19th Century Folk Art

Antique wooden letter/keepsake box from ca. the 1920s, covered in 1800s’ cordovan / gold leather with a natural patina. The leather features decorated and hand-painted detailing, inc...

Ngaady aMwaash Mask. African Antique Folk Art Kuba Mask, originating from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Property from a Private Collection. Acquired by a Norwegian Collector...

From Native America comes this unique ancient hand carved granite stone head head effigy, attributed to the Yokuts People. It was collected on a private ra...

19th Century American Carved and Decorated Ship's Figurehead, circa 1880, in the form of an elegant young lady, with lovely features and beautifully carved hair pulled back in a bun,...

Late 19th century, classic form molded rooster copper weathervane with sheet brass tail and zinc legs, which are supported by the original 13 1/2" copper bar. Weatherane is similar i...

Antique Double Sailor's Valentine, mid to late 19th Century, a pair of handcrafted shell collages mounted in mahogany octagonal shadowboxes, hinged together and mounted with a clasp....

19th Century Folk Art Encased Ship Diorama A delightful and highly decorated example of a late 19th century English folk art ships model diorama...

A rare and important massive late 19th century half hull model ship of the steel screw steamers "CZAR" and CZARITZA" built by Sir W. G. Armstrong, Mitchell & Co. Builders, Newcastl...

"RALLY FREEMEN! …COME ONE! COME ALL! AND SHOW YOUR LOVE FOR THE BEST COUNTRY ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH." A CIVIL WAR RECRUITMENT BROADSIDE FOR THE...

This fine 19th c patinaed eagle weather vane was found in New England. The iron base is a custom made stand. The condition is very good on this ear...

44 STAR ANTIQUE AMERICAN FLAG WITH AN HOURGLASS FORMATION ON A BRILLIANT BLUE CANTON; REFLECTS THE ERA WHEN WYOMING WAS THE MOST RECENT STATE TO JOIN THE UNION, 1890-1896 44 star Am...

George Vempley Burwood, British (1844-1917) signed and dated. Sailing ship, schooner diorama, shadow box with figures and painted background.

XIXth century - Sicily Antiques XIXth century woman's head jug or vase Painted ceramic Original vintage condition Realised circa 1850 height 23 cm Large 14 cm Depth 12 cm

19th C Birds in Fight Quilt From Lancaster County Pennsylvania Very Finely Quilted and Piece Work. Amazing Construction. Note: Minor Color Lifts in Brown Blocks

These beautiful Baroque plaster cherub angel heads are an antique from Italy. Made of plaster and hand painted, these cherub angel heads feature intrica...

West African Akan Terracotta Commemorative memorial portrait Head Ghana Terracotta with red slip 8 1/2 x 7 inches, 21.5 x 18 cm, Period 19th century o...

A scarce fine quality neoclassical Empire style vasiform gilt bronze ormolu church religious relic altar monstrance reliquary. Exquisitely hand-crafted in Continental Europe in the second half of the 19th century, most likely French Napoleon III Period (1852-1870), having a fanned cross crest, above winged angel mask, central oval display...

This fabulous carved Horse head is from a French Saddlery. Saddleries were used to design, manufacture, rebuild, and repair a wide variety of saddles, saddle trees, harnesses, riding...

Large mahogany rudder with eight spokes with bronze hub. English manufacture of the end of the 19th century. Diameter 130 cm - inches 51.2, depth 15 cm - inches 5.9. There are evidences showing that already in the third millennium BC, in ancient Egypt, people used wooden oars...

19th C Tin Wrapped Wooden Spice Containers. Stamped: PATENT PACKAGE CO. NEWARK, NEW JERSEY. PAT'D AUG. 31, 1858. Lightweight hardwood construction. Ra...

Ga`u Box necklace with silver with Turquoise inlay with coral and turquoise beads  All Tibet/  Himalaya   mid 20th century

Classic 1890s Black Forest desk accessory carved from wood in the shape of a wild boar. A lovely addition to your room or just to use on your desk. Made from hand carved wood. Found ...

This is a rare 31-star medallion printed American flag, celebrating the addition of California to the Union. The flag is printed on silk and has a spectacular “Great Star” canton pat...

Painting “Venice by Moonlight” by K. Nufer, Munich Late 19th Century Magnificent antique painting in oil on canvas. Painted by K. Nufer Munich in the late 19th century. The painting...

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. ...

This fine double handled blue decorated stone ware crock is in good condition with minor chip on interior. There is an embossed three above the hand painted and decorated flowers on ...

American Copper full bodied pig directional weathervane resting on squared iron stand, late 19th century.

Beautiful and unique Dutch Folk art Pigeon/birdcage in the form of a manor . This type of birdcages were made in the North of he Netherlands . They were miniature versions of the ori...

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...

This 19th C cotton pineapple log cabin was found in New England and in very good condition. The quilt is made up of very interesting calico prints. The backing is a cream colored cot...

