Folk Art
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Folk Art For Sale
Folk Art Painting by Black Joe Jackson, Titled "We Be Pickn Sum Flars" US 1960's
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A large-scale painting by folk/outsider artist Black Joe Jackson (American, 1922-1997) .
Jackson's theme derives from his childhood memories in the American South. Raised in a poor ...
Category
1960s American Folk Art Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Plywood
Antique Bridal Bench, Scandinavian Wabi Sabi, c 1600s
Located in Hønefoss, 30
Antique Norwegian bridal bench made from rare black alder, this bridal bench approximately dates back to the 17th century.
Wear consistent with age and use adds character, with a b...
Category
17th Century Norwegian Romantic Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Ngbaka Congolese Tribal Mask for Initiation Rituals, Early 20th Century
Located in CA, CA
With a beautiful dark patina, this early 20th century wooden mask shows a naturalistic human face, flattened, with the forehead, open mouth and stylised teeth in light relief; the ri...
Category
Early 20th Century Congolese Tribal Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Exceptional 19th C. Chahut Carousel Horse with Original Paint
Located in Greenwich, CT
An exceptional carousel horse in original paint depicted chahut (prancing). Expressive face and features including eyes and blinkers, mane, saddle and chest harness and hooves. Weath...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Centennial Celebration "1776-1876" American Flag Banner
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Presented is a rare Centennial patriotic flag banner, dating to 1876. The flag’s brilliant blue canton is spectacular, with 81 five-pointed, rayed stars, arranged to read “1776” and “1876.” The flag’s design is completed with thirteen alternating red and white stripes. The flag is a three-piece, treadle-sewn sewn construction, printed on a thin wool and cotton blend. Along the edge, there is a narrow, treadle-sewn sleeve made of cotton tape.
In the lead up to the nation’s Centennial in 1876, flag makers and individuals looked to the past for designs to produce as part of the country’s many celebrations. Popular interpretation of the stars and stripes undoubtedly reached its climax of variety and originality at the time of our Nation’s first Centennial. Since no design restrictions were placed on flagmaker’s imaginations and no strict distinctions were drawn between official and unofficial star counts, it is no surprise that, on the occasion of the Centennial, creativity in flag design was not the exception, but the rule.
The cantons from this period presented an array of geometric abstractions. Great star patterns, referred to as the “starry flower of Liberty” by Oliver Wendell Holmes, that were popular from 1818 and on, resurfaced in Centennial flags...
Category
1870s American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wool, Cotton
20th Century Prestige Cloth, Shoowa, Kuba Kingdom, D. R. Congo
Located in Point Richmond, CA
20th century Prestige cloth, Shoowa people, Kuba Kingdom, D. R. Congo
A syncopated pattern of opposing forces lends this prestige cloth a sense of movement both horizontally and v...
Category
Mid-20th Century Congolese Tribal Folk Art
Materials
Natural Fiber
Pair of beautiful Wood Carved Cherub Angel Heads, Vintage German, 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A pair beautiful hand carved and hand painted cherub angel Heads, found at an estate sale in Nuremberg, Germany. Made by a woodcarver in the Oberammergau area, this area is well-know...
Category
1960s German Baroque Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Wooden Carved Ibex and Chamois Sculptures attr. to Rudolf Heissl jr. ca. 1960s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Wooden Carved Ibex and Chamois Sculptures attr. to Rudolf Heissl jr. ca. 1960s
A pair of finely carved wooden sculptures of a chamois and an ibex. Carved in naturalistic style by th...
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Late 18th Century Swiss Pine Blanket Chest
Located in Vo', Veneto
Late 18th century Swiss stone pine chest
H. 88 cm – L. 145 cm – D. 69 cm
Beautiful chest in pine wood, built at the end of the eighteenth century.
On the front there are three...
Category
1790s Italian Louis XVI Antique Folk Art
Materials
Fir
Vintage 20th Century Ceramic Bar Pitcher, 0.5 L, Generic Design - 2Y339
Located in Bordeaux, FR
This vintage bar pitcher, designed for restaurants and brasseries, features a classic and functional design that epitomizes 20th-century dining aesthetics. With a capacity of 0.5 lit...
