Name/Title
Wallhanging, Christmas, Scroll: Twelve Days of Christmas 214Description
A “Scroll Hanging” with a five-screen/six-color silkscreen print featuring an abbreviated, illustrated version of the traditional Christmas carol, The Twelve Days of Christmas. The five-screen/six-color silkscreen print on off-white linen depicts the twelve major figures in the carol, as well as text naming each figure.
At top center, pine boughs form an implied gable roofline, sheltering the characters below. Blown glass ornaments hang to the left and right, the left ornament forming the “O” of the word “ON”.
The order of characters nine through twelve is consistent with contemporary versions of the song published and recorded during Wert’s lifetime (Swortzel, 1966; see web link), even in the use of “collie birds” rather than the standard “calling birds”. Of note, Wert’s Twelve Days No.386 cocktail napkins are consistent with a version published just prior to Wert’s birth (Austin, 1909; see web link): nine ladies dancing, ten lords a-leaping, eleven pipers piping, twelve drummers drumming and four calling birds.
This scroll hanging is listed in the Spring 1958 Country Prints price list. A “Gift Wrap Mailng Tube” was included with each hanging. On the Christmas 1960 Country Prints price list, it is listed with a “gay handprint envelope-mailer.”
A matching towel/wallhanging, apron and tile were also produced; see images. This wallhanging may predate the matching items by several years.
Linen edges are cut and fringed. Black wooden crossbar hanging cord are glued to front face of the linen.Made/Created
Artist Information
Artist
Robert Darr WertRole
ArtistManufacturer
Country PrintsDate made
circa 1957Time Period
20th CenturyPlace
Location
Gill MA.Continent
North AmericaInscription/Signature/Marks
“wert” and “by hand”, lower left and right corners respectively.Dimensions
Dimension Description
WallhangingHeight
27 inWidth
12-3/4 inDimension Description
Wood CrossbarHeight
3/4 inWidth
13 inDepth
1/4 inDimension Description
Flat woven hanging cordWidth
1/4 inLength
15 inMaterial
Bleached Linen, Wood, Textile Ink, Flat-Woven Cord, Glue, PaintColors
Color
Teal, Blue, Red-Orange, Yellow Ochre, Black, BrownColor Notes
Brown is produced by overprinting teal and red-orange.