Beautiful, unique Boule set of three Boule balls, France, late 19th century. In the 19th century, antique metal boules balls experienced a renaissance that took the game of boules to a new level. These ornately crafted balls were not only instruments of the game, but also symbols of elegance and sophistication in leisure activities. Made from high-quality metals such as steel or brass, Boule balls were forged and polished by skilled craftsmen to ensure a smooth and even surface. The antique boules...

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...

ABOUT An original 19th century Mexican folk retablo "Veronica's Veil" or "El Divono Rostro" in Spain . Oil paint on tin. The Veil of Veronica, known in Italian as the Volto Santo or Holy Face, is a Roman Catholic Relic which, according to legend, bears the likeness of the Face of Jesus that was imprinted on it prior to Jesus' crucifixion. According to Roman Catholicism, Saint Veronica encountered Jesus in Jeruselum on the way to Calvary. When she paused to wipe the sweat (Latin, suda) off his face with her veil, his image was left on the veil. In the small village of Osa de la Vega in Spain, there lived a couple who led a very pious life. They were Gregorio de la Torre and Isabel Corral. From their father, Juan Montilla, they inherited a picture of the Face of Jesus or the Divino Rostro. A story that is told one day, to the amazement of many who confirmed its veracity, the picture began to perspire with living blood. News of this extraordinary event spread swiftly and widely throughout the land. CREATOR Unknown. DATE OF MANUFACTURE c.1880. MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES Oil Paint on Tin. CONDITION Good. Wear consistent with age and use. DIMENSIONS H 14 in. W 10 in. HISTORY Retablos, better known as 'laminas' in Mexico, are small oil paintings on tin, wood and sometimes copper which were used in home altars to venerate the almost infinite number of Catholic saints. The literal translation for 'retablo' is 'behind the altar.' This unique genre of art, deeply rooted in European history, was brought to Mexico with the arrival of the Spanish and then ultimately adopted by New World mestizo natives to become what is known today as the Mexican folk retablo. The retablo was an art form that flourished in post conquest Mexico and then ultimately, with the introduction of inexpensive mediums such as tin, reached its pinnacle of popularity in the last quarter of the 19th century. With some exceptions, mostly untrained artists from the provinces worked to produce and reproduce these sacred images; some subjects painted more prolifically than others. A typical "retablero" may have reproduced the same image hundreds, if not thousands of times in his or her career. These oil paintings were sold to devout believers who displayed them in home altars to honor their patron saints. There are virtually hundreds of saints, each invoked to remedy a different situation. "San Ysidro Labrador," the patron saint of farmers, is venerated for good weather...

Congolese Textile Tetela DR Congo 19th century Measures: 68 x 41 inches (172 x 104 cm) Provenance: Ambre-Congo gallery, Brussels $5,000. A very rare ...

A wonderfully designed and beautifully glazed vase by renowned American / Mississippian master potter George E. Ohr. ( or as he famously referred to himself as the "Mad Potter of Biloxi") The work features a gorgeous mottled green spinach high glaze with a myriad of colors and tones including browns, tans, and yellows. Very striking. George Ohr (July 12, 1857 – April 7, 1918) is widely considered to be America's first art potter. Many art historians believe Ohr was a precursor to the American Abstract-Expressionism movement due to his innovative experimentation with modern clay forms. Ohr's works are featured in many prominent collections and museums both domestically and abroad. From 2007 to 2010 Ohr Rising: The Emergence of an American Master, a major national exhibition of Ohr pottery...

Lovely French tramp box with a mirror inside, circa 1890.

A collection of slate animal grave markers, these appear to of all been from the same family/estate/property. Likely all working animals and much loved. All initialed and dated to...

A very attractive antique early 19th century hand painted folk art Swedish dowry/blanket chest, circa 1820. The sarcophagus shaped lidded top enclosing a large storage area for clothing or bedding, the interior of the lid still possesses the original un-oxidized paint. Both the body and top of the chest retain the original hand painted decoration. The front, top and rear with oval cartouches painted with exotic birds and surrounded by stylized floral & fruiting decoration, each side has a circular cartouche with corresponding decoration. The sides of the chest have the original cast iron carrying handles, the chest is raised upon bracket feet, the chest is clean and aroma free and is ready to store your bedding, clothing or anything else you care to place in it! Condition is very good indeed, the original painting is remarkably intact, no damage or condition issues. This very elegant antique Swedish antique...

This is a striking 38-star American flag. The flag dates to 1876-1890, when Colorado (represented by the large star in the center of the flag’s canton) joined the Union as the 38th s...

19th century Lewis Jones Pittston PA. Fine 3-gallon blue cobalt decorated stoneware crock. Stamped with maker’s mark. Hand Brisked cobalt floral decor...

