The Enquirer - Chalkware has value as folk art - Cowan's Auctions
The Enquirer - Chalkware has value as folk art - Cowan's Auctions
The Enquirer - Chalkware has value as folk art - Cowan's Auctions
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S ubscri be N o w | Customer S er vice | Pla ce A n Ad | Contact U sWeather Events Visitor's Guide Cl<strong>as</strong>sifieds Jobs Cars Homes Ap<strong>art</strong>ments Shopping DatingSearch This Site:CiN Community Press &Cincinnati.Com NKY.com <strong>Enquirer</strong> WCPO PostWeeklyRecordercincyMOMS.comCincinnatiUSAHome Local News Sports Business Opinion Life Entertainment Nation/World ObituariesArchives SearchTre<strong>as</strong>uresCincinnati.Com » <strong>The</strong> <strong>Enquirer</strong> » Homestyle » <strong>Chalkware</strong> <strong>h<strong>as</strong></strong> <strong>value</strong> <strong>as</strong> <strong>folk</strong> <strong>art</strong>L<strong>as</strong>t Updated: 10:20 am | Saturday, February 17, 2007<strong>Chalkware</strong> <strong>h<strong>as</strong></strong> <strong>value</strong> <strong>as</strong> <strong>folk</strong> <strong>art</strong>E-mail this |Related Stories<strong>Chalkware</strong> collecting tipsPrinter-friendlySearchAmerican chalkware generally is attributed to the Pennsylvania Dutch,first appearing in the mid 1800s <strong>as</strong> a low-cost decorative alternative tothe more expensive English Staffordshire figures. <strong>The</strong>se often weresold door-to-door - until decorative objects made with more modernmaterials and manufacturing methods replaced them around the turnof the century.Objects of molded pl<strong>as</strong>ter continued to be made <strong>as</strong> carnival prizes untilthe mid-20th century. <strong>The</strong>se forms of "carnival chalk" were of adifferent subject matter and style, like kewpie dolls and ethnic figuresthat were often politically incorrect by today's standards.Molded and painted pl<strong>as</strong>ter sculpture produced today sometimes aresold to deceive collectors or <strong>as</strong> contemporary "antique" craft items.<strong>The</strong> term "chalkware" is amisnomer because the material isnot chalk. <strong>The</strong> earliest examplesare gypsum, the primaryingredient in pl<strong>as</strong>ter of paris.<strong>The</strong>y were hollow, thin-wallconstruction, generally molded intwo halves that were cementedtogether and decorated withwatercolors or, occ<strong>as</strong>ionally, oils.Since chalkware is molded, manypieces have identical size andform. Uniqueness comes from thedecorations. Early examples tend to be gaudy and not realistic. Itwould not be uncommon to find apples painted blue. Later exampleswere painted in tempera paints and are solid, not hollow.Forms most commonly found in chalkware are dogs and cats,p<strong>art</strong>icularly spaniels and poodles, followed by squirrels, roosters, dovesand parrots. More uncommon forms include lambs, sheep, swans,deer, lions and pigs.Holiday items and animals with nodding heads are p<strong>art</strong>icularly rare.Fruit and floral mantel garnitures and holiday items are most indemand.PROVIDEDAdvertise HereAffordable ContemporaryThis month only $50 OFF area rugs! Amazing BarstoolSelection. Modern Furniture @ Retro Prices. Abode inCovington.www.abode4me.comAds by GoogleDr. Thom<strong>as</strong> HedgeCincinnati's re<strong>as</strong>on to Smile Featured by the <strong>Enquirer</strong> & Ch 19Dentalhealthcenter.comCheap Cincinnati FlightsCompare Cincinnati, OH airfare deals & save on airline tickets!www.CheapFlights.com<strong>The</strong> Rookwood Pottery Co.<strong>The</strong> Rookwood Pottery Company. Cincinnati, Ohio - CompanyWebsitewww.rookwoodcompany.com/
<strong>The</strong>re also were 19th-century watch hutches, configured similar to agarden shrine. <strong>The</strong>y had a round opening near the top for hanging apocket watch to function <strong>as</strong> a mantel clock.Another scarce figural item is a building with windows where a candlecould be placed, providing illumination from behind.Nineteenth-century chalkware exemplifies the definition of "<strong>folk</strong>" <strong>art</strong> inits purest sense. Its manufacture required skill but no formal training. Itrepresents everyday familiar objects and satisfies a desire for color andbeauty through a simple medium. <strong>Chalkware</strong> truly w<strong>as</strong> <strong>art</strong> made by thecommon <strong>folk</strong> for their own enjoyment.Wes Cowan, owner of <strong>Cowan's</strong> <strong>Auctions</strong> Inc., Linwood, can be seenon PBS' "History Detectives" and "Antiques Roadshow." Contact himat info@cowanauctions.com. Research by Mike Argenbright.E-mail this |Printer-friendlyCincinnati.Com » <strong>The</strong> <strong>Enquirer</strong> » Homestyle » <strong>Chalkware</strong> <strong>h<strong>as</strong></strong> <strong>value</strong> <strong>as</strong> <strong>folk</strong> <strong>art</strong>Story Chat:Read what people are saying »Type your comments to post to this story.Name:Comments:max. 2000 chars.Post Your CommentProfane, vulgar and racist comments will lead the moderator to pull down all comments to a specific SpeakUp! thread.Thank you for your adherence to our Terms of Service. You must have cookies enabled in order to post a comment.
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