The Historic Beauty of Colonial Arts and Crafts
The colonial times were one of the most fascinating and important in American history. Colonial arts and crafts serve as a creative reminder of this exciting time. Many antique and art enthusiasts enjoy collecting colonial arts and crafts, or at least reproductions of them. If you’re a parent, it’s likely your child has or will bring home some of their own artistic reproductions of creative work done during this historical time period. Whether you’re a serious antiques collector or just want a little something to accent your home, colonial style pieces are a perfect choice.
There are a variety of crafts from which you can choose. Silver smithing, needlepoint, wood carving and glass making are examples of commonly practiced artistic trades during colonial times. Colonial silversmiths created gorgeous vases, bowls, utensils and coins, while wood carvers and furniture makers crafted everything from tables to bed frames to childrens’ toys. Needlepoint and embroidery were feminine pursuits. The women of colonial times created wall hangings, clothing, quilts and more using their talents.
Glassmaking was an important trade in colonial Jamestown. To this day, you can travel to this historic location to see glassmakers recreating the work done by the original colonists. Today, glass is blown into amazingly creative and colorful pieces. Placing a few colorful glass pieces around your home can make quite an impact. In colonial times, glassmakers focused more on practical pieces like window panes, bottles and vials, vases and basic drinking glasses than on objects d’art. These days, glass is often fashioned into items that are not only functional but beautiful as well.
If you’re a parent looking for a creative activity for your child, teach them how to make a colonial craft. Fragrant pomanders are easy to make and were commonly presented as Christmas gifts during colonial times. An orange pomander, for example, is simply an orange with fragrant cloves inserted into the skin in a decorative way and hung on a braided cord. Silhouettes are also an easy-to-do craft that was popular during colonial times. Try checking out an arts and crafts book from the library or bookstore for more ideas. One good title is The Heritage Sampler: A Book of Colonial Arts and Crafts by Cheryl G. Hoople and Richard Cuffari.