Category
20th Century French Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
Folk art wedding chest, circa 1870
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A pine wedding chest from Central Europe, probably German, circa 1870. The neoclassical style persisted in Europe until after the 1820s. This colour scheme of terracotta red and gree...
Category
1870s German Folk Art Antique Folk Art
Materials
Pine
Vintage Pair of "Vrai Sabot Breton" Wooden Clogs with Anatomical Sole - 2Y247
Located in Bordeaux, FR
This vintage pair of "Vrai Sabot Breton" clogs, featuring an anatomical sole and genuine leather upper, represents classic Breton craftsmanship. These traditional wooden clogs are de...
Category
20th Century Unknown Folk Art
Materials
Leather, Wood
19th Century Original Painted Iron Clown Bank
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fun and folky original painted iron penny bank has the original painted surface in working condition. Put a penny in his hand and pull the lever for him to swallow the coin. The small tin...
Category
1890s American Country Antique Folk Art
Materials
Iron
Woman’s Gucci Pony Hair Belt with Brass Buckle
Located in Tarrytown, NY
Woman’s Gucci pony hair belt with brass buckle.
Category
Early 2000s Folk Art
Materials
Brass
Vintage Wall Mounted Store Prop Coffee Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage store front sheet metal prop sign with finger pointing the reader in the direction of coffee. This is a hand painted sign with great wear and patina.
Category
1940s American Adirondack Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Sheet Metal
19th c. American Folk Tramp Art Crown of Thorns Cross in a Large Scale
Located in Savannah, GA
This late 19th century large scale American Folk "Tramp" Art double sided "Crown of Thorns" cross is made up of thousands of carved and joined pieces, held together with the joinery ...
Category
1890s American Folk Art Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Old Tekke Bukhara Turkmen Carpet, Cental Asian Turkoman Rug
Located in Tokyo, JP
This is a Central Asian Old Tekke Bukhara Turkmen Carpet from the Turkmenistan Bukhara region with a rare and beautiful color composition, high-quality materials like; wool & dyes.
...
Category
Mid-20th Century Turkmen Oushak Folk Art
Materials
Wool, Natural Fiber
Egyptian Hand Painted Gold Sphinx Statue
Located in Plainview, NY
A hand-painted Egyptian sphinx statue rendered in radiant gold with black accents. The sphinx, a mythical creature symbolizing strength and wisdom, is depicted in a classic pose, wit...
Category
20th Century Egyptian Folk Art
Materials
Giltwood
Large Split Grain Wood Light Sculpture
By Paul Foeckler
Located in Glendale, CA
Large Split Grain Wood Light Sculpture.
Handcrafted by 20th century artist Paul Foeckler, this one of a kind illuminated sculpture reveals the elemental form and grain in a piece o...
Category
2010s Canadian Organic Modern Folk Art
Materials
Aluminum
Large Dogon Ladder, Mali
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Large Dogon ladder, Mali
Wood
Early to mid-20th century
Measures: 75.5 x 14 in. / 192 x 36 cm
With a textured, eroded patina, this ladder was originally used outdoors. Ca...
Category
Mid-20th Century Malian Other Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Collection of 8 Antique American Cloth Sad Irons, Rare & Collectibles, Set of 8
Located in Bochum, NRW
A beautiful collection of eight antique clothes irons / sad irons.
They are oval-shaped and feature a cast iron base with a detachable wood handle.
Ma...
Category
Early 20th Century American Industrial Folk Art
Materials
Iron
George Washington Praying At Valley Forge, Unique Historical Art Signed 19thc
Located in South Burlington, VT
Unique Historical Framed Account Dating to the Early 1800's , signed Quaker Potts
This is an original and one-of-a-kind enactment artisticaly presented on wood of George Washington kneeling in prayer at Valley Forge...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wood
1950s Catrin "Dandy" Mask, Tlaxcala, Mexico
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Catrin (Dandy) mask
Nahua people, Tlaxcala, Mexico
Wood, gesso, paint
1950s-1960s
Measures: 7? (17.8 cm) high, 6.5? (16.5 cm) wide, 5? (12.7 cm) deep
This mask is called the C...
