As defined by the International Museum of Folk Art, folk art encompasses a broad range of forms – dance, song, poetry, and foods as well as art. It is handmade; traditional, reflecting shared cultural aesthetics and social issues which may change over time; and is of, by and for the people inclusive of class, status, culture, ethnicity, gender, and religion. It may be for community use or for sale as income or empowerment; learned formally, informally, or self-taught. It can be decorative or utilitarian used for daily, ritual or ceremonial purposes.
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This extremely rare late Ming/early Qing dynasty carving is divided in two parts and is significant for its juxtaposition of images as well as its unique iconography. The top is one of the Taoist officials in typical officialsattire: an official’s hat, a tiered robe with a red sash extending to the tops of the shoes….
Nandi is among the most frequent Hindu deities worshiped in public places, temples, homes, or on a home altar throughout India. As one of Hinduism’s mythical animals, Nandi is Shiva’s vahana, (his mount that transports him), attendant and leader of his attendants and guardian of all four-footed animals. A recumbent image of Nandi on a…
VA’s most unique and finely crafted Kitchen God couple. Beautifully carved, clasping hu tablets, approachable features, smiling lips. Painted character on base wish for “happiness.” Add positive chi, enhance feng-shui.Unique house warming/wedding gifts.
This very fine pair of antique carved males fu lions represents the dual nature of these mythical animals: as protective images they are powerful and fierce, as Buddhist images they are whimsical with smiling faces, dangling tongues, hanging ears and bushy tails. They are extremely well carved with harnesses and bells around their necks, detailed manes and tails on high intricately decorated bases to signal their importance. Perfect for enhancing feng shui in a home or office, large finely decorative wood pairs like this are extremely hard to find.
As part of Burmese animistic and shamanistic beliefs hand built oxcarts were decorated with figurehead prows of mythical beings to guide the owner. Using their spiritual and magical powers they bestow good fortune and ward off malevolent spirits. The legendary figure here is probably a nat – a deified spirits of the deceased believed to have magical and protective powers seen on non religious items and in Buddhist temples, pagodas, home shrines, other spiritual structures throughout Burma.
Simple attractive antique welded Indian iron pot with warm rust color patina. Clear lines indicate where pieces were joined in its construction. Egg shape with a rounded bottom for easy pouring, it has a warmth to add charm to any room, especially a kitchen or filled with dried flowers.
Made in the Meiji era (1868-1912),this hand crafted antique Japanese cast iron tetsubin teapot has an unusual decorative handle and curved spout and has a beautiful relief design of galloping horses. Horses have been revered creatures in Japanese culture that embody grace, power and nobility. The knob on the lid probably represents a lotus, the Buddhist symbol of purity and enlightenment. As with all antiques, these pieces are purely decorative for display purposes only.
Prehistoric Thai Bronze Age jewelry, adzes and tools have been found all over Thailand. Excavations from various soil levels show many sites had been inhabited for millennia. They confirm the existence of an early, well-developed metallurgical tradition of bronze digging and cutting tools, adzes (ancient axe like tools to cut wood), adult and child’s bronze…
Dhorka brass lost wax grain and rice measuring bowl. One-of-a-kind intricately decorated with horizontal and triangular striations. Bowls were symbol of Hindu goddess Lakshmi placed on home altars for puja.
Dhorka brass lost wax grain and rice measuring bowl. One-of-a-kind intricately decorated with horizontal and triangular striations. Bowls were symbol of Hindu goddess Lakshmi placed on home altars for puja.
Antique Chinese puppets were often made in several parts with removable heads. This antique carved head of a beauty has delicately painted features and an animal hair braided down the back. Since there is an area without hair towards the back, she likely originally wore a hat or headdress. A hole on top probably accommodated strings.
Fine Fulani round manilla bracelet with parallel ridges over most of surface resembling a twisted metal pieces, topped with extended flat boss/knob in center.
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