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folk-art
- What Is Folk-Art
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| American folk-art was discovered in the 1920s. Although there were a few pioneer museum exhibits, and a group of collectors founded the museum that was to become the Museum of American Folk Art in 1961, it didn't take off until recent years. Folk art has become increasingly popular for many reasons, including the country-furniture boom, its compatibility with modern design, and the recent rise in American's appreciation of things American. |
| What Is Folk Art? |
| Folk art is difficult to define. It ranges from three-dimensinal objects, such as copper weathervanes and carved wooden decoys, to naive oil portraits and fanciful quilts. Traditionally it was created by immigrants who continued to use inherited design motifs---the Germans in Pennsylvania, the English in New England. But artisans outside of immigrant
communities produced work that falls into this category, too. Common denominators: It is created by
and for common folk, and it is utilitarian but has an aesthetic quality that elevates it beyound mere functionality.
Although country funiture is often classified as folk art, it really isn't. The country woodworker is a professional.
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| There are three kinds of collectors: |
- Antiques collectors who use folk art as decoration.
- Fine-art collectors who also collect folk art.
- Those who collect folk art as an investment.
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| How to begin: |
- Visit galleries and museum exibits that feature your special interest.
- Go to antiques shows
- Talk with antiques dealers. They are better informed than anyone in the field and are willing to share their information.
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| What to buy: |
| Acquire quality. It's better to buy one good thing than a lot of inferior pieces that will never be aesthetically pleasing and won't appreciate.
Specialize. Become knowledgeable in one particular area in order to be an effective competitor in the marketplace. But be flexible. It's shortsighted to say, "I don't collect that," and pass up something you really love.
Prices have skyrocketed in the past several years and are still high. At a recent Sotheby's sale, a late 19th-century Statue of Liberty weathervane went for $75,000. That was more than double the previous auction record for a weathervane. A watercolor of a whaling ship from the Barbara Johnson collection brought $82,000.
But most folk-art is still accessible. Helpful: Right now, 20th-century folk art is worth looking into. Ceramics, sculpture, quilts, textiles, paintings and other crafts are being produced all over the country. The problem is sorting out the quality. The trick: Look at enough good things to develope your eye.
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| Caveat emptor: |
| Anyone who is making a major purchase should ask for a written guarantee. It should include a description of the piece, the name of the maker, the period, and disclosure of all restoration. The guarantee should specify that if any of the information proves to be incorrect, the piece can be returned for full refund. |
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