Folk Art Decorative Objects

Circa 1900 A striking and highly decorative sculpture depicting a richly caparisoned elephant carrying an elaborate ceremonial howdah. Executed in plaster (“Gips”) with painted and ...

Structure #168 encapsulates Jim Rose’s ability to distill his larger furniture and quilt-cabinet practice into a compact, sculptural form, reinforcing a key aspect of his legacy: the seamless movement between utility, abstraction, and architectural metaphor. Made from found steel with natural rust patina and traces of original paint, the piece emerges directly from the byproducts of his quilt cabinet process—scraps that Rose treated not as waste, but as material charged with possibility. The pitched roof and block-like mass evoke a small building or shelter, a recurring motif in Rose’s Structure series. Here, that architectural reference is pared down to essentials, with crisp seams and planar surfaces defining the form. The small yellow painted rectangle—retained from the steel’s previous life—functions like a visual punctuation, echoing the found-color compositions of his quilt cabinets while asserting the autonomy of the sculpture. As with his larger works, Rose did not apply this color; its presence speaks to his respect for the material’s history and his role as an editor rather than a decorator. In the context of his legacy, Structure #168 demonstrates how Rose expanded his vocabulary beyond furniture into a more intimate, contemplative scale. These sculptures reveal his sensitivity to proportion, surface, and narrative embedded in industrial remnants. They underscore a defining principle of his work: that meaning and beauty can emerge from the margins of making, where process, reuse, and restraint converge into a quietly powerful form. Jim Rose Structure #168 found steel with natural rust patina and paint 6h x 4.50w x 2.50d in 15.24h x 11.43w x 6.35d cm Bio Jim Rose (1966–2023) was an American furniture maker, artist, and metalworker whose work occupied a singular position between studio craft, sculpture, and functional design. Born in Beech Grove, Indiana, Rose trained as a sculptor, earning his BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1988 after a brief period of study at Bard College. This sculptural foundation shaped his approach to furniture, in which proportion, structure, and surface were treated with the same rigor as utility, and everyday objects were understood as vehicles for aesthetic and ethical values. Working primarily in steel—often reclaimed or salvaged—Rose challenged conventional expectations of furniture materials. Through brushing, waxing, and patination, he developed surfaces that softened steel’s industrial associations, imparting warmth, depth, and a sense of age. His work drew on diverse historical and cultural sources, including Shaker furniture, Asian cabinetry, and the quilts of Gee’s Bend, yet these influences were never literal. Instead, Rose translated their underlying principles—clarity, restraint, repetition, and balance—into a contemporary language grounded in material honesty. Based for much of his career in Wisconsin, Rose was closely associated with the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, including participation in its Arts/Industry residency program. His furniture and objects were widely exhibited in galleries and design fairs across the United States and featured in publications such as American Craft and Architectural Digest. His work entered both private and institutional collections during his lifetime, reflecting a sustained engagement with collectors, curators, and designers. Rose’s furniture is distinguished by its emphasis on durability, adaptability, and use. Cabinets, chairs, benches, and tables were engineered for longevity and daily life, incorporating practical features such as steel drawer glides, modular construction, and discreet accommodations for modern technology. This functional intelligence was inseparable from his broader philosophy: furniture, for Rose, was a form of quiet service, meant to support human activity while carrying forward the history embedded in its materials. Jim Rose’s work is held in the permanent collections of major institutions including the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Museum of Arts and Design in New York, the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Carnegie Museum of Art, and the John Michael Kohler Arts Center. Following his death in 2023, his legacy endures through a body of work that demonstrates how contemporary furniture can be both materially rigorous and deeply humane—objects shaped by patience, integrity, and an enduring respect for use. Education: 1989 B.F.A., Sculpture, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, IL 1988 Student at Large, Welding Technology, Triton College, Chicago, IL 1985 Undergraduate Photography Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York Awards: 2008 Wisconsin Arts Board Fellowship Award, Madison, WI 2005 Elizabeth R. Raphael Founder’s Prize, Society for Contemporary Craft, Pittsburgh, PA 2003 Grant Recipient for Shaker Interpretations in Cast Iron, PA Arts Assoc / WI Arts Board 2003 Arts/Industry Residency Program for Visual Artists, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, Wisconsin Solo Exhibitions: 2023 CODA Final Show, Gallery VICTOR, Chicago, IL 2017 New Work, Tory Folliard Gallery, Milwaukee, WI 2012 Simply Steel, Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, WI 2007 Variation, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL 2003 New Work, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL 2001 Shaker in Steel / New Work, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL 2000 Shaker in Steel / New Work, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL 1999 Hands and Heart to Steel III, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL National Exhibitions: 2023 Intersect Palm Springs, Gallery VICTOR, Palm Springs Convention Center, CA 2017 - 2018 SOFA Chicago – Gallery Victor Armendariz 1995 - 2016 SOFA Chicago, New York, Palm Beach - Ann Nathan Gallery 2011 - 2002 Art Chicago - Ann Nathan Gallery Group Exhibitions: 2022 Wunderkammer: Victor's Cabinet of Curiosities – 5th Anniversary Special Exhibit, Gallery VICTOR, Chicago, IL 2017 Coming Attractions: Inaugural Exhibition, Gallery Victor Armendariz, Chicago, IL 2017 Living with Art: The Newman Collection, 108 Contemporary, Tulsa, Oklahoma 2016 Form Follows Function: The Intersection of Art and Craft, The Hardy Gallery...

