Frederick William Risser
The Lord's Prayer, circa 1883
holly wood scroll saw picture, 35 inches by 29 inches by 4 inches
Illinois State Museum collection,
Gift of Etta Risser, Strasburg, Illinois

Although Frederick Risser usually made wood objects and pictures for sale to pay for his medical school tuition, he made this particular picture for his parents. He chose a pattern with intricate detail, which indicates that he was quite skilled at this work. The elaborateness of the script and design also reflects the formality and importance of the prayer that is the subject of the picture.

This technique of woodworking is called scroll saw cutting. Frederick Risser used pencil to transfer a purchased pattern onto a thin piece of holly wood. He probably chose the wood of the holly tree because it is the same white color throughout and has the least grain pattern of any wood. Using his pencil marks as a guide, he carefully sawed with the thin blade of a foot-powered scroll saw. Cutting away the background left this intricate picture. He used a hand drill or an awl to make the tiny holes. 

Which parts of this picture do you think would be the most difficult to cut? Why?