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Illinois - Folk Art

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Item Ships From: Illinois
Yoruba Four Headed Egungun Headdress
By Yoruba People
Located in Chicago, IL
This wooden headdress was created by the Yoruba People of western Nigeria, and was worn during a masquerade known as egungun. A widespread Yoruba ritual, egungun performances honor a...
Category

Mid-20th Century Nigerian Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Vintage Navajo Rug Bag with Diamond Pattern in Ivory, Red, Gray & Black
Located in Barrington, IL
This unique vintage Navajo rug bag, crafted circa the mid-1900s, is a beautifully repurposed piece made from an original Native American Navajo area rug. Featuring a classic diamond ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Wool, Cotton

Djerma Painted Water Vessel
Located in Chicago, IL
The Djerma people of Niger are well-known for their gracefully shaped and delicately painted water containers. The surface paintings are applied after firing with all natural pigment...
Category

Early 20th Century Nigerien Tribal Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Terracotta

Vintage Chart Rack with Four Denoyer-Geppert Anatomy Charts
By Denoyer-Geppert
Located in Dekalb, IL
c. 1960s; Denoyer-Geppert Co. - Chicago, IL Vintage metal chart rack with four original four-color Denoyer-Geppert anatomy posters. Each is in remar...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Plastic, Wood

Vintage Simon Beer Dimensional Advertising Sign
Located in Dekalb, IL
c. 1970s/1980s; The William Simon Brewery - Buffalo, NY Vintage embossed composite, faux wood advertising sign. This piece advertises Simon Pure, a regional beer from upstate New Y...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic, Plastic

Vintage Southern Quilt in Wedding Ring Pattern in Pale Green, Ivory, Green
Located in Barrington, IL
A rare and exquisite early 20th-century hand-stitched quilt top from the Southeastern United States, most likely North Carolina. This textile features the beloved “Double Wedding Rin...
Category

Early 20th Century American Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Cotton

Early 19th Century Austrian Hiking Staff
Located in Chicago, IL
This one-of-a-kind Austrian hiking staff has been handcrafted from solid oak. Oak is a relatively lightweight yet sturdy material, which lends itself perf...
Category

Early 19th Century Austrian Folk Art Antique Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Silver, Brass

1920's Light Up Directional Service Glass Sign
Located in Chicago, IL
1920's light up Directional Service glass sign. It does work.
Category

1920s North American Industrial Vintage Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Metal

Petite Pre-Columbian Chupícuaro Redware Olla
Located in Chicago, IL
This small olla jar is a beautiful example of Mesoamerican pottery, decorated with red, white, and orange slip in the style of Chupícuaro ware. Th...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Central American Pre-Columbian Antique Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Vintage Painted Tin Tex Tan Western Wear Sign
Located in Dekalb, IL
c. 1950s/1960s; Kids Korral, Inc. - Lakeville, IN and Tex-Tan Western Leather Co. - Yoakum, TX Vintage painted tin children's western wear sign. This sign advertises Tex Tan leathe...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Tin

1950s American Hand-Painted Carnival Ride Panel
Located in Chicago, IL
1950s American hand-painted carnival ride panel.
Category

1950s North American Primitive Vintage Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Mirror, Wood

Early 20th Century Reverse-Painted IOOF Skull and Bones Glass Sign
Located in Dekalb, IL
Early 1900s; Independent Order of Odd Fellows This reverse-painted glass "Caution" sign comes with the scull and crossbone, a symbol of mortality to the fraternity, and a reminder o...
Category

Early 20th Century American Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Glass, Wood

1920's English "Private Bar" Etched Glass Sign
Located in Chicago, IL
1920's English "Private Bar" etched glass sign framed in oak frame.
Category

1920s British Vintage Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Glass, Oak

Vintage "Cabins" Single Sided Porcelain Neon Sign
Located in Dekalb, IL
Vintage neon sign advertising cabins for rent. This piece features a bold Bauhaus-style font in white set against a dark background. The lettering has been traced in a turquoise neon...
Category

1940s American Industrial Vintage Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Metal, Enamel

Child's American Painted Pine Cupboard Completely All Original and Quite Rare
Located in Chicago, IL
Awesome American pine original paint Child's Cupboard finished in a stunning Georgian Blue with glass knobs. The back board on top of the piece can be removed upon request-- without ...
Category

Early 20th Century American Georgian Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Pine, Paint