Folk Art polychromed iron construction worker card holder/ vide-poche A whimsical well executed Folk Art sculpture of construction worker caring a...

Although this whimsical sculpture by Allan Winkler has the look of outsider art, this ceramic work stems from the art school-trained artist’s interest in...

A wonderful bowl with beautiful natural wood grain and glowing colorful patina acquired with age. This piece has a very organic, wabi-sabi feel to it. From a collection of older w...

19th century carved pine folk art farmer and his oxen model We are proud to offer a unique example of a late 19th century hand carved pine folk art model of a farmer and his oxen. R...

Antique North African Moroccan tribal wood flask. Rare late 19th century powder flask box from the Rif, Northern Morocco with a drum-shaped body hand carved wood with ethnic motifs, brass studded nails, nice geometric carvings and very fine patina. Collector large carved wooden vessel in the shape of a turtle with a long neck. Dimensions: 10"L x 3" H x 5.75" diameter. Designed with practicality in mind, this flask features two robust metal rings on the side, perfect for securely attaching it to a belt or satchel, making it an ideal companion for hunting. The upper, narrower section includes a precisely drilled hole, providing easy access to the powder inside, underscoring the flask's functional yet artistic design. This wood gunpowder flask...

Set of three Small Swedish cobalt blue hand blown glass bowl or trinkets.

A rare imported commodity, glass beads have been a symbol of wealth and importance in south African cultures for centuries, and were exclusively distributed by the region's oba (king). As beads become gradually more accessible throughout the 19th century, they began to displace the organic materials used in traditional art and attire. This colorful example of African beadwork is a fertility doll...

Penny bank made by Italian Angelo Biagioni for the French market (see image with marking on the back of the chair), circa 1910. Biagioni, born in 1870, was a well known sculptor who crafted objects for resale to the European market. Money boxes (or still banks as they are called in America) were one of the more unique and more difficult items to find by this artist as most objects were basic uni-dimensional sculptered pieces. What makes it more rare is the unfortunate requirement to break and smash the bank open to get the coins out, as there was no mechanism to remove the money. The subject matter of the bank is that of a nicely dressed older lady seated in a chair reading a book. The bank is in all original condition and paint with no restoration or touch-up of any kind. This is a nice addition to any bank or toy collection, or simply to have as a "stand alone" unique item. Dimensions : 4 1/4" deep x 3 3/8" wide x 8 5/8" high. Note: After 40 plus years of dealing and collecting toys and banks, I am justly qualified to guarantee and present the authenticity of antique and vintage still banks...

