1950s Folk Art

This folk art box from the 1950s is a particularly decorative object with an authentic, hand-painted appearance. The wooden box is richly decorated with colorful floral motifs in red...

Set of Four French Folk Art Painted Concrete Toadstool Sculptures, c.1950–1970 A wonderfully characterful set of four French folk art toadstool sculptures, dating from the mid-20th century and retaining their beautifully weathered original painted decoration. Recently sourced in France, the four toadstools form a particularly appealing graduated group, each individually modelled with its own slightly irregular proportions and surface. Broad, flattened mushroom caps sit above substantial textured stems, which rise organically from spreading bases modelled to resemble the uneven woodland floor. The original polychrome decoration is particularly attractive. The caps retain fragmented areas of coral-red and warm cream paint, while the bases are picked out in wonderfully faded moss and grass greens. The pale stems provide a natural contrast between the two. Decades of exposure have softened and fragmented the painted surfaces, revealing areas of the underlying concrete and aggregate and producing an almost lichen-like, crusted patina. It is precisely this combination of naïve modelling, faded colour and genuine weathering that gives the group such strong folk-art character. Rather than being perfectly uniform cast ornaments, each has a distinctly individual appearance. The varying heights—from the smallest, squat mushroom to the tallest, slender example—allow the four to be arranged as a naturalistic woodland group. Viewed together, they have an almost storybook quality while remaining wonderfully sculptural. Originally intended as decorative garden ornaments, today they work equally well as pieces of French folk art and decorative sculpture. They could be grouped amongst antique terracotta pots...

Jacques et Dani Ruelland : "Grande banette" Large green "apple" large cup made of enameled ceramic* Circa 1950, France Good conditions Dimensions : H 5 x W 51 x D 10 cm

Rare one of a kind chessboard game, entirely made of handcarved wood, circa 1950. The singular brutalist design of this piece reminds us of the work of Jean Touret for Atelier Maroll...

Old double-sided Dachshund sign in cast iron. Unknown Scandinavian or German maker circa 1930-60. It has been displayed outside and shows weathering, patina and rust. It is intact an...

A covered jar by renown French potter, Jean-Claude Malarmey (1932-1992). Signed on the bottom, Malarmey, Vallauris. This piece is decorated in petal shapes radiating on the lid in a ...

1838 Custom made Carnival Folk Art motorized ferris wheel . Rotates with small lights added set on a wood base

This Authentic Mid-Century American "EXIT ONLY" Decommissioned Street Sign is a premier example of 20th-century municipal engineering and "Machine Age" utility. Dating to the 1940s–1...

This wooden lantern mold, originating from a former paper lantern manufacturing facility, is a superb decorative piece, boasting a highly graphic design. It consists of seven detacha...

Vintage French Majolica crab tureen signed Caugant, circa 1950.

Exceptional mid-century Native American painted drum from the Cochiti Pueblo region of New Mexico, dating to circa 1950. A striking example of Southwestern Pueblo folk art and traditional craftsmanship, this substantial drum is constructed with stretched hide over a carved wooden frame and features a boldly hand-painted geometric design in white, black, and orange. The strong graphic pattern, earthy materials, and naturally aged surface give this Cochiti Pueblo drum a compelling presence that bridges Native American art, Southwestern design, and mid-century interiors. Its generous scale makes it particularly effective as a sculptural decorative object, whether displayed prominently on a stand, incorporated into a curated collection, or used as a distinctive focal point in a Western or Southwestern-inspired interior. The combination of painted hide, carved wood, geometric ornament, and authentic age-related patina reflects the character of mid-20th-century Pueblo craftsmanship. Wear, minor fading, and small losses are consistent with age and use and contribute to the object's authentic vintage character. A distinctive collectible for those interested in Native American art, Pueblo objects, Southwestern antiques...

This Ikat textile originates from the Island of Sumba, Indonesia. It is hand-woven using naturally dyed yarns via a method passed on through generations. It features a stunning array...

Set of 14 traditional Spanish Christmas figures. Made out of metal. Manufactured in Spain, circa 1950. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, preservin...

Kinetic folk-art sculpture. Large anthropomorphic sun sculpture with individually shaped irregular rays. This handmade metal sun face has a cracked ochre / yellow painted surface. Th...

Vintage metal toy Singer sewing machine reproduction. In original condition, wear consistent with age and use, preserving a beautiful patina. Materials: Metal.  

