Vigo County Historical Society
Historical Treasure Article
Historic Treasure of the Week -
August 14, 1983
By Susie Dewey
Vigo County Historical Society
Delicate art was formed from colorful grains of sand
This scenic sand scape from the Condit estate displayed at the museum merits close inspection.
The more closely one studies the stoppered glass jar filled with minute grains of sand tightly packed to form detailed designs, the greater one marvels at such workmanship.
At top and bottom of the jar are border designs. On one side a wreath of yellow, red and white flowers with green leaves surround the name “Sarah M. Condit” in gray letters. On the other side an eagle carries an American flag with 36 tiny stars.
All such sand paintings were probably the work of Andrew Clemens of McGregor, Iowa. He has been acknowledged the inventor and possibly the sole practitioner of the art form. Most of his work was completed between 1880 and 1886. The jar at the Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley typifies his work, much of which is on display in the McGregor Iowa Historical Museum.
Andrew Clemens collected over 40 different colors of sand from river banks. He then rubbed the sand dry on blotting paper with the bowls of spoons to get tiny, uniform grains. With a tin scoop and an especially constructed nine-inch curved want, he constructed several hundred minutely detailed sand paintings. He made his own green hickory wand in the shape of a miniature hockey stick from green hickory wood shaped over a candle flame. He used no dye, glue or paste. An almost undecipherable label on the bottom of the jar carries his name and the name of McGregor, Iowa.
Sarah M. Condit, whose name in gray sand identifies the owner, was the wife of Blackford Condit and the daughter of Caleb Mills, father of public education in Indiana. She was the mother of several children, the last survivor being Helen, who died in 1962.
Blackford Condit wrote “A History of Early Terre Haute, 1816-1840.” This history is charmingly written and is one of the treasures in the library of the museum.
The sand scape is only one of many items the museum has from the Condit estate. A family shell collection and a bed are among the important gifts from the estate of the family.
The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.