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Item Ships From: Illinois
Painting from a Kwoma Ceremonial House Ceiling
Located in Chicago, IL
A painting from a Kwoma ceremonial house ceiling depicting an abstract polychrome pattern on a sago palm spathe. From the Metropolitan Museum of Art: "...
Category

Mid-20th Century Papua New Guinean Tribal Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Natural Fiber

Vintage Pennsylvania Amish “Sunshine and Shadows” Hand-Stitched Crib Quilt
Located in Barrington, IL
This beautifully hand-crafted Amish quilt, made in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania during the mid-1900s, features the beloved “Sunshine and Shadows” pattern—an enduring symbol of balance and tradition in Amish quiltmaking. Composed of hand-cut and hand-stitched cotton pieces, the quilt showcases a striking palette of blues, reds, and greens arranged with rhythmic precision and quiet elegance. Expertly sewn with exceptionally fine stitching, this quilt reflects the Amish community’s deep-rooted values of simplicity, resourcefulness, and craftsmanship. As was customary, the materials used were repurposed from what was available in the home—making this quilt not only a work of art, but also a beautiful example of early upcycling, where practicality and creativity seamlessly intertwine. While quilts like this were originally created for everyday use, their enduring beauty and cultural significance have made them highly collectible. Because of its intricate design and visual impact, this quilt is especially well-suited for display as a wall-hung textile. Please note: some colors may appear distorted in photos—refer to the video for a more accurate representation. Dimensions: 36” x 44” Date of Manufacture: 2nd Quarter of the 1900s Place of Origin: Pennsylvania, United States Material: Cotton Condition: Excellent The Persian Knot, SKU: 2238 Amish Sunshine and Shadows Quilt, American Amish Sunshine and Shadows Quilts, Sunshine and Shadows Quilts, Vintage Amish Sunshine and Shadows Quilts, Sunshine and Shadows Crib Quilts, Antique Amish Crib Quilts, Amish American Quilts, Pennsylvania Quilts, Lancaster County Quilts...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Cotton

Petite African Redware Vessel
Located in Chicago, IL
This petite hand-formed vessel bears a richly textured surface of worn red clay slip and dark smoke marks. Likely intended for everyday use, the simple bottle-form vessel reflects th...
Category

15th Century and Earlier African Primitive Antique Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Terracotta

Outsider Art Santa Claus, Acrylic On Paper.
Located in Chicago, IL
Just in time for the season, an outsider art child like Santa Claus painting done in acrylic on brown paper. Framed in a red lacquered wood and g...
Category

Late 20th Century Canadian Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Paper, Acrylic

Dida Tie-Dyed Ceremonial Kerchief
Located in Chicago, IL
An incredible and rare mid-20th century Dida (Ivory Coast) hand-plated Shibori tie-dyed raffia ceremonial kerchief mounted on a linen stretched frame. This kerchief was not woven on ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Ivorian Tribal Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Raffia

19th Century American Ball of String Holder
Located in Chicago, IL
A whimsical 19th century American string holder in shape of a ball of string. The weight of the holder keeps it in place, but opens up when picked up. We have a similar one in our ki...
Category

19th Century American Country Antique Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Iron

Senufo Copper Reeds Currency Bracelet, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
The traditional form of the Senufo currency bracelet is stripped down in this more minimalistic version. Two gracefully upswept bands join to form a ...
Category

Mid-19th Century Nigerian Antique Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Copper

Dida Tie-Dyed Ceremonial Kerchief
Located in Chicago, IL
An incredible and rare mid-20th century Dida hand-plated Shibori tie-dyed raffia ceremonial kerchief mounted on a linen stretched board. This kerchief was not woven on a loom, but ra...
Category

Mid-20th Century Ivorian Tribal Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Raffia

"Iron Sponge Car" by Patrick Fitzgerald, 2019
By Patrick Fitzgerald
Located in Chicago, IL
To Chicago-based artist Patrick Fitzgerald, his sculptures are a means of traveling through time. Working from found materials, Fitzgerald constructs miniature soap box cars and the ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Wood, Paper

Set of Three Beaded Ndebele Fertility Dolls
Located in Chicago, IL
A rare imported commodity, glass beads have been a symbol of wealth and importance in south African cultures for centuries, and were exclusively distributed by the region's oba (king). As beads become gradually more accessible throughout the 19th century, they began to displace the organic materials used in traditional art and attire. This colorful example of African beadwork...
Category

20th Century South African Folk Art Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Cotton, Wood

Mounted Dida Tie-Dyed Ceremonial Kerchief
Located in Chicago, IL
An incredible and rare mid-20th century Dida hand-plated Shibori tie-dyed raffia ceremonial kerchief mounted on a linen stretched board that floats off the wall in the shape of the k...
Category

Mid-20th Century Ivorian Tribal Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Raffia

