Woodcarver, daughter of George Layman II and Amelia Harriet n_e Curtis, was educated at Wonnerup School 1883-85 and at Bishops Girls College, Perth, Western Australia. She learnt chip carving in Hawaii in 1903 when she went on a holiday to visit her aunt Harriet. She remained in Hawaii twelve months as she became ill. After she returned to Australia she lived for a number of years in Bridgetown, Western Australia, with her relatives the Allnuts of “Kelah”.
Layman assisted Gordon Holdsworth, carving the church pulpit in Bridgetown. She was also a fine needlewoman. Examples of her whitework (children’s clothes) were exhibited at the ’1907 Exhibition of Women’s Work’ in Melbourne. Layman is reputed to have won prizes at Melbourne, Coolgardie and Fremantle. She and her unmarried sisters, Nina, Ida and Stella ran the family farm for some ten years.
A collection of Layman’s work is held in National Trust “Wonnerup House”, the family home. Trays, tables and a mantel for fireplace are part of this collection. Layman carved the over mantle at Wonnerup on the occasion of her parents’ Golden Wedding Anniversary in 1909. A tray held at the house, showing distinctive chip carving, was made as wedding present in 1910 for a relative, Helen Rose Lodge.
In 1927 Layman came to Perth and studied with William Howitt. Howitt was an old man by this time but inspired her to do excellent work.
In 1931 after her parents’ deaths, she had a house built at 70 Duchess Street, Busselton, WA. The builder was R. Falkingham. The house included mantelpieces which Layman had carved from jarrah, jarrah ceilings and windowsills lower than was normal at the time. Furniture in the house had been inlaid with panels that Layman had carved.
- Writers:
- Dr Dorothy Erickson
- Date written:
- 2010
- Last updated:
- 2011
