| Lancaster County may be known for the simple lives | | | | waves, words, or drawings to commemorate a special |
| of its inhabitants yet the area is rich in culture and | | | | occasion. |
| design. Indeed, the intricate patterns of a | | | | The Lacy Folk Art Design of Scherenschnitte |
| Scherenschnitte and the highly decorated Pennsylvania | | | | Scherenschnitte means "scissor cutting" in German |
| Dutch pottery are items many Lancaster visitors are | | | | and involves cutting paper into intricate lacy patterns. |
| eager to see. So, before you go, here are a few folk | | | | The patterns are often used to decorate birth or |
| art designs to look out for and where to find them. | | | | marriage certificates but many artists create this paper |
| Pennsylvania German Redware Pottery | | | | folk art simply for its beauty. Simply by cutting paper, |
| Redware pottery was common among the colonies in | | | | the Pennsylvania Dutch can create intricate scenes |
| the 18th century and is still created by Lancaster's | | | | and landscapes. |
| inhabitants today. As the name implies, the pottery is | | | | Hexes on Pennsylvania Dutch Barns |
| created from red clay. Pennsylvania Dutch folk art | | | | A visitor traveling around Lancaster County may see |
| uses local Lancaster County clay for two types of | | | | brightly colored signs decorating Lancaster County's |
| redware pottery. The first is basic functional pottery | | | | barns and homes. These designs are called hex signs |
| meant for daily use in the kitchen - this includes jugs, | | | | and often portray birds called distelfinks, stars, circles, |
| plates, bowls and the like. The second type shows off | | | | and rosettes. Although the history behind the hex signs |
| local folk art designs and is meant for decorative | | | | is murky, today many believe that hex signs can bring |
| purposes. Local artists will create decorative slipware | | | | good luck. Particular shapes and colors also have their |
| by glazing the pottery and etching designs into the | | | | own meaning. Hearts are for love, tulips for faith, and |
| glaze. Designs can include birds, flowers, abstract | | | | birds will bring happiness. |