Chinese Robed Puppet, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Hand puppets, like this one from China’s Zhejiang region, have been a popular form of entertainment for centuries. In the late 19th early-20th century this tiny robed gentleman proba...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Silk, Wood

Yoruba Ibeji Twin Figure
By Yoruba People
Located in Chicago, IL
With one of the highest rates of twin births in the world, Yoruba cultures place special social and religious significance on twins, referred to as "emi alagbara" or "powerful spirit...
Category

Mid-20th Century Nigerian Tribal Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Dida Tie-Dyed Ceremonial Kerchief
Located in Chicago, IL
An incredible and rare mid-20th century Dida (Ivory Coast) hand-plated Shibori tie-dyed raffia ceremonial kerchief mounted on a linen stretched frame. This kerchief was not woven on ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Ivorian Mid-Century Modern Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Raffia

African Red & Green Painted Mortar
Located in Chicago, IL
Abstract and sculptural, this wooden form demonstrates the timeless appeal of African art. Hand-carved to an hourglass shape, the unusual figure is actually a grinding mortar, compri...
Category

20th Century African Tribal Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Tabwa Staff with Female Figure
Located in Chicago, IL
This hand carved 20th century wooden staff, was crafted in the style of the Tabwa people located along the southwestern shores of Lake Tanganyika. The handle is finely decorated with...
Category

20th Century South African Folk Art Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Nupe Gourd 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 textures and colors come from its utilitarian design. The paralle...
Category

Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

1950s Hand-Painted Olympia Beer Advertising Sign
Located in Chicago, IL
Oversized 1950s hand-painted advertising sign for Olympia Beer.
Category

1950s North American Folk Art Vintage Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Petite African Redware Vessel
Located in Chicago, IL
This petite hand-formed vessel bears a richly textured surface of worn red clay slip and dark smoke marks. Likely intended for everyday use, the simple bottle-form vessel reflects th...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Malian Primitive Antique Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Terracotta

Vintage African Tapestry of Ethiopian "Lion of Judah" in Cream, Red, Black
Located in Barrington, IL
This striking vintage African tapestry from Ethiopia features a symbolic rendering of the "Lion of Judah" alongside traditional hut motifs in a rich palette of cream, red, black, and brown. Expertly hand-woven, the elongated tapestry is composed of eight distinct panels—three showcasing the iconic Lion of Judah and five displaying African hut designs—reflecting Ethiopian cultural and spiritual heritage. The textile's versatile form allows it to be used as a bold table runner or carefully divided and framed as individual works of wall art. A beautiful fusion of symbolism and craftsmanship, this piece is ideal for collectors, interior designers, and those seeking unique, meaningful décor. Dimensions: 12” x 98” Date of Manufacture: 3rd Quarter of the 1900s Place of Origin: Botswana, Africa Material: Wool Condition: Good The Persian Knot Gallery, SKU 2051 Ethiopian tapestry, Lion of Judah textile, vintage African wall art, African table runner, tribal tapestry Ethiopia, handwoven African decor, African hut motif textile, Ethiopian cultural art, African spiritual tapestry, African lion artwork, traditional Ethiopian weaving, African panel wall art, red and cream tapestry, African heritage textile, unique African home decor, African Village Tapestry, Tapestries from Africa, African Folk Art, Art of Africa, African Weavings, Vintage Handwoven Tapestries, African Tapestries, African Folk Art, African Weaving Art, Large Wall Tapestry, Handwoven Tapestry, Modernist Tapestry, Mid Century Wall Tapestry, Hand Woven Wall Art, Table Runner, African Woven Art, Primitive Wall Art
Category

Mid-20th Century Botswanan Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Wool

"Cut-Rate Liquor Car" by Patrick Fitzgerald
By Patrick Fitzgerald
Located in Chicago, IL
Chicago-based artist Patrick Fitzgerald uses his works as a means of resurrecting the idyllic worlds he once found in the Industrial surroundings of his youth. Raised in Grand Rapids...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Wood, Paper

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

Set of 2 Kusu (Tribal) currency from Democratic Republic of the Congo
Located in Winnetka, IL
Three Kuso Currency pieces known as Boloko are from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They are made from forged iron and were used as currency in commerce. Today, they are sculp...
Category

Early 20th Century Congolese Tribal Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Iron

Handblown Gold Flecked and Fused Black Murano Glass Carnivale Masks
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of Murano glass carnivale masks. Handblown and molded gold flecked black cased glass with infused colorful circular details.
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Murano Glass

Baule Painted Kpan Mask
Located in Chicago, IL
To ward off evil and exert positive influences on the spirit world, the Baule people engage in a daylong masquerade known as the Goli. A sequence of four masks are donned during the ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Tribal Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Yao Silver Chain Necklace
Located in Chicago, IL
This finely crafted piece was made high in the mountains above Thailand, Laos and Burma (modern day Myanmar) by an indigenous hill tribe. The Yao people are skilled silversmiths who ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Laotian Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Silver