African Seated Luba Figure
Located in Chicago, IL
Artisans from the Luba tribe were renowned for the organic flow of their carving style. This example clearly shows the smooth transition from aspect to aspect, maintaining a singular...
Category

Mid-20th Century Congolese Tribal Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Bidjogo Tribal Initiation Ox Mask, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
After oxen were introduced to Guinea Bissau by Portuguese sailors in the 15th century, its strength, aggression, and nobility quickly became integrated i...
Category

Early 20th Century Guinea-Bissauan Tribal Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Hide, Wood

Lao Stamped Silver Ingot, c. 1950
Located in Chicago, IL
This silver alloy ingot is cast in the form of an elongated bar, with a slender, rectangular shape and curved ends. Resembling a shallow dish or incense stand, the ingot has a concav...
Category

Mid-20th Century Laotian Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Silver

Vintage American Hand Hooked Rug in a Stripe Pattern in Blue, Green, Red, Taupe
Located in Barrington, IL
Discover the charming simplicity and enduring artistry of American folk craft with this Vintage American Hand Hooked Rug, meticulously handcrafted in the 1st quarter of the 20th century. This delightful piece features a classic stripe pattern, brought to life with a harmonious palette of serene blue, verdant green, classic red, and earthy taupe. The tradition of "hooking" rugs originated in New England, starting as a creative pastime for farmers during the long, cold winter nights of the Northeast in the early 1800s. These rugs, once functional pieces for the home as either table decorations or wall art, embody a unique blend of folk art creativity and simplicity. Historically, hooked rugs from the late 19th and early 20th centuries were resourcefully made using recycled materials, often narrow strips cut from old clothing. The pattern was typically stenciled onto a burlap foundation, then filled with these recycled strips (and later, yarn) using the distinctive hooking technique. This rug's special design and brilliant colors make it a truly artistic creation. Due to the inherent delicacy in the material and construction of vintage hand hooked rugs...
Category

Early 20th Century American Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Wool, Burlap, Cotton

African Incised Copper Currency Anklet, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Time honored texture and form define this Nigerian copper sculptural object. The intricate geometry was achieved through a process known as scarification. The artisan would meticulou...
Category

Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Copper

Kuba Iron Currency Spear, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
While shield and spear were central to African combat, this iron example was most likely made to serve as a piece of trade currency. Many pre-colonization African currencies were modeled after objects of inherent value, resulting in sculptural combinations of function and beauty. This large iron spear dates to the early 20th century and is attributed to the Kuba people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Secured to a narrow handle of iron and wood, the flattened blade has an elegant, sloping silhouette, subtly textured with raised lines and a rusted, antique patina. Forged as a broadleaf spear, the weapon contrasts a violent potential with images of peaceful branches swaying in the wind. We've set this unusual Kuba spear...
Category

Early 20th Century Congolese Tribal Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Iron

Maya Bird Sello Stamp
Located in Chicago, IL
Stamps, or sellos, such as this one were common during the pre-Columbian period in Mesoamerica and most popular during the Formative Period that spanned the years between 1200-800 B....
Category

15th Century and Earlier Mexican Pre-Columbian Antique Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

American Folk Art Carved Pine Eagle
Located in Chicago, IL
Carved with confidence and quiet pride, this mid-20th century American Folk Art eagle is a striking example of the genre’s charm and honesty. Fashioned from solid pine, the eagle sta...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Pine

Outsider Artist Mixed Woods Chair Sculpture
Located in Chicago, IL
Consisting of lighter and darker woods laminated together for strength and geometry, this handmade chair sculpture had to have been a work of art brut. Round seat back echoed in the ...
Category

1960s American Vintage Illinois - Folk Art

19th Century French Stone Carver's Hammer and Chisels on Custom Stand
Located in Chicago, IL
An incredible and rare set of 19th century French stone carver's wooden mallet and six iron chisels, mounted on a custom steel stand. Found in Roen, Nor...
Category

19th Century French Primitive Antique Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Iron

Vintage Motor Rythm Tin Litho Advertising Sign
Located in Dekalb, IL
c. 1940s; R. M. Hollingshead Corp. - Camden, NJ Vintage tune-up fluid advertising sign. This piece advertises Whiz's "Motor Rythm", a now-defunct line of tune-up fluids. The sign m...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Tin