Bring a piece of African heritage into your space with this authentic vintage Katanda mask from the Lega people of DR Congo. Hand-carved in the mid-20th century, this tribal mask is ...

This old mask has a custom made stand and was used in initiation ceremonies. Lega masks always have special facial shapes. It is from one piece of wood cut and has beautiful geometri...

Bring home a piece of ancestral heritage with this authentic Chokwe mask from Angola, crafted in the mid-20th century. Rooted in deep cultural tradition, Chokwe masks were once used ...

This beautiful sculpture by an unknown artist, depicting a Ndebele. Despite of occasionally mistakenly attributed to Carl Hagenauer is it undoubtedly a masterpiece. In earlier times,...

Circa 1950. We offer this Antique Real Size Human Skeleton. Made in resin and wood base.

Very beautiful children's rocking chair in beech plywood minimalist craftsmanship the design of the rocking chair is essentially a nod to the shape of a swinging banana!

A wonderfully crafted and beautifully glazed (in Fall greens and browns) large bowl/vase by renowned American potter Laura Andreson. Gorgeous in its Mid-Century Modern design and shifting colors. Signed on the base by Andreson. A quite special and rare work. Certainly, one of the best pieces of Andreson's work we have had the pleasure to come across. Highly collectible. Would be a great addition to any midcentury ceramics collection or a very eye-catching stand-alone work in about any setting. Andreson, who studied under Glen Lukens, founded and headed the ceramics department at UCLA from 1933-1970. Her work can be found in many collections and museums worldwide including: Metropolitan Museum of Art The Museum of Modern Art Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Smithsonian Museum of American Art The Los Angeles County Museum of Art The Walker Art Center The Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art. Her exhibitions include: 1937 Rene Rosenthal Gallery, New York City, New York. 1938 First California Ceramic Exhibition, San Diego, California 1940 Honolulu Academy of Art. 1947 Eleventh National Ceramics Exhibition, Metropolitan Museum of Art. 1970 Fredric Art Gallery, UCLA, Los Angeles, California. 1970 Laguna Beach Art Gallery. 1971 Mills College Art Gallery, Oakland, California. 1971 Hoover Art Gallery, San Francisco, California. 1971 San Diego Fine Arts Gallery, San Diego, California. 1971 Utah State University, Logan, Utah. 1972 Pasadena Art Museum, Pasadena, California. 1972 Ceramics West, Utah State University, Logan, Utah. 1972 Ogden Art Center, Ogden, Utah. 1972 Bower Museum, Santa Ana, California. 1973 Utah Museum of Fine Art, Salt Lake City, Utah. 1973 Clay and Fiber Gallery, Taos, New Mexico. 1973 California Crafts VIII, Crocker Art Gallery, Sacramento, California. 1974 California Ceramics...

A 1950's rare original James Ensor style papier mâché theatre head. This item was obtained via a private collection (France).

Sven Johansson (1911-1986) oil on Canvas 'modernist' Harbour Sweden 1950's Sven Richard Johansson was a Swedish painter born on November 16, 1911 in Halmstad. Johnasson studied fi...

This vintage pine chest with a drawer from the mid-20th century is a real eye-catcher. It is richly decorated with hand-painted folkloric decorations, executed in a traditional color...

1960’s Small Red American Vintage Gas Station Marquee Numbers And Letters - Large Set. We sourced these from an old gas station in America, thought to be from the 50’s and 60’s. This...

20Thc Copper & brass flying geese weather vane.This Canadian goose weather vane is a latter version of the 19thc weather vane.

Attention collectors! Introducing a nearly 75 year old table top globe in 100% original, vintage condition. Featuring a space-age metal stand with geometric feet this globe shows the...

This Ikat textile originates from the Island of Sumba, Indonesia. It is hand-woven using naturally dyed yarns via a method passed on through generations. It features a stunning array...

Very large New York bus destination sign. Unusual in red. Very graphic. Bottom of roll was date stamped 1951. 7 1/2 feet tall.

Spectacular Model Form of the Steamship The Clermont built Robert Fulton and serving as New Yorks first Steamship on the Hudson. This model has a motor ( not checked for function) an...

A very stylish and unusual vintage Italian Firenze blonde wood orange or grapefruit squeezer modelled as a man’s head by renowned Italian wood carver Alfonso Bini and made around 197...

Set of 3 brutalist nesting tables in solid wood, France, circa 1950. Great set of tables that can either be used as a nest or a cluster. The have a particularly nice wood grain ...

