Bavarian art often took the form of Bauernmalerei (pronounced bow urn maler i) which originated in the Alpine areas of Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
Originally, peasants in the Alpine region felt compelled to decorate their furniture and bring color to their drab surroundings which helped cheer them through the long,
cold winters. This style of painting has evolved from its primitive beginnings to the very wonderfully mature style that it is today. Bauernmalerei is filled with
symbolism that reflects the lives of the original peasant painters. Most designs are filled with three central flowers which represent the trinity. Many Bauernmalerei
designs have wheat as a secondary design element. The wheat represents the abundance of life as wheat was one of their main sources of sustenance. Finally,
many paintings of this style contain the beautiful, white Queen Anne's Lace which symbolized the purity that was so valued during the "hey day" of this style.
As this style became more popular people came from all walks of life to commission hand-painted items to mark important events in their lives. Welcome plaques,
wedding chests, trunks and larger furniture would eventually capture the imagination of decorative artists the world over.
