Duff Tweed Carvings

April 26th, 2007 · 56 Comments

I received an email from a fellow collector looking to identify some Duff Tweed wood carved items. Unfortunately, I am not very familiar with the works of Duff Tweed, but apparently he was an artist commissioned by Disney in the 60’s and 70’s. I followed up with the gentleman (Brad) and mentioned I would post his inquiry on our site in hopes of finding someone who knows more. Here is an excerpt from his email describing the pieces…

“The pieces are four carved pieces of a western band know as the Slaughter House
Four from Prestscot Az.. They are approx. 13" high and mounted and framed all original. Each piece has the biography of the subject written by Duff and signed on the back. This is deteriorating because of the time involved. They were given to the family as a business gift from Tennessee Ernie Ford in 1959 or 60? Thanks again, I hope this spurs some interest and price is really a mystery at this point but I believe de was a popular and very collectable at one time, so?”

If you have any information about Brad’s items, please leave a comment below (to enlighten us all) and email Brad at bearbbbb@msn.com

Thanks – Disneyman

Tags: Collectibles

56 responses so far ↓

1 Charlotte // Jun 10, 2007 at 4:30 pm

Have you learned anymore ? I have a framed piece – 3 golfers. signed Duff Tweed Pasadena
2 Disneyman // Jun 11, 2007 at 7:30 pm

Sorry Charlotte, no new information. I was hoping someone would reply here, but it hasn’t happened yet.
3 Belinda // Jun 14, 2007 at 5:30 am

Hello, I have a Duff Tweed woodcarving of a tennis player mounted & framed. On the back of the piece is a 3″x5″ typed biography explaining some of Duff Tweed’s works.The piece is signed & dated July 16/79 with a note to the friend he carved the piece for,including Mr.Tweeds telephone number. There is also a rough sketch of Donald Duck drawn in what looks like a fountain pen. This past Spring I saw a similar piece on Ebay, the starting price was $150.00. Hope this helps. Belinda
4 Disneyman // Jun 14, 2007 at 5:09 pm

Thanks Belina – this is a good start!
5 kirsten // Jun 14, 2007 at 5:31 pm

I have 3 Duff Tweeds- one of a clown, a golfer and a drunk. All signed with bios and show Duff Tweed Pasadena. Are folks interested in these?
6 Belinda // Jun 15, 2007 at 5:48 am

I’m curious to know if Charlotte & Kirsten’s pieces are signed and have any messages on them.
7 Ross Carr // Jun 19, 2007 at 3:20 am

I have been looking for Duff Tweeds. I have 5 at thi point. I got them all from ebay and have paid 125.00 for each so far. They are really cool golfers and boater. They are just fun and no real value as of today other than conversation pieces.
8 Ross Carr // Jun 19, 2007 at 3:21 am

I’m looking for others if anyone wants to sell. Summertoe@aol.com. Please refer to Duff Tweeds
9 Charlotte // Jul 10, 2007 at 12:43 am

Sorry Belinda, the individual golfers don’t seem to be signed. Just the canvas they are mounted on
10 Ross Carr // Jul 10, 2007 at 1:14 pm

please email me if you are interested in selling your items. i have 5 of the tweeds and i am looking for more. I enjoy them and like to collect

summertote@aol.com
11 eddie wang // Oct 31, 2007 at 2:50 pm

I am very interested in any wood carvings done by Duff Tweed of Pasadena, California.

If there is anyone willing to share his works with me, please contact me.
12 eddie wang // Oct 31, 2007 at 2:57 pm

I am very interested in any wood carvings done by Duff Tweed of Pasadena, California.

If there is anyone willing to share his works with me, please contact me. eee727@yahoo,com
13 Dave Clark // Dec 15, 2007 at 9:51 pm

I have a Duff Tweed framed carvings of two golfers with a cady holding the pin on the 18th hole, signed.
14 Doug Coffman // Dec 23, 2007 at 10:11 pm

I have the Slaughter House 4 carvings that were done by the artist for my father Lloyd Coffman back in the 50′s. They range from 18″ to 20″ in hight and are in the original 20″x 25″ wood frames. They do have a bit of unfortunate history though. They were stolen from my father in the middle 70′s by his housekeeper and taken to the Bay Area. My late brother was able to track them down and they were returned to my father. When he got them back he discovered that there had been some damage. The history which had been hand written on the back of one had been cut out and removed,along with some minor damage to that frame.Also the bow of the fiddle player was missing. The other three still have the signature of Duff Tweed on the back. I would be interested in getting some idea of what these might be worth today. I do know that back in the late 70′s they were insured for quite a large sum.
15 Doug Coffman // Dec 23, 2007 at 10:14 pm

