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Abelam Figure

Yam Ancestor Figure TOTEM Pole Papua New Guinea with Provenance
Located in Atlanta, GA
solid wood by the Abelam people, who cultivated yams as their main crop, the pole features the classical
Category

Early 20th Century Papua New Guinean Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

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Mid-20th Century Tribal Beaded Cache-Sex Modesty Apron, Cameroon
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Mid-20th century tribal beaded cache-sex modesty apron (Pikuran), Mandara Mountains, Cameroon These colorful cache-sex were worn for celebrations, rituals and rites of passage by wo...
Category

Early 20th Century Cameroonian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Shell, Beads

20th Century Prestige Cloth, Shoowa, Kuba Kingdom, D. R. Congo
Located in Point Richmond, CA
20th century Prestige cloth, Shoowa people, Kuba Kingdom, D. R. Congo A syncopated pattern of opposing forces lends this prestige cloth a sense of movement both horizontally and v...
Category

Mid-20th Century Congolese Tribal Tapestries

Materials

Natural Fiber

Ditidaht/Nuu-chah-nulth Totem by Raymond Williams
By Native American Art
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
(1933-1988) This finely crafted wood totem pole is by Ditidaht/Nuu-Chah-Nulth master carver Raymond Williams, the father of the current generation of William's carvers. The carved to...
Category

Vintage 1950s Canadian Native American Native American Objects

Materials

Cedar

Poto African Iron Sword, Congo Africa on Stand
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Poto African sword, Congo Africa on stand. A forged iron sword with fine incised design, inlaid brass dots, overlaid brass strips, finely carved wood handle with deep patina. Some c...
Category

Early 20th Century Congolese Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wrought Iron

From the Rush Limbaugh Collection Korhogo Cloth from Ivory Coast of Africa
By Korhogo Tribe
Located in Asheville, NC
This is a hand spun, hand woven and hand painted cotton cloth for which an entire village takes part in its creation. Women of the Korhoga Tribe spin the cotton, while the men weave ...
Category

Antique 19th Century Primitive Tribal Art

Materials

Cotton

Mid-20th Century Tami Islands Papua New Guinea Tribal Wooden Feast Bowl
Located in Point Richmond, CA
mid-20th century Tami Islands Papua new guinea wooden feast bowl Of classic form, each end carved with raised and incised imagery depicting stylized sea creatures with decorative in...
Category

Mid-20th Century Papua New Guinean Tribal Art

Materials

Kaolin, Wood

African Textile SHOWA KUBA, also for Backrest Cover
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Vintage African Kuba textile, suitable for a modern wall panel, on a long table or to make pillows. an IDEA: use this item as backrest covering of a sofa. Handmade and hand-dyed raff...
Category

Mid-20th Century Congolese Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Raffia

Kuba Woman's Ceremonial Skirt, D.R. Congo
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Noblewoman's Skirt. Kuba People, DR Congo. Raffia palm fiber, appliqué, embroidery. Measures: 146 x 31 inches (371 x 79 cm).
Category

Mid-20th Century Congolese Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Raffia

Kuba Woman's Ceremonial Skirt, D.R. Congo
Kuba Woman's Ceremonial Skirt, D.R. Congo
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H 146 in W 31 in D 0.25 in
Aboriginal Body Painting Terrence Gurruwiwi Elcho Island, Australia
Located in Atlanta, GA
Title: Gumatj Ceremonial chest paint Medium: Acrylic on canvas Size: 32" H x 28.5" W Date created: November 2006 Artist: Terrence Gaypamany Gurruwiwi Language: Glapu Date of bi...
Category

Early 2000s Australian Tribal Paintings

Materials

Canvas

Aboriginal People, Australia, Tiwi Painted Ritual Object and Clapper Sticks
Located in Leuven , BE
Aboriginal People, Australia, Tiwi painted ritual object and clapper sticks.
Category

