep, that if this is real I will donate it to the museum if they want it. Don't want the responsibility of this sitting on a shelf in my home. Just plan wrong on many levels to profit from this adventure. How cool is it to have something you found in a museum?

[Sandglass]

Kathy - this continuing story is fascinating and I look forward to further episodes. And yes, I'd be very interested to see the photos - my e-mail address is on the blog, but here it is directly:
[email protected].

As things progress, would you like to write a guest post for my blog? I would really appreciate it.

Best

Michael

[neil custard]

i have a sand bottle i would like to know if it is an andrew clemons how can i find out

[Sandglass]

Hi Neil - your best bet would be to contact the Iowa Historical Society: http://www.iowahistory.org/. Perhaps send them a photograph?

Good luck!

Michael

[Roy Sucholeiki]

Hi folks,
I am a big fan of Andrew Clemens and have been researching him for quite some time. I also very familiar with many of his bottles. I am also familiar with a number of other sand artists that have attempted similar work. If you could provide pictures, I am sure I could identify who might have done them if not him.

Roy

[sand art]

Hye every one ..I saw the pictures and I like them..I'm interested in this art and I have a 12 years experience in this art ..so I can do a lot of sand bottles..
so if any one need to learn this art I'm ready and any one who interested in this art please visit our website https://sites.google.com/site/sandsbottle/
& also on facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Desert-Magic/225038457509211
come&visit us and sure you will like what you will see!!!!

[Maggie Clark]

To Kathy, If you're still tracking comments on the sand bottle you found, I'd love to see a picture of the bottle you found. Wish I could find something that remarkable at one of the thrift stores. If you're okay with e-mailing me the pictures, my e-mail is [email protected]. I have several pictures of his work, and just tracked down a copy of Spinning Wheel Antiques magazine from 1965 which has one of his bottles on the cover. Let me know what you think.
Maggie

[don pettit]

I lived in Mcgregor 1948-1955. There was a shop that sold sand bottle pictures about a block from my house. I used to go in look at them but I don't know who made them I know the sand came from pike;s pike park. I guess I should have bought some
as I knew the lady that ran the store!! but I was only 14 years and didn't have
much money

Don Pettit

[gonia]

Wow...is it possible to still find his bottles?

[gonia]

Kathy Hoover, to which Good Will store did you go? In what state...wondering.

[gonia]

Kathy Hoover , tell us the end story on the bottle you found. Have you really given it to the museum?

[John E. & Emily W. Olive]

This is amazing - I had an office in Jackson.Ms for 7 yrs. and found a sale held in a outdoor theater on the weekend - owner of my bottle offered to me as a"lamp"-had put a shad on it, so from there I'm now 84 retired,and have had this bottle stored till recently. Took it to a lamp store toPurchase a new shad!! Owner advised me it was not a Lamp and may be quite valuable. Since I now have it on a table, no shade. It's an amazing work as pictures will show. It had to be done by a professional for sure.The cap was lost at some point -but the origional wax seal remains in tact. I had added an additional cork for added security. It also seems to have a layer of plastic covering over the entire bottle - unusual for something this old. My email is [email protected]. Be happy to hear - Pictures available. I am referring to Christies in New york for an appraisel. Forty yrs ago, I paid about $20.00!

[Robert Brooks]

I have a believed to be the only sand picture of its kind it is made of the Sands from pikes peak state park in McGregor Iowa and it is of the scenic view from pikes Peak looking down on the Mississippi I inherited it from my father who had it hanging his business for years I believe you got it from his great grandfather dates back to sometime in the late 1800s it is absolutely beautiful. If anyone would like a picture of it I would be more than happy to email you wan I have no idea what something like this is worth I would love to get it on the roadshow. I’m not planning on selling it want to keep it in the family.