Folk Art Birds Paintings
A Salute to Women Artists
Woman in Veil, Attributed to Emily Eastman (1804-c. 1841), Loudon, New Hampshire, c. 1825, Watercolor and ink on paper, 14 9/16 x 10 5/8″, Collection American Folk Art Museum, New York, Promised gift of Ralph Esmerian, P1.2001.7, Photo © 2000 John Bigelow Taylor, New York
If you are in New York City and looking for ways to stay out of this oppressive summer heat, try to catch the exhibition Women Only: Folk Art by Female Hands on view at the American Folk Art Museum. Approximately 60 objects from the museum’s vast collection illustrate the diverse mediums and wide-range of abilities used by 18th and 19th century women for artistic expression.
According to Stacy Hollander, exhibition curator, “Artmaking activities were primarily the province of male artists, and women’s work operated almost entirely within a separate circle that was admired and judged by female peers and important figures such as teachers and parents. Needle and thread were the traditional tools used to fulfill women’s roles in society; clothing the family, warming and covering the bed, and ornamenting the home.”
But some women were not content to work within that separate circle that Hollander refers. Portrait painting was predominately produced by men but, there are some notable exceptions. Deborah Goldsmith, creator of the family group Mr. and Mrs. Lyman Day and Daughter Cornelia, painted to support herself and her aged parents and Emily Eastman painted this exquisitely delicate watercolor of a woman in a veil.
Mr. and Mrs. Lyman Day and Daughter Cornelia, Deborah Goldsmith (1808-1836), Sangerfield, New York, c. 1823-1824, Watercolor and pencil on paper, 9 x 8 3/4″, Collection American Folk Art Museum, New York, Promised gift of Ralph Esmerian, P1.2001.17, Photo courtesy Sotheby’s, New York
Quilts showcased individuality, according to Hollander, and sometimes made political statements, not always subtle. The unidentified maker of the Cleveland-Hendricks Crazy Quilt used a popular format, the crazy quilt, to make her political sentiments known. She combined political ribbons, portraits of Grover Cleveland and his running mate Thomas A. Hendricks, a strutting rooster-the emblem of the Democratic Party during the 1880s and 1890s, and other ephemera to show her political allegiance.
Cleveland-Hendricks Crazy Quilt, Artist unidentified; initialed “J.F.R.”, United States, 1885ñ1890, Lithographed silk ribbons, silk, and wool with cotton fringe and silk and metallic embroidery, 75 x 77″, Collection American Folk Art Museum, New York, Gift of Margaret Cavigga, 1985.23.3
Hollander also writes, “Women worked with mediums that were culturally acceptable or innovated with unusual materials, such as tinsel and marbledust.”
Tinsel Painting: Jenny Lind, Artist unidentified, United States, c. 1850, Reverse painting and foil on glass and paper collage, 28 1/2 x 24 1/2″ framed, Collection American Folk Art Museum, New York, Gift of Susan and Laurence Lerner, 2009.13.3, Photo © 2006 Andy Duback
Tinsel Painting: Wreath, Birds, and Daguerreotype, Artist unidentified, United States c. 1855 – 1865, Reverse painting and foil on glass and hand-colored photograph in stamped-brass mat, 11 7/8 x 14″, Collection American Folk Art Museum, New York, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Day Krolik Jr., 1979.3.1
Violin, Artist unidentified, Probably New England, c. 1830, Watercolor, pencil, and ink on wood, 23 1/2 x 8 1/8 x 2 3/4″, Collection American Folk Art Museum, New York, Promised gift of Ralph Esmerian, P1.2001.276, Photo © 2000 John Bigelow Taylor, New York
You don’t have to look just to museum exhibitions or to the 18th and 19th centuries to find evidence of girls gone wild. Girls of every decade have bucked trends and followed their artistic passions. In some cases the result of their work is long lost, but evidence of the process survives. This splint basket, found in upstate New York, is filled with cotton and wool rag balls and signed in paint on the handle, “Mrs. L.C. Millard.” With a little digging in genealogical records, much is discovered about Anna Millard. She was born in 1860 in New York and became the wife of Lewis C. Millard. They made their home in Oneonta, Ostsego County at the turn of the century with 2 children, only one who lived to maturity. In the 1910s, Anna and Lewis resided with his parents, hotel proprietors in Oneonta. Both Millards were dead by 1930. Were the wool and cotton strips being saved for a braided rug that was never made? What other objects initially survived, but are now lost, that belonged to Anna Millard and could shed light on her artistic passions?
Mrs. L. C. Millard’s Basket of Rag Balls #134518,
offered by VandM.com dealer Gabriel Gibson Decorative Arts, Clark Day photography
At the turn of the 20th century women were still using their needle to create acceptable works of art. Working within the prescribed limits of female social and cultural life, this artist produced an exquisite drawstring bag in the fashionable arts and crafts style. Many of these bags were produced at home from published patterns as well as purchased from shops here and abroad.
