BY DONNA SWICEGOOD

A journey that began in the 1930s ended this week at the Kewaunee Scientific Corporation in Statesville.

Kewaunee representatives unveiled four masterpiece wood carvings that were crafted in the 1930s by Austrian-born Robert Petscheider in Kewaunee, Wis.

“This homecoming is the culmination of a lot of hard work and dedication in bringing forth the history and artistry back into Kewaunee,” said Beth Phillips, vice president of human resources of Kewaunee.

Phillips said the four pieces are interwoven into the history of the corporation.

She said these four pieces as well as many others were commissioned by Kewaunee President C.G. Campbell in the 1930s. Campbell entrusted the creation of these pieces to Petscheider.

Phillps said Petscheider used more than 150 handmade tools to create these carvings.

“The goal of the commission and of our former president was to recreate in wood the masterpiece paintings from the 1600s primarily focused on the earliest laboratory activities,” she said.

Petscheider, she said, accepted the challenge and used more than 40 large blocks of laminated wood in the masterpieces. Kewaunee, she said, was then headquartered in Wisconsin and welcomed these carvings into their home.

Petscheider went on a tour with some of the pieces in the 1930s and 1940s, displaying them at scientific and educational conventions and meetings. After the tour, Phillips said, most of the pieces went into storage.

She said after Kewaunee opened its Statesville facility in the 1950s, President James Campbell set about to ensure that the Petscheider carvings could be enjoyed outside of storage.

Many were given to scientific institutions and universities across the country.

She said another former president, Paul Meech, played a vital role in making sure Petscheider’s work lived on in the company’s history.

Current President and CEO Tom Hull reignited the passion to bring the carvings back home to Kewaunee, Phillips said.

Iredell Museums and NC State University worked with Kewaunee to bring the carvings home.

“I want to thank N.C. State and Iredell Museums for graciously donating these back to us,” Hull said.

He said the discussion about bringing the carvings to Statesville began more than a year ago.

“It is really important that we are focused on preserving our legacy,” Hull said.

The carvings, he said, speak to what the company does around discovery and innovation.

Rodney LaBelle, director of sales, and Hull started the discussion concerning the carvings.

Justyn Kissam, executive director of Iredell Museums, said the museum was proud to be the temporary home of some of the carvings.

“We are even happier that they get to go home and be a part of their community,” she said.

Phillips expressed her appreciation to GG’s Art Frames Gifts for framing the pieces.

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