Folk Art Garden Ornaments
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
Period: 19th Century
St. Julien Weather Vane Attributed to J.W. Fiske 19th Century Full Bodied Metal
Located in Stamford, CT
St. Julien with Sulky Molded Copper Weather Vane, attributed to J.W. Fiske, New York, last quarter 19th century, full-bodied molded sheet copper horse and driver vane with cast iron horse's head and driver's hands, sheet copper reins and seat, copper rod wheels, mounted on a ebony base. This has the original threading as seen in the last photo below.
A very similar Attrib Fiske Weathervane...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Garden Ornaments
Materials
Copper
Large Copper Architectural Eagle
Located in Nantucket, MA
Spread wing eagle perched on a sphere, molded copper, with a great gilded surface on the front. The back has a nice natural veridigris, American, Late 19th early 20th century. Purpor...
Category
Late 19th Century North American Antique Folk Art Garden Ornaments
Materials
Copper
Large Antique Folk Art Dovecote in Gray Paint
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A notable antique Dovecote with a very Architectural presence having good size and in all original condition. Wood painted in pale gray with a cupola ...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Garden Ornaments
Materials
Wire
Collection of Three Cast Iron Star Victorian Daughters of the Revolution Markers
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Collection of three Daughters of the Revolution cast iron star markers. Marked GAR Thos Feushaw Post 75 Conn.
Category
1890s North American Antique Folk Art Garden Ornaments
Materials
Iron
19th Century Cast Iron Fiske Cherub Boy Garden Statue
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Cherub garden statue attributed to Fiske Foundry, circa 1870s. Great original black surface with traces of old white paint surface. Holes in feet ...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Garden Ornaments
Materials
Limestone, Iron
Early 19th Century, French Child's Wooden Swing
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
This is a very rare piece, it comes from a Nursery in France, the Wooden frame of the swing folds flat, when opened the swing seat can be hung on the Iron Stays, and the occupier of the seat can push his or herself using the iron rings to swing to and fro
The wooden frame has seen so many years of use that it has developed a curve but the wood is still very strong and the finish is Genuine French Shabby Blue it has not been repainted or touched up
This deserves to be a museum piece but it is perfectly sound so there would be no reason for it not to be used with proper supervision, as with all French Furniture...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Folk Art Garden Ornaments
Materials
Wood
Related Items
Pair of Italian Hand Carved Vicenza Stone Figural Garden Statues, 19th Century
Located in Hollywood, SC
Pair of Italian hand carved Vicenza stone figural lady garden statues holding fruit baskets, floral bouquets, and standing on squared bases. 19th century.
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Folk Art Garden Ornaments
Materials
Stone
H 58 in W 18 in D 15 in
Three Dimensional Mallard Weather Vane
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Copper mallard weather vane in verdigris patina. Diving position. Three dimensional. 28" wing span, 14"H on more modern wooden base 27" overall.
Period: 20th Century
Origin: US
Siz...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Garden Ornaments
Materials
Copper
19th French Century Cast Iron Statue Fountain
Located in Berlin, DE
This 19th century antique cast iron statue fountain.
Fantastic, vibrant patina with traces of ancient paint.
Category
1820s French Antique Folk Art Garden Ornaments
Materials
Iron
19th Century Iron Finial from France
Located in Dallas, TX
Those iron finials origin from France, circa 1880.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Folk Art Garden Ornaments
Materials
Iron
19th Century French Cast Iron Urns, Set of 4
Located in Winter Park, FL
A set of four 19th century French cast iron white painted garden urn planters. Original weathered rusty patina.
Weight: 38.5 lbs. each
Dimensions: 12" Height x 19" Diameter.
Bas...
Category
19th Century French Antique Folk Art Garden Ornaments
Materials
Iron
3 Dimensional Cow Form Weather Vane
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
20th Century three dimensional copper cow form weather vane with excellent patina. 27" x21"
Period: 20th Century
Origin: US
Size: 27" x 21"
Family Owned & Operated
Cisco’s Gal...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Garden Ornaments
Materials
Copper
New England Copper Architectural Finial
Located in Stamford, CT
A New England molded and soldered copper architectural finial in form of a pineapple.
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Garden Ornaments
Materials
Copper
Small Swedish Folk Art Painted Box
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A Swedish allmoge folk art painted little box with a combination lock most probably from the region of Dalarna in central Sweden. Hand carved and origi...
