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Folk Art Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

FOLK ART STYLE

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

Quilts are a quintessential part of American folk art but their roots are international, with quilting dating back to Ancient Egypt. The practice spread to Europe and was especially prominent in the Middle Ages, with one of the oldest surviving examples being the Tristan quilt made in Sicily in the 14th century. They were made as bedcovers and clothing, including as a layer for knights to wear beneath their armor. Native American folk art includes functional objects reflecting their heritage, such as baskets, textiles and wooden pieces.

Elsewhere, the vast range of work associated with Mexican folk art includes masks made by Mexican craftspeople for traditional celebrations and ceremonial dances. Mexican masks are part of the country’s folk-art traditions that go back thousands of years and play a role in festivals and theater.

Works in the folk art tradition are valuable because of the 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.

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 antique, new and vintage folk art on 1stDibs.

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Style: Folk Art
Vintage Carved Wood and Poly Chrome Painted Figural Musical Clock Figurine
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This vintage hand carved and hand painted musical clock is unsigned, but presumed to have been made in or near Austria in circa 1950 in a Folk Art style. The carving depicts a male figure leaning against a post mounted Black Forest styled clock. The carving is quite detailed and well executed on all sides and has been hand painted in a realistic style. Both the clock and the music box are currently not working as both have been over-wound and would require servicing. The head of the carving should turn slightly left to right while the music box is playing, but in its current state it is unknown whether the mechanism functions and/or what tune the music box may play. In addition, there is currently no key for the clock, but these normally use a standard small music box...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Folk Art Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Metal

Vintage Carved Wood and Poly Chrome Painted Figural Musical Clock Figurine
Vintage Carved Wood and Poly Chrome Painted Figural Musical Clock Figurine

Vintage Carved Wood and Poly Chrome Painted Figural Musical Clock Figurine

Related Items
Early 20th Century Carved and Painted Wood Whirligig
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Carved and painted wooden soldier whirligig. Early 20th century American. Soldier has a leather hat with wooden brim. Presented on simple custom museum...
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Wood

Early 20th Century Carved and Painted Wood Whirligig
Early 20th Century Carved and Painted Wood Whirligig

Early 20th Century Carved and Painted Wood Whirligig

H 16.5 in W 12.5 in D 6 in
1870s English Carved Wood Robin Hood Figure
Located in Tarrytown, NY
1870s English carved wood Robin Hood figure.
Category

1870s Antique Folk Art Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Wood

1870s English Carved Wood Robin Hood Figure
1870s English Carved Wood Robin Hood Figure

1870s English Carved Wood Robin Hood Figure

H 22 in W 8 in D 12 in
Vintage Folk Art Timber Rabbit Poly Chromed Carved Wood
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Folk Art timber rabbit, circa 1940s, Canadian. Long ears with folded arms with a Picasso style head. The rabbit is sitting upright on it's haunches poly-...
Category

Mid-20th Century Folk Art Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Wood

Vintage Folk Art Timber Rabbit Poly Chromed Carved Wood
Vintage Folk Art Timber Rabbit Poly Chromed Carved Wood

Vintage Folk Art Timber Rabbit Poly Chromed Carved Wood

H 13 in W 6 in D 6 in
Folk Art Carved and Painted Owl Decoy, USA, 1900's
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Folk Art carved and painted owl decoy, USA 1900's A decorative barn owl carving decoy Original paint with even wear. Mounted over a new iron stand.
Category

20th Century American Folk Art Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Wood

Folk Art Carved and Painted Owl Decoy, USA, 1900's
Folk Art Carved and Painted Owl Decoy, USA, 1900's

Folk Art Carved and Painted Owl Decoy, USA, 1900's

H 21.26 in W 7.09 in D 5.52 in
Vintage Hand-Carved Wood Popeye Figure with Original Paint Surface
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Vintage popeye figure. Hand-carved wood with amazing alligatored paint surface complete with anchor forearm tattoos. Created from three pieces of...
Category

1950s American Vintage Folk Art Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Wood

Vintage Hand-Carved Wood Popeye Figure with Original Paint Surface
Vintage Hand-Carved Wood Popeye Figure with Original Paint Surface

Vintage Hand-Carved Wood Popeye Figure with Original Paint Surface

H 13.5 in W 3 in D 3.25 in
Wood Carving Penis Figurine Wabi Sabi Object Vintage Asia 1950s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Adorable unique wood carved figurine statue. we don't know anything about the item, but believe it was made in Japan in the 1960s. Ideal decoratio...
Category

1950s Japanese Vintage Folk Art Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Wood

Wood Carving Penis Figurine Wabi Sabi Object Vintage Asia 1950s
Wood Carving Penis Figurine Wabi Sabi Object Vintage Asia 1950s

Wood Carving Penis Figurine Wabi Sabi Object Vintage Asia 1950s

H 9.38 in Dm 1.63 in
Hand Carved and Painted Large Vintage Wood Duck Decoy, Early 20th Century
Located in Studio City, CA
A fantastic early to Mid-20th Century handmade duck or mallard decoy with a swivel neck and glass eyes. Would be a great addition to any collection o...
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Wood, Paint

