Folk Art Nautical Objects
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
Color: Brown
Very Decorative Antique Ship Model with Beautiful Wear and Tear
Located in Beerse, VAN
Beautiful antique ship model made of different types of painted wood.
It was most likely made as a toy as we can tell by the less detailed construc...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Wood
19th Century Diorama of Sailing Ship ‘Eleanor’
Located in Dublin 8, IE
19th Century diorama of the sailing ship ‘Eleanor’ in original glazed case.
Painted antique shadowbox diorama of a three-masthead clipper ship alo...
Category
19th Century Antique Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Glass, Wood
British Sailor's Large Woolwork of HMS Brunswick
Located in Downingtown, PA
British Sailor's large woolwork of HMS Brunswick,
Circa 1865
The large sailor's woolwork depicts an image of a Royal Navy Second Rate Battleship. By repute she is the HMS Brunswick ...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Wool
Late 19th Century Sailor's Knot Board
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique Sailor's Folk Art Knot Board, circa 1880s, an intricate and elaborate array of approximately 41 bends, hitches, knots, splices, rigging and other fa...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Rope, Oak
Nest of Three 19th Century Signed Nantucket Lightship Baskets
Located in Nantucket, MA
Nest of three Nantucket lightship baskets, the swing handles, staves and the ears ( which attach the handle to the basket) are all carved from oak. The bottoms are made from pine and each are stenciled with the maker's mark, "R Folger Maker Nantucket Mass." Rowland Folger (1803-1883) is considered one of Nantucket's first makers of lightship baskets. His baskets are very durable and were definitely used as utilitarian.These three baskets were discovered in an attic, where they were living for the last 90 years...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Antique Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Brass
Folk Art Scratch Built Boat, Early 20th C
Located in London, GB
Scandinavian folk art boat of 2 rigged masts - completely scratch built from pine and teak wood. Original paint finish. Handmade and dating from the earl...
Category
Early 20th Century Scandinavian Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Steel
Early 20th Century French Folk Art Shellwork Table
Located in Milford, NH
A wonderful folk art rectangular shellwork table featuring a top with foliate polychrome sand design around shells under glass, with the entire surface of the sides and legs covered with small seashells set...
Category
Early 20th Century French Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Shell, Glass, Wood
Early 20th Century Carved Wooden Miniature Pequot Ship's Figurehead Model
Located in Nantucket, MA
Early 20th Century Carved Wooden Miniature Pequot Ship's Figurehead Model, circa 1920s, a wonderful folk art carving of a Pequot-Mohican Indian in the form of a ship's figurehead: this is in fact the figurehead of the Whale Ship...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Pine
19th Century Sailor's Woolwork of Frigate with Signal Flags
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th Century Sailor's woolwork of a British Frigate at Anchor, circa 1880, adorned with an array of British ensigns and a full rig of signal flags strung along the stays. The hull has the unusual touch of having glass beads mounted in each gunport, and a metaliic gilt thread highlighting the strakes above and below the two rows of gunports, and on the sterncastle. Mercantile silk threads were used for the flag halyards. The ship is moored off a lighthouse at the foot of a large green haystack headland. The woolwork is mounted in its original Victorian carved, ebonized and parcel gilt oak frame...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Wool
19th C. Silk Embroidered and Hand Painted Seascape by Thomas Willis
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th century silk embroidered and hand painted oil on canvas seascape by Thomas Willis (1850 - 1925), depicting the schooner-rigged racing yacht MARION W...
Category
1880s American Antique Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Canvas, Silk
British Sailor's Woolwork, With Motto of The Order of The Garter
Located in Downingtown, PA
British Sailor's Woolwork,
With Motto of The Order of The Garter,
Circa 1880.
The unusual sailor's woolwork depicts a soldier and a sailor standing and pointing with one hand to either side of a circular device in the form of a garter with the Union Jack within and the motto "Honi soit qui mal y pense...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Wool
Antique Nantucket Ship's Wheel Dining Table
By Nancy Chase
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique ship's wheel dining table from Nantucket Island, made by the renowned Scrimshaw artist Nancy Chase (1931-2016). Nancy bought this Late 19th Century Ship's Wheel from an antiq...