Category
1920s Swedish Vintage Folk Art Garden Ornaments
Materials
Pine
French Antique Cast-Stone Garden Sculpture of Boy with Bird, 4+ Ft in Height
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French cast-stone garden sculpture of boy with bird from the early 20th century. This antique statue from France, of cast-stone, features a young boy, standing against a small tree...
Category
20th Century French Folk Art Garden Ornaments
Materials
Cast Stone, Stone
H 51.5 in W 18.5 in D 18.25 in
Gorgeous Cast Stone Italian Statue
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Well detailed cast Vicenza stone garden statue of a young lady standing in robes and holding a basket of fruit, head slightly turned to the right; naturally weathered finish.
Category
20th Century Italian Folk Art Garden Ornaments
Early 20th Century Italian Garden Statue "Diana Goddess of the Hunt"
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Beautiful refined garden statue, circa 1920s main material stone mixed with cement and marble dust, stone grit. Beautiful and majestic statue. A beautiful representation of Diana the...
Category
1920s Italian Vintage Folk Art Garden Ornaments
Materials
Stone, Cement
Set of Three 18th Century English Staddle Stones
Located in Chicago, IL
A wonderful set of three 18th century English carved limestone staddle stones with the most wonderful aged surfaces, natural lichens, and wear that only 300 years of use can bestow. ...
Category
18th Century English Antique Folk Art Garden Ornaments
Materials
Limestone
Previously Available Items
19th C New England Original Painted White Sap Bucket
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th C original white painted sap bucket from New England in very good condition.This bucket comes from Vermont and is very strong and sturdy condition.
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Garden Ornaments
Materials
Wood
1890s Antique French Black Cast Iron Folk Art Sculpture Rooster
Located in New York, NY
An antique pair of French blacksmith made hand cast iron birds with black paint. Beautifully detailed sculpture cockerels with original patina in excellent condition. Versatile use i...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Folk Art Garden Ornaments
Materials
Iron
Vintage Hand Painted Stone Stork
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
Hand painted reconstituted stone and metal stork. Your garden or even your interior will evoke wonder and whimsy with the addition of this stork. The scale is just right, making a st...
Category
19th Century Unknown Antique Folk Art Garden Ornaments
Materials
Cast Stone
Unusual Tole Windmill
Located in Essex, MA
Unusual tole windmill with removable roof and tapered body with four pronged spinning blade, pierced base.
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique Folk Art Garden Ornaments
J.W. Fiske Horse and Jockey Weathervane, circa 1890
Located in Incline Village, NV
Listed is a rare and outstanding full bodied J. W. Fiske copper and zinc horse and jockey weathervane. It is in excellent all original condition with an extraordinary amount of the original gold leaf intact; highly unusual to find in this state of preservation due to inclement weather exposure to which they were subjected. The jockey is zinc and has been hand-painted, as is the head of the horse, whereas, the rest of the weathervane has clear evidence of high gold karat application with the majority of it still in place. An identical example of the stallion can be seen on page 77 of "The Gallery of American Weathervanes" by Bishop and Coblentz written in 1981. That example is also copper with a cast zinc jockey and horse head.
Subject matter of horse and jockey symbolizes the popularity of horse racing, steeplechase, and harness racing during the late 19th century which is further illustrated in several Currier and Ive's lithographs of the same period.
The manufacturer of this weathervane, the J.W. Fiske & Co., was established in New York City in 1863 by Joseph Winn Fiske. In addition to weathervanes, they were premier makers of upscale decorative iron works for gardens. Many of their weathervanes and products were custom-made to order.
A Fiske weathervane...
Category
1890s American Antique Folk Art Garden Ornaments
Materials
Copper, Zinc
Pair of Large 19th Century Pineapple Finials
Located in New York, NY
Beautifully carved wood with weathered patina.
Category
19th Century Antique Folk Art Garden Ornaments
19th Century Bavarian Cross
Located in Wiscasset, ME
Excellent example of bavarian metalwork. With the Letters, "JA."
Category
19th Century German Antique Folk Art Garden Ornaments
Materials
Iron
Stone Sculpture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Picassoesque stone bust from Guatemala. Old and interesting indoors or out!
Category
19th Century Guatemalan Antique Folk Art Garden Ornaments
Materials
Granite
Folk Art garden ornaments for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique folk art garden ornaments for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage garden ornaments created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include building and garden elements, folk art, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art garden ornaments made in a specific country, there are North America, United States, and Europe pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original garden ornaments, popular names associated with this style include and Ira Yeager. 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 garden ornaments differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $425 and tops out at $32,000 while the average work can sell for $2,250.
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