Vintage American Hand Hooked Rug in Rooster Pattern in Green, Brown, Khaki
Located in Barrington, IL
This vintage American hand-hooked rug features a striking pictorial depiction of a proud rooster standing tall and crowing—an enduring folk art symbol of rural life and morning vital...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Cotton

Early 20th Century Southern American Folk Art Painting
Located in Chicago, IL
A captivating and intriguing early 20th century Southern American folk art panel, found in Mississippi, depicting a figure with what appears to be African tribal headgear, and wearing a white collared shirt with black suit jacket. The line work and attention to detail is extraordinary and mysterious, with the artist choosing to incorporate a natural knot in the board to form the mouth of the figure, and the left half of the drawing showing shading, but seemingly left unfinished. The frame is not terribly old, and is constructed from splatter-painted boards...
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Wood, Paint

Pende-Style Antelope Mask
Located in Chicago, IL
Masks from the Pende people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are considered some of the most dramatic works of African art. The Pende have defined an extensive range of mask forms, many with distinct characters embodied during ritual ceremony. Colored by red and white pigments, this Pende mask...
Category

Mid-20th Century Congolese Tribal Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Wood

c.1880 The Best Antique English Folk Art Hand-Beaded Pillow Ever
Located in Chicago, IL
After collecting antique English bead-work for over 40 years, we believe this fabulous pillow to be one of the finest examples in existence. The panel depicting a much earlier era, w...
Category

19th Century English Victorian Antique Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Glass, Wool

Yoruba Egungun Headdress Mask
By Yoruba People
Located in Chicago, IL
Attributed to the Yoruba people of western Nigeria, this wooden headdress was worn during a masquerade known as egungun. A widespread Yoruba ritual, egungun performances honor a comm...
Category

Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Metallic Studded Bambara Figure by Brian Stanziale
By Brian Stanziale
Located in Chicago, IL
In an exclusive collaboration with pagoda red, Chicago artist the bms. adds a contemporary twist to our collection of one-of-a-kind African art objects. Guided by its geometric line work, the bms. uses...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Malian Tribal Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Metal

Vintage Uzbek Hand Stitched Silk Quilt in Red, Turquoise, Ivory, Black, Green
Located in Barrington, IL
Beautiful vintage hand-stitched “pieced” silk quilt from Uzbekistan in Central Asia from the mid 1900s. The silk fabric pieces are cut in geometric form and some of them have the design on them. The vibrant colors are red, green, yellow, blue, brown, and black. The quilt resembles the design of the American "Crazy Quilts". The silk quilt would be an ideal piece as a table cover or wall art. The quilt was hand stitched of individual silk pieces in each frame. It is truly a labor of love and dedication. The hand stitched quilts from the 19th and the early 20th centuries have become extremely collectable. One reason is the delicate nature of such items. Because it is so delicate, it would be a wonderful piece to use as a wall art tapestry. Dimensions: 39” x 73” Date of Manufacture: 3rd Quarter of the 1900s Place of Origin: Uzbekistan, Central Asia Material: Silk, Cotton Condition: Good Uzbek Quilts, Vintage Uzbek Silk Quilts, American Applique Quilts, Vintage Pennsylvania Quilts, Antique Applique Quilts...
Category

Mid-20th Century Uzbek Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Cotton, Silk

Vintage Hand Forged Peacock Garden Folk Art Statue On Wood Base
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Hand Forged Peacock Garden Folk Art Statue on Wood Base This vintage hand-forged peacock garden folk art statue is a stunning addition to any outdoor space. The statue showc...
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Folk Art Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Iron

"Protector One" Folk Art Crow Sculpture
Located in Chicago, IL
Richly textured with whimsical appeal, this late 20th century wooden crow is a delightful example of naive American sculpture. Poised mid-caw, the crow's wings are outstretched, read...
Category

Late 20th Century American Folk Art Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Wood

20th Century Italian Wild Boar Hunting Target
Located in Chicago, IL
This 20th-century Italian wild boar shooting target is a bold and rugged piece of history, crafted from half-inch iron to withstand decades of use in the field. Originally designed for target practice, it would have been placed outdoors, challenging marksmen to test their skills against its lifelike silhouette. Its durable construction has weathered the years, leaving behind a patina that adds character and speaks to its authentic past. Today, this heavy-gauge iron target...
Category

20th Century Italian Folk Art Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Iron

Bamileke Iron Double Gong, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Like many pieces of traditional African metalwork, this sculptural double bell served multiple purposes within the Bamileke communities of Cameroon. They were status symbols, ceremon...
Category

