19th Century Child's Handmade Paper Weaving

Did Josef Albers go to Kindergarten? Here are two circa 1900 (really) woven child's paper works which illustrate Albers "interaction of color" in remarkable prescient form. Once fairly common, but increasingly hard to find, these 19th century schoolgirl craft pieces are among the most underrated forms of early folk art. They often turn up as love tokens or valentines in the shape of hearts and under many different names (folded paper, woven paper, paper weaving, paper cuts and more)...but all are extraordinary miniature works of serious art despite being made for the most part by children. In fact, this technique, now seemingly forgotten except among enlightened educational organizations, was developed by Fredrich Froebel, not only the fellow who did invent kindergarten, but also became an unheralded artistic influence to many. If you are an adult and like art, you should collect the antique originals, they're precious. If you are a parent who would like to get your kid off the computer for a few minutes, find a source for "Froebel's Gifts". There are still high quality boxes of his "theories" being made and sold, mostly in wooden block form.

Pair of Kindergarten Paper Weavings, each 4.5" x 4.5" c. 1900 Collection Jim Linderman