American Folk Art Snake and Wood Spirits Walking Stick, Early 20th Century

A charming and mischievous pair of Japanese carved, gilt and painted komainu, often mistaken for foo dogs or foo lions, Showa Period, 1920's, Japan. The two komainu, or guardian lions, are portrayed seated upon their haunches, heads slightly turned. The two beasts are well carved, with wonderful musculature, flowing manes, and bushy tails. Their faces a mix of ferocious and comical. The eyes of reverse painted glass with gilt highlights. One is a true komainu, (lion-dog), with a horn on its head, and its mouth closed. The other is a shishi, (lion), with its mouth open, and no horn. The komainu sports a mane and tail pigmented blue with gilt highlights. The shishi sports a mane and tail pigmented green with gilt highlights. Both figures richly gilt in gold lacquer. Komainu are protective beings, similar to foo lions or foo dogs...

A fantastic Chinese scholar's stone, called gongshi, of gray lingbi limestone, mounted on a hardwood stand, late Qing or early Republic, early 20th century, circa 1910, China . The ...

A spectacularly glazed Japanese Kutani model, okimono, of a pheasant, Showa era, early 20th century, Japan. The okimono, or decorative sculpture, in the form of a magnificent phea...

A wonderfully Chinese carved coral branch in the form of Shou Lao, also called Shouxing, the Chinese god of longevity, Republic period, early ...

A beautiful and unusual gilt bronze figure of a Bodhisattva, possibly Amoghapasha, Nepal, early to mid-20th century, circa 1930s or 1940s. The regal figure possibly depicting the bodhisattva Amoghapasha, the Unfailing Lasso. The enlightened being is portrayed seated upon a high double lotus pedestal. He is dressed as an Indian prince, wearing a luxurious foliate patterned dhoti around his waist and a billowing scarf around his shoulders. . His torso bare save for the jeweled necklaces and the sacred thread. A five pointed crown with an image of Amitabha Buddha in the central point graces his head. His princely face cold painted with beautiful detail, his hair colored blue with crushed lapis lazuli, indicating his peaceful nature. Amoghapasha holds a lasso in one hand, an axe in the other. He is considered an emanation of Avalokiteshvara. A bodhisattva of compassion, Amoghapasha is so named because of the lasso he holds in his hand. The lasso represents his vast compassion which is thought to extend to encompass all beings, bringing them into a state of perfection and enlightenment. The copper base plate, seemingly a later replacement, has been inscribed with a visvajra (double vajra...

A large, tall Thai standing carved teak wood Buddha, lacquered and gilt, with hand raised in abhaya mudra, far Northern Thailand or possibly Laos, early 20th century. Near life-siz...

Early 20th Century Folk Art Fairground Elephant We share what we love, and we love this charming and naively formed early 20th century hand craved fairground ride figure. With a de...

Early 20th century folk art model 'EST-CE UN PIETON OU UNE VOITURE?' (IS IT A PEDESTRIAN OR A CAR?) An Early 20th century French hand carved folk art model, depicting a police...

A 20th century American Folk Art hand-carved and painted wood stop sign mounted on a custom steel stand.

Stunning Folk Art wooden sculpture of a Fireman. This pre-war statue of a marching fireman or firefighter dates circa 1920-1930. This fire-eater wears yell...

Early 20th century Folk Art driftwood dachshund, circa 1920, a natural form piece of driftwood that has been augmented with the addition of inset Periwinkle shell eyes, two drilled n...

Early 20th century Belgian oak Folk Art eagle sculpture.