Name/Title
Kitchen, Apron: Sourwood Mountain 420Description
A Country Prints production sample retained by the company as a print record.
An apron with a four four-color silkscreen print on off-white linen with red ties. Imagery consists of seven roosters of varying breeds, most sitting upon branches that run from the center of the apron to the outside edges of the pockets. The rooster bodies are superimposed with Wert’s interpretations of calico fabric prints.
The name of the apron likely comes from the folk song Sourwood Mountain, with the opening lyric, “Chickens crowing on Sourwood Mountain”. Recorded by dozens of artists, this lively song was most notably covered by one of Bob Wert’s favorite folk singers, Burl Ives, in 1950, just a few years before this design was issued (click link to listen).
This apron is described in a c.1955 price list, “Our well known roosters on white with bright Red sash.”
A matching placemat set, tile and framed print by different names were also produced; see images. Partial original artwork for this apron survives.Made/Created
Artist Information
Artist
Robert Darr WertRole
ArtistManufacturer
Country PrintsDate made
circa 1954Time Period
20th CenturyPlace
Location
Gill MA.Continent
North AmericaInscription/Signature/Marks
“wert by hand” with “w” in heart, lower left corner.Dimensions
Dimension Description
ApronHeight
17 inWidth
34 inDimension Description
Apron TiesHeight
1-3/4 inWidth
67 inMaterial
Textile Ink, Bleached Linen, Bleached/Dyed LinenColor
Red, Teal, Black, Yellow Ochre