Incised Copper Currency Anklet
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

19th Century Nigerian Tribal Antique Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Copper

Yoruba Beaded Sash, c. 1950
Located in Chicago, IL
This intricately-constructed colorful train was painstakingly created by Yoruba artisans in Nigeria in the mid-20th century. Recent designs such as this were based upon...
Category

Mid-20th Century Nigerian Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Shell, Fabric, Beads

African Fulani Currency Bracelet, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Characterized by its open shape capped with geometric ends, this bracelet is but one form of the many types of body adornments favored the Fulani people of West Africa. The thick des...
Category

Early 20th Century Nigerien Tribal Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Brass

Vintage American Hand Hooked Rug in a Geometric Block Pattern in Pastel Colors
Located in Barrington, IL
19th Century hand hooked rug in a free form design, We are intrigued with the novelty and the imagination of the maker in creating such a wonderful and rare design in earth tone colors. The hooked rugs from the late 19th and early 20th centuries are made with recycled old material, often used clothing that had been cut into narrow stripes. The foundation of hooked rugs is generally burlap material which the maker uses the stenciling technique to transfer the pattern into the surface. Once the design has been transferred to burlap, it would then be filled with the recycled material stripes and more recently yarn using the hooking technique. Because of the delicacy in the material and construction of vintage hand hooked rugs...
Category

Late 19th Century American Antique Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Wool, Burlap, Cotton

Oromo Igbo African Gourd
Located in Winnetka, IL
This African piece was made by the oromo igbo people of ethiopia It is a gourd with weaved fiber and metal covering it with intricate design and patterns It has a lid with it which is usually not found It definately has age but not sure of its exact year This vessel is a lovely african artifact...
Category

Early 20th Century Ethiopian Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Metallic Thread

Mossi Incised Currency Bracelet
Located in Chicago, IL
The blacksmiths and sculptors of the Mossi People were held in special regard by the tribe's ruling class. Their ability to shape bronze and other precious metals into currency and status symbols made them valuable members of the powerful tribe. The intricate design of this currency bracelet...
Category

Mid-20th Century Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Bronze

Nigerian Nupe Storage Vessel
Located in Chicago, IL
The Nupe people of Nigeria were known as some of the finest ceramicists in Africa. Everyday objects, like this storage vessel, received detailed attenti...
Category

Early 20th Century Nigerian Primitive Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Terracotta

Beaded Ndebele Fertility Doll
Located in Chicago, IL
A rare imported commodity, glass beads have been a symbol of wealth and importance in south African cultures for centuries, and were exclusively distributed by the region's oba (king). As beads become gradually more accessible throughout the 19th century, they began to displace the organic materials used in traditional art and attire. This colorful example of African beadwork is a fertility doll...
Category

20th Century South African Folk Art Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Cotton, Wood

Vintage American Hand Hooked Rug in Geometric Pattern in Ivory, Pink, Orange, Bl
Located in Barrington, IL
Celebrate the charm of American folk art with this exceptional vintage hand-hooked rug, crafted in the late 1800s in the historic New England region. Featuring a striking geometric p...
Category

Early 20th Century American Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Cotton, Wool

Vintage Batik Fabric Painting Tribal Folk Wall Art
Located in Barrington, IL
Vintage Asian Batik hand painted fabric art. The beautiful batik is a panoramic depiction of riders in chariots and on horseback set on an indigo color fabric with designs in ivory. 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: 15” x 78” Date of Manufacture: 3rd Quarter of the 1900s Place of Origin: Yunnan, China Material: Textile Condition: Wear consistent with age and use The Persian Knot, SKU: 2263 Vintage Batik Painting...
Category

Late 20th Century Chinese Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Textile

Stamped & Polished Metal Tribal Mask Wall Hanging
Located in Chicago, IL
Stamped and cut polished metal tribal mask. Foliate headdress, pierced and plated lower lip with pierced ears joining together in a necklace. Three dimensional with lacquered black b...
Category

20th Century American Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Lacquer

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

Vintage Mueller Electric Point-of-Sale Advertising Display
Located in Dekalb, IL
c. 1940s/1950s; Mueller Electric Co. - Cleveland, OH Vintage advertising store display. This piece features an assortment of offerings produced by Mueller, an electrical component ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Metal

Yoruba Osanyin Staff, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
To cure mental and physical ailments, Yoruba priests and diviners invoke the aid of Osanyin, the god of herbal medicines. Used in divination rituals to cure the afflicted, this iron ...
Category

Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Steel, Iron

Beaded Ndebele Fertility Doll
Located in Chicago, IL
A rare imported commodity, glass beads have been a symbol of wealth and importance in south African cultures for centuries, and were exclusively distributed by the region's oba (king). As beads become gradually more accessible throughout the 19th century, they began to displace the organic materials used in traditional art and attire. This colorful example of African beadwork is a fertility doll...
Category

20th Century South African Folk Art Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Cotton, Wood

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

Yoruba Omo Bell, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This four-sided brass face bell, known as omo, was created by an artisan of the Ijebu Yoruba People of Southern Nigeria. A mark of the wearer's rank and power, the bell would have be...
Category

Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Metal

Medium French Male Stone Bust, 1940s
Located in Chicago, IL
A 1940s French male bust, hand-crafted from solid stone. This quietly impactful piece is rendered with meticulous detail, from the textured curls of his hair to his defined facial fe...
Category

1940s French Neoclassical Revival Vintage Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Stone

"Universal Soldier" Ghanaian Hand-Painted Movie Poster
Located in Chicago, IL
Starring Jean Claude Van-Damme and Dolph Lundgren, Universal Soldier was a pulpy action/sci-fi from the early 1990s. The film's international success is...
Category

1990s Ghanaian Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Paint, Paper

Mid-20th Century African Hand-Woven Indigo Tapestry in Custom Wrought Iron Frame
Located in Barrington, IL
This exquisite vintage African tapestry, dating to the mid-1900s, features a flat-woven kilim textile hand-crafted using natural dyes in striking indigo blue and white. The alternati...
Category

1940s South African Vintage Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Steel

Yoruba Osanyin Healing Staff, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
To cure mental and physical ailments, Yoruba priests and diviners invoke the aid of Osanyin, the god of herbal medicines. Used in divination rituals to cure the afflicted, this iron ...
Category

Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Iron

Studded African Mask 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. Embellishing with silver and ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary African Tribal Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Metal

Early 20th Century Framed Reverse-Painted Waltham Watches Sign
Located in Dekalb, IL
c. 1900s/1910s; Waltham Watch Co. - Waltham, MA Vintage reverse painted glass advertising sign for Waltham pocket watches. This piece features reverse graphics on a glass panel, be...
Category

Early 20th Century North American Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Glass, Wood, Paint

Bamileke Figurative Round Stool
Located in Chicago, IL
Marked by the telltale Bamileke rounded disc seat and base, this stool features a group of pondering human figures as its vertical supports instead of the more common abstract carvin...
Category

Mid-20th Century Cameroonian Tribal Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Yoruba Osanyin Healing Staff, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
To cure mental and physical ailments, Yoruba priests and diviners invoke the aid of Osanyin, the god of herbal medicines. Used in divination rituals to cure the afflicted, this iron ...
Category

Early 20th Century Nigerian Minimalist Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Iron

Terracotta Bura Spirit Vessel, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Sometimes called a "Bura bell" due to its shape, this sculptural terra cotta object was part of the Bura tribe's burial ritual. Buried with its flared mouth facing down, this cylindrical storage...
Category

Early 20th Century Nigerien Tribal Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Terracotta

Tibetan Saddle Carpet with Floral Medallions, c. 1930
Located in Chicago, IL
This unusually-shaped carpet is known as a "makden" and was originally used by a nomadic traveler as an artful covering for his horse. Placed between the saddle and the horse, the makden cushioned the rigid saddle and kept the horse warm in cold climates. Most under-saddle carpets...
Category

Early 20th Century Tibetan Tibetan Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Fabric, Wool

Terracotta Bura Spirit Vessel, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Sometimes called a "Bura bell" due to its shape, this sculptural terra cotta object was part of the Bura tribe's burial ritual. Buried with its flared mouth facing down, this cylindrical storage...
Category

Early 20th Century Nigerien Tribal Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Terracotta

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

Framed Hand Embroidered Vintage Crib Quilt of a Cabin in Red, Green, Peach, Blue
Located in Barrington, IL
A charming mid-20th-century hand-embroidered crib quilt featuring a whimsical depiction of a house or cabin, rendered in soft red, peach, green, blue, and ivory tones. Each stitch sp...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Cotton, Art Glass, Hardwood

Toussian Storage Vessel, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Ovoid pots were an elegant storage solution in African tribal life. This beautifully balanced example is attributed to the Toussian people of Western Burkina Faso. Masterfully made to protect its contents from the elements, pots such as this one were coiled by female ceramists to hold food or personal...
Category

Early 20th Century Burkinabe Tribal Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Vintage American Hand Hooked Rug of Two Love Birds in a Tree
Located in Barrington, IL
Early 20th Century hand hooked rug in a wonderful depiction of a pair of lovebirds on a tree branch. The rug has a delightful design and colors including black, ivory, lavender pin...
Category

Early 20th Century American Illinois - Folk Art

Materials

Cotton

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