Scale model of an English motorboat (antique motor yacht) from the 1950s, wooden planking hull. Measures: Length 57 cm, 23.44 inches, width 13.5 cm, 5.3 ...

1950s East German train station on the table. Station has 6 pieces. Please note the table is not included. Also there is some more of train cars (in the b...

This improvisational Vintage Southern Quilt in the Housetop /Concentric Square Tradition, is an excellent example of the Southern improvisational textile tradition. This single blo...

Hefty enameled solid aluminum framed passenger safety and information sign from Passenger Stateroom 139 on the Main deck of the SS United States. Fo...

This amazing large geometric Navajo Indian basket is a Papago Indian basket.The geometric design is most unusual and in pristine condition. Late but great basket !

Large vintage christmas jumping jack in wood. The front covered in paper with a beautiful vintage decoration Handmade in the area of Erzgebirge Germany. T...

A gorgeous earth-toned, yellow, green, brown speckle glazed ceramic footed bowl by famed Austrian-born British potter Lucie Rie. The bowl is signed with Lucie Rie's impressed seal on the base. A rare and unique work. Simply a must for any collector of Rie's work or a beautiful stand-alone piece sure to light up any setting. Dame Lucie Rie...

Rare Carved Limestone.Art Deco. W P A, cubist sculpture by William Slattery Included original printed brochure from exhibit,, see photo of sculptu...

This Ikat textile originates from the Island of Sumba, Indonesia. It is hand-woven using naturally dyed yarns via a method passed on through generations. It features a stunning array...

Tutsi shield - Rwanda - mid 20th century Decorative wooden shield attributed to the Tutsis of Rwanda. The face features a polychrome geometric design composed of oval and triangular ...

Traditional Mexican mask hand-carved from wood, embodying the symbolic strength and expressive power of folk art. Its skull-like face, with hollowed eyes and a fixed, subtle grin, ev...

This is a later (1950's), albeit often overlooked and important mechanical bank that is quite rare, and highly sought after by collectors. Iconic bank collector F.H. Griffith wrote a...

This antique Kodak advertising sign is made of thick enamel in black, yellow and red colours. The colours are bright and shiny, with an good relief. The condition is fairly good co...

Thirty-nine piece set of Mid Century ceramic pottery Christmas ornaments hand crafted by Peggy Beaver who was quite the artist in Columbia, SC. The white glaze “frosting” has chipped...

Hand-hooked late Mid-century wool tapestry rug featuring a Modernist abstract portrait of a Parrot done in yellow, orange, and brown against a beige background It is an excellent pie...

Large outdoor ‘Bar Tabac’ sign from France in the 1950s. Extraordinary typography, typical of the 1950s. The metal letters are fixed to two steel bars, whic...

1878 Noah's Ark carved wood sculpture/bookends' Eack animal is individually carved and painted Paint loss due to age and use

Vintage Scale Model of a Fully Fitted Whale Boat, circa 1950s, a hand crafted wooden model of a carvel hulled whale boat having a smooth strake edge to edge construction, fully fitte...

A model C-33 umbrella stand by Italian designer Antonia Campi, produced by S.C.I. Laveno in the 1950s. Cast in single-fired earthenware with an ivory glaze, the form embodies Campi’s...

An almost square mat made from finely worked plant fibres, decorated with an elegant geometric design. Brick-red and dark brown motifs stand out against a natural golden background, ...

This is a metal store display sign that showcases French Folk Art. The piece was expertly crafted in France circa 1950. The rare sign boasts gigantic scissors, which can be used as a...

A original Steiff Turtle "sit on" and "pull toy," circa 1950s. Has original pull chord and original rubber wheels with red painted sides; original bar over the top. All original pain...

c. 1950s-1960s; DeKalb Agricultural Association, Inc. - DeKalb, IL Die-cut tin litho new-old-stock advertising sign featuring the iconic DeKalb winged ear of corn graphic, rendered ...

BANG! A charming grouping of eight hand-carved wooden toy revolvers and pistols, each fashioned individually by hand from solid wood — no two alike. The set spans a warm range of ton...

Original hand-painted canvas sideshow banner for carnival midway sideshow entrance. Not signed but most likely out of Chicago Tent and Awning's banner ...

English folk art shop counter milk man figure. A charming mid-20th century folk art shop countertop display figure. In the form of a man pushing a milk cart...

This beautiful African Armor brings ancient feelings to your space while adding depth and magic. Hang this item on the wall of your home to add ritual and wonder to your space. A de...