Led by beloved children's author Virginia Lee Burton, this group of mostly untrained women created immortal designs.
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Led by beloved children's author Virginia Lee Burton, this group of mostly untrained women created immortal designs.
Swing Tree I by Virginia Lee Burton Demetrios:
Gossips by Virginia Lee Burton Demetrios:
The Little House is, far as I can see, one of the best books of all time. But who knew that Virginia Lee Burton was up to all this? More, here. Fabulous, what one can find on the internet.
When you work full time, sometimes you need to take a day off to run errands that you can only do during business hours. Yesterday I did just that. I ran my errands, went on a search for a marble remnant for my vanity table and as I was headed back home to finish stripping the paint off my bathroom door. But instead of driving home, my car went in the other direction and I ended up in Essex, Massachusetts, a quaint Colonial-era village about 40 minutes north of Boston. Main Street is lined with antique shops and I usually stop at the White Elephant first. The White Elephant is the kind of place you rummage through to look for gems. Things are not usually well organized and I don't mean that to be disparaging. It's a treasure hunt. I was surprised to see such a nice collection of marble lamps. When I posted this photo on instagram, someone replied it looked like a large and well lit game of chess. This seems like some old version of a hot plate. The plate was set into a larger metal tray and it's my guess that you would fill the tray with hot water through the nozzle on the top side to keep the plate warm. This area of Massachusetts known as Cape Ann has long been a popular destination for artists so it's always good to keep a keen eye out for good artwork. This Esther Heins geranium painting seemed very well executed so I used my smart phone (how did I live without one for so long!) to google her and found she was a Marblehead-based artist known for her botanical paintings, did illustrations for Horticulture magazine and exhibited work at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the Smithsonian Institution. Isn't it a little treasure? White Elephant also has an outlet only open on Saturdays and Sundays. After White Elephant, I stopped in David Neligan Antiques where I was greeted by a pair large and wonderful pair of foo dogs. This shop is filled to the brim with traditional antiques. It's almost unbelievable to me that you can find a pair of ca. 1770 "King George III" armchairs newly reupholstered in oatmeal linen just sitting in a shop and ready to take home. The pillow is a Folly Cove design which you'll see much more of at the next shop. You just can't go to Essex without stopping by Andrew Spindler Antiques. The first time I went in a few years ago, I had never heard of Andrew Spindler but was impressed with his beautifully curated shop--very much my taste-- with a mix of classics from a variety of time periods. You might find an English gate leg table next to mid-century leather Breuer dining chairs. Andrew's home got a write up in the New York Times a few years ago and the slide show is still on-line if you'd like to see his interesting interiors. I love his living room and its view to what I would guess is a porch. And I especially love his quote, "I've always paid attention to what this house wants." I often feel those cues from my house. Here I was greeted with a wonderful wall of Folly Cove pieces. The Folly Cove Designers were a group of mostly (but not exclusively) women artists in Gloucester, Massachusetts. All of their work is block printed and often come in the form of placemats and table runners. This is a collection of placements that have been archivally framed as artwork. The group revolved around design classes given by Virginia Lee Burton and they worked from 1938 to about 1968. Burton was a children's book author and illustrator. I love this old photograph of Burton in her office/studio. Folly Cove pieces are highly collectible and have become quite rare in good condition. Here are a few more Folly Cove pieces at Andrew's shop: This is a delightful and humorous print called "The Gossips" by Virginia Lee Burton from the 1940s. This beautiful garden bench with Folly cove pillows in the Diamond Jubilee by Eino Natti, ca. 1947. Peony, ca. 1964 by Mary Maletskos in a deep navy blue. Does this not look totally current? I couldn't resist this one. If you'd like to know more about the Folly Cover Designers, check out this post on the Streets of Salem blog. I can tell that Andrew has a passion for ironstone as there's always a wonderful collection of pieces available. I'm attracted to anything with a crown since my first name means crown. Not Folly Cove but this is a 1930s hand-printed linen textile made for Cunard. Wouldn't it make a great throw? So much more unique than the ubiquitous Hermes throws. I also couldn't resist these brass and porcelain transferware drawer pulls. I love being able to incorporate unique items into my house and since I'm working on the design for my new kitchen, I can strategically plan where they'll go beforehand. The next time you're on your way to visit Rockport or Gloucester, you should plan some extra time to stop in Essex. Or make a day of it and stop by Woodman's of Essex for some fried clams and lobster.
Led by beloved children's author Virginia Lee Burton, this group of mostly untrained women created immortal designs.
