Folk Art

Wonderfully sculptural working shorebird decoy, found in original paint. Most likely a replacement beak. Later bespoke made stand, France, circa 1880.

19th Century Austrian hand carved folk art wall candle holder This is a very unusual piece of folk art, made from hand carved wood in 2 pieces as the pipe is removable and could hav...

Presented is an original patriotic sash from the late 19th century, featuring 13 stars against a bright blue field. This sash features appliqued silver stars on a blue canton, red an...

Rare 19th C amazing colors center square with in a square Lancaster County, Pennsylvania all wool in fantastic colors & condition.These center square all wool Amish quilts are super ...

Round nautical rope mirror Audoux Minet, circa 1960. Size: 15 inches diameter.

Wonderfully charming hand-carved 19th Century American folk art horse sculpture on stand. Pay special attention to its face and the carved details to appreciate this fine specimen. ...

Swiss alp painted box

Celebrate the brilliance of American folk art with this exquisite hand-stitched silk quilt from the late 19th century. Crafted with exceptional skill and care, this quilt features an ultra-modern aesthetic that echoes the iconic “piece bars” style popularized by 19th-century Mennonite quilters in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Each rectangular silk piece—measuring approximately 1” x 5”—was individually cut and stitched by hand, creating a striking geometric design that feels both timeless and avant-garde. The rich array of vibrant silk fabrics shimmers with life, making this quilt a true visual feast and a testament to the maker’s artistry and dedication. More than a textile, this quilt is a labor of love—an heirloom-quality work of art that bridges function and beauty. Due to the delicate nature of 19th-century silk, such quilts have become increasingly rare and highly collectible. Their fragility only adds to their mystique and historical value. Perfect as a wall tapestry, this handcrafted quilt is equally captivating whether displayed vertically or horizontally. It’s a powerful conversation piece and a beautiful window into America’s rich quilting heritage. Dimensions: 60” x 78” Date of Manufacture: 4th Quarter of 19th Century Place of Origin: United States Material: Silk Fabric Condition: Wear consistent with age and use The Persian Knot, SKU: 2268 Antique Mennonite Quilts, Pennsylvania Mennonite Quilts, American Applique Quilts, Vintage Pennsylvania Quilts, Antique Applique Quilts...

A great looking hand carved original wooden Folk Art deer head wall decoration. A great piece for a suitable ambiance in a trophy room or the office of ...

Swedish painted 19th century spinning wheel circa 1864. Beautiful piece of traditional Swedish history.  Being a small model with a foot peddle this machine was likely to used to sp...

This is a spectacular primitive corner cupboard. Layers and layers of paint on this piece. Four shelves on top and two on the bottom. Wonderful coloring on this! You don't find these...

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...

small ceramic round vase by Ruelland, signed

This is a very early stone ware glazed piggy bank from New England. This is a handmade piggy bank in very good condition.

19thc early Navajo Indian weaving with feathered star pattern and diamond border. Wonderful vegetable dye color in fine condition.

Native American Sioux Indian fully beaded hide moccasins. Sinew sewn and beaded using colors of medium blue, red white heart, greasy yellow, cobalt, white and brass. Forked tongues a...

This all original 18th century butter churn with the original lid and original hardware and cut nail construction. Take a close look at the fingers and early nails with the original ...

Round nautical rope mirror Audoux Minet, circa 1960. Size: 13 inches diameter.

19th c punched tins cross flags pie safe all original and a natural old surface. This safe was found in East Tennessee and is in fine condition. The conditio...

American gilt carved wood and poly chromed nautical figurehead of Roman guard in military attire. Late 19th century.