This expressive mid-century studio pottery vase features a classic bottle-form silhouette accented by richly layered glazes and hand-painted decoration. The vessel is finished in a w...

This collection is a work of art that make a statement in modern décor and in the modern cultural art world. It can be used as a vase containing flowers, or as a beautiful centerpiec...

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...

Very nice wooden horse sculpture made out of multiple reclaimed wood pieces.

This collection is a work of art that make a statement in modern décor and in the modern cultural art world. It can be used as a vase containing flowers, or as a beautiful centerpiec...

Solid Wood Carved Sculpture of Traveler on Wine/Beer Barrel Swiss or German, possibly the mountainous Black Forest area. Hand crafted by a truly skilled carver, a bear can be seen ...

Hand-Tooled Tuareg Leather Box – Vintage African Folk Art, Mauritania This exquisite vintage round leather box showcases the artistry of West African craftsmanship, likely Tuareg in ...

This vintage painted ram bust is a captivating example of mid-century folk art, skillfully rendered in plaster with a robust and whimsical form. The sculptor has employed a stylized ...

A naturalistic pen-holder in the shape of this glazed ceramic micro cosmos with a blue tit family (Parus caeruleus) going on with life on an old 'tired' birch wood branch with cracks...

Rare and refined African metal vase with handmade decorations, an object of great charm capable of furnishing your home space with style and elegance

This collection is a work of art that make a statement in modern décor and in the modern cultural art world. It can be used as a vase containing flowers, or as a beautiful centerpiec...

Black forest carved wood coat hooks, late 19th century with genuine chamois horns. Measurements: 13 x 3.9 x 3.9 in / 32 x 10 x 10 cm 11.8 x 3.3 x 3 i...

A very nice large hand carved duck sculpture by Miguel Ruelas, circa 1980s. The detail, craftsmanship and painting in this piece is lifelike and truly amaz...

Large Blue Antique Swedish Folk Art Wooden Trough, Late 1800s. Hand carved wooden tray from Sweden late 19th century. These handmade troughs were common in Scandinavia in this time ...

Austria, circa 1900 An attractive pair of finely carved and polychromed wooden horses, depicting a black horse and a grey horse, each fully equipped with saddle and harness. Execute...

Celebrate American craftsmanship with this charming c. 1940 patriotic whirligig. Crafted from wood and metal, this delightful piece features two men and an American flag, capturing a...

Charming early 19th Century Swedish folk art mangle board having a stylized horse handle, the body with geometric carving and traces of original polychrom...

Scottish cast iron and painted raven doorstop perched on rocky plinth base with central incised interior space for door, Late 19th century.

This collection is a work of art that make a statement in modern décor and in the modern cultural art world. It can be used as a vase containing flowers, or as a beautiful centerpiec...

A beautiful small ceramic pinch pot vase. Created from clay, this fun piece will be fantastic used in a grouping of other vases and filled with your ...

This collection is a work of art that make a statement in modern décor and in the modern cultural art world. It can be used as a vase containing flowers, or as a beautiful centerpiec...

This collection is a work of art that make a statement in modern décor and in the modern cultural art world. It can be used as a vase containing flowers, or as a beautiful centerpiec...

This collection is a work of art that make a statement in modern décor and in the modern cultural art world. It can be used as a vase containing flowers, or as a beautiful centerpiec...

This collection is a work of art that make a statement in modern décor and in the modern cultural art world. It can be used as a vase containing flowers, or as a beautiful centerpiec...

This collection is a work of art that make a statement in modern décor and in the modern cultural art world. It can be used as a vase containing flowers, or as a beautiful centerpiec...

Exceptional 6 ft. tall American Folk Art concrete soldier statue with original paint surface and inset glass 'gem.' Fantastic workmanship. Originally pa...

