Becks & Buttons

4/9/18 – Yet another week of agonizing over my pick of the week. Do I dare limit myself to just pick one thing? No, I don’t think I can. Looks like it will two picks of the week again! My first choice for this week from the collection of Ruth Bryson is lot #147. I love the whimsical artistry and painted details of fraktur. This fraktur appeals to me because of its strict uniformity of the mirror image, as well as the great use of simple color. I am drawn to the checkerboard blocks used to balance the image. I love the striped orb in the top center flanked by very precise flowers. I especially like that it is from “New Ephrata”, the place I currently call home. There are lots of things to like about this one and I hope that buyers will think so too. The second item this week could be any one of the traditional power pieces, the painted boxes, quilts, fraktur or even baskets. I wanted to bring attention to a piece that was created with not only pride and love of one’s work, but also a piece which took great skill acquired by years of honing one’s trade. Lot #89 is just that item. This is one of the best wrought iron button hole cutters that I have ever handled. From the fluid lines of the crescent handle to the shaped shaft to the curved cutting blade. Can you image the delicate hand it took to inlay the brass circles and accent them with small punches? A true labor of love.

by: Jamie Shearer