Affairs of the Heart
Did your homemade valentine days resemble a misguided tete-a-tete between a paper doily and a jar of paste? Does your idea of making something special involve a call to your favorite restaurant for reservations? On this most sweet and personal holiday (apologies to Sweetest Day diehards), check out how lovers in the not-so-distant past used nothing more than a piece of paper, something sharp and a little ink to memorialized their affection.
You know them as Mennonite or Amish, but their heritage is based in Switzerland and Germany; and, among the customs they brought from the old country is the lovely and delicate practice of Scherenschnitte, German for “scissor cuts”. Most often used to create valentines, love letters and records of important family events, 18th and 19th Century Scherenschnitte (don’t ask your 5th grader to pronounce it) are highly collectible for their sweet sentiment and elaborate design.
This Valentine’s Day, broaden your sweetheart’s horizons and give the paste a break. Instead, consider a handmade sentiment from another era that will truly be cherished for a lifetime (or few).
Photo 1:
A Scherenschnitte dated 1830 and made for Barbara Flink is composed entirely in German and includes delicate folded cutwork, pinpricked and watercolor detail. Found in a 19th Century book about 8 years ago, it is believed to have origins in Ohio. Private collection, Est.: $3,000 - $4,000.
Seymour Lindsay (1848-1927) made a name painting houses and barns (particularly in Richland County), but when he settled into his home in Lexington, Ohio, he had honed his skills as a paper-cutter - even taking them on the road to the World’s Fair. This delicate woodland scene with birds, a squirrel, and a rooster was mounted on blue paper to highlight the intricate work. It sold at Garth’s for $825.
This paper cutout by itinerant artist John Brown Walker (1815-1908) reflects the strong Pennsylvania Dutch influence of the early 19th Century. The remembrance may have been cut during one of Brown’s extended stays in Geauga County; sold at Garth’s for $785.
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