Early 20th Century Cameroonian Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Iron

Chinese Painted Bamboo Walking Stick, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
This 19th-century walking stick from northern China is comprised of a length of thin bamboo that has been steamed and bent into a hook shape. The bamboo segments are painted in alter...
Category

Mid-19th Century Chinese Folk Art Antique Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Bamboo

Vintage Batik Fabric Painting Tribal Folk Wall Art
Located in Barrington, IL
Vintage Asian Batik hand painted fabric art. The beautiful batik is a depiction of a pair of Masai couples in traditional tribal clothing. The batik is a wonderful example of a hand painted wall art. Batik is one of many methodologies of fabric art in a long and rich folk textile tradition around the world. It is a wax-resist type of dyeing operation where certain sections of a textile are pigmented while others are tied-off and shielded from coloring. Batik designs are created in various geometric motifs that have certain symbolism and convey status within society, but now too they use batik methods to achieve what in essence are paintings on fabric. Dimensions: 26” x 31” Date of Manufacture: 3rd Quarter of the 1900s Place of Origin: Africa Material: Textile Condition: Wear consistent with age and use The Persian Knot, SKU: 2264 Vintage Batik Painting...
Category

Late 20th Century Kenyan Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Textile, Fabric

Mende Women's Helmet Mask
Located in Chicago, IL
This helmet mask created by the Mende people of Sierra Leone was made for the women of their tribe to wear while dancing. Commissioned by women for their ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Sierra Leonean Tribal Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Gigantic Original German Steiff Mohair Elk "Studio Animal" c1960s Five Feet Long
Located in Chicago, IL
Life-sized, mohair Steiff Elk, probably from the 1960s. Steiff referred to these life-size stuffed creatures as, “studio animals” and were very expensive when new. As I child, we wou...
Category

1960s German Vintage Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Mohair, Wool

Antique American General Store Revolving Red Cabinet
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique American general store revolving bolt and nut cabinet. Original paint.
Category

Late 19th Century North American Primitive Antique Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Tin

Vintage American Hand Hooked Rug in Floral Pattern in Ivory, Green, Red, Blue
Located in Barrington, IL
Vintage American hand hooked rug was handcrafted in the early 1900s in the New England Area of the United States. It has a floral pattern with flowers in brilliant vintage colors including ivory, green, blue, and red. The Antique Hooked Rugs are a combination of Folk Art Creativity and Simplicity. When it comes to true simplicity and artistic creativity Antique Hooked Rugs have some of the best representations. The tradition of Hooked Rug started in New England. “Hooking” is the term used to describe the technique of hand crafting these rugs started as a hobby for the farmers in the long and dark cold winter nights of North East States in the US in the early 1800s. Hooked rugs were made as functional pieces for the home either as a table decoration or a wall art. Antique Hooked Rugs are a combination of Folk Art Creativity and Simplicity. When it comes to true simplicity and artistic creativity Antique Hooked Rugs have some of the best representations. Dimensions: 3’ x 4’ 9” Date of Manufacture: Early 1900s Place of Origin: America Material: Rag wool and cotton pile on a burlap foundation Condition: Wear consistent with age and use American Hooked Rugs, Vintage Hooked Rugs, Early American Hooked Rugs, American Rag Rugs, Antique Rug, Antique Rugs, Antique Carpets, Vintage Carpets, Handwoven Rugs, Vintage Artisan Rugs, Antique Handmade Rugs, Sustainability, Vintage Distressed Rugs, Allover Design Rug, Mid Century Modern Rugs, Vintage Rag Rugs, Vintage Wool Rag Rugs...
Category

Early 1900s American Antique Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Wool, Cotton

Nigerian Nupe Gourd-Form Water Vessel, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Inspired by the natural world, Nupe ceramicists fired this water vessel in the shape of a gourd. The vessel's varied surface textures and colors come from its functional design. The ...
Category

Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Terracotta

African Yoruba Painted Gelede Headdress
Located in Chicago, IL
This painted mask was created by the Yoruba People of western Nigeria, and was worn during a tradition known as Gelede. A blend of ritual and artistic spectacle, Gelede pays homage to the women of their Community, understood to possess spiritual powers capable of the benefit or the destruction of society. The Gelede masquerade is an opportunity to honor or condemn behaviors within the Community, through dance, art, satire, and poetry. Worn by veiled dancers, Gelede masks...
Category

