The Ernie Muehlmatt On-line Carving Museum The Carvings of E. Muehlmatt In 1967 Ernie began his rise to becoming one of the most talented, sought after, and popular carvers in wildfowl art. That year in the mid-sixties, he happened across a bird carving exhibition in Salisbury, Maryland, now perhaps the epicenter of this art form. Inspired by what he saw, Ernie began carving that year, sold his first piece for $5 in 1966, and won his first national award in 1975. In 1968 he abandoned his career as a florist for a stellar career in carving "flowers that fly". Click here to view some of the 6000 carvings Ernie has brought into the world over the past 30 years, up to his most recent creations. Prints are available of some of Ernie's flat work, as well as of the beautiful photography of Ernie's carvings taken by Ernie Sparks for the book Wildfowl Art. Some of Ernie's early works are just now reentering the market from private collections. From these early works which sold for $5 dollars, to todays world class carvings which sell for up to $30,000, carvings from Muehlmatt Studios are an excellent addition or beginning to your collection. Museum Pieces The best of the best are found at the Ward Foundation Museum located in Salisbury, Maryland. Here, the winners of the annual Ward Foundation World Championship Carving Competition are kept on permanent display. Ernie has many carvings on display at the museum, winning Best in World in 1979, 1981, 1984. Famous Collections Ernie's Carvings have occupied some of the most prestigious art and wildfowl collections in the world. From entertainers like Alan Funt, to...well...entertainers like Ronald Reagan, Ernie's carvings are on display throughout the US, including the White House, and around the world, as far away as Japan and the Far East.