Here is my e-mail if anyone would like to contact me about this. Thanks, Doug
dougin2blues2000@yahoo.com
16 Ross Carr // Jan 15, 2008 at 1:56 am

Thanks for the information Doug. Please send pics to my email if you can. http://www.summertote@aol.com

Thanks
17 Greg // Apr 1, 2008 at 1:48 am

I have a very nice original drawing of a female lady nicely signed by Tuff Tweed. Approx 6.5 by 10.5. $89.00
18 Greg // Apr 1, 2008 at 1:53 am

oops forgot to put my address in of the “female lady”…lol….perhaps a model for the Evil Queen? Anyways just beautiful and really Disneynesh. brass-in-pocket2hotmail.com
19 Greg // Apr 1, 2008 at 1:53 am

brass-in-pocket@hotmail.com
20 Greg // Apr 1, 2008 at 1:55 am

the 2 above in the adresss should read @…i’m tired..lol
21 wendy // Apr 7, 2008 at 3:48 am

just bought a pair of wood carvings with the name duff tweed pasadena and one without the pasadena just a line. neither have anything on the back. i paid $2 dollars for both. how do you know if they are original and not a copy>
22 ross carr // Apr 9, 2008 at 1:08 pm

Please send me a photo of the carvings you purchased. i have 8 Duffs currently and I’m always looking for more.
Thanks
23 ross carr // Apr 9, 2008 at 1:08 pm

summertote@aol.com
24 art // Apr 29, 2008 at 5:54 am

I have a Duff Tweed – A caddy & 2 golfers (3 Dimensional) , pristine condition, original frame, signed on the face “Duff Tweed Hollywood 65″ – dedicated on the back to my father.Any interest?
25 ross carr // May 6, 2008 at 1:52 pm

Art, Please send me an email of your Duff.

summertote@aol.com

thanks
26 MIKE BUCK // Jun 9, 2008 at 3:38 pm

IF ANYBODY HAS AN INTEREST IN SELLING
THIER DUFF CARVINGS PLEASE CONTACT
ME. TOP DOLLAR PAID!!!!
FOR MY COLLECTION.
27 art // Jun 25, 2008 at 3:57 am

mike, I have a couple of carvings – mint condition from the early ’60s if interested contact me. Art
28 ross carr // Jul 21, 2008 at 11:14 pm

Art, We need your number or email
29 Maggie // Aug 7, 2008 at 11:00 pm

My father in law has the Duff Tweed carving “slaughterhouse four”. Each person is approx 13″ tall and all four are framed together in one large frame . The carving was purchased by his parents directly from Mr. Tweed in March of 1960 in Hollywood Ca. The carving includes a signed letter explaining the bios of each character. There is also an original newspaper article/interview from the Los Angeles Mirror – dated June of 1960 showing a photograph of Duff with the “slaughterhouse four” carving.
This piece is an excellent condition. My father in law is interested to know any history regarding this piece and might be interested in selling it. If you have any information please let me know. thanks
30 ALEX AMBRUSO // Aug 10, 2008 at 9:32 pm

I have 3 Duff Tweed character carvings mounted in signed frames. I bought them in 1968. One is “The drunkard” of which he did several similar ones. The other two I believe are rarer. “The low bidder” a character down and out on his luck, the other entitled “Sue the bastards”, a haughty white wigged solicitor or jurist. I’m thinking of donating them to a local charity auction or selling to a serious collector. The finish colors are all original and have been wrapped away all these years. If anyone is interested contact me via e-mail and I’ll forward some photos.
31 Marty Schorr // Aug 15, 2008 at 11:30 am

I have 2 Duff Tweed carvings I purchased from Duff in the early 70′s. One is of a sea sick sailor and the other is of a broke bum holding a wall street journal. Any idea of value?
32 Ross Carr // Sep 15, 2008 at 4:12 pm

Please add email or phone number to call about Duff Tweed
Thanks
Ross Carr
33 Brad // Oct 3, 2008 at 4:10 pm

