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.
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Style: Folk Art
Period: 20th Century
Miniature Model Wooden Canoe, American Circa 1950's
Located in Incline Village, NV
While this model canoe might have been used as a salesman sample, whereby merchants, carried it from town to town to encourage sales, it was more than likely used as a demonstration ...
Category
1950s Vintage Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Wood
Carved and Decorated Sperm Whale Figure, circa 1900
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique Carved Sperm Whale, circa 1900, a fine and early hand carved figure of a sperm whale with carved and painted detail to open jaw, in original black paint with highlights. A ve...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Pine
Mid Century Large Motorized Hand Made Chris Craft Cabin Cruiser C1955
By Chris Craft Boats
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous and large cabin cruiser boat model with an untested motor and batteries. 41.5 inches long and sitting on a brand new custom made stand with a nautical theme. In very good vi...
Category
1950s American Vintage Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Metal
Double Sailor's Valentine of Sea Shells and Motto "Ever Thine"
Located in Downingtown, PA
Double Sailor's Valentine of Sea Shells and Motto "Ever Thine",
Barbados, West Indies,
Circa 1885
A double sailor's valentine with Spanish Cedar box...
Category
Early 20th Century Bajan Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Shell
A folk art diorama model passenger ship in a bottle English circa 1930
Located in Central England, GB
This early 20th century ship in a bottle diorama is of a rarer subject being an early large steam ocean going passenger liner set in a scene just off the shoreline with a lighthouse ...
Category
Mid-20th Century British Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Glass
Ketch Pond Yacht, c.1900
Located in Savannah, GA
A gaff rigged ketch pond yacht on display stand, circa 1900.
All original paint, riggings and six sails.
68 ½ inches wide by 12 inches deep by 62 inches tall
Category
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Canvas, Wood
A four mast 18th century ship in a bottle, English folk art circa 1920
Located in Central England, GB
This very good example has been hand built in a smaller sized square bottle than normally seen. It contains a large four mast 18th century ship fully rigged and with open sails leaving the shoreline which has high cliffs and buildings whilst about to pass a lighthouse. The scale and detail are very good and it has been very nicely hand painted. These rare folk art bottles...
Category
Early 20th Century British Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Glass
American American Painted Cast Iron "Old Salt" Maine Fisherman Doorstop
Located in Downingtown, PA
American Painted Cast Iron "Old Salt" Maine Fisherman Doorstop or Bookend,
Hubley Manufacturing Company,
The 1920s.
The two larger figures depict an old salt fisherman standing ...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Iron
Early 20th Century Grey Whale Shop/Trade Sign
Located in Hastings, GB
'Thar She Blows' a fabulous rare shop/trade sign of great scale, hand made in riveted zinc and hand painted. This superb piece sits on an iron stand and would have spun outside of a ...
Category
1920s French Vintage Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Zinc
Carved Pine Half Hull Model of a Coasting Schooner
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique Carved Pine Half Hull Model of a Coasting Schooner, circa 1920, a hollow-carved shell half hull model with clipper bow and great shear, and nice serpentine carved trailboard....
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Pine
Schooling Mackerel by Barnaby Porter, circa 1970's
Located in Nantucket, MA
Schooling Mackerel by Barnaby Porter, circa 1970s, a sculpture made from reclaimed wood on the mid-coast of Maine. Porter used old found wood to cut and hand paint these three mackerel "weathervanes," mounted together as a school - this was part of an original room-sized installation.
The sculpture is in excellent, as made "distressed" condition as shown in photographs.
Porter's work has been exhibited in the Farnsworth Museum and elsewhere and has been featured in the TV show, "Made in Maine', and in magazines such as Fine Woodworking...
Category
1970s American Vintage Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Reclaimed Wood
Seascape with Ship Racing a Barkentine, by C.A.S. Orne, 1920
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique Seascape with square-rigged ship racing a Barkentine, by C.A.S. Orne, 1920, a watercolor on paper stormy seascape with two square-riggers running before the wind, with choppy...
Category
1920s American Vintage Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Paper
20th Century Diorama Folk Art Three Mast Model Ship in a Bottle English, C 1930
Located in Central England, GB
A fine Diorama Folk Art Model ship in a bottle
This skilfully made diorama of a three-mast early 19th century sailing ship at harbour with a raised landscape behind and cottages set...
Category
20th Century English Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Glass
Cutty Sark Scots Whisky Barrel Top tray
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Cutty Cutty Sark Scots Whisky Barrel Top tray
A good looking piece, made in golden oak and brass bound, this barrel top tray would have had pride of p...
Category
Mid-20th Century Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Oak
20th C, Hand Crafted Tall Copper Electrified Lighthouse Table Lamp
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Amazing craftsmanship in this one of a kind piece hand crafted from copper. Hammered repousse in and around the entire lighthouse. Tall 33 inches by 14 diameter with an 11 inch balcony. Entirely lights up, Tower with a large dome light...
Category
1940s American Vintage Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Copper
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
Folk Art Brigantine Weathervane by Frank Adams, Martha's Vineyard, circa 1930s
Located in Nantucket, MA
Folk Art Brigantine Weathervane by Frank Adams (1871 - 1944), West Tisbury, Martha's Vineyard, circa 1930s, a hand built weathervane of a brigantine with square-rigged foremast and fore-and-aft-rigged mainmast, with wooden hull, characteristic cut sheet metal sails with folded fore-edges, and wire rigging.
The weathervane is in original nicely weathered paint and condition.
Frank Adams was a folk artist on the Vineyard best known for his duck decoys, but also for these weathervanes, ship models, miniature decoys...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Metal
Portrait of the Clipper Ship Oriental by Lucius A. Briggs, 1925
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique Seascape Portrait of the Clipper Ship ORIENTAL by Lucius A. Briggs, (Boston and New Bedford: 1852 - 1931), 1925, a watercolor seascape with the tea clipper under rosy sky, si...
Category
1920s American Vintage Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Paper
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
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
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 Scratch Built English Paddle Boat Model
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century scratch built English paddle boat model
A wonderful object, scratch built from found objects and consisting mainly of brass and copper ...
Category
Early 20th Century British Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Brass, Copper
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
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
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
Vintage Nautical Table Lamp with Patinated Brass Boat Propeller Base
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Impressive nautical table lamp composed of a nylon rope wrapped stem anchored by a vintage boat propeller, (circa 1970s, USA). Accents and prope...
Category
1970s American Vintage Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Brass
Swedish Folk Art Light Fixture
Located in New York, NY
The Swedish shipbuilders' longtime tradition of hanging scale-sized models of finished ships in churches for protection of ship and crew has inspired suc...
Category
1950s Swedish Vintage Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Wrought Iron
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
French Faience Nautical Pattern Plate, circa 1900
Located in Austin, TX
Large 19th French decorative plate with nautical pattern (boats, fishs baskets, lighthouse), circa 1900.
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Ceramic
Vintage Pond Yacht
Located in Norwell, MA
Wooden pond yacht with natural finish and painted white above the waterline. Linen sails, blue deck.
70" long x 11 1/2" wide x 78" ...
Category
Early 20th Century British Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Brass, Lead
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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