Hand Carved and Painted Large Vintage Wood Duck Decoy, Early 20th Century
Hand Carved and Painted Large Vintage Wood Duck Decoy, Early 20th Century

Hand Carved and Painted Large Vintage Wood Duck Decoy, Early 20th Century

H 5.5 in W 16.5 in D 6 in
Hand Carved Wooden Smoker Gnome Figure, Vintage German Black Forest Folk Art
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful hand carved wooden smoker figure, found at an estate sale in Nuremberg, Germany. We believe that this piece is from around 1930s or older. A nice addition to any room. Beau...
Category

1930s German Vintage Folk Art Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Wood

Hand Carved Wooden Smoker Gnome Figure, Vintage German Black Forest Folk Art
Hand Carved Wooden Smoker Gnome Figure, Vintage German Black Forest Folk Art

Hand Carved Wooden Smoker Gnome Figure, Vintage German Black Forest Folk Art

H 8.25 in W 4.5 in D 5.13 in
18th Century, Spanish Conquistador Carved Wood Figure
Located in Houston, TX
18th century Spanish Conquistador carved wood figure. 18th century Carved and painted wood Spanish Conquistador figure or sculpture. This beautif...
Category

18th Century Spanish Antique Folk Art Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Wood

18th Century, Spanish Conquistador Carved Wood Figure
18th Century, Spanish Conquistador Carved Wood Figure

18th Century, Spanish Conquistador Carved Wood Figure

H 35 in W 15 in D 9 in
Oversized Carved wood and painted Sheaffer Fountain Pen Store Display , 5 feet
Located in Buffalo, NY
Amazing ! Oversized Carved wood and painted Sheaffer Fountain Pen Store Display , Selling two pens. One 5" high 6 " in diameter.. other 50" h , 4" in diameter. Very well made, Qualit...
Category

1950s American Vintage Folk Art Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Steel

Oversized Carved wood and painted Sheaffer Fountain Pen Store Display , 5 feet
Oversized Carved wood and painted Sheaffer Fountain Pen Store Display , 5 feet

Oversized Carved wood and painted Sheaffer Fountain Pen Store Display , 5 feet

H 59 in Dm 6 in
Hand Carved Wood Oswald Demetz Deur Morisco Dancer Insolent Italian Figurine
By Dementz Family DEUR Art Company
Located in Tustin, CA
Also known as "The Insolent" Moriscan, Morisken, Moriscon or Moorish Dancer, this handmade and hand carved, hand painted, richly textured linden wood Morisco Dancer from the Dementz ...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Folk Art Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Wood

Hand Carved Wood Oswald Demetz Deur Morisco Dancer Insolent Italian Figurine
Hand Carved Wood Oswald Demetz Deur Morisco Dancer Insolent Italian Figurine

Hand Carved Wood Oswald Demetz Deur Morisco Dancer Insolent Italian Figurine

H 9.25 in W 6 in D 5 in
Hand Carved Wood Lion Toy Figure in Orange and Black, Africa, 1970s
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A whimsical hand carved lion statue from Africa. Hand carved by local artisans in East Africa in the 1970s, this wooden statue will be a great accen...
Category

1970s North African Vintage Folk Art Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Wood, Paint

Hand Carved Wood Lion Toy Figure in Orange and Black, Africa, 1970s
Hand Carved Wood Lion Toy Figure in Orange and Black, Africa, 1970s

Hand Carved Wood Lion Toy Figure in Orange and Black, Africa, 1970s

H 4.5 in W 8 in D 2.25 in
Previously Available Items
Irish Bog Ash Desk Clock
Located in Dallas, TX
Presenting a lovely piece of Irish Folk Art, namely, an irish bog ash desk clock over 3000 yeas old !! This is a piece of bog ash …….. petrified ashwood p...
Category

20th Century Irish Folk Art Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Ash

Irish Bog Ash Desk Clock
Irish Bog Ash Desk Clock

Irish Bog Ash Desk Clock

H 5.75 in W 9 in D 2.2 in
Antique Staffordshire Pottery Watch Stand with Figures of Children
Located in Katonah, NY
A wonderful Staffordshire pottery watch holder flanked by two children. Above them bocage decoration with three small birds among the leaves. The piece has excellent enameling. The...
Category

1810s English Antique Folk Art Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Pottery

Antique Staffordshire Pottery Watch Stand with Figures of Children
Antique Staffordshire Pottery Watch Stand with Figures of Children

Antique Staffordshire Pottery Watch Stand with Figures of Children

H 9.5 in W 6 in D 2.5 in

Folk Art table clocks and desk clocks for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique folk art table clocks and desk clocks for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage table clocks and desk clocks created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, folk art and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, softwood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art table clocks and desk clocks made in a specific country, there are Austria, and Europe pieces for sale on 1stDibs. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for table clocks and desk clocks differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $899 and tops out at $899 while the average work can sell for $899.

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