US $18.18
Folk Art - Craft From the Past
Folk art is craft from the past - history in an object. Whenever we admire a beautifully woven basket, a perfectly carved decoy duck or an exquisitely hand sewn quilt we are appreciating articles of folk art. But what exactly does the term "folk art" mean? Simply, it was adopted in America early last century to describe works made by people who had never had any formal training in carving a decoy duck or sewing a quilt for instance. Previously terms such as "naive" or "primitive" had been used to describe such objects, but neither is as evocative as the term "folk" art - the simple, ordinary, modest art made by plain ordinary folk.
Folk art is always unique and embodies the spirit of it's creator, comprising both decorative and utilitarian items. It is rare these days to find original items at inexpensive prices, and neither can they be found in great quantities, but from time to time beautiful folk art items can be found at car boot sales, markets and country auctions. Before industrialisation and mass-manufacturing in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, ordinary people hand made objects, such as decoy duck s both for decoration and for everyday use. It's these handmade items that are so desirable to collectors today.
Painted tinware, hand-turned wooden bowls, all kinds of baskets, colorful quilts and other textiles may still be found. Spongeware pottery - which is named from the pieces of cut sponge used to apply patterns to the pottery surface - is much harder to find in the UK than it is in the USA as a large amount of spongeware was exported to the US from the 1820s onwards.
Hunting with decoy ducks became popular in Victorian Britain, although Native Americans have a long history of using lures and carving is a tradition firmly rooted in American folk art. The finest American ducks were carved in the 1920s and 1930s, and beautiful examples are still being produced today. In top condition with original paint, a decoy duck could fetch more than $20,000 if made by one of the big names such as Elmer Crowell of Cape Cod.
Many basket weavers were farmers who made their own containers for agricultural use - look out for those bearing the initials of the farmer who made them, or stencilled details of the contents.
Rustic textiles in coarse linen and woollen cloth were woven on domestic handlooms which were often very narrow - so the pieces of cloth then had to be joined together to make larger items such as sheets and bed covers. You may find some with characteristically bold patterns in reds and blues.
Quilting, which is the quintessential American folk art technique was also carried out in Britain in the 16th and 17th centuries, particularly in Wales and Northern England where keeping out the cold was so extremely important. Women used the long winter hours to apply their needlework skills to create the beautiful quilts we treasure today. Their skills crossed the Atlantic to America with the first European settlers.
Bringing these wonderful old handmade items of folk art into our homes is not just a great way of honoring the traditions of the past, but is also a way of paying tribute to the many unknown, but incredibly skilled folk who crafted them so beautifully.
