Featured Artisans
JIM KING REPRODUCES OLD WORLD ART FORM
By Gladys Blews Wilson
Sep 10, 2007, 13:42

Jim King, 54, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, invests a wealth of historic research into his ‘grain painted’ wooden boxes, chests, picture frames and mirrors. He studied early Pennsylvania German art in college and developed a keen appreciation for his ancestors who were both frugal and creative.

“Then as now, hard woods were expensive while pine and popular were inexpensive because the trees grew faster and were more plentiful,” Jim says.

Of German background, Jim saw these art forms as a way to preserve history. He could imagine previous generations of German Mennonites building document boxes to keep their important papers safe. They enjoyed adorning the wood with false grains of various designs that distinguished their containers from any others.

“I do patterns called fancy painting based on 18th century designs. The base color I use may be a bright yellow, burnt sienna or salmon. I may do the texturing with feathers, corncobs or special combs. Using dark colors like brown or purple grape for the background gives the piece a more somber look.”

Blanket boxes are the largest pieces he’ll bring to Old Fashioned Christmas in the Woods. These beautiful antique replicas are priced at $200. Spice chests and small jewelry boxes start at $40 and he makes several styles of picture frames and mirrors in a range between $40 and $85.

“I have the furniture and basic chests made by a cabinetmaker. You find that you can’t do everything and in a community like Lancaster, many people find a niche doing one or more things better than the average.”

Jim turned his garage into a workshop and once he had the basic training, he began to experiment with a variety of techniques. In addition to new scratch-built replicas, he works on antiques that are plentiful in Lancaster.

“If I’m working with an antique, I don’t disturb the original finish. I can clean and enhance it. Often I can buy antiques that have been ‘skinned.’ That’s a term they use for an antique with all the old finish stripped. Then I choose one of the popular base coat colors.”

When he designs a reproduction of an antique mirror or picture frame, he may ‘corner’ the frame with squares of base coated wood without the grain painting that enhances the sides of the frame.

“We embellish the simple lifestyle and create an artistic statement in keeping with our faith.”

Jim loves to teach and offers classes in grain painting through The Mennonite Heritage Center in Lancaster.

He explains that the center tells the story of Mennonite faith and life in southeastern Pennsylvania. The architectural lines of the building model the simplicity of traditional Pennsylvania Mennonite meetinghouses that point toward the spiritual center of Mennonite life. The concept was that ‘church’ was congregation not the building in which they met.”

In keeping with his ancestral faith, Jim sometimes adds a plaque to a mirror or box with a statement such as “Bless Our House.” He uses Fraktur, an old style Germanic form of lettering. Such expressions of faith are a reminder of individual dependence on a loving God.

There is a kinship between the Old Order Mennonite style and the Shaker style. Both are expressions of an inner beauty and serenity. When you buy Jim’s pieces you have the opportunity to bring a bit of this deeply rooted culture into your home.

You may preview samples of Jim’s work at www.reubenyoder.com


© Copyright ShakerWoods.com