This past weekend I made a major score when I encountered a long-sought item: a placemat depicting Chestnut Street in Salem made by Louise Kenyon of the Folly Cove Designers in the 1950s or early 1960s. Though it is in rather shabby condition, I snapped it right up, as I have long wanted a piece …
"Kitnip" One of my favorite images by Virginia Lee Burton as part of The Folly Cove Designers. I recently visited my family in Glouceste...
The inspiring story of Virginia Lee Burton Demetrios and the Folly Cove Designers and their pursuit of Community through creativity.
George's Garden by Virginia Lee Burton Demetrios:
50% off over at Dace , sweet.
Led by beloved children's author Virginia Lee Burton, this group of mostly untrained women created immortal designs.
Led by beloved children's author Virginia Lee Burton, this group of mostly untrained women created immortal designs.
Folly Cove Designers
A midcentury artist guild based in Cape Ann, Massachusetts, the Folly Cove Designers produced captivating patterns that continue to inspire.
The Folly Cove Designers was one of America's longest-running artist collectives, comprised of mainly women block printers.
Virginia Lee Burton was born on August 30, 1909. We know her today as the author and illustrator of beloved children's books about anthropomorphized machines and objects: ...Mary Anne the steam shovel... ...Katy the snow plow... ..and The Little House, which was always my favorite. Illustration from "The Little House" Her full-color illustrations are masterpieces. Illustration from "Choo Choo" But like so many illustrators from those earlier generations, she was also a master of black and white techniques. Another way of describing black and white work is as "one-color" art---the artist is working with just one color on the working surface. Burton's skill in working with one color is evident in her other absorbing artistic interest, print-making---an interest with which her readers might not be familiar. In this design we can see a resemblance to her illustration work. This print is more stylized, and we would not know, unless we had been told, that it was work by the same artist. Burton did much of her print-making on cloth, and her interest in this field led her to found the Folly Cove Designers, in Cape Ann, Massachusetts. This group worked together from 1938 to 1969, creating prints that were executed mainly on fabric. Burton died in 1968. Since the group disbanded the following year, it leads me to conclude that it was her energy that kept the group together and active for all those years. The links below will give you more about Virginia. http://www.capeannmuseum.org/media/cam_timeship_virginialeeburton.pdf https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Lee_Burton http://www.virginialeeburtonthefilm.com
The inspiring story of Virginia Lee Burton Demetrios and the Folly Cove Designers and their pursuit of Community through creativity.
Rooster Parade by Eino Natti:
The Little House is, far as I can see, one of the best books of all time. But who knew that Virginia Lee Burton was up to all this? More, here. Fabulous, what one can find on the internet.
Gulls by Lee Kingman Natti: Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
Led by beloved children's author Virginia Lee Burton, this group of mostly untrained women created immortal designs.
Designed by Aino Clarke, apprentice to Virginia Lee Burton, this 1940s block print features a Japanese style ink on cloth block printing technique of lobsters, a local Gloucester, Massachusetts fisherman's catch. The Folly Cove Designers were founded in Gloucester, Massachusetts by Virginia Lee Burton, the celebrated children's book author and illustrator who wrote Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel,The Little House, and Mabel the Cable Car; among other classics, which have never gone out of print. Production of these textiles ceased in 1968. Their work is in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, among other museums and private collections.
innovator Virginia Lee Burton Virginia Lee Burton was a children's book author and illustrator...
Led by beloved children's author Virginia Lee Burton, this group of mostly untrained women created immortal designs.
Virginia Lee Burton was an artist who lived from August 30,1909 – October 15, 1968. She and I share a birthday!Burton was widely known for her children’s books which include Mike Mullig…
Meet the Folly Cove Designers, a women-led printmaking collective from the 1950s, whose patterns still hold influence today.
This past weekend I made a major score when I encountered a long-sought item: a placemat depicting Chestnut Street in Salem made by Louise Kenyon of the Folly Cove Designers in the 1950s or early 1960s. Though it is in rather shabby condition, I snapped it right up, as I have long wanted a piece …
Folly Cove Designers
Early Bird by Virginia Lee Burton Demetrios:
Third of four daughters, raised in a rural area. Finally cleaning out the filing cabinet and loading it to the cloud.
Big Machines: The Story of Virginia Lee Burton by Sherri Duskey Rinker and John Rocco is a love letter to a picture book author and il...
Today I have a field trip to share with you, and if you’re local to Gloucester, MA, you can even check it out for yourself! In October, I visited the Cape Ann Museum in Gloucester to see the …
This past weekend I made a major score when I encountered a long-sought item: a placemat depicting Chestnut Street in Salem made by Louise Kenyon of the Folly Cove Designers in the 1950s or early 1960s. Though it is in rather shabby condition, I snapped it right up, as I have long wanted a piece …
Third of four daughters, raised in a rural area. Finally cleaning out the filing cabinet and loading it to the cloud.
