Fraktur is a beautiful art that grew out of the German and Mennonite culture of the east (Pennsylvania, New Jersey) and midwest (Ohio). It ranges from artistically intricate to charmingly primitive. It varies from region to region, town to town and artist to artist. Many fraktur artists did not sign their work but are known only through hallmark patterns or styles they incorporated into their designs. The earliest examples may date from the 1700s, and their golden age was the early to mid 1800s. Who produced these intriguing forms, and what were their uses?
These beautiful forms were often calligraphic in nature, and incorporated animal, plant, and religious figures into the work. They were largely produced by individuals who specialized in handwriting (like a schoolteacher) or other artist-types. In later years, printers would produce templates of standard forms which the fraktur artist would color. For the culture that produced them, they were not decorative, but were used to honor important events (births, marriages, deaths) and objects (the home, the family bible). At the onset of World War I, a surge of anti-Germanic feeling pervaded the country, and many examples of fraktur were destroyed. There has been a nice resurgance in the last 50 years or so, among local collectors as well as lofty ones (Winterthur has some fantastic examples). Pieces have gotten pricey. Expect to pay a few hundred dollars or more. They're most frequently found at Americana auctions, and antique stores and shows that specialize in primatives. Of course, eBay is always a good hunting ground. (the example shown is by Johan Adam Eyerfrom Bucks County Fraktur, via http://www.frakturweb.org ).
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