|
|
VINTAGE BLUE SPONGEWARE MUG WITH DARK BLUE DESIGN USA $19.99 |
|
|
Hand Made Pottery by Bear Blue Spongeware Tall Piece $12.00 |
|
|
2pc BLUE GREEN 6" Saucer / Desert Plates Roseville Henn Spongeware NICE $7.19 |
|
|
Robinson Ransbottom Blue Spongeware 1 pt. Low Jar made in Roseville Ohio U.S.A. $4.99 |
|
|
Vintage Blue & White Handcrafted/Painted Spongeware Stoneware Pottery $14.99 |
|
|
Robinson Ransbottom Blue Spongeware 1 pt. Low Jar made in Roseville Ohio U.S.A. $4.99 |
|
|
Robinson Ransbottom Blue Spongeware 2 qt. High Jar made in Roseville Ohio U.S.A. $10.99 |
|
|
Robinson Ransbottom Blue Spongeware 10 oz. Kitchen Crock Roseville Ohio U.S.A. $4.99 |
|
|
Henn Pottery 2 BLUE GREEN Double SPONGEWARE Votive Cups $4.88 |
|
|
Henn Blue Spongeware Medium Pasta Bowl 9 1/2 inch $18.00 |
|
|
Henn Blue Green Spongeware Cups & Saucers Set of 4 $29.00 |
|
|
Henn Pottery 2 BLUE GREEN Spongeware Dinner Plates 10" USA MADE OVEN PROOF WOW! $24.88 |
|
|
Vintage Bybee Pottery Blue Ruffled Bowl & Blue White Spongeware Tall Mug Sponge $20.00 |
|
|
VINTAGE STONEWARE SPONGEWARE PITCHER DARK BLUE 3 LBS NR $99.95 |
|
|
HEART SHAPED MUFFIN PAN BLUE SPONGE WARE PATTERN BAKER CUPCAKE BAKING MAKES 6 $8.99 |
|
|
Workshop of Gerald Henn Large 6" Blue Sponge Ware Cannister $9.99 |
|
|
2 Henn Pottery plates 9" Blue spongeware trim/creamware $5.50 |
|
|
Henn Pottery Oval Meat Plate Blue Spongeware $26.99 |
|
|
Friendship Pottery Blue Spongeware Gravy Boat & Heart Sugar Bowl w/out Lid $8.99 |
|
|
Friendship Pottery Blue Spongeware Cream Pitcher EXCELLENT CONDITION $8.99 |
|
|
2 vintage pcs. RRPC ROSEVILLE Cobalt Blue Spongeware pottery PITCHER & BOWL $45.50 |
|
|
Vintage Sponge-ware Bowl - Rust and Blue color with Gold sponge marks $59.99 |
|
|
East Texas Potter Pitcher w/Cover, Blue Floral Spongeware, Beautiful $14.99 |
|
|
Vintage Rust and Blue Sponge-Ware Dessert Plates with Gold Trim - set of 6 $39.99 |
|
|
Vintage Rust and Blue Sponge-Ware Dessert Bowls with Gold Trim - set of 5 $24.99 |
|
|
MOLLY DALLAS BLUE SPONGEWARE TREE PLATE & BELL ORNAMENT *QVC* LTD.ED. SIGNED $24.99 |
|
|
VINTAGE * BLUE SPONGEWARE * HENN POTTERY * JUG $9.99 |
|
|
Henn Pottery Blue Spongeware Small Crock Casserole NLid $3.88 |
|
|
Henn Pottery Blue Spongeware 2 Pieces Relish Dishes Very Good Condition $14.99 |
|
|
SET (3) BENNINGTON VERMONT BLUE AGATE STONEWARE SPONGEWARE POTTERY NESTING BOWLS $39.00 |
|
|
Henn Pottery Blue Spongeware Heart Salt Shaker w stopper $5.88 |
|
|
ROSEVILLE BLUE SPONGEWARE 10oz KITCHEN CROCK & 1 PINT 4-HEART CUT OUT CROCK $14.99 |
|
|
Roseville Gerald Henn Blue Pottery Spongeware Pitcher $14.50 |
|
|
Henn Pottery 2 BLUE Spongeware Condiment Cups Hydrangea USA MADE $8.78 |
|
|
Set of 2 Blue Spongeware Gerald Henn Roseville Pottery 10" Dinner Plates $16.85 |
|
|
Henn Pottery BLUE GREEN SPONGEWARE MEASURING 1/2 CUP $4.88 |
|
|
Bennington Pottery Heart Shaped Dish Blue Spongeware 1950 dg $14.95 |
|
|
ROBINSON RANSBOTTOM HIGH JAR SPONGEWARE BLUE WITH LID 2 QUARTS $16.55 |
|
|
Large Robinson Ransbottom Pitcher Blue Sponge Ware made in Roseville, Ohio. $9.99 |
|
|
ROSEVILLE SPONGEWARE BLUE SPECKLED 6 1/2 BOWL $4.99 |
|
|
Henn Pottery BLUE GREEN SPONGEWARE MEASURING 1/4 CUP $3.88 |
|
|
