Currier & Ives Strawberries
Botanical Print Original Frame

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Currier Strawberries
Currier Strawberries
Currier Strawberries
Currier and Ives
Strawberries
Currier & Ives, 152 Nassau Street, New York: 187[9?]
Hand-colored lithograph, heightened with gum arabic
8 x 12.5 inches, image
10 x 14 inches, overall
12.25 x 16.25 inches, framed
Sold, please inquire as to the availability of similar items.

Botanical study of strawberries piled on a plate, cut flowers, and sprigs of strawberry vine with small white flowers, integrated into a voluptuous still life.   The reds and pinks of a large rose and the strawberries are effectively accented with the yellows, whites and deep blue of other flowers and the muted green foliage.  Currier & Ives produced numerous such still life pictures, celebrating the beauty and bounty of the garden.

The lithography firm of Currier & Ives was founded in 1834 by Nathaniel Currier and based in New York. They were extremely prolific and highly successful, producing almost 7,500 different separately issued art prints during the 19th century, and became known as the "Printmakers to the American People." Dozens of American artists in the Mid 19th Century painted primarily for lithographic reproduction by Currier & Ives and other firms. To please a broad audience, the firm presented a warmly positive vision of America, frequently sentimental, and sometimes with a touch of humor. Currier & Ives prints generally portrayed the American landscape, scenery and landmarks, including the westward expansion, as well as daily life in both urban and rural settings. Their sporting and maritime subjects were particularly popular. These prints are now highly collectible as records of American history and for their decorative appeal.