Outstanding Granny Donaldson "Cow Blanket"

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Outstanding Granny Donaldson "Cow Blanket"

About the Item

Kate Clayton (1864-1960), known as Granny Donaldson, lived and worked in Marble, North Carolina. She was working in the kitchen of the John C. Campbell Folk School when she was introduced to various international crafts by the Southern Highland Craft Guild – these included decorated blankets that were draped over cows in Italian parade festivals. In what one would consider a Craft Revival, revitalized handicrafts were created in the Appalachian Region in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Granny was inspired, and circa 1930 using her skill in the needle arts and created cow blankets of her own, which were draped over cows in the local parades of her own town, Marble. Her cow blankets generally consist of richly colored crocheted folk elements applied in a floating composition to a handwoven wool fabric, and the appliqué elements tended to be various farm animals, people and variations on the Tree of Life. This is one of the best known examples of Granny Donaldson's work. The palette is complimentary blues and oranges on a neutral tan and a wonderful variety of animals and birds are scattered throughout the woven field, which is grounded by a couple, the man carrying a suitcase, and a Tree of Life, composed of a more solid “five-fingered hand”-like tree, and an overlaying deep brown vining tree with sprouting leaves and sprigs of berries; this unusual double-layer is unlike any other of Granny’s known works. Her cow blankets are sought after by institutions and collectors of folk art, and examples are in the Asheville Art Museum. It is in excellent condition on a professional, contemporary stretcher and linen mount. Photos of Granny Donaldson and some of her cow blankets accompanies the work.

Dimensions:
Height: 39 in (99.06 cm)Width: 30 in (76.2 cm)Depth: 1.5 in (3.81 cm)
Style:
Folk Art (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Wool,Appliqué
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
1930-1939
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1935
Condition:
Seller Location:
Philadelphia, PA
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU85831760012