Drawstring Bags #158640 and #158641,
offered by VandM.com dealer Gabriel Gibson Decorative Arts, Valerie Hutnan photography
By the second quarter of the 20th century woman were using traditional methods to create art and actively competing with men. Two Mexican silver designers Ana Nunez de Brillanti, and Bernice Goodspeed were at the top of their field competing for customers alongside Mexican icons William Spratling and the Castillo brothers.
Ana Nunez de Brillanti (marked her work Victoria) opened her workshop in 1940 and operated it until 1978. She designed this set of six shot glasses made of copper with sterling silver overlay figures and engraved with rural scenes of Mexico. Each glass features a different design and the inside is coated with thick silver. All are marked with “Victoria Taxco Mexico 267.”
Shot Glasses #183038, designed by Ana Nunez de Brillanti
offered by VandM.com dealer Hacienda
Bernice Goodspeed produced silver jewelry and wares for almost 30 years. This heavy sterling silver bracelet made up of six concave flower-shaped links is each set with a cabochon amethyst. It is signed with a “B” surrounded by “Taxco Mexico” and marked “Sterling.”
Bracelet #105597, designed by Bernice Goodspeed offered by VandM.com dealer Hacienda
Today’s girls have come a long way from the 19th century world of the maker of the Cleveland-Hendricks quilt. And, like that anonymous artist, some still push the envelope. Donna Radner, bagan her artistic pursuits creating traditional quilts from published patterns in simple color schemes. She quickly grew bored so began experimenting with multiple shapes and colors. Her quilts soon evolved into one-of-a-kind fiber paintings that can be used on a bed or a wall. Where there is passion, girls will find a way to unleash it. Girls gone wild, indeed.
Pieced Quilt with Masks #220397, Donna Radner,
offered by VandM.com dealer Gabriel Gibson Decorative Arts, photographer Mark Gulezian
White Birds And Gold Charms – original folk art painting by maggie blanchett
|
|
The Van Rensselear Children Portrait 1840 antique oil painting ! Folk art $24,900.00 |
|
|
Antique Pair of Iconic American Folk Art Carved Pine Wood Eagle Sculpture – RARE $20,000.00 |
|
|
Metal Art Sculpture Sculptor for Hire Travel Design fabricate install folk art ! $20,000.00 |
|
|
Mamie Falk Folk Art Oil Painting – Considered Minnesota’s “Grandma Moses” $19,750.00 |
|
|
Yuri Gorbachev ORIGINAL Landscape Oil painting Folk Art $17,500.00 |
|
|
Folk Art wood statue of Grover Cleveland 1894 $9,500.00 |
|
|
Antique Ship Captain Folk Art Carved Coconut Chalice $8,500.00 |
|
|
Original Oil On Canvas Painting by Minni Hines Bayou Scene Folk Art 24×48 $8,495.75 |
|
|
Chinese folk art sculpture carving stone inkstone for painting and handwriting $6,890.00 |
|
|
Chinese handcraft folk art stone sculpture carving inkstone inkslab fly dragon $6,329.00 |
|
|
Banjo Boy/ Pre-Civil War Folk Art on Linen $6,000.00 |
|
|
LARGE Antique Americana Folk Art Painting of Boy -Civil War Col. Orlando H Moore $5,999.99 |
|
|
Yuri Gorbachev Original Oil Painting Russian Art Folk $5,990.00 |
|
|
Chinese handcraft folk art sculpture carving inkstone inkslab—Avalokitesvara $5,590.00 |
|
|
AMERICAN FOLK ART PUPPET THEATRE QUEENS,NY $5,000.00 |
|
|
Clementine Hunter Signed Framed Folk Art Painting Cotton Pickin’ c1977 20×26.25 $5,000.00 |
|
|
