Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers

Affordable Americana: Creating a Collection

There is a growing awareness and appreciation in this country for things that are handmade and have historic value. If you're thinking about purchasing one item for your home this year, American folk art is affordable and appreciating in value.

Beginning A Collection
A room needn't be cluttered with objects to be an esthetically pleasing or comfortable. It's smart to collect one good piece at a time rather than amassing lots of possessions. If you have young children furnish with the fewest necessities. Life will be infinitely easier. Rooms that are left quite bare can be attractive if each piece is carefully chosen. This is practical, but enables you to select and add one piece at a time as is affordable.

What To Buy
Advice from a dealer to a new collector, "Buy something that speaks to you. If it makes you happy to look at it don't think about its future commercial value. It will always be valuable to you."

Quilts
They have taken an important place in decorating with folk art and are the best buy around. Aside from use as bed coverings, a quilt is an inexpensive way to have art on the walls. You can always find an affordable antique quilt in your color scheme and a design to go with your style. While most quilt patterns are country style, bold, two color, geometric patterns are surprisingly contemporary.

Hooked Rugs
Finally old enough to be considered valuable, American hooked rugs with floral and geometric patterns, primitive animal motifs, and charming sayings have become as popular as quilts. It's always easy to find a place for these charming accessories.

Painted Furniture
Furniture pieces from the l8th and early l9th centuries are interesting and add personality to any room. They reside happily side by side with quilts and other collectibles.

Decoys
Colorful, wooden, duck and fish decoys are easy to find. They are both decorative and often usable. Group them on a table rather than spread about. This will create more impact.

Memory Art
Memory art, which is bits of broken glass and chinaware embedded into such objects as umbrella stands, and boxes, are fun to collect and display.

Moveable Art
Weather vanes and whirligigs have always been a symbol of American folk art. There is an endless variety of styles, some more interesting and valuable than others. Don't be put off by the crudeness of craftsmanship. This is what makes them so charming. Place one by a window to catch the breezes. Mechanical toys also add playfulness to any area.

Bits Of Romance
Vintage lace will always add a touch of elegance on a table or bed. It's the simplest way to make a room fresh and airy for summer.

Hobo No More
"Tramp art", which looks like pieces of whittled wood used to make boxes of varied sizes and shapes is an unusual art form. Its humble beginnings are evident in the finished results and highly regarded by many collectors.

Outside Art
Canes and walking sticks with carved handles are cropping up here and there and the marvelously playful carved walking sticks from Kentucky artists will be valuable collectables in the near future. These artists, called "outsiders" because they are not of the main stream, are being discovered by gallery owners all over the country. For now, this primitive artwork is still affordable.

Baskets
Baskets are appreciated as a mainstay for quick home decorating. However the most interesting are old and darkened Nantucket lightship baskets with ivory turnings and American Indian baskets. Indian artifacts of all sorts are prized collectables.

Copyright Leslie Linsley, author
Reprinted with permission, HouseNet, Inc.

Back to Home Improvement Preview Lawn And Garden Home Decorating Preview Shopping Center