Category
1950s American Vintage Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Wood, Glass
19th Century Whaler Made Turned Ebony Stemmed Cup
Located in Stamford, CT
19th century whaler made carved and turned ebony stemmed cup. "Manila P.I." painted on one side. Manila, Philippine Islands would have been a port of call on ...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Antique Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Ebony
Sailor's Woolwork of Royal Navy Five-Masted Ship under Steam, Minotaur Class
Located in Downingtown, PA
Sailor's Woolwork of Royal Navy Five-masted Ship under Steam,
HMS Minotaur or HMS Agincourt,
Minotaur Class Broadside Ironclad,
circa 1880
The sailor's woolie depicts a portsi...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Wool
Folk Art Nantucket Island Ornamental Fishing Line "Fish" Spool Souvenir
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Hand carved and painted mint green fish souvenir spool from Nantucket Island (ca. 1940s, MA, USA). The fishing twine is connected to a small metal hook affixed to the fish's mouth. Warm patina / good age commensurate with history (small spots of wood / paint loss along with crazing). Small but impressive vintage fishing collectible...
Category
1940s American Vintage Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Stone
American Three Masted Clipper Ship in Bottle on Original Wood Stand, Circa 1880
Located in Hollywood, SC
American three masted clipper ship in bottle with cloth rigging in full sail on a painted sea, flanked by a sea side town with evergreen trees, a pain...
Category
1880s American Antique Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Glass, Wood, Paint
Folk Art Ship Model
Located in Doylestown, PA
A naive Folk Art ship model in carved wood with fabric sails and elaborate rigging, American, circa 1900.
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Wood
Early 20th Century Folk Art Boat Model Collection
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century Folk Art Boat Model Collection
Every now and again something truly amazing comes along, this is true in this amazing collection of...
Category
1920s British Vintage Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Brass, Copper
Collection of 19th Century Vintage Oak and Ash Ships Blocks
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
A Collection of 19th Century Vintage Oak and Ash Ships Blocks
This is a collection of 24 ships blocks and pulleys, all in good vintage condition, the are made in Ash, Oak and one ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Oak
Nautical Folk Art Hand Carved Wooden Whimsy
Located in Brooklyn, NY
American whimsy with traditional 'ball in cage' decoration, all carved and whittled from one continuous piece of wood, circa early 20th century. The bottom tip suggests that this pie...
Category
1910s American Vintage Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Wood
British Sailor's Large Woolwork Woolie of HMS Victoria
Located in Downingtown, PA
British sailor's woolwork woolie of HMS Victoria,
Berlin wool on linen (Duck),
circa 1865
The large sailor's woolwork or woolie depicts HMS Victoria, named below on a banner, wi...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Wool
English 19th Century Trinity House Burl Walnut Writing Box Ship and Cube Inlay
Located in Wells, ME
English 19th century burl walnut writing box of unusual interior conformation. The exterior of the box is inlaid with a transitional English ship, having both sail and steam capabilities , sailing on the open seas. She is made of ebony, boxwood and sails on a sycamore sea. The front panel is inlaid in perspective cube made of boxwood, satinwood, sycamore and ebony enclosed with delicate stringing. the end panels are of lively walnut and the back panel is in flame mahogany; all are enclosed by delicate stringing.. The interior has a mahogany writing panel which hinges down to write upon; the interior of that space retains its original red paper lining. The space in the bottom of the box has wells for oddments and ink; two of the compartments have bottoms which slide to the center and reveal hidden spaces beneath them. Complete with lock and key (key replaced). Circa 1870.
Trinity House boxes...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Walnut
Monumental 19th Century Fisherman Atop Fish Double Whirligig Weather Vane
Located in Nantucket, MA
Monumental 19th century fisherman atop fish double whirligig weather vane, from Harpswell, Maine, circa 1890, an exceptionally large rustic weather vane from a fisherman's shanty, with whirligig arms on figure and at tip of fish's snout. Great little details include the individual fingers on the tips of the arms. Very worn weathered traces of the original paint. Descended within the family from the Great Grandfather maker. Truly an exceptional piece of New England folk art...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Pine
Rare Large Barge Model, in Wood and Composite Material circa 1960
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Rare large barge model, in wood and composite material circa 1960
with battery and sound system to be checked.
