The
The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and
Printed Ephemera
Henry Francis du Pont
5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur,
Delaware 19735
Telephone: 302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883
OVERVIEW OF
THE COLLECTION
Creator: Baker, Ann C., 1942-2006
Title: Ann Baker archive of painted tinware designs
Dates: circa 1975-circa 2005
Call No.: Col. 943
Acc. No.: 15x73
Quantity: 7 boxes
Location: 44 A-C 5, B-C 6
BIOGRAPHICAL
STATEMENT
Ann Christine Crafford Baker (1942-2006) was
nationally recognized for her re-creations of early American painted tinware,
also called toleware. She and her
architect husband L.A. (Lloyd Alan) Baker (1932-2008) lived in Westerly, Rhode
Island. She was a member of the
Historical Society of Early American Decoration (HSEAD), and was designated by
that group as a Specialist in Country Painting.
She began painting in 1974, and her work was so highly regarded that she
was able to sell her reproductions. She
was one of several artists featured in an article in the December 2006 issue of
Early American Life, although she had
died in September of that year.
SCOPE AND
CONTENT
A large collection of the painted tinware designs,
mostly floral patterns, created by Ann C. Baker. She reproduced early American designs, and
her patterns sometimes indicate the location of the piece being copied. She created designs for trays, tin trunks,
tea canisters, coffee pots, match holders, sconces, and other forms. Most of the designs, however, are not labeled
as to their intended piece. The groups
of designs include a pencil drawing of the final design, plus a painted version
of the pattern. Some stencils also form
part of the collection. These may have
been for theorem work as a few examples of that craft are included. Class materials for Roberta Edrington’s
seminar in freehand bronze work and Victorian flower painting are also found.
Names are associated with some of the drawings. It is not always clear who these other people
are. Sometimes it is the name of the
owner of the original piece, but one design was marked “bought from Astrid,”
and it is not clear if the design was bought from Astrid, or the piece from
which the design was copied was bought from Astrid.
ORGANIZATION
Boxed by size.
LANGUAGE OF
MATERIALS
The materials are mainly visual, but written
materials are in English.
RESTRICTIONS
ON ACCESS
Collection is open to the public. Copyright restrictions may apply.
PROVENANCE
Purchased from Oak Knoll Books.
ACCESS POINTS
Topics:
Decoration and ornament,
Early American.
Decorative arts, Early American.
Stencils and stencil cutting.
Tole painting - Rhode Island - 20th century.
Stencils
(images).
DETAILED
DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION
Location: 44 A-C 5, B-C 6
Box 1:
Folder 1: Biographical
material
Folder 2: Photographs
Folder 3: Roberta
Edrington: freehand bronze and Victorian flower painting seminar, 2000
Folder 4: Correspondence,
most including photos
Folder 5: Assorted
notes
Folder 6: Assorted
designs, with photos
Folder 7: Theorems
from Beatrix Potter figures and Paddington Bear
Folder 8: Small
stencels
Box 2: painted
tinware designs ,etc.
Folder 1: Tea
and coffee pot designs
Folder 2: Tea
caddies and canisters designs
[one
oversize canister design is in box 3]
Folder 3: Fan
designs
Folder 4: Book
design; Mug design
Folder 5: Sconces
designs
Folder 6: Match
holders designs
Folder 7: Various
designs
Folder 8: Miscellaneous
designs
Folder 9: Photocopies
of designs
Folder 10: Unused
materials, such as cardstock and linen paper
Box 3: Trays,
Chairs, and assorted painted tinware designs
Box 4: Tin
trunks, Boxes and box lids, Borders, and Board designs
Box 5:
Stencils and Assorted painted tinware designs
Flower basket AB1 stencils, sheets 1-6;
Basket
of flowers, no. 30 design and stencils, sheets 1-6;
Clown:
stencils and painting on fabric;
Bowl
of fruit: design and stencils;
Basket
of flowers, no. 28: Althea Potter theorem: stencils, sheets 1-5;
Assorted
other stencils;
Painted
tinware designs;
Prints which have nothing to do with
tinware designs, stencils, or theorems, including maps of Fort Fisher, North
Carolina, and folk art prints
Box 6:
Stencils and assorted painted tinware designs
Newspaper from 1920s, with story about Hope
Diamond;
Stencil
no. 67, from old chintz, sheets 1-3;
Tipped
bowl stencils, sheets 1-5;
Stencils,
no. 140, sheets 1-5;
mostly
painted tinware designs
Box 7:
Assorted painted tinware designs and stencils
Stencil sheets, no. 1-5;
mostly
painted tinware designs