American portrait miniature by Thomas Story Officer, Woman in a White Gown, Signed "T.S. Officer, Pinxt", The 1830s The American portrait miniature signed by Thomas Story Officer depicts a beautiful young woman, her red hair “Coeffure a la Chinoise”, sitting in a red chair confidently looking out towards the painter and us, the viewers.  She wears a white dress with a pin in the center of her chest.  Based on her style of dress and her hair, we believe this was painted while Officer was in Philadelphia. It is signed to the lower right "T.S. Officer, Pinxt" along at edge. The reverse has a small oval glass Dimensions: 3 inches high x 2 3/16 inches wide x 1/4 inch deep Reference: Thomas S. Officer: Miniature and Portrait Painter, Gardner Library,  Author: Merri Lou Schaumann. Born in Carlisle in 1810, this gifted artist trained in Philadelphia, traveled extensively and won awards for his paintings. In 1872, James Miller McKim wrote a series of reminiscences for the Carlisle Herald newspaper about the places and people of Carlisle in an earlier day. He wrote that “David Smith, a boot and shoemaker, had two sons… one of whom early developed a taste for art and finally devoted himself to miniature painting as a profession. He was a contemporary, and for a while, a rival of Mr. Thomas Officer, though I believe he never reached the celebrity attained by that gifted young artist. Mr. Officer, by the way, was one of the last miniature painters of any eminence produced by this country, the daguerreotype and photographer having come in to sweep away the entire profession.” Thomas Story Officer was born in Carlisle on August 15, 1810, to cabinetmaker John Officer and his second wife Margaret. He trained in Philadelphia with the well-known portrait painter Thomas Sully and began his career there in the 1830s. Officer left Philadelphia occasionally to paint portraits in Mobile, Alabama in 1837, in Richmond, Virginia in 1845, and in New York City from 1846-1849 where he became a member of the National Academy of Design. In 1842, Officer intended to travel to Mexico and needed a passport. He asked Attorney Charles B. Penrose, formerly of Carlisle, to write a letter of recommendation for him. In his letter to Fletcher Webster, Esq., Penrose wrote, “This will be handed to you by Thomas S. Officer, Esq., a friend of mine, and a native artist of Pennsylvania, who is a gentleman of great talents and respectability. Intending to visit Mexico, he wishes to procure passports at the State Department…”  Officer was issued a passport in July 1842. He was described as 30 years old, 5’ 11” with a “full and round forehead, bluish-gray eyes, an ordinary nose, medium mouth, ordinary chin, sallow complexion with an oval face and brown hair.” Officer went to Mexico and later to Australia. In 1854, he opened a studio in Sandridge, Australia, and while there he “entered several oil portraits in the 1854 Melbourne Exhibition preparatory to sending them to the 1855 Paris Exhibition.” Officer left Australia, and in 1855 he settled in San Francisco where he would spend the last years of his life. He set up a portrait painting department in James Johnson’s photographic gallery in San Francisco. In 1857, Officer received a bronze medal for his oil portraits exhibited at The First Industrial Exhibition of the Mechanics’ Institute of San Francisco, as well as awards at several other exhibits in 1858. A short piece in the San Francisco newspaper, Alta, on October 30, 1859, read, “Mr. Thomas S. Officer, the talented portrait painter, lies near to death’s door and is in pecuniary distress. Out of the many to whose pleasure he has contributed by his gay, social manners, as well as by his pleasing artistic productions, may there not be found someone who will extend a helping hand?”  Officer died on December 8, 1859. Almost an entire column in the January 18, 1860 edition of the Carlisle Herald, was devoted to a very long and informative obituary of Officer taken from the Alta, California newspaper. Officer was buried in the now defunct Lone Mountain Cemetery in San Francisco. In 2014, the Cumberland County Historical Society received a bequest of a portrait painted by Thomas Officer from the estate of historian John J. Snyder, Jr. It joined a miniature portrait already a part of the Society’s museum collection in Carlisle, not far from where Officer was born. Notes: The May 28, 1834 edition of the Carlisle Weekly Herald reported that Thomas S. Officer had "...within the last few weeks, taken the portraits of several gentlemen of this borough...Mr. O. is principally self-taught, and although young, already evinced a degree of taste, judgment, and talent..." A short biography of Officer can also be found in Early American Portrait Painters in Miniature by Theodore Bolton, published by F. F. Sherman (New York, 1921). The entire book is one line  Bio. of Officer on page 117. See Officer’s portrait...

Spanish Colonial majolica pottery water pitcher / vessel from the highlands of Guatemala. This piece has such character, with majolica glaze and traditional decorative design applied...

1960's Transfer Picture Book - New Old Stock - Large Quantity Available. We recently came across a large hoard of new old stock hardware and general merchandise items, laying untou...

Relief wood carving nest Robber, black forest ca. 1890 A fine wood carving relief depicting a scenery of a nest robbing of a raptor by a man. The model for this carving was painted by Josef Anton Strassgschwandtner (1826-1881) and is titled "Nestraeuber" (nest robber). The tradition of wood carving, using manual skills to make everyday objects and fine art sculptures, is found throughout Europe. The incentive to create not only useful but also aesthetically beautiful things, distinguishes the craftsman from the artist. In addition to the well-known Swiss wood carving...

Large Antique Scandinavian storage box made from wood, made in the last half of 1800. It's most likely from Sweden or Denmark. It's a so called "Tejne" made for storing and transp...

Masque en céramique des poteries d'Accolay, France, années 1960. Masque signé au verso. Bon état. Dimensions : hauteur 27 cm, largeur 18 cm, profondeur 9 cm.

19th century miniature oil on board painting of edelweiss circa 1880. Fine quality desktop painting of edelweiss, presented on a wooden easel. Minor losses to paintwork.

