In December of 1905, James and David Foulis received a US patent that covered this concave face iron which the patent identifies as a "mashie niblick."  The Foulis brothers are often credited with inventing the mashie-niblick. In addition to making a club that was a "cross between a mashie and a niblick," their club had a concave face top to bottom.  According to the patent, the Foulis brothers calculated that the curved face would provide additional backspin. As we all have learned, not everything works out quite like we might hope, but the curved face makes their club all that more collectible!

James Foulis was the winner of the 1896 US Open, held at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on Long Island. He and his brother are credited with developing the bramble pattern cover used on the newly invented rubber-core Haskell golf ball. The two brothers are often called the founders of Mid-West Golf, as, headquartered in Chicago, they helped the game expand into middle America. James also laid out a number of courses.

This is a fine example of a Foulis mashie niblick.  The head has a nice even patina, and the back bears the "J&D Foulis, Wheaton" stamp along with other marks.  The club was sold by VL&D (Von Lengerke & Detmold) in New York.