20th Century Australian Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Toba Batak Singa House Ornament, Sumatra, Indonesia 20th Century, Ex-Sotheby's
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
Large carved hardwood ornamental structure used as a support and a decorative frontispiece. It bears a stylized face embedded within an ornately carved and painted geometric pattern....
Category

20th Century Indonesian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Hardwood

Painted Wood Splash Boards on Stands from Papua New Guinea, 2 Available
Located in Atlanta, GA
Note: This listing is for 1 of the Papa New Guinea Splash Boards featured, so if you decide to purchase, let us know which one you'd like. These decorative painted red and dark grey...
Category

20th Century Papua New Guinean Tribal Art

Materials

Metal

Australian Aboriginal Painting on Hollow Log
Located in Atlanta, GA
Lorrkon hollow log. Artist: Bronwyn Kelly. Year of birth: 1974. Nationality: Australian. Region: West Central Arnhem Land. Language group: Kuninjku. Medium: Wood and ochre pain...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Australian Tribal Abstract Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Australian Aboriginal Carved and Painted Spear from Melville Island
By Patrick Freddy Puruntatameri
Located in Atlanta, GA
Title: A ceremonial spear with clan design paint Artist: Patrick Freddy Puruntatameri DOB: 19/04/1973 Medium: Ocher paint on ironwood carving DOC: 2006 Provenance: COA from Jila...
Category

Early 2000s Australian Folk Art Wall-mounted Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Early 20th Century Shield, Wahgi Valley, Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Early 20th Century Shield, Wahgi Valley, Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea This large, post contact, shield is traditionally decorated in bold colors with a central circle. This ...
Category

Early 20th Century Papua New Guinean Other Tribal Art

Materials

Enamel, Wire

Abelam "Yam Festival" Mask on Stand from Papua New Guinea
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Papua New Guinea yam festival mask of a horn-billed bird from the mid-20th century. This vintage ceremonial mask, also referred to as a baba mask, originates from the Abelam people...
Category

Mid-20th Century Papua New Guinean Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Iron

Recent Sales

Abelam Ancestor Pole, Papua New Guinea, 20th Century
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
Large gable ornament of a man's house carved with an ancestor figure, with a jutting ovoid head
Category

20th Century Papua New Guinean Primitive Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Wood

Yam Ancestor Figure on Stand from Padua New Guinea
Located in Atlanta, GA
A mid-Sepik river yam ancestor figure from abelam people, Papua New Guinea, circa early 20th
Category

Early 20th Century Papua New Guinean Tribal Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Pair of Rare Abelam House Posts, Papua New Guinea
Located in Fitzroy, Victoria
Two large figurative house posts, male and female. Made by the Abelam people, from the Maprik area
Category

Early 20th Century Oceanic Tribal Art

Materials

Steel

Large "MASK" Wall Hanging New Guinea
Located in Sarasota, FL
Hand carved and polychromed ceremonial figure with full body bird atop. From the Abelam Mountains.
Category

Vintage 1950s Papua New Guinean Sculptures

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Finding the Right Folk Art for You

Folk art refers to a genre of art that shares the creator’s traditions, offering not just an artistic display but an opportunity to learn about a culture. Vintage, new and antique folk art typically reflects a heritage or location. It can include utilitarian objects and handmade art as diverse as weather vanes, portraiture and paintings, carnival art, quilts and duck decoys.

American folk art is frequently valued because of the traditional skills involved, like weaving, hand-carving wood and even stonework. Many folk artists are self-taught, while some train as apprentices within their community. By using available materials and taking a personal approach to their creations, artists ensure each piece is unique and conveys a story. Native American folk art includes functional objects reflecting their heritage, such as baskets, textiles and wooden pieces.

During the Great Depression, artistic materials in America were hard to come by, so artisans used discarded wood from cigar boxes and shipping crates to make highly stylized, notched pieces — most often picture frames and boxes — that are today sought after by collectors. This folk art style is called tramp art and was popular from roughly 1870 until the 1940s.

Folk art brings vibrant culture and traditions into your home. Browse an extensive collection of folk art on 1stDibs.