I have the slaughter house four carvings that are about20″ high. These all Have his signature and a story about each person in the band, The paper is very very old/ The were given to my parents by Tennessee Ernis e Ford as a bussiness gift. They are for sale but not cheap let me know if interested. Thanks J Brad Baier
34 Matthew // Dec 23, 2008 at 2:00 pm

Duff Tweed “Sue the Bastards” original carving for sale. Pics available. $125.
35 sherry // Jan 6, 2009 at 1:20 pm

hello i have the slaughterhouse 4 signed on canvas with a 62 by the name and i also have a drunk signed duff tweed hollywood. any info thank you
36 Ed // Feb 24, 2009 at 12:03 am

I have Duff Tweed/Pasadena 3 poker players at card table-any info ?????24 1/2 x 39 1/2
edquack@aol .com
37 Robert // Mar 3, 2009 at 9:26 pm

I have a wooden carved Wall Street Journal Hobo (aprox 16″ tall) from the 70′s with a note and telephone number hand written on the back. Anyone know anything about this piece? Contact me PtrckWtts @aol.com
38 Elliott Caine // Mar 16, 2009 at 12:44 am

This forum is far-out! I was a neighbor of Duff Tweed in Pasadena, when I first moved to southern Cal. He used to make a lot of woodcarvings and then take off to conventions, oftentimes in Las Vegas, and sell his work. He come back with a “bundle”! He was a nice old guy (this was in 1976-77), who liked to sip on his gin and tonic in the later afternoon on his front porch. He was pretty tolerant of my trumpet practicing, and later helped me move into another dwelling when I had to move.
The complex of small bungalows was torn down not too much later after I moved, and I never heard from him again. I remember meeting his son once or twice, but I don’t think that Duff was that close to him. He was a sweet old guy, a bit self-effacing about his wood carvings, and regarded them, at least to me, as schlocky. Maybe it wasn’t “high art”, but it was very skillfully done by a master artisan.
39 Fred Reichert // Mar 16, 2009 at 8:27 pm

I have the framed carving of The Low Bidder, it is signed on the canvas & on the back with a Pasadena address & phone #. My father was the first drywall contractor in Orange County & Duff sold it to him to hang in his office. I have always kept it & it is in pretty good condition. It now hangs in my office.
40 peggy howard // Mar 28, 2009 at 6:18 pm

I have 6 Duff Tweed wood carvings, there
are 3 carvings mounted to each framed canvas and I have 2 (36×21) canvas. I believe 2 of the carvings are , Happy Golfer and Wall Street Journal Hobo, but don’t know the names of the other 4 carvings. I would love to know more about these. If anyone would like to see pictures e-mail me and I reply with pics.
41 peggy howard // Mar 28, 2009 at 6:33 pm

After posting my comment I realized I didn’t post my e-mail address. Anyone interested in my Duff Tweed e-mail me at peggyhoward@sbcglobal.net.
42 James Tweed // May 7, 2009 at 8:48 am

Everyone,

Very interesting to read the interest in my Great Uncle’s carvings!

I am James Tweed, son of Thomas Tweed. My Grandfather was James Tweed and his brother was Duff Tweed.

I only had the pleasure of meeting him once when I was 11 years old when he and my Grand Parents came to visit us in Yellowknife, NWT Canada.

He would entertain us for hours drawing cartoon characters.

The carvings were certainly a passion…and as I understand, all the true originals are in our family. My cousin has the Happy Golfer…arg…that one is my fav!…lol. I have two and my parents have Slaughterhouse Four.

Anyway…I am not posting to sell. Would be interested to hear any stories of people that knew my Great Uncle…his life at Disney Studios and his carvings
43 James Tweed // May 7, 2009 at 8:51 am

Oops…my email is jttweed@hotmail.com

Cheers
44 Joe // May 15, 2009 at 10:35 am

Hello. If you are looking to sell your Duff Tweed carving(s), please email me a picture and how much you are asking. thegolfroom@gmail.com I will reply promptly. Thank you!
45 dustin // May 26, 2009 at 9:52 am

I have a duff tweed carved in wood, in a frame he is holding the wall street journal paper with wall street journal paper pieces in the backround.

any one interestd? i think it belonged to set.

hatstoyou@sympatico.ca
46 Doub Pearce // Jun 17, 2009 at 10:29 am

My father in law received a set of the Slaughterhouse 4 as a gift … or payment for a bill at his service station … across the street from the Universal lot …. years ago. They hung in their family room for years and years. My wife just received them as part of her inheritance …..