Africa, 2 decorative elements in polychrome wood around 1950.

Fine group of three Swedish 19th and early 20th century folk art baskets, the first with polychrome decoration on a coiled willow body and having barley twist handle, the second with blue and red paint with floral decoration on a reeded body, the last of cylindrical form and having a woven snowflake pattern. Although priced as a collection, we would be willing to separate them. Size listed is for handled coiled basket...

Presenting a glorious early 20th century Indonesian carved wooden seated gentleman. This is Beautiful bit of ‘treen’ carved most likel...

Detailed and eye catching outsider art "found" wood sculpture. Constructed from floor moldings and cut paper geometric appliques. Unsigned.

Very rare carved and painted wood talbot, a now extinct breed of dog often found in heraldic devices in both England and Ireland, this example in original painted surface and possess...

This striking hand-carved wooden box takes the form of a Chinthea, the mythical guardian lion of Southeast Asian folklore. Rendered in a deep, dark ebony-toned finish, the sculpture ...

Large scale hand carved and gilded torso sculpture made from a tree branch,

This rustic, wooden container is an early 20th century rice measure, used to portion out servings of dry rice and other grains. In keeping with the larger rice measures used at marke...

Scandinavian hand painted 19th century pine strong box circa 1840. Good example of traditional rustic Swedish woodwork.  Painted in a russet red paint with hand painted cream drags....

This Cigarette Box Sculpture Maquette by renowned Ghanaian artist Paa Joe is a striking example of his masterful craftsmanship and symbolic design. Created in 2022, the work is metic...

This monumental vintage walrus sculpture is a remarkable example of hand-carved folk art, exuding a playful yet sophisticated primitive charm. Masterfully hewn from a single, substan...

Served as an architectural pole in a Burmese temple in its previous life, this impressive pole was carved out of a single trunk of teak wood and is now displayed as an object d'art. ...

French Glazed Arts and Crafts Terracotta Jardiniere In good condition, with no damage this very arty piece comes into 3 for transportation, the Terracotta is drip painted in earthy ...

Small mid 19th century Swedish painted pine strong box circa 1842. Beautiful small Scandinavian strong box, presented with scraped back paint to reveal original.  Feintly still bari...

Large Antique Ceramic Plate Blue and White Dutch Boch Delft Charger 1940s. Stunning Boch Delfts blue and white plate in very good condition. Beau...

Decorated in relief and cloaked in an antique patina, this curious brass case is an early 20th century betel nut box, attributed to the Maranao people of the island of Mindanao, Phil...

Japanese Okimono Bronze Figure of a Rat. DIMENSIONS: Height: 6.25 in Width: 4.25 in Depth: 3.5 in. Hand made in Japan circa 1950s. A large heavy vintage bronze statue of a rat made i...

A hollow log painted with Ocher with a clan-based design. Title: Djirrididi Log Artist: James Patrick Lamuta DOB: 01/04/1984 Medium: Ocher pigment on wood Provenance: COA from Elcho Island Art...

A black and white papier mâché kitten sculpture. This fun figurine depicts a cat with white paws and nose, and a black body. Its soft black eyes see...

American gilt copper and cast iron full bodied rooster weathervane mounted on stand, Late 19th Century

A collection of 5 antique wooden Bocce balls all mounted on custom made steel stands. Dense heavy wood. Beautiful untouched surfaces. Very organic and primitive looking. The Balls th...

Nicely glazed hand thrown pottery bowl from Seagrove, North Carolina. The colors are beautiful in blues and browns, and would make a lovely addition to any table or room.

Early 20th century folk art model 'EST-CE UN PIETON OU UNE VOITURE?' (IS IT A PEDESTRIAN OR A CAR?) An Early 20th century French hand carved folk art model, depicting a police...

Decorative Folk Art handcrafted exotic wood lacquered belly flower vase. A-762-335