Category
1950s Mexican Folk Art Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Paint
French 18th Century Agricultural Fragment
Located in Round Top, TX
A very charming 18th century agricultural fragment in wood and iron from the Southwest of France. Wonderful as a tabletop or countertop small pedestal to display a sculpture.
Category
18th Century French Antique Folk Art
Materials
Iron
19th Century Hand Written Persian Book
Located in London, GB
19th century oil on board of a Blacksmith
Of rectangular form, the papier Mache and ebonised cover is finely painted, covered in flowers and a circular motif to the central section...
Category
1850s Unknown Folk Art Antique Folk Art
Materials
Paper
Antique Gothic Carved Limestone Model of a Madonna or Venus
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique limestone carving.
Modeled as a Madonna.
With her head slightly tilted, holding an orb in one hand, and with her other hand resting on her breast.
By repute ...
Category
15th Century and Earlier Unknown Gothic Antique Folk Art
Materials
Limestone
1970s Signed Tony Evans Raku Vessel with Green Glaze and Metallic Accents
By Tony Evans
Located in Morristown, NJ
Vintage signed and numbered hand crafted vessel by raku pottery master Tony Evans (1942-2009) Cali. This raku vessel features a flattened, spherical shape with a wide body and a narr...
Category
1970s American Organic Modern Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Pottery, Clay
Small Warrior Spirit Mask, Northwest Coast by Charlie Mickey, Nootka Nation
By Charlie Mickey
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A small warrior spirit mask
Northwest Coast
Carved and polychrome decorated mask with horse hair,
Hand carved by Charlie Mickey (1910-1988), Hesquiah...
Category
Mid-20th Century Canadian Native American Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Oman, Silver & Gold Necklace with Amulet Box, 19th Century
Located in PARIS, FR
Stunning and rare Omani tribal necklace in gold and silver featuring eight Burgau thalers dated 1780 and a large amulet box (Hirz) also in gold and silver. 19th century.
Very good condition. Preserved and professionally framed.
Dimensions of the necklace: 52 x 30 x 3
Dimensions of the frame: 70 x 47 x 5
Secure shipping.
This fine Omani necklace of silver and gold comprises two strands of spiky, seed pod-like silver beads; gold-wrapped beads; eight silver Maria Theresa thaler coins; and a large silver and gold amulet box, with multiple chain tassels each of which finishes with a square-shaped pendant cut from sheet silver.
The cigar-shaped amulet box called hirz would have contained some Koranic verse or religious text.
Such a spectacular display of wealth would only have been worn at times of important festivities such as marriage celebrations.
Maria Theresa thalers were made in Austria since the reign of Empress Maria Theresa of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Empress died in 1780 and since that time, all thalers that were subsequently struck were minted with that date regardless of the actual year that they were produced. The coins achieved such a level of trust for their silver content (which is 83.3% silver) in the Middle East that neither the design not the date was varied, and so for more than 200 years the coins were used as an international currency among the tribes and the states of the Middle East, in much the same way as the Spanish dollar was used as an international currency at the time elsewhere. The thalers were used to complete most important transactions locally and were also given as dowries. They were also an important source of silver and were melted locally for jewellery.
The coins made their way to the ports of the Red Sea, Egypt and northern Africa from the ports of Genoa, Trieste, Livorno and Marseille. European traders used the coins to buy precious materials from the Gulf and northern Africa which it desired – commodities such as spices, coffee, gum Arabic, indigo, pearls, and tortoise shell.
The importance and the beauty of the coins saw them incorporated into local jewellery most particularly in Oman and Yemen.
References
Al-Jadir, S., Arab & Islamic Silver, Stacey International, 1981.
Harrigan, P., ‘Tales of a Thaler’, Saudi Aramco World, January/February 2003.
Hawley, R., Omani Silver, Longman, 1978.
Hawley, R., Silver: The Traditional Art of Oman, Stacey International, 2000.
Rajab, J.S., Silver Jewellery of Oman, Tareq Rajab Museum, 1998.
