New York City: The Business of Folk Art - A New Exhibit at the American Folk Art Museum

I visited the American Folk Art Museum on the Upper West Side in Manhattan last weekend, in order to view the museum's new exhibit, Made in New York City: The Business of Folk Art. According to the curator of the exhibit, Elizabeth V. Warren, "Folk art has flourished in the heart of New York City since the eighteenth century, contrary to popular belief that it was a rural genre that reflected local tastes, traditions, and needs. In fact, many of the objects that have been associated with the heartland were manufactured and used in New York City by artists and artisans who, in the tradition of self-taught artists around the world, learned their skills by joining family businesses, apprenticing to masters, or teaching themselves the expertise needed to produce those pieces that we now consider among the core expressions of American folk art. Around 100 works of art by self-taught artists tell the story about New York City as the center of America's financial and commercial world from two perspectives simultaneously: "The Art of Business" portrays the people and places that were part of the city's thrumming commercial life, and "The Business of Art" highlights the diverse mediums and formats used by artists, artisans and manufacturers. The exhibition draws on collections of a number of New York City museums, including the American Folk Art Museum, the New-York Historical Society, and historical societies and museums in all five buroughs, as well as private collections."

While the exhibit displays a wide variety of folk art, I was immediately drawn to the the locally made stoneware, especially a punch bowl, which is considered by many to be one of the most outstanding pieces of American stoneware in existence today. The bowl is attributed to John Crolius Jr.'s (1755-1841) business in Manhattan; "This highly embellished punch bowl is both finer (thinner and more elegantly shaped) and more delicately decorated than most contemporary American stoneware. Its form, with a raised straight foot and rounded flaring wall, was probably copied from imported Chinese export porcelain examples. The inscription on the bowl, which reads "Elisabeth Crane May 22, 1811," indicates that it was a special commemorative gift to a member of the crane family of Cranetown (now Montclair), New Jersey. Long attributed to John Crolius Jr., it was recently suggested that the bowl may have been made by Caleb Crane, a potter in the Crolius workshop, as a gift for his wife, Elizabeth, or as a christening bowl for his daughter, who was also named Elizabeth."

But other types of Manhattan stoneware are also displayed, such as three great crocks made at the W.A. MacQuoid and Company Pottery Works, as well as an example of Thomas Commeraw's production, and an excellent inscribed cobalt decorated flask attributed Henry Remmey. Interestingly, a very similar flask is kept as part of Adam Weitsman's collection at the New York State Museum in Albany, New York, which also happens to be the object illustrated on the cover of the book, Art for the People: Decorated Stoneware from the Weitsman Collection.

Overall, though, no matter your interest, the exhibit, New York City: The Business of Folk Art should not be missed. The exhibit runs from March 15 through July 28, 2019, and is also accompanied by an excellent 136-page catalog, which is available for purchase through the museum's website and in the museum shop.

W.A. MacQuoid and Company Pottery Works

 19th Century Cobalt Decorated Crocks Made in New York City

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Photo Courtesy: American Folk Art Museum

 Two-Gallon Crock with Cobalt Eagle

W.A. MacQuoid and Company Pottery Works

Inscribed "Sold $1.44 1/2"

Circa 1869

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Photo Courtesy: American Folk Art Museum

 Three-Gallon Crock with Cobalt Eagle

W.A. MacQuoid and Company Pottery Works

Inscribed "Sundays Law & Liberty"

Circa 1869

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Photo Courtesy: American Folk Art Museum

 Three-Gallon Crock with Cobalt Cat and Mouse

W.A. MacQuoid and Company Pottery Works

Circa 1863-1879

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Information on Display

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Photo Courtesy: American Folk Art Museum

Remmey and Commeraw Stoneware

 19th Century Cobalt and Inscribed Decorated Stoneware Flask

Attributed to Henry Remmey in Manhattan
Inscribed "Henry Edoson / February 14, 1804"
The Other Side is Inscribed "H.E."

A Similar Flask is also Owned by the New York State Museum

The State Museum's Flask is Also Pictured on the Cover of the the Book, Art for the People: Decorated Stoneware from the Weitsman Collection

Circa 1804

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Photo Courtesy: American Folk Art Museum

 19th Century Cobalt and Inscribed Decorated Stoneware Jar

Made by Thomas Commeraw in Manhattan
Inscribed "Corlears Hook"

Circa 1793-1812

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Photo Courtesy: American Folk Art Museum

Information on Display

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Photo Courtesy: American Folk Art Museum

An Iconic Manhattan Punch Bowl

 19th Century Inscribed and Cobalt Decorated Punch Bowl

Attributed to John Crolius Jr.'s (1755-1841) Business in Manhattan

Possibly Made by Caleb Crane, a Potter Employed at the Crolius Pottery

Inscribed "Elisabeth Crane May 22, 1811"

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Photo Courtesy: American Folk Art Museum

 Another View of the Punch Bowl

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Photo Courtesy: American Folk Art Museum

Interior of the Bowl

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View of the "Elisabeth Crane" Inscription

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 View of the "May 22 1811" Inscription

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Information on Display

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Photo Courtesy: American Folk Art Museum

Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...