vincent van gogh sculpture outsider folk art Dale Teachout assemblage junk $5,000.00 |
|
|
Bessie Harvey Folk Art Found Object Museum Piece!!! $5,000.00 |
|
|
PAIR OF 19TH C FOLK ART PORTRAITS PAINTINGS SIGNED P MARTIN 1886 HUSBAND & WIFE $4,999.99 |
|
|
ANTIQUE 19th CENTURY AMERICAN FOLK ART ETCHED GLASS ALLEGHENY CTY PA GERMAN WOW $4,999.99 |
|
|
ANTIQUE 19th CENTURY AMERICAN FOLK ART FISH HOOK MASSIVE IRON TRADE SIGN $4,999.99 |
|
|
Signed OLD master GESSO FRAME OIL ON CANVAS PORTRAIT NELSON pipe Folk art $4,999.00 |
|
|
Clementine Hunter Folk Art Painting Signed “Picking Cotton” $4,850.00 |
|
|
Chinese folk art sculpture carving stone inkstone double dragon holding the sun $4,690.00 |
|
|
FOLK ART OIL PAINTING PORTRAIT CHILD ICONIC RED DRESS PRINCE CHARLES SPANIEL $4,500.00 |
|
|
Corbels Pair Wood Winged Griffins Victorian Old Paint Architectural Folk Art $4,500.00 |
|
|
FOLK ART PAINTING SULLIVAN COUNTY NEW YORK J R GEROW $4,500.00 |
|
|
Exceptional Folk Art Painting $4,500.00 |
|
|
Johnnie Swearingen! Great Folk Art!!! Peddling Melons $4,500.00 |
|
|
New England Folk Art Portrait on Canvas Ca.1830 $4,500.00 |
|
|
Clementine Hunter Signed Framed Folk Art Painting Wash Day c1977 19.25 x 23.25in $4,500.00 |
|
|
A Outstanding Early Trade Axe,Folk Art Hatchet, $4,500.00 |
|
|
Yuri Gorbachev Original Oil Painting Russian Art Folk $4,490.00 |
|
|
FANTASTIC FOLK ART CHEST $4,200.00 |
|
|
Clementine Hunter Signed Framed Folk Art Painting African Headdress c1977 25.5h $4,000.00 |
|
|
ANTIQUE MINIATURE PRIMITIVE FOLK ART WOOD RURAL SCENE FRAMED 12 1/4″ UNIQUE $3,885.00 |
|
|
*RARE TRAMP / FOLK ART Shoe Shine Box – Brass/Wood-Detailed-Ornate-Exquisite $3,800.00 |
|
|
Antique KNOTTY Tree Root Twig FOLK ART CHAIR Set GOODY KOONCH West Virginia $3,750.00 |
|
|
Original Mexican Folk Art Icons Retablo:18-19th century $3,650.00 |
|
|
Chinese handcraft folk art sculpture carving inkstone-an old man finshing alone $3,590.00 |
|
|
Folk Art Hand Carved Soldier,6ft Tall Pick Up Only $3,532.50 |
|
|
Unique/Exceptional Large Oval Folk Art Santa Claus Wood Carving signed Cobb 98 $3,500.00 |
|
|
Painting Vintage 50s Cowboy Folk Art Levis Jeans Vinicur Little Buckaroo Parade $3,500.00 |
|
|
Advertising Art / Folk Art / Christmas Hooked Rug – 5′x3 1/2′ $3,500.00 |
|
|
Johnnie Swearingen! Great Folk Art!!! $3,500.00 |
|
|
Chinese handcraft folk art sculpture carving inkstone inkslab—Lofty aspiration $3,490.00 |
|
|
Terrazzo Marble Micro Mosaic Latin Ethnic Musicians Mural Folk Fine Art $3,374.99 |
|
|
Original Mexican Folk Art Icons Retablo:18-19th century $3,250.00 |
|
|
FINE 19c EARLY FOLK ART PORTRAIT PAINTING $3,225.00 |
|
|
Israel Jewish Art,Sara Hagay,Israeli Folk Dance “hora”,Oil,Judaica,Framed $3,000.00 |
|
|
mud painting signed jimmy sudduth a real folk art outsider master piece $3,000.00 |
|
|
ANTIQUE AMERICAN FOLK ART WOOD CANE ISLE ROYALE FIRE WW2 D DAY GI ? KENOSHA WI $2,999.99 |
|
|
FRANK WYSO OUTSIDER FOLK ARTIST PENNSYLVANIA COAL MINERS 4 WORKS OF ART $2,999.99 |
|
|
King’s Couch Rare One of a Kind Yard Art from Chicago Folk Hand Made furniture $2,999.99 |
|
|
ANTIQUE 19th AMERICAN FOLK ART NATURALIST BUFFALO SETON STYLE CATLIN PAINTING $2,999.99 |
|
|
Chinese handcraft folk art sculpture carving inkstone inkslab man walk in forest $2,999.00 |
|
|
Chinese handcraft folk art sculpture carving inkstone inkslab a man watch moon $2,999.00 |
|
|