Ransom, M., Silver Treasures from the Land of Sheba: Regional Yemeni Jewelry...
Category
19th Century Omani Antique Folk Art
Materials
Gold, Silver
Circus Poster by Ringling Bros., circa 1971, "Clown Standing over Tents"
Located in Incline Village, NV
This highly animated, bright and colorful circus poster portrays a fabulous looking clown in white frilled garb with red stripes, welcoming everyone to see the "Greatest Show on Earth...
Category
1970s Folk Art Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Paper
19th Century Iron Humpty Dumpty Bank
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fun bank was purchased out of a collection and has an aged patina and unpainted surface. The condition is very good.
Category
Late 19th Century American Country Antique Folk Art
Materials
Iron
Pink Cast Iron Pig Money Bank or Doorstop with Wings, Denmark
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Danish piggy pink cast iron money bank or doorstopper with wings.
This smiling and charming Lady Pig is newly powder-coated in "pretty pink". She is good sturdy condition.
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Folk Art Folk Art
Materials
Iron
Brown Mid Century Rustic Stoneware Ceramic Pitcher by Rouillard 1975 La Borne
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
Rouillard
Unique handmade mid XXth century ceramic pitcher
Original brown stoneware ceramic color
Signed under the base
Original perfect condition
Measures: Height 21 ...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
Gemstone sphere incense holder - Rhodonite pink
Located in Pacasmayo, PE
Delight a stone enthusiast with a one-of-a-kind incense holder: the Rhodonite pink Sphere Incense Holder. Crafted from genuine semi-precious stone, it infuses any decor with calming ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Peruvian Folk Art
Materials
Stone
Cute Viechtauer Hand Carved Wood Bird Black Forest Folk Art Austria 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A beautiful Austrian early 20th century, carved wood bird, mounted on a stand for hanging. The tradition of these in Austria called "Viechtauer" birds goes back to the early 19th cen...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Paint
Peter Voulkos Signed Mid-Century Modern Stoneware Pottery Vase, circa 1950s
Located in Studio City, CA
A fantastic early work (circa early 1950s) by Master Greek-American potter Peter Voulkos.
Signed on base with incised signature by Voulkos.
Voulkos is widely considered to be the most important and impactful ceramists of the modern era. He won the Rodin Museum prize at the first Paris Biennale in 1959 and was the winner of a Guggenheim fellowship in 1984. Voulkos received the College Art Association’s Distinguished Artist Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1997. He was made an honorary member of the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters in 2001. He also received six honorary.
Doctorate degrees as well as three National Endowment for the Arts awards.
His work can be found in many prominent collections and museums including:
Aichi Prefectural Ceramic Museum, Nagoya, Japan
Albany Mall, Albany, New York
American Museum of Ceramic Art...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Stoneware
Vintage Dark Red Illuminated Letter E , 1980s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This vintage industrial plastic dark red facade illuminated letter E was made in Italy during the 1970s and comes from an old advertising banner. It is equipped with a LED strip. .T...
Category
1980s Italian Industrial Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Plastic
Great Carved Black Forest Horn Lithophany, Germany ca. 1840
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Great Carved Black Forest Horn Lithophany, Germany ca. 1840
Museal rustic lithophany depicting finely carved chamoise in a mountain landscape. The f...
Category
Mid-19th Century German Black Forest Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Antler
Solid Brass Currency Bracelet/Manilla, Gurma People, Burkina Faso, Early 20th C
Located in Aramits, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Early 20th-century brass currency bracelet / Manilla in horseshoe form with fixed opening. Hand-stamped and shaped graphical motives and the ti...
Category
Early 20th Century Burkinabe Tribal Folk Art
Materials
Brass
Large Camel Moroccan Rug
Located in New York, NY
One of a kind large square room size with a happy-go-lucky large camel sitting on an ivory ground. The wool on this is phenomenal. it's soft on the feet. The hump on the camel has a ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Moroccan Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wool
Amish Lancaster Co. , Pa. Bars Quilt
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This amazing early Amish Lancaster County, Pennsylvania all wool bars quilt is in fine condition.Note the red & blue bars is quite rare and not typical Amish colors.Very fine and int...
