American Applique Picture of a Basket of Strawberries

Details

Description

Berry Bounty: Feltwork Strawberry Shadowbox

Object: Feltwork Picture in Shadowbox Frame
Origin: English or American
Date: Circa 1840
Medium: Felt, … Read more Berry Bounty: Feltwork Strawberry Shadowbox

Object: Feltwork Picture in Shadowbox Frame
Origin: English or American
Date: Circa 1840
Medium: Felt, Wool, and Straw Appliqué on Fabric Ground, under Glass in Gilt Frame

Dimensions: 11 3/4 inches wide x 9 3/4 inches high x 2 1/2 inches deep (29.85 cm x 24.77 cm x 6.35 cm).

A Taste of Domestic Artistry

This charming oval picture is a rare and well-preserved example of domestic folk art from the early Victorian period. The work depicts a lush, three-dimensional arrangement of strawberries nestled in an openwork straw basket, carefully set within a shadowbox frame. The picture retains its rich, original coloring, utilizing felt and wool appliqué to create a soft, velvety texture that contrasts beautifully with the carved gilt frame.

The overall presentation transforms the simple subject into a valuable keepsake, capturing a moment of domestic abundance. The oval shape and presentation under glass mimic popular fine art portraits and miniature landscapes of the era, elevating the modest materials to a display piece for the parlor or drawing-room.

Historical Context: Sentiment and the Shadowbox

Dating to around 1840, this piece belongs to a tradition of decorative needlework and appliqué that flourished across both Britain and America. While often created by women as a pastime, these works represent significant artistic expression. The strawberries themselves are symbols of purity and affection, making the picture a sentimental gift or treasured wedding item.

The shadowbox format was highly fashionable during the Victorian era, as it provided a way to protect delicate, three-dimensional textile and wax compositions while emphasizing their preciousness. These fiber compositions, created from cut felt and applied wool, were a distinctly folky alternative to traditional watercolor or oil still life paintings, offering a textural, intimate interpretation of the popular theme of nature's bounty.
References

Bishop, Robert: Folk Art: The Essential Guide to the Most Exciting American Art Form (For general context on 19th-century American domestic needlework and folk painting).

Ring, Betty: Needlework: An Illustrated History (Context for English and American textile art forms of the period).

Similar examples of sentimental appliqué and woolwork pictures are often found in major folk art collections and textile departments of museums like the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) and the Museum of American Folk Art (now the American Folk Art Museum, AFAM).

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