High atop the Southern mountains lived the Appalachian settlers. They were people unconcerned with convention who lived removed from the throes of civilization for more than a century. From mighty blacksmiths to prized basket-makers, their crafts were well suited to a remote existence, giving them 'the tools to tame the wilderness.'<br><br>Hand thrown pottery preserved and transported food. Cornhusk dolls lent amusement to children's playtime. Chair making and woodcarving added beauty and functionality to the home, and the celebrated art of the coverlet was a legacy of tradition and hard work.<br><br>Though early Appalachian society was prosperous, the technology of the Industrial Revolution presented new challenges. Potters fell victim to highway robbers and was then replaced by glass and metal containers. These new materials infiltrated rural markets and served as better storage alternatives. In addition, the one-person art of the coverlet was forever changed when Francis Goodrich's Allanstand Cottage Industries sought to commercialize its production and circulate the coverlet to the general public. This increased exposure led to the development of faster production techniques and resulted in economic hardship for the hill country.<br><br>Museographs' Appalachian Handicrafts records the development of these American craftsmen and –women, from humble beginnings to modern success stories. Extensive biographies introduce you to major figures within the society, such as Daniel Boone and Alvin and Trevele Wood. This cleverly written document illustrates, with personal flair, how evolving Highland art has thrived in both its early and its current forms.<br>
Mary Frances Davidson and the Art of Vegetable Dyeing
A Brief Horticultural Guide to Color
Georgian Folk Pottery
The Meaders Pottery Clan
Mini Biographies. Bea Hensley
The Mace family
Edsel Martin
Edd Presnell
Alvin and Trevle Wood
Edsel Martin tells the Indian legend “Whence Came the Birds”
Special Thanks
Color Plates. Plate One. White Oak Egg or Shopping Basket
Plate Two. Andirons, Metal Chest and Assorted Tolls
Plate Three. Southern Highland Ladder-Back Chair
Plate Four. Traditional Coverlet Pattern Hanging
Plate Five. Mountain People
Plate Six. Handmade Dulcimer
Plate Seven. Southern Highland Carvings
Plate Eight. Three Brothers in Clay; Face Jugs
About the Author
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The first settlers to come to Appalachia came from the hills of Pennsylvania and from Virginia and North Carolina. These people, mostly of an English-Scottish-Irish origin, carried with them the strong handicraft cultures of their heritage. These skills were to become the basis of their lifestyle for well over a century without significant influence from beyond the mountains until the late 1890s. They came into the mountains with few possessions, only what was vital to make the trip as well as the occasional cherished article, heirloom or fine piece of furniture.
In the main they were far removed from trading routes and for the most part separated from the outside — although they were not entirely isolated since some of the mountain gaps were part of the westward migration route and as others came to Appalachia they brought with them knowledge of outside conditions. The people of Appalachia were isolated for reasons of economy as much as geography. For these reasons the mountain highland family produced virtually everything necessary for their family’s survival and comfort with their own hands. This independent way of life continued undisturbed until the end of the nineteenth century when some of the old crafts, like weaving, began a decline. This decline was in large measure due to greater availability of store-bought stuffs. It should be noted that for the most part the people of Appalachia continued to be independent well into the first quarter of the twentieth century.
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In the main they were far removed from trading routes and for the most part separated from the outside — although they were not entirely isolated since some of the mountain gaps were part of the westward migration route and as others came to Appalachia they brought with them knowledge of outside conditions. The people of Appalachia were isolated for reasons of economy as much as geography. For these reasons the mountain highland family produced virtually everything necessary for their family’s survival and comfort with their own hands. This independent way of life continued undisturbed until the end of the nineteenth century when some of the old crafts, like weaving, began a decline. This decline was in large measure due to greater availability of store-bought stuffs. It should be noted that for the most part the people of Appalachia continued to be independent well into the first quarter of the twentieth century.
However, in the late 1890s outside influences in the form of educated women missionaries and northern businesses began to make their way into the Highlands. As a result of the work of many women dedicated to a revival of traditional crafts as a means to economic prosperity, a number of fine institutions were established to promote and continue these skills. In the interest of space we will not deal with these institutions or their work, but rather will explore and describe the crafts themselves, some of the people who established them and some of those who continue the way of life even now.