Category
1910s American Adirondack Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Wool
Bogolanfini "Mud Cloth" Woman's Wrapper
Located in Point Richmond, CA
WOMAN’S WRAPPER (BOGOLANFINI)
Mali, Bamana people
First half 20th century (probably made circa 1970)
Cotton (hand-spun), strip weave; painting with mud and plant dyes
These textil...
Category
1970s Malian Tribal Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Cotton
Early 20th Century Hand-Carved Wood Tribal Mask from Atoni Tribe Timor
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
This very flat mask originates from the Atoni people of Timor. For the Timorese people masks portray both male and female ancestors, worn by warriors to scare off enemies or during c...
Category
Early 20th Century Indonesian Other Folk Art
Materials
Wood
18th Century Oil on Canvas Venetian Architectural Capriccio Landscape Painting
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Venetian school of the mid-18th century. Oil on canvas painting depicting an invented landscape composition of remarkable pictorial quality. On the right is a ruined building, probab...
Category
1750s Italian Antique Folk Art
Materials
Canvas
Airplane Sculpture on Wood Stand, Folk Trench Art
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Airplane Sculpture on Wood Stand
Folk Art - possible Trench Art
circa 1950
"airplane's spin and can be set into multiple positions"
" in original c...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Metal
21th Century Italian Table, Chess Board, Chess Game Gold /Silver plated brass
Located in VALENZA, IT
Chess table and chess game in bronze and brass made with the ancient casting technique.
After the casting, the finishing was chiseled and subsequently silvered and finished with 24-k...
Category
2010s Italian Medieval Folk Art
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Carved Wood Sculpture of the Hindu Deity Nandi With Pedestal, Circa 1920
Located in Point Richmond, CA
South Indian carved wood sculpture depicting the Hindu Deity of Nandi, a recumbent black bull figure, known within the Hindu faith as the vehicle for Siva, often depicted in sculptur...
Category
20th Century Indian Folk Art Folk Art
Materials
Hardwood
Ancient Egyptian New Kingdom Scarab Faience Ring 1550 - 1070 B.C
Located in Nottingham, GB
This remarkable Ancient Egyptian New Kingdom scarab faience ring, dating from 1550 to 1070 B.C., is a rare and captivating piece of history. The ring features a finely crafted scarab...
Category
15th Century and Earlier Antique Folk Art
Materials
Faience
Early 20th c. Pair of Second Class Paris Metro Seats c.1908-1920
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT
A pair of Paris Metro train seats with teak slats seats and a decorative metal scrolled leg. The legs are attached to a metal plate which can be removed. The back rest leans s...
Category
Early 20th Century French Industrial Folk Art
Materials
Enamel, Steel
Antique Victorian Press - Mahogany
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A beautiful small antique press, made of mahogany wood.
The press was used as a hobby, for example for pressing flowers, for example for making herbariums, a popular hobby at the end...
Category
1870s British Victorian Antique Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Early 20th Century Ceremonial Cloth / Tampan, South Sumatra, Indonesia
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Early 20th century Ceremonial Cloth / Tampan, Paminggir, Lampung region, South Sumatra, Indonesia
Commonly referred to as ship cloths, these ceremonial tampan would have been used as gifts, wrappers, cushions or pillows in any number of life-transition ceremonies, including children’s first hair cutting...
Category
Early 20th Century Indonesian Tribal Folk Art
Materials
Cotton
Antique Victorian Vanity Mirror with Bear, Black Forest ca. 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Victorian Vanity Mirror with Bear, Black Forest ca. 1900
A lovely wooden vanity mirror decorated with an elaborate carved bear...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Kuba Shoowa Textile 20th Century
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Shoowa Prestige Cloth
D.R.Congo, Kuba (Shoowa) People
Mid 20th century
Raffia, natural dyes, cut pile embroidery
61 x 53.5 cm (24″ x 21”)
Provenance: Pierre Loos Collection, Bru...
