Stephens PotteryFor All Your Pottery Requirements

Folk Art – Craft from the past

Folk art and crafts from the past – history in an object. Whenever we admire beautiful woven basket, a perfectly carved decoy duck or an exquisite hand-sewn quilt we appreciate items of folk art. But what exactly does the term "folk art" to understand? Simple It was in America early last century, the works made by people to describe, never had any formal training in carving a decoy duck or sew a quilt for example. Previously been tag as "naïve" or used "primitive" to describe such objects, but not as a suggestion that the term "people" made the simple, ordinary, modest art by plane, simple folk – art.

Folk art is always unique and embodies the spirit of it is creator, includes both decorative and utilitarian objects. It is rare to find in these days of the original items at low prices, and they can also found in large quantities to be beautiful, but from time to time, country folk art items can be found at flea markets, markets and auctions. Before industrialization and mass production Production in the late 19 and early 20 Century, made ordinary man objects, such as decoy s, both for decoration and for everyday use. It is this hand-made items that are so desirable, collectors today.

Painted tinware, hand-turned bowls, all kinds of baskets, colorful blankets and other textiles can be found. Sponge Ware ceramics – which cut out the pieces using a sponge, apply to patterns on the surface pottery is named – is much harder to find in the UK than in the U.S. as a large amount of sponge ware was from in the USA from the 1820s exported.

Hunting with decoy popular was in Victorian Britain, although Native Americans have a long history of use of bait and carving is a tradition deeply rooted in American folk art. The best American ducks were carved in the 1920s and 1930s, and fine examples are still produced today. In excellent condition with original paint, could be a bait Duck get more than $ 20,000, if one of the big names like Elmer Crowell of Cape Cod made.

Many basket weavers were farmers who have their own container for agricultural use – look for the initials of the farmer who made them, or details of the template contents.

Rustic so that the pieces Material had to be put together to make larger objects, such as leaves and – Textiles were in coarse linen and wool fabrics to domestic handloom were often very narrow woven bedspreads. You can see some with a characteristically bold pattern of red and blue found.

Quilting, the quintessential American folk art Technique was carried out in Britain in the 16th and 17 Century, especially in Wales and northern England, where hold the cold was so extremely important. Women used the long winter evenings hours to apply their skills crafts the beautiful quilts we are creating wealth. Their skills across the Atlantic to America, the first European settlers.

Bringing these wonderful old hand work of folk art in our homes is not only a good way to honor the traditions of the past, but there's a way, a tribute to the many unknown, but incredibly qualified people designed it so beautiful.

About the Author

Caroline Jones lives in Devon, England and delights in visiting craft fairs and festivals to indulge her passion for collecting vintage and folk art items for her home and shop. Click Here to visit her recommended one stop shop for finding fairs, festivals, events, craft shows, art festivals, music festivals, farmers markets, and more! !

SIMON LEACH – Visit to brother John’s pottery