North Wales Carved Slate c1830
One of three which were in our cottage, very likely from around the time it was built. More information about North Wales carved slates in the book Llechi Cerfedig Dyffryn Ogwen - The Carved Slates of Dyffryn Ogwen. Although a variety of carved slate pieces and types exist, these long slates were thought to be used as decoration between the legs of Welsh Dressers, and were fashionable between the 1820's and 1840's - some are dated - amongst the quarry-men and their families. After the vogue many were discarded - this may have coincided with the quarries employing skilled slate carvers to make fireplaces, etc, and the naive art comparing unfavourably. Now, they are increasingly being recognised as some of the foremost folk art of the British Isles, and there are several collectors locally.
North Wales Carved Slate c1830
One of three which were in our cottage, very likely from around the time it was built. More information about North Wales carved slates in the book Llechi Cerfedig Dyffryn Ogwen - The Carved Slates of Dyffryn Ogwen. Although a variety of carved slate pieces and types exist, these long slates were thought to be used as decoration between the legs of Welsh Dressers, and were fashionable between the 1820's and 1840's - some are dated - amongst the quarry-men and their families. After the vogue many were discarded - this may have coincided with the quarries employing skilled slate carvers to make fireplaces, etc, and the naive art comparing unfavourably. Now, they are increasingly being recognised as some of the foremost folk art of the British Isles, and there are several collectors locally.