The gourds are a collection that belonged to Mr. Marvin Johnson. Mr. Johnson grew and collected gourds for many years. He was a very kind and generous man. The original museum was on his property on highway 55 across from the airport. When he passed away and the property was sold for development, the collection was moved to the Angier Library building.
Please make time to visit the museum. You will enjoy it and will be paying tribute to the legacy of a fine man at the same time. Following are just a few photographs of the collection. Please excuse the quality since most of the gourds are kept in glass cases.
Mr. Marvin Johnson in his later years.
Decorated gourds. You can see my reflection in the glass holding my cell phone camera.
Gourd mask.
Highly decorated gourds.
Musical instruments.
Animal gourds.
Snake gourds.
As one of hundreds of American gourd artists i know in the Marvin Johnson's gourds exists one small incised one with initials from 1800's.That puts it in early American CRAFT category for GOURDS. Could any such MJ gourds be also posted for posterity? It is so valuable indeed.EarlyAmerican Life magazine in 2009 gave Gourd craft Traditional craft recognition.
ReplyDeleteI am very interested in GOURDS there from early SE/USA "SETTLER DAYS "era or 1800's. As seeing some in early issues of THE GOURD (AGS) I saw one "Initialed one with FATHER & Son initials .And AGS/NC one dated 1804 a bottle GOURD done in GOLD with black background saying:GRANDMOTHER 1804! This thusly proves that GOURD CRAFT was a TRADITIONAL USA CRAFT! as was the one gotten in TEXAS= the Initialed gun shot pellet GOURD by Marvin dating also in 1800's! The style and advanced GOLD technique resembles Gold Glass lettering so well done in years past.
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