Masterpiece Wood Carvings Return to Kewaunee

Statesville, NC April 11, 2025: On Wednesday, April 9, our Kewaunee team welcomed four masterpiece works of art, created by Robert Petscheider in the 1930s, back to our headquarters in Statesville, North Carolina. This homecoming marked the culmination of many individuals’ hard work, dedication, and a shared commitment to preserving Kewaunee’s rich heritage.

The History of the Carvings

Each of these returning masterpieces was commissioned in the 1930s by Charles Campbell, then president of Kewaunee Manufacturing Company. He entrusted this task to Robert Petscheider, a master wood carver trained in Austria’s Tyrolean Carvers School. The goal of this commission was to recreate, in wood, masterpiece paintings from the 1600s, primarily focused on some of the earliest laboratory activities.

Using over 150 hand-made carving tools, Petscheider transformed more than forty large single blocks of laminated basswood into unique masterpieces based on these centuries-old paintings. During the years of his commission, visitors to Kewaunee’s then-Wisconsin headquarters were welcomed to view each intricate piece. These visitors often had the opportunity to view the artist’s process in real time.

During the 1930s and 1940s, Petscheider and his carvings went on a national tour, visiting various educational and scientific meetings and conventions. Following the tour, the majority of these exquisite pieces went into storage.

In the mid-1950s, Kewaunee moved to our current headquarters in Statesville. Around this same time, James Campbell, who was President of Kewaunee at the time, set about ensuring that Mr. Petscheider’s many masterpiece works could be used and appreciated to their full extent. As a result, many of these pieces were given to various scientific institutions and universities across the country. Pieces were also given to organizations throughout our Statesville community to enjoy and display.

Paul Meech, also a former President of Kewaunee during the years from 1968 – 1982 and a beloved community advocate, played a vital role in diligently keeping the history of Petscheider and his carvings.

Kewaunee’s current President and CEO Tom Hull has re-ignited the passion around these carvings and their return. We are proud to continue this legacy through the arrival of these four masterpieces back to Kewaunee.

Celebrating Our Community and Associates

During the homecoming event, we celebrated the artistry of the carvings and how the same creativity and craftmanship is reflected today in the incredible talent of our Associates. Nearly 120 years after our founding, our Associates continue to uphold the high standards of excellence that have defined Kewaunee for generations.

During the event, our team celebrated both the return of these masterpieces and the spirit of our community that has preserved and cherished them over the decades. We were joined by the Iredell County United Way, the Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce, and the team at Iredell Museums. Their support, along with that of NC State University, was invaluable in making this homecoming possible.

The Search Continues

While we celebrate the return of these masterpieces, we are continuing to search for more pieces whose locations have been lost to time. If you have any information on their possible locations, please send tips to [email protected].

Kelly Smith, Director of Corporate Communications