Folk Art Patterns

Folk art is craft of the past - the history of an object. Whenever we admire a beautifully woven basket, a perfectly carved duck decoy or a quilt hand-sewn items we appreciate exquisite folk art. But what exactly the term "folk art" mean? Simply, it has been adopted in America early last century to describe the works done by people who never had any formal training in carving a decoy duck or sew a quilt, for example. Previously, terms such as "naive" and "primitive" have been used to describe these objects, but none more meaningful than the word "folk" art - the simple, ordinary, modest art made by plain ordinary people.

Folk art is always unique and embodies the spirit of its creator, including both decorative and utilitarian items. It is rare these days to find original items at prices affordable, and they can be found in great quantity but from time to time, fine folk art can be found at boot sales, markets and auctions countries. Before industrialization and mass production in the late 19th and early 20th century, the ordinary hand made objects, such as duck decoy s both for decoration and for everyday use. These are items that are handmade so desirable to collectors today.

tin hand painted turned wood bowls, all kinds of baskets, quilts and other textiles can still be found. Pottery Spongeware - named pieces of sponge used to apply cutting patterns on the surface of the pottery - is much more difficult to find in the United Kingdom than in the United States as a large quantity of spongeware was exported to the United States from the 1820s.

The hunt for duck decoys became popular in Victorian England, although the Indians have a long history of use of decoys and carving is a tradition firmly rooted in American folk art. The finest American ducks were carved in the 1920s and 1930s, and fine examples are still produced today. In excellent condition with original paint, a duck decoy could fetch more than $ 20,000 if made by one of the greats such as Elmer Crowell of Cape Cod.

Many weavers were farmers who made their own containers for agricultural use - look out for those who bear the initials of the farmer who made them, or details stencil content.

Textile rustic burlap and wool have been woven on looms servants who are often very close - if the pieces of fabric and then had to be assembled to make larger items such as sheets and bedspreads. You can find models with characteristic fat in red and blue.

Patchwork, which is the quintessential American folk art technique has also been conducted in Great Britain in the 16th and 17th centuries, especially in Wales and Northern England, where to keep the cold was so important. Women used the winter hours to apply their skills to the needle to create the beautiful quilts we cherish today. Their skills have crossed the Atlantic to America with early European settlers.

The reconciliation of these items by hand beautiful old folk art in our homes is not only a great way to honor the traditions of the past, but also a way to pay tribute to the many unknown , but incredibly talented folk who so beautifully designed.