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.

Style: Folk Art

Vintage Carved Wood and Poly Chrome Painted Figural Musical Clock Figurine

$899

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

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

$350

H 4.5 in W 8 in D 2.25 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

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

$3,500

H 21.26 in W 7.09 in D 5.52 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. We have...

Category

20th Century American Folk Art Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Wood

Australian Aboriginal Carved Ancestor Figure with Ochre Paint

$1,600

H 32.5 in Dm 6 in

Australian Aboriginal Carved Ancestor Figure with Ochre Paint

Located in Atlanta, GA

Hand-carved wood ancestor figure with surface pictorial carving showing kangaroo hunting and decorated with black and red paint and white and yellow ocher pigment. The figure slightly leans forward as made. The piece was carved by aboriginal artist...

Category

Early 2000s Australian Folk Art Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Wood

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

$420

H 8.25 in W 4.5 in D 5.13 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 Painted Carved Wood Large Vintage Wood Duck Decoy, Early 20th Century

$395

H 5.5 in W 16.5 in D 6 in

Hand Painted Carved Wood 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

Wood Carving Penis Figurine Wabi Sabi Object Vintage Asia 1950s

$520

H 9.38 in Dm 1.63 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

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

$1,260 / set

H 59 in Dm 6 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

18th Century, Spanish Conquistador Carved Wood Figure

$2,650

H 35 in W 15 in D 9 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...

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

Materials

Wood

Large Carved Black and Gold-Painted Sunburst

$3,500

H 34 in W 34 in D 2.5 in

Large Carved Black and Gold-Painted Sunburst

Located in New York, NY

Exuberantly carved sunburst mounted on a black roundel. Provenance: From the Collection of Mario Buatta, New York, NY.

Category

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

Materials

Wood

Unique Hand Carved Black Forest Tree Trunk Grandfather or Longcase Clock w. Bear

$10,587

H 78.7 in W 27.2 in D 10.7 in

Unique Hand Carved Black Forest Tree Trunk Grandfather or Longcase Clock w. Bear

Located in Lisse, NL

Stunning clock for the collectors of very rare and truly stylish Black Forest antiques. Tree trunk design longcase or grandfather clocks are a rare find and this 6.5 feet tall specimen could hardly be in better condition. All handcrafted and hand carved in the first half of the 1900s this wonderfully naturalistic tree trunk floor clock is the perfect home decoration for anyone with a nature or Black Forest inspired room or interior. This finest workmanship antique comes with the original dial face, weights and pendulum and they all have the same wonderful leaf and flower patterns that complement the tree or forest theme of this work-of-art tall clock. The natural aging of the carved wood has also grown this clock its stunning patina, making it even more of a gem to enjoy and to look at. The large door comes with the original, antique and perfectly beveled glass window which makes this unique clock...

Category

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

Materials

Brass, Iron

Vintage Folk Art Hand-Carved Wood and Bottlecap Snake on Octagonal Base

$1,600

H 6 in W 12 in D 12 in

Vintage Folk Art Hand-Carved Wood and Bottlecap Snake on Octagonal Base

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Folk art snake made from naturally aged/rusted bottle caps stacked and strung on wire to mimic the reptile's sinuous form (ca. 1920s/30s, USA). Features hand-carved/painted wooden he...

Category

1930s American Vintage Folk Art Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Metal, Aluminum

Ship Carved Figure

$17,500

H 38 in W 32 in D 2.75 in

Ship Carved Figure

Located in Nantucket, MA

Carved figure of a woman standing upright on a scrolled base. Carved from Pine with in service paint, American, circa 1850.

Category

Mid-19th Century North American Antique Folk Art Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Pine

Previously Available Items

Irish Bog Ash Desk Clock

Sold

H 5.75 in W 9 in D 2.2 in

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

Antique Staffordshire Pottery Watch Stand with Figures of Children

Sold

H 9.5 in W 6 in D 2.5 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

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.