www.indexdigital.co.uk 1 Folk Tales The methods used to make many folk art objects
were handed down from generation to generation, which makes them both interesting and collectable
Words Jennie Buist Brown
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hand-stitched for newlyweds, sweetheart pin cushions made by First World War soldiers with imploring mottos such as “Remember Me” or “Think of Me”. Knowing that many of these young men endured horrendous conditions in the trenches and did not come home, makes these beautiful objects even more precious. Knowing, too, that the
ver the years I’ve written a number of articles on folk art but I always struggle to define exactly what it is. In the broadest
sense, folk art refers, as the name suggests, to the art of the people, as distinguished from the elite or professional product – fine art – that constitutes the mainstream of art in highly developed societies. But the genre does remain somewhat elusive perhaps because folk art objects were often anonymously made for everyday use or ornaments and sometimes as one-off gifts. Folk art generally includes such wide- ranging objects as decoy birds, brightly coloured ships’ figureheads, carousel horses as well as everyday objects like baskets, storage boxes, quilts and other textiles. Some toys, pottery and furniture are also considered to be folk art.
Precious memories
Many folk art artifacts have stories to tell and this is what I think makes them so collectable today. As well as being attractive, there is also something poignant about many folk art objects – love spoons carved to win the hand of fair maidens, marriage quilts lovingly
methods used to make many folk art objects were handed down from generation to generation makes them both interesting as well as collectable. These objects, unlike fine art, were never subject to changing taste and fashion. Two quilts though widely different in age will often have the same pattern that has travelled through the generations. Quilts made before the 1850s are very expensive, as are those with symbolic or historical significance – many fetching up to £1,000. However you can still find beautiful Welsh quilts for less than £400 and a quilt from just before the war can still be bought for around £75.
Sign language
Favourites of mine are hand-carved and painted decoy birds, which really capture the wonderful essence of folk art, while I have recently become very interested in antique shop signs. I was recently in Rouen where there is a wonderful museum dedicated to all things wrought iron (Le Secq des Tourneles, Rue Jacques Villon, Rouen).
I’m willing to admit that to many this may not sound terribly inviting but I can assure you that it is one of the most fascinating
1. Black duck by Cigar Daisey by Leonard J. DeFrancisci 2. Pharmacy sign, by Tony Bowden from Tallinn, Estonia 3. Old Bright, The Postman, George Smart, c1830s. by
Tailor.of.frant, own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, 4. Pig Feeding From a Bowl, painting on board © Victoria and Albert Museum, London 5. Quilt by Stacey Henderson
museums I have ever been to and well worth a visit if you find yourself in Rouen. Within this old church building you will find everything from ancient keys of all sizes to boxes with intriguingly intricate locking mechanisms and even very torturous looking chastity belts. But what really grabbed my attention were the old shop signs. Beautiful designs advertising all imaginable businesses – the butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker and more – all crafted from wrought iron. When villages were small, tradesmen’s
signs weren’t really needed but as the towns and cities grew larger tradesmen needed to identify their premises so that everyone knew what they made. This was especially important in the times when lots of people were illiterate and in 1625 Charles I allowed the citizens of London the right to erect signs to identify their businesses. Here in the UK most signs were made
from wood skillfully carved and then hand- painted. Trades became easy to identify: a large boot for a shoemaker, a huge teapot for a tearoom, a giant lock or key for a locksmith. Be very careful when purchasing an old sign – always check for paint in the cracks and the covering of worm holes – this suggests a later application of paint. The sign should be naturally weathered, with dry, faded and crusty paint and wood shrinkage.
ARTS & CULTURE / ANTIQUES
The rise in the interest of folk art has inspired a new generation of artisans and crafts people making wonderful items, and this month the perfect place to see the new generation of folk art collectables is at The Country Living Spring Fair, from the 27th-30th April, at the Alexandra Palace, London. • For more information, visit www.
countrylivingfair.com/spring/
The INDEX magazine
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