17th-Century Embroidery Meets Hand-Carved Wooden Vessels by Aspen Golann

In the latter half of the 17th century, early American colonists were crafting their own furniture, drawing inspiration from English motifs and techniques. Boston's high-backed Windsor chairs, featuring spool-like legs, became a distinctive feature. Aspen Golann, a furniture-maker and artist, was captivated by this heritage and created contemporary versions, such as the "Meeting Bench" and "Union Settee," to honor this history.

Golann's fascination with early American furniture also led her to explore another ancient craft tradition: embroidery. During her residency at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Vacheron Constantin, she made wooden vessels inspired by 18th-century needlework. These pieces, like the "Pouring Vessel" and "Strap-Carved Vessel," are striking for their decorative appeal and intricate designs.

Golann emphasized that these embroidered objects, often commissioned for dowries, are underrepresented in art institutions. She sought to create a version of these objects that could not be hidden away. One of her most recent creations, "Crewel Cabinet," is a five-foot-four-inch-tall piece made from 37 colored staves, each carved with plants, animals, and intricate designs reminiscent of colonial-era crewel embroidery.

Golann aims to capture the sensitivity and creativity of young girls through her work, creating a larger canvas that reflects their imaginative and expressive nature. Her next project will be commissioned by the U.S. Treasury, where she plans to incorporate precious metals and a reflective surface to create an abstracted landscape inspired by early American embroidery.