Mid-20th Century Nigerian Tribal Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Wood

20th Century Sleeping Canada Goose Decoy
Located in Chicago, IL
A beautiful 20th century American life-size sleeping Canada Goose decoy with its original paint, a removable head and neck, and glass eyes, on a cu...
Category

20th Century American Country Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Early 20th Century Wrought Iron Yoruba Ọ̀sanyìn Staff
Located in Chicago, IL
This early 20th-century Yoruba Ọ̀sanyìn staff, meticulously crafted from wrought iron, features a prominent central bird surrounded by several stylized avian figures, symbolizing spi...
Category

Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Wrought Iron

Vintage Carved African/Jamaican Bob Marley Style Rasta Live Edge Wall Sculpture
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Carved African/Jamaican Bob Marley Style Rasta Live Edge Wall Sculpture This vintage carved wall sculpture embodies the essence of African and Jamaican artistry, featuring ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Folk Art Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Early 20th Century Pharmacist Figural Trade Sign
Located in Dekalb, IL
Antique figural copper and tin trade sign. This piece takes the form of an antique mortar and pestle, one of the most important tools used by practitioners of medicine for centuries...
Category

Early 20th Century Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Copper, Wrought Iron, Tin

Early 20th Century Navajo Rug
Located in Chicago, IL
A striking early 20th century Navajo blanket with a bold all-over diamond pattern woven in crimson, white, gray, and black wool.
Category

1940s North American Navajo Vintage Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Wool

B and B Stinger Lighted Glass Sign
Located in Dekalb, IL
c. 1950s/1960s; Le Palais Bénédictine - Fécamp, Seine-Maritime, France This piece advertises a drink known as a "B and B Stinger", which is Benedictine & Brandy, mixed with crème de...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Glass, Wood, Paint

Mid-Century David Gil "Split Head" Stoneware Sculpture Mounted on Lucite
By David Gil
Located in Chicago, IL
A stoneware sculpture created by artist David Gill for Bennington Potters. It features a head with imprinted numbers, made of two halves attached to a leucite stand. In the 1950s, Gi...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Stoneware

American Mid-20th Century Folk Art Rooster Bootscrape
Located in Chicago, IL
Full of charm and personality, this mid-20th century American iron bootscrape takes the form of a cheeky rooster—one foot lifted mid-strut, tail feathers slightly ruffled, and a know...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Iron

Large 19th Century Wooden Mortar
Located in Chicago, IL
A large 19th century Central American wooden mortar with a beautifully hand-hewn texture and a well worn finish. Mortars like these were used to crush grains, spices, herbs, and othe...
Category

19th Century Central American Tribal Antique Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Petite Pre-Columbian Redware Olla
Located in Chicago, IL
Exhibiting a rich patina and a beautifully irregular pattern of pitted wear, this petite redware olla vessel shows many telltale signs of Pre-Columbian pottery. The vessel has a glob...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Central American Pre-Columbian Antique Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Scandinavian Dragon Head Talisman
Located in Chicago, IL
This wonderfully strange boulder—carved into the unmistakable form of a dragon’s head—is equal parts folk art, artifact, and mystery. With a wide toothy grin, eyes on either side, an...
Category

19th Century American Folk Art Antique Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Stone

20th Century Emberá-Wounaan Basket
Located in Chicago, IL
This extraordinary 20th century Emberá-Wounaan basket is a testament to the remarkable craftsmanship of the indigenous Emberá-Wounaan people of Panama a...
Category

20th Century Panamanian Tribal Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Natural Fiber

Ethiopian Carved Wooden Headrest
Located in Chicago, IL
So as not to muss their intricate hairstyles while sleeping, Ethiopian women would traditionally rest their heads on these petite wooden stands. The combination of conic base and con...
Category

Early 20th Century Ethiopian Primitive Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Mid-Century 56" Long Vintage Hand-Carved Wooden Chain-Link Game
Located in Winnetka, IL
This 56-inch long chain is composed of interlocking wooden links, each carved from a single piece of wood. The continuous loop design reflects hand-crafted construction techniques. M...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Hardwood

"Vijay Path" Ghanaian Movie Poster
Located in Chicago, IL
Vijaypath was a Bollywood action hit in 1994. It's critically acclaimed soundtrack topped charts across the world and became one of the most recognizable in India's history. The film's international success is evident in this hand-painted advertisement...
Category

Late 20th Century Ghanaian Modern Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Fabric

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