Artist unidentified, ca. 1880; Michigan
Artist unidentified, ca. 1880; New York
Today I happened upon a precious find at the American Folk Art Museum, a fantastic if under-appreciated museum that shares an exterior wall with the behemoth Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in Midtown Manhattan.
I am quite unfamiliar with the traditions and materials attached to wedding anniversaries. I’ve been married for 1 yr, 4 mths, and 13 days, but I would hate to pare it down to the quantitative. Nope, I’d rather talk qualitative.
In my home, I thought anniversaries were celebrated thusly: husband inscribes book to forward-thinking wife on the merits of equal adulthood (feminism); wife diligently selects longevity products to ensure husband doesn’t keel over at young age. The whole paper, cotton, leather and so forth celebrations are new to me.
These images are from the American Folk Art Museum’s permanent collection. Instantly, I was enamored with these tin treasures of love, once shared by a couple honoring a 10th wedding anniversary. Tin is a medium with great possibility, a material that can be wrought into ornate motifs or left bare to age freely with the elements. Doesn’t that represent the the ideal harmony of a marriage well made?
A dive into the history of these light-hearted pieces will help encourage further delight. Below is an excerpt on the tin anniversary tradition from the museum’s website.
The custom of giving anniversary gifts of increasing value through the years of marriage originated in medieval Germany but was interpreted in a whimsical manner in Victorian America. During the second half of the nineteenth century, the tenth—or tin—anniversary became an occasion of riotous celebration, and whimsical gifts made of tin were presented to the married couple. Often they were oversized replicas of everyday items or humorous pieces with personal meaning. In 1881, John H. Young wrote that the custom of “celebrating wedding anniversaries has of late been largely practiced.” Ten years later, Richard A. Wells, in Culture and Dress of the Best Society, suggested that “a general frolic is in order at the tin wedding. It is an occasion for getting together old friends after ten years of married life. . . . The invitations for this anniversary may be made upon cards covered with tin foil or upon the ordinary wedding note paper with a tin card enclosed. Those guests who desire to accompany their congratulations with appropriate presents have the whole list of articles manufactured by the tinner from which to select.”
Professional tinsmiths cut the pieces from sheet tin using templates, and the sections were soldered together. The seams were hooked over each other and hammered to create a tight seal. Surviving anniversary tin demonstrates not only the skill with which the items were fashioned but also the variety of forms available. The top hat, eyeglasses, slippers, bonnet, and bow tie are part of a group of more than twenty pieces discovered together in Gobles, Michigan, and were probably gifts from a single tenth-anniversary celebration.
What traditions of love do you craft or collect? Does material carry meaning?
22 Responses to “Tin Treasures to Love”
Dear Lydia, your posts just keep getting better! I love this one. For me – the 7th year (always auspicious) is my favorite — copper. I have made copper leaf cards for the occasion. I love the material, by far my favorite metal. I suppose it is the warmth.
Diana Strinati Baur´s last blog ..Stick To Your Ribs: Sausage and Lentils
The dreaded 7th year but with such beautiful material! My first encounter with the beauty and properties of copper was at my childhood home. I remember my parents installing cooper gutters, a striking look against brick I might add. As the years passed, the copper took on a patina that,though different, was just as striking as the copper in its fresh state.
Copper and cards – now that’s something I never thought about!
Lydia, Clueless Crafter´s last blog ..Auctions and My Art Story ~ An Approach to Collecting
These are just brilliant. I love how whimsical the top hat and glasses figure is!
Caroline, No.´s last blog ..Sunset over Walmart.
I would love to have a hatstand at my front door bedecked in different tin top hats, a cloche, a feathered ladies hat, and more. Wouldn’t that be a catching way to start the day?
Lydia, Clueless Crafter´s last blog ..Auctions and My Art Story ~ An Approach to Collecting
And, I didn’t include it in this post, but learned that anniversaries in Commonwealth countries are recognized by the government after a certain year via a written note…
Love, marriage, and the state – always a perfect union. Hmmm.
http://bit.ly/c4oleG
Lydia, Clueless Crafter´s last blog ..Auctions and My Art Story ~ An Approach to Collecting
We’ve been married for 13 years, Lidia, and never paid attention to the traditional gifts. We buy for each other what we think the other would like.
Angie Muresan´s last blog ..girls and dresses
You funny girl! You always leave me smiling. Have a beautiful day, Lydia.
Angie Muresan´s last blog ..girls and dresses
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I had been married two years before I discovered the traditional wedding anniversary gift list you mentioned above. Is our marriage doomed because of this? Perhaps. ;)
I love the tin anniversary gift images you’ve included in this post – whimsical.
