History of Hexsigns
Who made them?
When did they first appear?
When did they first appear?
The Pennsylvania Dutch have a long tradition of incorporating art into their everyday lives. Since their arrival in America, they spread out over the vast farmland of the Mid Atlantic region. Berks County, Pennsylvania has been a gathering place for this group of people. The traditional designs which became the basis for barnsta
The Pennsylvania Dutch have a long tradition of incorporating art into their everyday lives. Since their arrival in America, they spread out over the vast farmland of the Mid Atlantic region. Berks County, Pennsylvania has been a gathering place for this group of people. The traditional designs which became the basis for barnstars and hexsigns are rooted in the Fraktur designs of the official documents and certificates in use by the Dutch.
When did they first appear?
When did they first appear?
When did they first appear?
Barnstars, painted directly on the sides or gables of barns, date back nearly 200 years. The earliest barnstar I have found in this area is dated 1819. It is built into the stone featuring a star design, the date and the initials of the original owners.
Around the end of the American Civil War, barnstars became more prevalent. Painting
Barnstars, painted directly on the sides or gables of barns, date back nearly 200 years. The earliest barnstar I have found in this area is dated 1819. It is built into the stone featuring a star design, the date and the initials of the original owners.
Around the end of the American Civil War, barnstars became more prevalent. Painting barns had become more common because the cost of paint had decreased with the advent of mechanized pigment grinding. Many of those early barns still stand today with a ghost of the original barnstar etched in the wood. The different colors of paint had different weathering characteristics and the unpainted wood eroded with wind and rain even more. In our research we have found nearly forty barns with gable end barnstars and some on stone houses with star designs. Most were found in Berks, but others were found as far away as Lehigh, Montgomery and Bucks counties.
What do they mean?
When did they first appear?
What do they mean?
The exact meaning of these symbols is a subject of much debate. Over the decades, as the art form was passed down from generation to generation, the interpretations changed according to the times. The designs usually consisted of a star with 5,6,7,8,9,12 or 16 points. Each had a special meaning. The 5 point start is supposed to bring
The exact meaning of these symbols is a subject of much debate. Over the decades, as the art form was passed down from generation to generation, the interpretations changed according to the times. The designs usually consisted of a star with 5,6,7,8,9,12 or 16 points. Each had a special meaning. The 5 point start is supposed to bring good luck. The 6 point star has origins in the Star of David. The 8 point star is associated with marriage and fertility, extending to the farm and crops. The 12 point star represents the 12 apostles, and the 16 point star represents prosperity. Many newer elements have been added such as hearts, birds, tulips, butterflies and rosettes. Each was added to bring a new idea of good luck.