Decorative Arts of Amish

by Kathryn McCauley

From the front flap of this 160 page "Amish decorative arts embody Amish culture. Quilts, samplers, rugs, dolls and doll quilts, clothing, graphic arts, furniture, and other household objects all show the values of the community that produced them. [This book] examines the work of Amish artisans of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, during a particularly distinctive period, 1860-1940. Among Lancaster County's earliest settlers, the Amish came to colonial Pennsylvania from Germany, the Alsace and Switzerland in the early 1700s. Communities later developed in the Midwest and Canada. Although members of the group had been creating decorative art since the group's founding in Europe in 1693, it was not until the middle of the 19th century that they started to show an identifiable style of their own. The next ninety years brought a flourishing of Amish decorative culture. Unique patterns and uses of color appeared, and what is now recognized as an Amish look emerged in samplers, door towels, quilts, fraktur and other forms of decorative art."

Genres: Crafts, Art

160 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1988

Reviews

[Fae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I managed to find this gem for a mere $1.25 at Dollartree and immediately snatched it up!
I’m an artist researching Anabaptist (Amish, Mennonite, Hutterite) folk art for a project and this book is a gold mine. Lovely, full colour photos of quilts, illustrations, furniture, etc. as well as thoughtful descriptions. Especially loved the inclusion of the history of this Christian denomination for context.
Thank you to the McCauley’s for all the care that went into this.