Category
1960s French Vintage Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Plastic, Wood
19th Century Matched Pair of Sailor's Yachting Woolies
Located in Nantucket, MA
Very unusual 19th century matched pair of sailor's Yachting Woolies, circa 1870, a true pair of woolworks featuring mirror images of the same Yawl rigged yacht, and period photograph...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Wool
19th Century Trinity House Inlaid Rosewood Sewing Box, circa 1870
Located in Nantucket, MA
Fine 19th century trinity house marquetry inlaid rosewood sewing box, circa 1870, made by a Trinity House Lighthouse Keeper or sailor aboard a Lightship for sale to passing ships. The rosewood box features marquetry inlaid cutter-rigged sloops sailing past a lighthouse within a crossbanded reserve on the lid, and additional inlaid cutters and escutcheon on the front. The interior is fitted with a velvet pincushion and various cuddies both open or covered by a rosewood lid with petite ivory finial; the tray lifts out to reveal a paper-lined storage compartment. The bottom of the box retains its original paper covering.
Delicate marquetry inlay does not survive well in the damp environments of lighthouses and ships, so these highly prized Trinity House boxes...
Category
1870s British Antique Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Wood, Rosewood
Nantucket Lightship Basket, Made by Davis Hall on the South Shoal Lightship
Located in Nantucket, MA
Oval Nantucket lightship basket with shaped oak swing handle
ending in carved round “lollipop” ends and brass ears. Remnants of
the original paper label remains on the bottom. Made...
Category
Late 19th Century North American Antique Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Cane, Rattan, Oak
Large 19th Century Presentation Half Hull Model of a Whale Ship
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th Century Presentation Half Hull Model of a Whale Ship, circa 1850, a large plank on frame model of a bluff-bowed and wide abeam whale ship. The model wa...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Antique Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Pine
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 Nautical Objects
Materials
Pine
Portrait of the Whaleship Charles W. Morgan, by James Cree, circa 1910
Located in Nantucket, MA
Portrait of the Whaleship Charles W. Morgan, by James Cree (1867 – 1951), artist active in the New Bedford area from 1910 to about 1932, a watercolor of the iconic American whaleship under sail.
The MORGAN is the most famous Yankee whale ship, and the only surviving 19th Century whaleship from the age of sail...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Paper
American Gilt Carved Wood and Poly Chromed Roman Guard Figurehead, Circa 1890
Located in Hollywood, SC
American gilt carved wood and poly chromed nautical figurehead of Roman guard in military attire. Late 19th century.
Category
1890s American Antique Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Wood, Giltwood, Paint
Painted Wood Relief Model of a Three-Mast Ship, 20th Century
Located in Buchanan, MI
A painted wood relief model of a three-mast ship
20th century
With a plaque reading Oriol 1884, in a shadowbox frame.
Measures: 26 1/2 x 13 1/2 inches (fra...
Category
19th Century Antique Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Canvas
British Sailor's Woolwork Pair of Pictures or Woolies with Ship and Flags
Located in Downingtown, PA
The pair of large Sailor's woolwork pictures are within maple frames and a gilt inner border with a sand colored mat. These are known as woolies.
The pictures are a true pair with all the details reversed with the ships facing towards each other. The wools have a central round panel depicting a ship on stormy seas with puffed sails and arrayed around the panel are eight flags, four to each side.
On the outside is the United States flag depicted in blue and white below which is an unidentified British flag, the Turkish flag...
Category
1860s English Antique Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Wool, Textile
British Sailor's Woolwork with Sea Rescue
Located in Downingtown, PA
Sailor's Woolwork with Sea Rescue,
Circa 1865-75.
The rare sailor's woolwork or woolie depicts a real life incident. It is titled "The Boats and Crew of H.M.S. Arethusa Rescuing the Crew from the Brig George Duncan...
Category
1860s English Antique Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Wool
Folk Art nautical objects for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique folk art nautical objects for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage nautical objects created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include folk art, wall decorations, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, fabric and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art nautical objects made in a specific country, there are Europe, United Kingdom, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original nautical objects, popular names associated with this style include Hubley Manufacturing Company, Nancy Chase, and Steve Hazlett. 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 nautical objects differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $140 and tops out at $17,500 while the average work can sell for $3,400.
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