Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Richard Diebenkorn

Scissors, 1959
Richard Diebenkorn (1922-1993) is an artist who has featured scissors frequently in his still life paintings.  The subject lends itself well to his expressionist style. His works include scissors alone or juxtaposed with other items like Scissors and Lemon and Untitled. Scissors also appear in his other work including etchings.

Perhaps better known for city- and landscapes or abstracts, Diebenkorn's still life work featuring everyday objects from his home serve as an undeniable example of how exquisite beauty and expressiveness lives in the most mundane of objects.

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Wrought Iron Scissors from india

There is a special charm to hand-made wrought iron scissors. Many of them are very old but scissors are still being hand made by skilled craftspeople around the world. This pair are vintage but probably not antique and originate from India.

Hand-made scissors exhibit a wide variety of shapes.  I think they work even better as art/design objects than antique manufactured scissors.

This pair has a very stylish handle design and a very well made pivot. They are still in good working order.  A basement-range price would be about $10, but upwards of that as a décor item.

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Scissors in Art: The Portrait of Allethenia Fisk Farrar (1835)

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Allethania Fisk Farrar (1834-1835) was the subject of a portrait by Asahel Power, an accomplished folk artist (as was Eliza Ann Farrar). As an admirable wife she is portrayed with the tool of sewing and needlework.

Prominently shown are a pair of scissors attached by a chain to the lady's belt in the style of a chatelaine.