Big Machines: The Story of Virginia Lee Burton by Sherri Duskey Rinker and John Rocco is a love letter to a picture book author and il...
THANK YOU First of All for your Interest in the American Arts & Crafts Art Movement and Supporting Female Artists! Description: Vintage set of 4 placemats featuring the hand-carved linocut block print designed and printed by Elizabeth Holloran, 1917-2009. The print features red images in three horizntal rows with white background. First row: Maple Trees with taps. Second Row: Workers harvesting the sap with buckets and shoulder wooden yoke with two buckets attached. Third Row: Worker pouring sap into large wooden barrel, large Maple Tree, and Sugar Shack with firewood outside and plume of smoke. From the CapeAnnMuseum.org website: "FOLLY COVE DESIGNERS The Folly Cove Designers were a group of 45 designer-craftsmen who worked together between 1938 and 1969 under the leadership of children's book author and illustrator Virginia Lee Burton Demetrios. They produced carefully wrought designs cut into linoleum blocks and printed (primarily) on fabric. Their common interest was in producing solid designs and in good craftsmanship. Elizabeth Holloran 1917 - 2009 (Sarah) Elizabeth Holloran (1917–2009) was born in Gloucester to John A. and Cora (Ferguson) Johnson. She studied fashion design and illustration at the Vesper George School of Art in Boston and graduated in 1940. In 1942, she married Robert Holloran and they had two children, Elizabeth and Timothy. From 1942 through 1945, Holloran worked as the children’s librarian at the Sawyer Free Library in Gloucester. She joined the Folly Cove Designers after seeing a block printed skirt in a Cape Ann store window with an advertisement for Demetrios’ design classes. In 1974 she opened her own block printing shop in Rockport. After her death the Sarah Elizabeth Shop was kept in operation by Isabel Natti, niece of Folly Cove Designer Eino Natti. Following Isabel Natti’s death in 2011, Cape Ann resident Julia Garrison took over the Shop, printing her own designs on Eino Natti’s Acorn press—the same press that was used by the Designers in their barn in Folly Cove—keeping alive the spirit of the Folly Cove Designers and block printing." This artwork "SUGARBUSH" was originally designed by her in 1961, and after the group disbanded she opened her own shop in 1974 and kept printing until 2009. Thus because she kept printing, these placemats could have been produced anytime from 1961-2009, when she passed away. Her printed items are very rare, and difficult to find. Individual pieces are sold from $850 and up. Thus the true auction cost could be $3400.00 or more for a set of four. Because the original price is listed on the card and is very low, I believe and was told that these placemats are from the 1960s or 1970s, making them early pieces and rare in this condition. Condition: Almost perfect: one small red stain on fringe (top middle of second placemat: see last photo). Otherwise Inka cotton fabric is color is very bright white, and red is very bright. Some red pigment spots exist on each of the placemats, as was common with handblocked linoleum prints. The fringe is very straight and the items are unwashed and unused. There are fold lines which can be gently steamed out, but I am posting as found. I purchased at an estate sale 20 years ago, and the items were folded, wrapped in tissue paper, and stored in a box. I have never removed the safety pin, which is pierced through a punched out hole in the card, keeping all placemats together. Thus the items wil be shipped with original folds as found. Authenticity: The Folly Cove Designers card is still attached with a small silver safety pin in the top left corner, and is signed and titled by the artist in blue inkpen: "SUGARBUSH" Eliabeth Holloran. The card has the print number and original price in pencil also. Size: Each mat is approximately 13 by 19 inches. NOTE: These items will ship wrapped in new tissue paper, with silica gel desiccants, and supported with new cardboard back and front and stabilized. I will pay for the shipping to you in the USA, with Priority Mail and insurance. See below for inernational shipping guidelines, which is not included in the cost. NOTE: International shipping is available, however Import duties, taxes and charges are not included in the item price or shipping charges. These charges are the buyer’s responsibility. Please check with your country’s customs office to determine approximate charges. Please provide your phone number to add to the package customs forms. NOTE: No Return or Refund on this one of a kind specialty item. SENDING AS A GIFT? Request free gift wrap + card with your special messge. (white tissue, red/white string and contemporary card with your special message to recipient). Please include your message in the note to seller section or convo me right after purchasing. Thanks for Shopping Small @ TravelStitch and "Like" the TravelStitch Facebook Page to be notified of new listings.