HENN POTTERY ROSEVILLE BLUE SPONGEWARE SHAKER $5.99 |
|
|
BENNINGTON finger handle SPONGEWARE mug CUP Agate POTTERY VERMONT TEA blue $12.00 |
|
|
Robinson Ransbottom Mug Blue Spongeware Vintage $5.00 |
|
|
Vintage Robinson Ransbottom Blue Spongeware 1 pt pitcher, $9.99 |
|
|
Blue sponge ware pottery flower pot with wheat pattern. RRP Roseville 10oz crock $16.99 |
|
|
BENNINGTON POTTERS LIGHT BLUE SPONGEWARE BOWL/DISH $10.99 |
|
|
R R P Co. Roseville Ohio Blue spongeware 6 1/"4 CROCK $15.00 |
|
|
R R P Co. Roseville Ohio Blue spongeware 5 1/4" CROCK $14.00 |
|
|
Henn Pottery BLUE Spongeware 10" Oval BAKER $7.99 |
|
|
Roseville Blue Spongeware Crock - Robinson Ransbottom $12.00 |
|
|
SpongeWare Ceramic Finger Candle Stick Holders (Pair) Pastel Baby Blue Hearts $0.99 |
|
|
Robinson Ransbottom Roseville Blue Spongeware Mixing Batter Serving Bowl 8" Dia $19.99 |
|
|
ROBINSON RANSBOTTOM HIGH JAR SPONGEWARE BLUE STRIPES 2 QUARTS $8.00 |
|
|
Bybee Candle Holder Blue Spongeware $7.00 |
|
|
Bybee Pottery Blue Spongeware Salt And Pepper Shaker Set $8.00 |
|
|
Vintage Spongeware Pottery Bowl White w/Blue Trim 10.5" Made in USA $6.99 |
|
|
STANGL SPONGEWARE BLUE CANDLE HOLDER TOWN & COUNTRY PATTERN 3pt8 $9.99 |
|
|
Vintage Blue Spongeware Heart Water Cooler w/Lid Signed $24.99 |
|
|
Vintage ROBINSON-RANSBOTTOM Roseville Pottery PITCHER Blue Spongeware with Wheat $7.98 |
|
|
ROMA BLUE & WHITE SPONGEWARE SPATTERWARE LARGE OVAL PLATTER MADE IN ITALY EUC $29.99 |
|
|
THREE RIVERS BLUE GRAPEVINE SPONGEWARE SERVER DISH~2 PC~1995 NEW NEVER USED $14.95 |
|
|
1989 Blue Sponge Ware N. Carolina POTTERY Low PITCHER $12.99 |
|
|
4 HENN ROSEVILLE BLUE SPONGEWARE PETITE PLATTERS **NEW** NO RESERVE !!! $14.99 |
|
|
Henn Pottery Blue Spongeware Petal Ramekin Candle NIP $3.48 |
|
|
Country Home Collection Blue Spongeware Milk Bottle $12.99 |
|
|
Robinson Ransbottom 1 Qt Mixing Bowl Blue Spongeware Roseville, Ohio $7.95 |
|
|
ROBINSON RANSBOTTOM BLUE AND CREAM SPONGEWARE 7 1/4" CROCK - EUC $9.99 |
|
|
Bybee Pottery Relish Dish Blue & White Kentucky Pottery Spongeware $19.99 |
|
|
Beaumont Brothers Pottery - BLUE SPONGEWARE/STONEWARE COVERED RAMEKIN $21.50 |
|
|
Robinson Ransbottom, Roseville Ohio Blue Spatter / Sponge Ware 1 Qt Utility Jar $24.50 |
|
|
Lot 2 Alpine Pottery Blue Spongeware, w/Black & White Cow, Milk Bottle & Pitcher $19.99 |
|
|
BENNINGTON 2 finger handle SPONGEWARE mug CUP POTTERY VERMONT coffee TEA blue $15.00 |
|
|
Roseville Blue Sponge Ware Blue Cream Ceramic Pottery Pitcher....Vintage..Mint $19.99 |
|
|
Henn Pottery BLUE Spongeware SOAP DISH nice VERY RARE USA MADE $0.88 |
|
|
HENN POTTERY spongeware DARK BLUE LOT 3 PASTA BOWL $62.95 |
|
|
Robinson Ransbottom Blue on Cream Sponge Ware Pitcher $8.99 |
|
|
HENN POTTERY spongewarE BLUE GREEN OVAL VEGETABLE BOWL $42.50 |
|
|
Henn Pottery BLUE Spongeware Sugar Bowl Lid $1.99 |
|
|
Blue Spongeware RRP 7 in Bowl Roseville Ohio Pottery Robinson Ransbottom $9.99 |
|
|
Blue Spongeware Pottery Dish - Signed ... |
|
|
Workshop Gerald Henn Blue/Green Spongeware Chili Bowl, Fine China Dinnerware Workshop Gerald Henn Blue/Green Spongeware Chili Bowl - Blue On Green Spongeware... |
|
|
Antique Flow Blue Spongeware Range Salt & Pepper Shakers $7.50 An Exclusive "Old America" look from Hermitage Pottery... |