~Camberley
Camberley, The Bella Life´s last blog ..Quote of the Day
Ha, if your marriage is doomed then my parents’ must really be. They’ve been married 41 years and not a traditional gift has been shared. I say you’re going to make it!
Lydia, Clueless Crafter´s last blog ..Auctions and My Art Story ~ An Approach to Collecting
I love this post. Wish i could go see this exhibit…
Nuit´s last blog ..Open Storage – I heart…….
Do you have a folk art or craft museum near you Nuit? I bet you could find something similar there or, perhaps, at a country auction. I can help you locate a place!
I totally know you don’t intend on purchasing anything, but I love to do research even if it leads to nowhere. I’m a bit “off” like that;-)
Lydia, Clueless Crafter´s last blog ..Auctions and My Art Story ~ An Approach to Collecting
You get a note from the Prime Minister of Canada on your 50th. My parents celebrated theirs last year.
Okay, I’m liking this. We’ve been together 12 years in April, which is silk or pearls, according to the traditional/modern anniversary gift guide… and 11 years for the not-wedding in September, which is stainless steel or fashion jewellery.
Normally one of us remembers about a week before, then the other one of us remembers a few days after. Then we go out for dinner.
We’re kind of casual at our house.
Those tin pieces are beautiful. You’re so fortunate to be in the midst of all those museums and galleries.
Stacey Cornelius´s last blog ..Who wants to be an artist?
I like your casual style to relationships. I think anniversary traditions are often taken out of context. Marriages are ideally a union built on love, but historically they were political and economic partnerships. They are whimsical and strategical.
All the ballyhoo about diamonds and pearls is the quickest way to make this alliance both useless economically and spiritually. I wonder how many people break up on Valentine’s Day?
I opt for tin, if one must pick a material.
Lydia, Clueless Crafter´s last blog ..Auctions and My Art Story ~ An Approach to Collecting
We’ve never done this tradition – coming up on 3 years in February. It’s a sweet idea, however I don’t think I can get Mr. D to play along.
We usually travel somewhere together for a long weekend – enjoy a nice dinner on our anniversary and of course, exchange valentine-y cards. His, are usually homemade by moi. Mine on the other hand are not.
ABCD
ABC Dragoo´s last blog ..kitchen inspiration {great source: decor*pad}
I made a Valentine’s Day card last year for Mr. C. It was a beautiful idea but the expression did not match. The tinsel glitter balled up, looking goopy and the paper curled from the glue.
I think I’m not doing that this year.
Lydia, Clueless Crafter´s last blog ..Auctions and My Art Story ~ An Approach to Collecting
I just realized I wasn’t getting your feed — luckily I was able to re-sign up!
My husband and I did the traditional gift of paper for our first year. But we eventually settled on something a bit different…we promised each other that we would always take time on our anniversary (or nearby, I have a work event that sometimes falls on our date) to go away just the two of us. Even when we have kids, we’ll take a long weekend away. I think it’s so important to put energy into nurturing your relationship. It’s too easy to get caught up in the day-to-day of living your life.
Brigitte´s last blog ..Sometimes We’re Just Waiting for a Cause
You’re right that time needs to be lovingly donated to ensure the well-being of a marriage. Time in itself is a gift; time spent handcrafting an elegant top hat from the humble material of tin can serve to remind a married couple of commitment, especially on those days when little time is available to express just that.
Lydia´s last blog ..Tin Treasures to Love
I got both of your two comment, so also the interesting Paris Salon link. Thanks a bunch!
Showing love is important. But I like it to stay small. Classical is good for me too. Pearls have their way right into my heart. Monsieur likes to be surprised on a regular day with a tasty pastry right out from the corner boulangerie.
Susu Paris Chic´s last blog ..Risky Business
We pay no attention the traditions. And instead tailor our gifts to each other’s passions!
Wholeheartedly recommend you nurture the other’s passion. If it’s not for tin, perhaps he would delight in tinfoil?;-) I could totally wrap my mind and wallet around that gift. A tinfoil crown for my hubby on our tenth, it will be. Ok, off to the studio. . .I only have 8.5 years to make it. Ohhhhhh the pressure.
Lydia´s last blog ..Tin Treasures to Love
After 5 years of eschewing the traditional themed wedding anniversary gifts, I now wish we had started this. It seems such a sweet task to think of the theme and come up with that perfect gift that fits in, although “tin” might be a hard one to work with. So did you do paper your first year?
Katie Stephenson´s last blog ..meet art wall artist: candy glendening of candied fabrics