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Folk Art Inkwells

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
French Mounted Horse Hoof Inkwell and Pen Holder, Late 19th Century
Located in Labrit, Landes
Mounted horse hoof inkwell with horseshoe pen holder Inkwell shoe ferrer pen holder with beautiful finish, popular art work Shipping: L11 P19 ...
Category

1890s French Antique Folk Art Inkwells

Materials

Chrome, Wrought Iron

French Mounted Horse Hoof Inkwell and Pen Holder, Late 19th Century
French Mounted Horse Hoof Inkwell and Pen Holder, Late 19th Century

French Mounted Horse Hoof Inkwell and Pen Holder, Late 19th Century

$512
Ceramic Inkwell, Late 19th Century, Sweden
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Fantastic ceramic inkwell, with what seems to be a pottery oven in the midst of two naivistic lions. You lift of the top lid to place pens and lift up the two lions heads for ink. Co...
Category

1870s Swedish Antique Folk Art Inkwells

Materials

Ceramic

Ceramic Inkwell, Late 19th Century, Sweden
Ceramic Inkwell, Late 19th Century, Sweden

Ceramic Inkwell, Late 19th Century, Sweden

$380
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19th Century Lectern Louis-Philippe Period
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
This Louis-Philippe period table lectern in cherrywood resting on four turned legs, has three positions for three different reading angles. France, circa 1840.
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1840s French Antique Folk Art Inkwells

Materials

Cherry

19th Century Lectern Louis-Philippe Period
19th Century Lectern Louis-Philippe Period

19th Century Lectern Louis-Philippe Period

$811
H 10.24 in W 15.36 in D 13 in
19th Century French Crystal and Bronze Inkwell
By L'Escalier de Cristal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century French Crystal and Bronze Mounumental Inkwell. Signed. Escalier de Cristal Paris.
Category

19th Century French Antique Folk Art Inkwells

Materials

Crystal, Bronze

19th Century French Crystal and Bronze Inkwell
19th Century French Crystal and Bronze Inkwell

19th Century French Crystal and Bronze Inkwell

$6,500
H 6.75 in W 4.25 in D 4.25 in
Enamel cloissoné and gilt bronze inkwell. France, late 19th century.
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Enamel cloissoné and gilt bronze inkwell. France, late 19th century.
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Folk Art Inkwells

Materials

Bronze, Enamel

Enamel cloissoné and gilt bronze inkwell. France, late 19th century.
Enamel cloissoné and gilt bronze inkwell. France, late 19th century.

Enamel cloissoné and gilt bronze inkwell. France, late 19th century.

$5,000
H 2.76 in W 9.85 in D 5.12 in
19th Century French Bronze and Marble Inkwell
Located in New Orleans, LA
Crafted of brilliant doré bronze and fine brocatelle marble, this wonderful Napoleon III-period inkwell is as functional as it is beautiful. In a style reminiscent of Louis XV Rococo...
Category

19th Century French Antique Folk Art Inkwells

Materials

Marble, Bronze

19th Century French Bronze and Marble Inkwell
19th Century French Bronze and Marble Inkwell

19th Century French Bronze and Marble Inkwell

$19,850
H 9.25 in W 20.5 in D 11 in
Set of Old Bound Books, 19th Century
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Set of old books dating from the 19th century. From an old protestant library near Le Havre in France. These books are entitled "Histoire du protestantisme français" (History of Fren...
Category

19th Century French Antique Folk Art Inkwells

Materials

Leather, Paper

Set of Old Bound Books, 19th Century
Set of Old Bound Books, 19th Century

Set of Old Bound Books, 19th Century

$190
H 9.61 in W 6.5 in D 1.38 in
Late 19th century Wooden and Brass Polarimeter Antique Physic Instrument
Located in Milan, IT
Wooden and brass polarimeter with cast iron tripod base from the late 1800s. It is an instrument used to determine the concentration of sucrose and glucose in raw materials and sugar...
Category

1890s British Antique Folk Art Inkwells

Materials

Brass

Late 19th century Wooden and Brass Polarimeter Antique Physic Instrument
Late 19th century Wooden and Brass Polarimeter Antique Physic Instrument

Late 19th century Wooden and Brass Polarimeter Antique Physic Instrument

$656
H 19.69 in W 19.69 in D 7.88 in
Antique Cast Iron Pharmacy Scale from Spain, 19th Century
Located in Dallas, TX
A unique piece of scientific equipment, this antique cast iron scale would have been used in a Spanish pharmacy during the 1800s. The main cast...
Category

19th Century Spanish Antique Folk Art Inkwells

Materials

Iron

Antique Cast Iron Pharmacy Scale from Spain, 19th Century
Antique Cast Iron Pharmacy Scale from Spain, 19th Century

