This egg basket is made of round reeds woven in a plain weave. A God’s Eye design made of wood splint connects the handle to the basket. Artist Ira Blount inscribed his initials and the number “87” (probably the date) inside the handle. This basket showcases his ability to make highly uniform, precise, and intricate designs.
A woven God’s Eye design attaches the handle to the body of this small egg basket. Artist Ira Blount wove the natural-colored wood splints and round reeds in a plain weave. The weave and color maintain a uniform rhythm while manipulating space in interesting ways. The handle is covered with a plain weave.
While origami is generally exhibited in a three-dimensional form, local artist Ira Blount presents eight flat origami cranes on a simple white background. Neatly arranged rows—three on the top, two in the middle, and three more on the bottom—complement the uniformity of the cranes and their crisp folds. The artist achieves variety in his use of different brightly colored origami paper. In arrangin
Stitches swirl into flowers on this embroidered clutch made of light yellow silk. On the purse’s front flap, which closes with a metal snap, two blue blooms bookend a beige one traced in blue. Similarly, one of each color sits next to the hand grab in the back. A mixture of green and brown leaves surrounds the flowers on the front and back. The bag’s back features a zippered compartment, and its i
In the mid-twentieth century, smaller, single-family homes and new appliances eased the burden of housework, offering some women more time for creative endeavors. Middle-class women of all races took great pride in decorating their homes with their own handiwork. This cotton pillowcase features an embroidered floral pattern along its scalloped edge. Bold blue blossoms and petite pink petals, both
This metal bookmark belonged to journalist Ethel L. Payne (1911-1991), who grew up in a family that loved to read. Engraved on the golden marker’s center tab are Payne’s initials, encircled by elegant scrolling. The bookmark’s Art Deco style emerged in Payne’s youth. A Chicago native, she aspired to write novels and took creative writing classes before becoming a reporter. In 1952, Payne moved to
A profusion of flowers adorns this wide-brimmed hat worn by journalist Ethel L. Payne (1911-1991). A photo from the early 1960s shows Payne, whose love of hats bloomed in early adulthood, wearing this pistachio hat with panache. Accented with a matching bow and tulle, the custom hat bears a bouquet bursting with pink roses, velvety violets, green leaves, and glass grapes, all stitched to the hat b
Artist Ira Blount created this small, flat-bottomed basket using reeds, wood splints, and double plied twisted seagrass cord. The round reeds are numerous and closely spaced, and they appear in three different colors: brown, greenish brown, and reddish brown. The rim of the basket, which lacks a handle, is embellished with seagrass cord and a coated brown splint. The overall uniformity of the reed
This cross-stitch by Ira Blount (1918-2020) contains colorful flowers, including roses, sunflowers, thistles, daffodils, and pansies. A green square frames each of the twelve blossoms, arranged in a grid of three rows and four columns. The muted color palette and off-white background create an old-fashioned aesthetic, recalling an earlier time when needlework was both practical and decorative.