fine Chinese handcraft folk art stone sculpture carving inkstone inkslab scenery $2,890.00 |
|
|
Temperance Movement Folk Art Painting Folk Art Temperance Painting $2,850.00 |
|
|
Anonymous Folk Art Carving Figure with Crown in Skirt with Snake $2,799.99 |
|
|
ANTIQUE OIL PAINTING FOLK ART NEW ENGLAND ‘HUGES’ 1892 $2,750.00 |
|
|
Chinese handcraft folk art stone sculpture carving inkstone inkslab with dragon $2,690.00 |
|
|
FOLK ART Antique Wood Polychrome Carved Asian Figure Sculpture $2,500.00 |
|
|
HUGE 37″ Antique 19th American Folk Art Carved Gilt Wood Eagle Statue Americana $2,500.00 |
|
|
Antique Primitive Folk Art Hand Carved Wooden Dough Bowl $2,500.00 |
|
|
FOLK ART OIL PAINTING OF THE SS “OCEAN” STEAMSHIP $2,475.00 |
|
|
Ca. 1820 American Folk Art Painting Deformed Man $2,450.00 |
|
|
James Harold Jennings Amazing and Colorful Folk Art! $2,400.00 |
|
|
Doris Lee – Folk Art Painting – Signed and Titled – Original Condition $2,400.00 |
|
|
DC: Prison Folk Art Matchstick Ship, HUGE 5′ Length $2,379.00 |
|
|
Amazing ORIGINAL NAUTICAL AMERICAN FOLK ART PAINTING $2,285.00 |
|
|
Early 20th Century Folk Art Sheep Painting/ Inside Barn $2,250.00 |
|
|
FOLK ART COLLAGE/Presidential Stamp Collage $2,250.00 |
|
|
Folk Art Handmade Ceramic Sculpture Plaque Dentist Pulling Tooth Dicker Vintage $2,200.00 |
|
|
ANTIQUE Americana TRADE SIGN IMMIGRATION FOLK ART NYC ICE CREAM PUSH CART $2,200.00 |
|
|
Ohio Pioneer Abraham Betz 1818 HANDWRITTEN LESSON BOOK with FOLK ART $2,150.00 |
|
|
HAITIAN ART: Vibrant PAINTING, SIGNED by Renowned Folk Artist TOUSSAINT AUGUSTE $2,150.00 |
|
|
Philippines National Artist Abdul Imao Brass Sculpture w/ Base Mindanao Folk Art $2,100.00 |
|
|
Ellen Eilers Calico Country Folk Art Woodcut Ornamental Trees Rare Early Work $2,000.00 |
|
|
ANTIQUE 19th CENTURY AMERICAN FOLK ART FRUIT STILL LIFE WATERMELON OIL PAINTING $1,999.99 |
|
|
ANTIQUE AMERICAN FOLK ART WOOD BALEEN CARVED SPERM WHALE GROTESQUE AMERICANA WOW $1,999.99 |
|
|
ANTIQUE AMERICAN FOLK ART SHIP LIGHTHOUSE LARGE OIL PAINTING GERNAND VERMIER $1,999.99 |
|
|
Vtg Rutherford Tubby Brown Xmas 25″Folk Art Santa Claus $1,999.99 |
|
|
AMERICAN FOLK ART GAMEBOARD TABLE WITH SWASTIKAS $1,999.00 |
|
|
Chinese handcraft folk art sculpture carving inkstone peasant work on his land $1,999.00 |
|
|
LAURA SIQUEIROS “POSEIDONS ADVENTURE” FOLK ART PAINTING $1,999.00 |
|
|
Old Folk Art Cinderella pre Disney & Kincade Beautiful $1,995.00 |
|
|
Clyde Connell 1943 Folk Art hooked rug signed LISTED $1,900.00 |
|
|
ANTIQUE AMERICAN FOLK ART WOOD CARVING TOBACCO CIGAR TRADE SIGN ? DISPLAY WOW $1,899.99 |
|
|
Chinese folk art sculpture carving stone inkstone for painting and handwriting $1,890.00 |
|
|
WELSH AMERICAN SIGNED FOLK ART PAINTING JFK PT 109 $1,850.00 |
|
|
ORIGINAL TEXAS ARTIST FERGUSON OIL PAINTING FOLK ART $1,822.50 |
|
|
C Peterson ORIGINAL modern FOLKART sculpture SIGN ART painted OUT of WORK tools $1,817.00 |
|
|
48x48x1.5″█OIL▀PAINTING█ART█LARGE█BIG█PAINTINGS█FINE█RAW█MALE█REALISM█FOLK_POP█A $1,800.00 |
|
|
American Folk Art Painting of Little Girl Circa 1825 $1,800.00 |
|
|
Emma Schrock Folk Art 16″ by 12″ $1,795.00 |
|
|
c1920 Girl Knitting Folk Woman Antique Art Signed Oil Estate Painting $1,795.00 |
|
|
Folk Art Wood Carving Listed Folk Artist Albert Hoffman $1,750.00 |
|
|
Folk Art New England Oil on Canvas Painting/Circa 1860 $1,750.00 |
|
|
HUTCH TABLE WITH FOLK ART 4 SEASON ARTIST PAINTED TOP $1,750.00 |