Antique Cast Iron Pharmacy Scale from Spain, 19th Century

$880
H 7.875 in W 23.125 in D 10 in
19th Century Gilt Bronze French Inkwell
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Beautiful mid-19th century gilt bronze French inkwell. Measures: 6 1/2' wide by 4" deep by 4 3/4" tall.
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Folk Art Inkwells

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Gilt Bronze French Inkwell
19th Century Gilt Bronze French Inkwell

19th Century Gilt Bronze French Inkwell

$2,250
H 4.75 in W 6.5 in D 4 in
Beautiful Late 19th Century Gilt and Patina Bronze Inkwell
Located in Long Island City, NY
A Beautiful Late 19th Century Gilt and Patina Bronze Inkwell Depicting a bronze sleeping cherub lying on a gilt bronze settee, opening up to two ink holders. Details: Height – 4 in...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Folk Art Inkwells

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Beautiful Late 19th Century Gilt and Patina Bronze Inkwell
Beautiful Late 19th Century Gilt and Patina Bronze Inkwell

Beautiful Late 19th Century Gilt and Patina Bronze Inkwell

$1,750
H 4 in W 6.5 in D 3 in
Late 19th Century Silver Antique Inkwell with Base Obtained from a Deer Hoof
Located in Milan, IT
Silver inkwell with base obtained from a deer hoof. English manufacture of the late 19th century. Good condition, the ink bottle is missing. Measures: cm 6.5 x 10 H 8. Shipping is insured by Lloyd...
Category

Late 19th Century British Antique Folk Art Inkwells

Materials

Bone

Late 19th Century Silver Antique Inkwell with Base Obtained from a Deer Hoof
Late 19th Century Silver Antique Inkwell with Base Obtained from a Deer Hoof

Late 19th Century Silver Antique Inkwell with Base Obtained from a Deer Hoof

$1,192
H 3.15 in W 2.56 in D 3.94 in
Three Sterling Silver Mounted Commemorative Horse Hoof Inkwells
Located in London, GB
These interesting inkwells were crafted in Britain between the Victorian period and early to mid-20th century. The works have been created from horse hooves, applied with sterling silver mounts. Each hoof has been set onto a silver horseshoe and features a silver top and lid. Two of the tops have been engraved to imitate real horse hair, while the third is more simple, with banded ornament. All three have been given covers, two of which feature commemorative inscriptions. One lid states, ‘The Grey/1907-1917’ — presumably the name of the favourite racehorse, whose hoof this is — and another reads, ‘Mavourneen/ Died June 29th / Aged 53’. ‘Mavourneen’ is an Irish Gaelic word meaning ‘my beloved’. The dedicatee’s age of 53 implies that they were a human, perhaps a jokey, or racehorse owner. The lids open up onto a silver-lined interior, intended to be used for storing ink as part of a desk arrangement. The inkwells are stamped, on their underside, with silver hallmarks and maker’s marks, ‘J.T.’ and ‘C & CS’. This set of three horse hoof inkwells...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Folk Art Inkwells

Materials

Sterling Silver

Three Sterling Silver Mounted Commemorative Horse Hoof Inkwells
Three Sterling Silver Mounted Commemorative Horse Hoof Inkwells

Three Sterling Silver Mounted Commemorative Horse Hoof Inkwells

$1,765 Sale Price / set
20% Off
H 3.15 in W 3.15 in D 5.32 in
Late 19th Century French Inkwell with Enamel Decoration and Onyx Plate
Located in Greven, DE
Inkwell with Enamel Decoration and Onyx Plate Origin: Probably France Material: Gilded metal, champlevé enamel, onyx Date: Circa 1870–1890 Dimensions: H × W × D: 9 × 12 ×13 cm Des...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Folk Art Inkwells

Materials

Onyx, Brass, Enamel

Late 19th Century French Inkwell with Enamel Decoration and Onyx Plate
Late 19th Century French Inkwell with Enamel Decoration and Onyx Plate

Late 19th Century French Inkwell with Enamel Decoration and Onyx Plate

$978
H 3.55 in W 4.73 in D 5.12 in
Previously Available Items
Pair of Arthur Court Rabbit Trinket Boxes
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Pair of amusing Arthur Court trinket boxes or inkwells with brass rabbit heads, legs and arms. One having turned wood body the other a coconut bodyy. Signed Arthur Court and dated 19...
Category

20th Century American Folk Art Inkwells

Pair of Arthur Court Rabbit Trinket Boxes
Pair of Arthur Court Rabbit Trinket Boxes

Pair of Arthur Court Rabbit Trinket Boxes

H 8.5 in W 4 in D 4 in

Folk Art inkwells for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Folk Art inkwells for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 19th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage inkwells created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with animal skin, ceramic and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art inkwells made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Scandinavia 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 inkwells differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $350 and tops out at $985 while the average work can sell for $668.

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