Miguel Martinez Art

To Chicago-based artist Patrick Fitzgerald, his sculptures are a means of traveling through time. Working from found materials, Fitzgerald constructs miniature soap box cars...

Paint and gold paint on wood Circa early to mid 20th century. This is not signed A treasure from a proud congregation. It is a hand-carved wooden sculpture showing the Tablets of the Law flanked by two Lions of Judah. Their paws held the tablets. Their roaring mouths faced outward, protecting the commandments from threats. In a foliage design with gold and silver paint. Circa 1920-1940's. This Neoclassical, Judaic, Art Deco, Egyptian revival, Shul, Aron Kodesh hand carving, wood with gilding, Hebrew lettering ten commandments sign sculpture, was produced probably in New York. There was a show at the Folk Art Museum titled “Gilded Lions and Jeweled Horses: The Synagogue to the Carousel” That featured these antique magnificent pieces. From gilded lions to high-stepping horses, the sacred to the secular, and the Old World to the New, “Gilded Lions and Jeweled Horses: The Synagogue to the Carousel” traces the journey of Jewish woodcarvers and other artisans from Eastern and Central Europe to America and the unsung role they played in establishing a distinct Jewish culture in communities throughout the United States. The exuberant artworks stand as a testament to a history of survival and transformation and provide a surprising revelation of the link that was forged between the synagogue and the carousel as immigrant Jewish artists transferred symbolic visual elements into this vernacular American idiom. The first major study of this important aspect of the Jewish contribution to American folk art, the exhibition features approximately one hundred artworks and objects, including rare documentary photographs of Eastern European synagogue arks and carved gravestones, sacred carvings, papercuts, and carousel animals. Some of these same Jewish European carvers worked on Coney Island amusement park rides and carousel horses and other carnival and circus carvings.

Anglo Indian carved mahogany cat with ebonized stripes and a curious expression, featuring a secret compartment on the bottom.

19th Century Italian carved wood remnant with classical form and a worn silver leaf finish holding a tole bouquet with flowers and leaves with a perfect time worn patina.

This mask, created by an unknown Indonesian artist, features dark sin, gold and red eyes, teeth, and hair. It is approximately 7" tall by 5 1/2" wide.

Amusing pair of antique anglo Indian birds with a folky charm that have been carved from indigenous hardwood and painted a long ago, now with a rustic patina. Presented on custom sta...

This Golek puppet was made by an unknown Indonesian artist using wood and cloth. It is approximately 26" tall. Traditional Wayang Golek plays can be comp...

This flat shadow puppet was created by an unknown Indonesian artist. This shadow puppet, 20" high and 8" wide with movable, was used in Indonesian Wayang puppet shows. Wayang (Krama Javanese: Ringgit ꦫꦶꦁꦒꦶꦠ꧀, "Shadow"), also known as Wajang, is a form of puppet theatre art found in Indonesia and other parts of Southeast Asia, wherein a dramatic story is told through shadows thrown by puppets and sometimes combined with human characters. The art form celebrates the Indonesian culture and artistic talent; its origins are traced to the spread of Hinduism in the medieval era and the arrival of leather-based puppet arts called Tholu bommalata from southern India. Wayang refers to the entire dramatic show. Sometimes the leather puppet...

Richly textured with whimsical appeal, this late 20th century wooden crow is a delightful example of naive American sculpture. Poised mid-caw, the crow's wings are outstretched, read...

Myanmar (Burma) Mandalay Standing Buddha Title: Standing Buddha Medium: Painted hand-carved wood sculpture with gold and jewel detailing Size: 60 x 26 x 8 in. (152.4 x 66.04 x 20.32...

This Golek puppet was made by an unknown Indonesian artist using wood and cloth. It is approximately 26" tall. Traditional Wayang Golek plays can be compared to European and North America: most performances revolve around Kings, Queens, Princes and Princesses who fight against evil, mystical, beings to (usually) end happily. Three-dimensional Indonesian puppets...

These two figures were created by an unknown Indonesian artist using carved, painted wood. The bride and groom figures were to be used at a traditional wedding in Indonesia. The Loro Blonyo...