Antique late 19th to early 20th century wooden children's Christmas winter sled with worn dark green paint, cut out handles, and iron runners. Dimensions...

19thc Rocherst NY Windmill weight in original white painted surface. the form is the very best and in great condition. wonderful old surface.

Fabulous cast iron Owl bank with a turning head coin lever and glass eyes. Lot of the original paint still intact. Missing the lock on the underside, not visi...

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...

Early 19th century Swedish Folk Art travel box from Skelleftea Vasterbotten, Northern Sweden. Beautiful untouched original paint. Decorated with hand wrought iron around the box an...

19th Century Swedish Folk art wodden plate / Tazza from Southern Sweden. Fantastically nice large Wooden plate on foot/ Tazza. In Sweden called "So...

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...

A most charming fine quality antique Victorian era object of vertu magnifying glass, custom made from various earlier elements. English refinement, sophistication, and Victorian ele...

A petite German late 19th century Tramp Folk Art Wall Cupboard Cabinet. This petite Folk Art piece, circa 1880 comes from Germany and features a finely carved work with distressed Mirrors. It is a great example of the Tramp Art style, an art movement popular between the 1870s and the 1940s all around the world, particularly in Germany. It is characterized by the use of small pieces of wood from cigar boxes and shipping crates to create utilitarian items such as boxes and picture frames. Artists use simple tools such as pocket knives...

Sculptural pair of American lightning rods dating from the 1870's. They still maintain their original copper skin on its wrought iron twist rod staff wh...

A beautiful and rare antique American Mennonite quilt, country of origin: America, circa 1860. Size: 5 ft 3 in x 5 ft 6 in (1.6 m x 1.68 m) This rare, Mennonite antique America quilt from the 1860’s is a real treasure, as there are few that have survived. The Mennonites are a branch of the Amish community that broke off in the 1860’s over disagreements with the Old Order Amish. The Amish are a group of Pennsylvania Dutch immigrants to America who are known for adherence to strict religious beliefs and conservative views. Their women are notably known for their skill in quilt making. This brightly colored quilt is in what is known as the log cabin pattern. The squares are made from strips of fabric stacked in a way similar to the stacking of logs used to make a log home. This particular arrangement of colors is known as “streak of lightening” and is a popular Mennonite design. This pattern alternates light and dark diagonal rows of color. The border creates a whimsical frame to the pattern. These magnificent antique American quilts were often made from scraps or clothing that had worn out its usefulness. The Mennonites were known for their thriftiness and traditions that emphasized gratitude for the gifts one had been given. These designs were not haphazard and required tremendous amounts of planning and thought. The scraps would be collected and then the colors would be arranged. Finally, the pieces would be cut and stitched together with precision to make a top. Next a fluffy, warm stuffing would be sandwiched between a backing and the top. This would be hand stitched to accentuate the design and to keep the stuffing from shifting during use. This antique Mennonite quilt...

Swiss alp painted box

In all original untouched condition including weathered paint, this wonderful Folk Art wall plaque speaks for itself. Substantial size. It looks to be made to be mounted on a ledge, ...

Antique, 19th century Asian Middle Eastern collector two person wooden camel saddle with ornate brass mountings and iron reinforcements. 19th Century Midd...

This fantastic dry sink is from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and has two doors and two interior shelf's. The large mushroom pulls are original. The interior deep sink...

American molded copper spread winged eagle weathervane with circular sphere, arrow, and mounted on cast iron squared base. Weathervane has a fine natural verdigris patina in the orig...

This hand carved & painted cigar store Indian head had a Cigar sign hanging below it at one time.The condition is good with normal wear & tear from age and use.

Antique Double Sailor's Valentine, circa 1880, a pair of handcrafted shell collages mounted in mahogany octagonal shadowboxes, hinged together and mounted with a clasp and a chain for hanging. This valentine features a heart and the message "Forget Me Not." The valentine is in great condition, but does of course have a few shells that have come loose over the past century and a half. The cases remain in great condition as well. Each Measures: 9-1/8 in H x 9-1/8 in W Victorians in the Age of Exploration and its accompanying Eclectic Movement embraced arts and crafts from around the world. Shell boxes are frequently seen, and even the odd shell diorama...

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...

This is an old Japanese "Kobo Daishi" wooden figure. "Kobo Daishi" means "Kukai". "Kukai" was a monk from the early Heian period. His posthumous name was "Kobo Daishi". He is the fou...

This Rustic antique tine box is hand-crafted from pine wood and features original rosemaling/rose painting from Telemark, Norway. Dated 1812, it includes the initials "P.T.D." on th...

19th C Rag balls and 19th c basket with handles. From the Hess Estate Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

This wool log cabin quilt is in very good condition with a reversible one patch backing. This quilt was found and made in Pennsylvania.

An original and used Wooden Butter Churn - Works like a charm - just add cream from the cows in your field. A great decorative piece for the southern, or Ralph Lauren, Americana int...