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Theorem painting of fruit basket with bird and butterfly — In a birdseye Maple frame

$95.00

Theorem, folk art painting popular in the early 1800s, showing fruit in a basket with bird and butterfly. On fabric.

Framed in a birds-eye maple frame. As shown in the picture, in the upper left hand corner there is some swelling in the frame. It's noticeable if you're very close to, but it's doesn't stand out at the typical viewing distance.

Size framed: 20" x 24".

— Lee Wright | Founder

Shipping: $50. Please allow two weeks for shipping.

Historical background

Theorem paintings, which became popular in the early 19th century, began with the cutting of stencils into various shapes. Usually fruit and leaves were used, however rare examples have been discovered using bird shapes. A good example of what stenciled designs look like are antique Hitchcock chairs.

The first step was deciding what the main subject, such as a bowl of fruit, would be and the background material, usually velvet. The stencils were placed in various positions and filled in, with oil paints. 19th century theorem painters traced a design on transparent paper, cutting out the pattern and creating a stencil.

Stencil paintings old and new come to auction and prices can sometimes be competitive.

Antique theorems can turn up anywhere from barns to garage sales. In the 19th century theorem painting on velvet became a popular pastime for women around the country. It was a painstaking process as each stencil was placed on the velvet and held firmly in place with tacks or weights as each was painted with oil paints. The more skilled artists were able to create shading. . . .

Theorems were also done on paper, cotton and silk. Some were made into pincushions and purses and given as gifts.

Often itinerant artists traveled town to town decorating floors, walls and wall screens with stenciled designs. Theorem painting went out of fashion by the 1840s. . . . Theorems can sometimes be dated by the style of the glass container or basket holding the fruit and flowers. For example, pressed glass compotes, often used in theorems weren’t made before the 1830s.

 

Source: Mountain States Collector

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Your purchases support our mission to engage people with local history and to support historic sites and history organizations across the country.

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