19th-Century Calligraphy With a Modern Twist

I love these framed calligraphy pieces from Carlson and Stevenson with such fervor. It's a treat to see the multi-colored inks, and the whimsmical quality of the fonts calls to mind the present-day craze for hand-lettering in graphic design (don't believe me? Check out Etsy).





For the calligraphy-obsessed, Piper Publishing offers a re-issue of the 1881 Real Pen Work Self-Instructor in Penmanship. Seeing the samples, I'm astonished at how our forebears incorporated so much artisanship into their daily lives through the simple act of writing.

Dali? Mais oui!

I just finished restoring the mechanical bank that my grandfather made for me (MANY) years ago, when I was ten.



My aim was to make it look like a turn-of-the-century gent, but methinks he looks more than a little like Salvador Dali, no?



Swallow the coin and . . . voila!



Grandpa’s long gone, but I still cherish all the handcrafts he made for us.

Gemma Taccogna Heads

I've always admired those antique French papier mache heads, the ones once used as hat stands. Case in point: This adorable girl from Dove Place Antiques. Love the bright colors, almost mod features, and baldish hairline.



Sadly, the pricing on these heads always put them out of my reach.

But nothing comes between a collector and her mania. Especially not when there's ebay.

After a few searches for "papier mache heads", I am now the proud owner of not one, but two head-shaped hat stands. Meet the twins:



They are both Gemma Taccogna, circa 1960s. And I love them.

Now someone tell me how, HOW, did I manage to get this old and not encounter Gemma Taccogna? She made THE most wonderful, whimsmical papier mache creations, with beautiful mod lines that manage to be folksy at the same time.

Of course, now that I own the two Gemma heads, I'm lusting for a third. I've got my eye on this grand-mammy of a head, 16" high, at Mod Hare.



And the vintage crackling makes it that much better!

Heads Up

Why am I so taken with folk art heads? Is it because they look so surreal, sitting there disembodied like that?

Or is it just that homespun, primitive charm, as exemplified by this antique milliner's head from Hanes and Ruskin antiques (sorry, folks, she's already sold). Somehow, the bashed-up nose makes her all that more adorable.



I have the perfect boyfriend for our milliner's head: This 19th-Century stoneware crock lid from Olde Hope Antiques.



Gotta love that wide-eyed look of surprise . . . and the very 19th-C moustache.

Finally, Lord do I wish my budget could accomodate this Southern Face Jug by Burlon Craig, currently for sale at Mud, Sweat and Tears.



Looks to me like this one has mischief on his mind.

Made in the USA

We Americans have never been shy about showing our national pride. And when we express our patriotism through folk art, the results are spectacular!

How great would this antique, 45-star flag look, hanging in your kitchen or mudroom? Contact Nantucket Country Antiques to snap it up.



Some 19th-Century needlework whiz expressed her love of country with her crochet hook. I love that eagle motif. Jeff Bridgman has more Americana for your perusal.



And how jaw-dropping is this 19th-Century bent-twig table from Wilson Folk Art? The flag framed by the heart just takes the cake.



God bless America!

Folk Art Paintings Redux

I had to share this lovely folk art landscape I came across on Ruby Lane. Seller Yesterday's Treasures offers this gem (circa 1919) for quite a reasonable price, too:



I adore the naive style and the attention to detail -- note the stars on the barn!

At the other end of the price scale, Jeff Bridgman Antiques offers this outrageous folk art portrait of a prize bull:



I love the simple composition and that cerulean blue sky. And nothing pleases me more than seeing a primitive-style painting framed in gold leaf!

Scherenschnitte, Old and New

Scherenschnitte. Kind of sounds like a Germanic cuss-word. As in: "Scherenschnitte! We're out of milk again!"

But scherenschnitte is the intricate Pennsylvania-Dutch (or Swiss, or German) art of paper-cutting. And trust me, when I say paper-cutting, I mean something far more sophisticated than those construction-paper snowflakes you used to snip as a kid.

For instance:



This German example from New Hope Antiques has everything I want in a paper-cutting: an intricate symmetrical motif, set off by a killer antique frame.

Not impressed? Then check out this jaw-droppingly detailed scherenschnitte from Peggy McClard Antiques:



When I first saw this, I swore it was fine embroidery work. But it's paper -- cut in a basket weave on the edges. According to Ms. McClard, the swans you see in the picture are a mere 1/8" tall! Do yourself a favor and go to her site to view the close-ups, as they are ASTOUNDING.

Lucky for us, a new generation of scherenschnitte artists are keeping the technique alive and breathing new life into the form, like Pam Hults from Praying Mantis Folk Art.



I love the calligraphy details she adds to her pieces!