Birds of a Feather: Edward Lear, Fraktur Artist?

Has it really been 2 months since I've posted? Ah, well. Holidays + a kitchen remodel = a neglected blog.

As you know, I'm obsessed with 1) frakturs, and 2) birds. So I was thrilled to receive this in the mail today, my latest ebay purchase:



This sweetie has everything I love about frakturs: whimsmical lines, bright colors, an aged look, and a great period frame. I am not sure of its age.

Ever notice how you seem to stumble across finds in groups? Well, also today, I was browsing online for art, and found these delightful watercolors by the beloved children's lit author and illustrator, Edward Lear. Tell me this doesn't have a touch of fraktur in it:



I'm a bit partial to the yellow bird, myself:



Aren't the calligraphy touches to die for?

You can find the whole collection online at Art.com!

Fraktured Fairytales

I've recently fallen in love with 19th-Century Pennsylvania Dutch fraktur art. Original drawn and painted works are few and far between, but you can still find good deals on printed birth certificates and marriage documents that were hand-colored by their owners.

I like the color palette in this baptismal record, currently for sale on ebay:



Also on ebay, this charming watercolor embodies the best qualities of frakturs: vibrant colors, floral emblems, and a delightful personal touch with the man and his plow:



Because it's so rare to find well-executed frakturs that have survived, the better ones are quite expensive. Lucky for us, a new generation of folk artists is carrying on the tradition at affordable prices.

For instance, Etsy seller The Lion and the Lamb offers this beautiful original compass flower fraktur:



Hurry and grab it now -- she's offering a deal on shipping!