Swiss alp painted trunk dated 1808

French rope hook coat Audoux Minet, circa 1960. Measures: Height 8 inches , length 8 inches.

Black painted cast iron dog nut cracker. The condition is very good and in working order.

This fine butter churn has the salt glaze and blue decoration with a number six on the face of the crock. It has the doubled handles in fine condition.

Small lines rocking horse on curved wooden rockers. A small wooden rocking horse on curved rockers attributed to Lines Brothers; the original paint has ...

British Sailor's Woolwork of a Royal Navy White Fleet Frigate The sailor's woolwork depicts a portside view of a square-rigged three masted ship flying the White Ensign. The blue s...

Vintage Aztec god of death Miclantecuhtli inspired pendant/brooch in sterling silver. Marked: FV México, Sterling 925.

A great looking hand carved original wooden Folk Art wall decoration. A great piece for a suitable ambiance in a trophy room or the office of a Hunter or Woodsman. More than likely o...

A well executed almost life size skull and crossbones pine carving, depicting the remembrance that we all will pass. Likely a part of a larger religious carving, possibly placed a...

(French School, 19th Century) A fine quality Portrait of "A Young Officer" Oil on canvas, in original gilt-wood frame. Portrait of a handsome, young French officer wearing a bl...

This is a very unique item, It was a bench used on the rear of an old ship. There are handles made of iron that were used to move it on an off the ship when it wasn't needed. The ori...

Navajo rugs and blankets are textiles produced by Navajo people of the four corners area of the United States. Navajo textiles are highly rega...

Antique seascape with shipwreck on a rocky shore, mid-19th century, a watercolor on paper seascape with a shipwrecked brig on the rocks, with another squall rolling in on horizon, un...

'Self-Portrait' Painting presented in a period frame.

Beautiful antique weathervane most likely by Cushing and White. Origin is New England c. 1880. This weathervane was purchased from Allan Katz Amer...

Fantastic tin litho friction Chevy Corvair c1960 in very good condition, near mint. Ralph Nadar of course made the Corvair infamous in his book, "Unsafe At Any Speed" which led to th...

This mid-19th century American Rockinghamware stoneware flask is a delightful nod to whimsy and practicality. Shaped like a humble potato, it’s a rare ...

19Thc Wool log cabin quilt or barn raising in fine condition. The backing is in a early brown calico fabric.This was found in Lancaster County,Pennsylvania. The quilt dates from the ...

Stone spheres as these where made from antiquity to the present day. As a universal form it served as a ornamental object in gardens, architecture and interiors but also had a deeper...

Beautiful antique 19th C rag rug Runner. The rug is in great condition. The rag runner is from the Trish Herr Collection in Lancaster County Pennsylva...

These fine and early butter bowls are in fine condition and have a nice worn patina. Sold as a group of three.

This 19th century Moroccan Berber chest is a masterpiece of craftsmanship. Made from pine wood, it features beautifully painted sides and top, showcasing intricate patterns and vibra...

Antique Norwegian Wall Hanging Cabinet - 1827, Hand-Painted by Embrik Bæra This exceptional primitive wall-hanging Cabinet / Cupboard / Sideboard ...

English sword cane with a fine toledo blade that measures approximately 27 1/2". Triangular blade marked "Toledo" on the ricasso and is beautifully decorated with etched and fire blued panels which also exhibit areas of gold wash. The decorations travel for about half the length of the blade. The cane measures approximately 35 1/2" and features a nice scalloped and flowered decoration with brass ferrule. Good condition. Blade remains bright and locks into scabbard properly. Nice patina to handle. PERIOD: Late 19th Century ORIGIN: English SIZE: 35 1/2" x 5" Check out our large selection of 19th and 20th Century canes including sword canes and gun canes...

Italian folk art Pyrography picture signed, H. Toscano This is an original and unusual detailed 1690 enactment , and hand incised work of art on wood pan...

Ancient wooden stool with four feet dating to the 19th century. From Congo, Africa. Provenance: Galerie Démons et Merveilles, Paris; Private Collection, United Kingdom.

This 19thc velvet and embroidered quilt is in pristine condition. It was found in Pennsylvania.

Vernier Octant by John Todd, London, circa 1850. An eleven inch radius vernier octant by John Todd with ebonised wooden frame with inset bone scale marked ...

This amazing all wool chalis straight furlows pattern log cabin quilt from Lancaster County,Pennsylvania is in pristine condition.The striped border is a fantastic finish to complete...

Navajo rugs and blankets are textiles produced by Navajo people of the Four Corners area of the United States. Navajo textiles are highly rega...

Antique Amish quilt from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in small one inch squares in wool and cotton. The piecework and quilting is very fine and g...