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Paper-cut silhouettes have always captivated me. The idea that an artist can create an image of a person or even a complete scene, simply by cutting paper is amazing. Plus, the simple elegance of a black silhouette pasted on white paper is dramatic and makes for great art.
That must be why the antique paper-cut silhouettes remain popular with collectors. Even new antique fans are drawn to these images that were first referred to as "shadows." Often referred to now by the Pennsylvania Dutch or German term of scherenschnitte, paper cutting is an art that requires sharp blades and a good eye.
Paper cutting has been around for centuries, though there has been a resurgence of the technique lately. Perhaps because of scrapbooking, paper cutting tools and kits have grown in popularity.
Paper art has been around a long time. Ancient Chinese and Japanese art include the technique and by the 1700s, many European cultures included the craft including Poland, Italy, Holland, Switzerland and Germany.
The German form is done with folded paper and cutout shapes but other styles and nationalities use single sheets of paper and a shadow-like profile image. Most are cut and paste of the shadow image but there is also a version known as hollow-cut, which means the artist cuts the image out and leaves a negative picture of the design, which is then pasted to the background.
Old documents sometimes feature paper cut edges to dress them up and Valentines are often enhanced by this lacy edged detail. Even children learned to paper cut and create some of the treasures today found in antiques shops and auctions. Knives, razors and scissors are tools welded like a paintbrush by creative paper artists.
Profiles were often the cutwork of itinerant craftsmen who traveled from town to town, cutting likenesses of persons, places and things as a way to earn a living. These simple images were very valuable and proudly displayed in the pre-photograph era.
During the Federal period, Germans and Swiss who settled in Pennsylvania became famous for their paper cutting folk art, and they are still at it today. Some cut out profiles, others snip full-body images. The paper color varied too, though black and grays were the common choice. Sepia and browns were also used.
Many Early American silhouettes show images of statesmen or important people, like George and Martha Washington.
Another kind of silhouette often found at antiques shops is the reverse painted style. This is not a paper cut image but instead a painting, usually done in black paint on glass. Often the glass is concave and sometimes the mat (background) includes color and a background scene.
Most of these painted silhouettes date to the 1930s, so they are not as old or valuable as true antique silhouettes that date to the 17th and 18th centuries. These might sell for hundreds of dollars in fine antiques shops or sales.
Dating silhouettes requires a firm knowledge of technique, framing and design. Artist names too are important, since many of the really old ones are signed. Silhouettists from the 17th and 18th centuries are often well-known and researched, which adds to the provenance and the investment quality of these fine antiques. Some of the biggest names include Doyle, Edouart, Metford and Peale.
For a wonderful resource on antique silhouette art, visit the website of dealers Peggy McClard and Randy Segotta, enthusiasts of folk art and Americana (mcclardsegotta.com).