Parasolknop of parapluknop van geverfd hout; op de knop is een patroon van tulpen gebrand c. 1920

This parasol knob with painted and burnt wood decoration was made by Gustav Schnitzler. The painted tulips wind around the base, a charming pattern that reminds me of folk art, or the kind of naive painting that seems to come directly from the heart. The surface is smooth, but you can still see the marks of the tools used to carve and burn the wood. It feels like the artist is sharing a secret about how the piece was made. I love the way the brown paint seeps into the wood grain, creating a sense of depth and texture. See the little rope attached to the side with the salmon pink details? It gives the piece a playful, almost whimsical feel. This knob reminds me of some of the decorative arts and crafts that came out of the Arts and Crafts movement – a celebration of handmade objects and a rejection of mass production. It's a reminder that art can be found in the most unexpected places and that even the most functional object can be imbued with beauty and meaning.