Category
Early 20th Century Congolese Tribal Folk Art
Materials
Natural Fiber
Early 19th Century Marionette Puppets
Located in London, GB
Early 19th Century Marionette Puppets
A rare untouched example of two hand crafted early 19th century marionette puppets, likely to be French in...
Category
1820s French Antique Folk Art
Materials
Fabric, Pine, Paper
Monumental 7' x 8' Modern Abstract Oil Painting On Canvas by Simeon Gonzales
By Mario Gonzales
Located in Buffalo, NY
Simeon Gonzales is a contemporary abstract artist born in Cusco, Peru in 1973. His Inka heritage is very present in his works, which are a celebration of bright and strong colors. Go...
Category
1990s Peruvian Mid-Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Canvas, Paint
Shoji Hamada Mingei Kakiyu Kaki Glaze Japanese Pottery Yunomi Teacup Signed Box
By Shoji Hamada
Located in Studio City, CA
An exquisite, beautifully crafted, and wonderfully designed Yunomi teacup by master Japanese potter Shoji Hamada featuring his wax-resistant technique and highly coveted thick rich Kaki glaze over Mashiko stoneware pottery in a circular striped pattern. A unique work. Rare to find such a beautiful piece in such impeccable condition. It is a true pleasure to hold in your hand.
The original Hamada signed and sealed wood storage box is included.
A beautiful work. Would be a great addition and sure to shine in any Hamada or Japanese/Asian ceramics collection or serve as an eye-catching stand-alone accent piece in about any setting.
Shoji Hamada was designated a Living National...
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Folk Art
Materials
Stoneware
Vintage Indian or Oriental Brass Tray with Swastika Motif - 2Y269
Located in Bordeaux, FR
This vintage brass tray, featuring an intricate Swastika motif, reflects traditional Indian or Oriental design. The tray is in good overall conditi...
Category
20th Century Unknown Folk Art
Materials
Brass
Exceptional Pair of Dummy Boards
Located in Greenwich, CT
Fine and rare pair of 18th Century English dummy boards depicting a Cavalier and his Lady, he with a Van Dyke mustache, sword and leather boots, she with ...
Category
18th Century English Georgian Antique Folk Art
Materials
Pine, Paint
Vintage, New and Antique Folk Art
Folk art refers to a genre of art that shares the creator’s traditions, offering not just an artistic display but an opportunity to learn about a culture. Vintage, new and antique folk art typically reflects a heritage or location. It can include utilitarian objects and handmade art as diverse as weather vanes, portraiture and paintings, carnival art, quilts and duck decoys.
American folk art is frequently valued because of the traditional 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. Native American folk art includes functional objects reflecting their heritage, such as baskets, textiles and wooden pieces.
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 folk art on 1stDibs.
Read More
A Giant Wedding Cake Has Us Looking at Portuguese Tiles in a New Light
At Waddesdon Manor, artist Joana Vasconcelos has installed a three-tiered patisserie inspired by the narrative tile work of her homeland. We take a look at the cake sculpture and how Portuguese tiles have been used in architecture from the 17th century to today.
Why Jules Chéret Was the King of the Modern Poster
The streets of fin-de-siècle Paris were set aglow with colorful poster ads, thanks to the printing techniques invented by Jules Chéret. Now, the Milwaukee Art Museum is celebrating this undersung talent in America's first solo show dedicated his exuberant works.
Why the American Flag Has Had So Many Different Star Patterns
Expert Jeff Bridgman explains the history and meaning behind the twinkling constellations that have graced Old Glory.
Peggy Guggenheim Loved Modernism, but She Also Collected Tribal Art
The iconoclastic style setter displayed African and Oceanic art, as well as works by indigenous peoples of the Americas, alongside pieces by such major modernists as Pablo Picasso and Jackson Pollock.
The 13-Star American Flag Had More Variations Than You’d Think
Perfect for July 4th weekend, a new show at Philadelphia's Museum of the American Revolution displays an array of antique red, white and blue flags.
Tramp Art, America’s Most Misunderstood Art Form, Is Trending in Interiors
Designers are beginning to see this enigmatic form of folk art in a whole new light.