The characters are large … maybe 24″ high with much larger frames … all original … all in great shape.
Signed by Duff … and to my father in law.

curious about the value … looks like they don’t draw a high price.

We are keeping them in the family … they have huge sentimental value to us.
47 Ed Nerlove // Jun 21, 2009 at 8:28 am

I have an original set of Duff Tweed carvings of the “Slaughterhouse Four” left to me by my parents. They appear to be in excellent condition. Each carving is framed in a wormwood frame and one carving has a narrative on the back signed by Duff Tweed. I also have a copy of the news article from the Los Angeles Mirror about Duff Tweed and his passion for wood carving. I would be interested in selling the lot but I don’t have a clue as to their value.
Contact me at: Nerlove@msn.com if interested.
48 Amber // Jul 20, 2009 at 6:37 am

I have a Duff Tweed piece I am looking to sell. Three golfers mounted on a frame, one golfer with the gold club, one golfer holding the flag and the other golfer holding the golf club caddy, signed by Duff Tweed. Let me know if you are interested and I can send over some photo’s. Thanks!
please email me at amberjolley86@gmail.com
49 Amber // Jul 20, 2009 at 2:49 pm

Here is a link to a Duff Tweed Wood Carving I am selling.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160350249135&ssPageName=ADME:L:LCA:US:1123
50 Ross Carr // Aug 6, 2009 at 4:04 pm

Always looking for Duff Tweeds. Ambers’ Duff is nice, but needs work. I bought it on EBAY this week and look forward to working on it. THANKS AMBER
51 Carl Arend // Sep 23, 2009 at 8:20 pm

We have 2 original carvings by Duff Tweed that were a gift to a relative. Both are signed on the back – one a fisherman in a red/white/blue boat holding a fishing pole and a beer. The other is a man laughing, holding a paper in his hand that says “rush” with the writing on the bottom that says, “he wants it when????”
52 Joe // Dec 30, 2009 at 6:03 pm

Hello again!
I now own 11 total Duff Tweed carvings. Well, two of them are ceramic which were made from molds after the demand increased for Duff’s original carvings . Nine are golf related with two of them being duplicate carvings. Then there is the little guy holding a newspaper and one of a guy in a suit drinking his booze. They’re all great. To answer some of your questiopns about pricing, I see Duff Tweeds selling for $150-$175 for individual carvings and from $350-$600 for three carvings framed together. The $600 price was actually a high one, because one of the three carvings was of Duff Tweed himself (carved like a caddie). The set’s of three should be selling for $400+ but with shipping costs, people have lowered the prices even more. Please keep in mind, this is a tough economy. I believe these carvings will increase in value based on their scarcity. The prices I quoted probably seem low, but that is what they are selling for in 2008 through the end of 2009. Email me at thegolfroom@gmail.com with questions. Happy New Year!
53 Gary // Mar 11, 2010 at 12:31 pm

Hi… I’m also looking for Duff Tweed items that are related to music. I currently have two. One is a cowboy playing a squeeze box that is framed. The other is a very cool cowboy playing a guitar, he is sitting and is full 3D and is a lamp. You can tell that it was not made into a lamp but was carved to be a lamp. I does anyone else have any Tweed lamps out there?
thanks
rps-records@sbcglobal.net
54 Randy // Mar 14, 2010 at 7:30 am

Greetings all….I once saw a carving of a Hobo by Duff Tweed titled “The Low Bidder”. I would be interested in purchasing this type of are or perhaps one of his other caricature carvings. Please send pictures if you wish to sell. Thanks.
55 Joe // Apr 8, 2010 at 7:09 pm

Randy, That Duff Tweed . . . “The Low Bidder” is up for auction on Ebay this week! Check it out.
56 Joe at Duff Tweed Carvings // Jun 2, 2010 at 9:56 am

Hello all! Recently added some new Duff Tweed information to the blog and will be soon adding a new article from 1945 I found with a picture of Duff and a carving of a man carrying two water buckets. The carving is free standing, not framed! You may enjoy the blog at: http://dufftweed.blogspot.com/ and if you have any pictures or stories to share, we would love to post them for the world to see. Additionally, always interested in discussing the purchase of your Duff Tweed carvings and drawings. Happy posting! -Joe

Disney Memorabilia