Folk Art

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.

Showing 37–48 of 88 results

  • Antique Tuareg Manilla Currency/Slave Bracelet, North/ West Africa (3149TKM) $275

    $275.00
    H: 3.375”  W: 3.25”  Thick: 1.25” Circum: 5.75” | FREE SHIPPING

    Tuareg wrist and ankle manillas made from sand moulds were usually shaped in a large C. Recognized for their unique etched designs, symbols, motifs and faceted knob ends, each is a one-of-a kind creation. This  bracelet has massive finials with 12 facets containing detailed hand-etched and hammered designs including raised circles. It is in excellent condition with appropriate signs of age and use and comes with a wood and metal stand.

     

    Sources

    Helen E. Hagan and Lucile Meyers, Tuareg Jewelry: Traditional Patterns and Symbols, Xlibrus Corporation, 2006.

  • Sale!

    Antique Wood Zhenwu the Taoist “Perfected Warrior,” China (19416XLKE) $975

    Original price was: $1,250.00.Current price is: $975.00.
    H: 15.25″  W: 6.75″  D: 6.75″ | Call 213-568-3030 for Shipping Quotation

    Zhenwu (Perfected Warrior) is one of the most important and powerful Taoist deities, god of one of the 4 cardinal directions (the north) revered for his potent magical powers to suppress demonic forces. This provincial image for personal devotion and reflects his classic iconography: seated on a throne, bare feet resting on a snake and a tortoise, a celestial scarf and maille armor. Intricately carved he has a powerful presence.

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  • Antique Wood Zhenwu, The Taoist “Perfected Warrior”, China (19066BME) $575

    $575.00
    H: 13”  W: 5”  D: 4.875” | FREE SHIPPING!

    The Taoist god Zhenwu, the Perfected Warrior, is one of the most revered Chinese Taoist deities venerated for his ability to heal as well as to protect his country and the emperor. In this fine provincial piece he is humbly presented with a plain robe with an official’s belt wrapped around his back and over his ample stomach which more resembles a Chinese official than a deified warrior.  His face has well-defined features including the eyes and lips set in a benevolent slight smile. It was painted in polychrome and some of the original black, yellow, and red paint can be seen on the bottom.

     

  • Antique/Vintage Bejeweled Dancer, Burma/Myanmar (T038PACK) $1250

    $1,250.00
    H: 19.75″  W: 7.75″  D: 5″ | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    This exquisite teak carving of a Mandalay Burmese male dancer wearing a sarong is in a fluid twisted pose emphasizing his strength, balance and grace with his raised hand is in a position similar to a Buddhist mudra. His humble status is reflected his head scarf and a bejeweled sarong with insert glass that reflect light and add movement and depth. His joyful beautiful face stares with open eyes and slightly parted lips It is simply a gorgeous work mounted on a contemporary frosted stand to complement any setting.

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  • Antique/Vintage Bejeweled Wood Naga, Burma/Myanmar (11134B-KRK) $975

    $975.00
    H: 32″  W: 20″  D: 7.5″  SHIPPING INFORMATION REQUIRED. CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    This exceptional naga was likely one of two that were part of a gong stand. Gongs were used in Burma for both ceremonial and musical purposes in religious, state, or secular settings and as protector figures. A superb carving elaborately decorated with gold lacquer and pigmentation over every square inch, he opens his mouth wide bearing mother-of-pearl teeth and a curled blood red mouth and tongue to drive away malevolent spirits reinforced by the large glaring eyes circled in red. On first glance it is menacing, but its history as a protector of Buddha Shakyamuni make it prized as a fanciful, gleeful guardian. His scales are arched relief designs of mixed lacquer and ash highlighted with inset cut mirrors and green sequin-like glass “jewels.” It is mounted on a museum quality stand and is in excellent condition for its age and use despite missing and ear.

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  • Antique/Vintage Brass Nandi Figurine, India (9509A-GAH) $245

    $245.00
    H: 4.5”  W: 2.25”  D: 3.25” | FREE SHIPPING

    This well articulated figurine features is Nandi decorated with jewels and recumbent on a high-tiered pedestal throne. Nandi figurines are placed on home altars for daily puja and are decorated with flowers and incense offerings as a sign of respect and this image has an attached incense holder for this purpose. Made using lost wax casting, it is a one-of-a-kind piece in very good condition with a fine patina and smooth surface.

     

     

  • Antique/Vintage Carved Hindu Devi Child’s Doll, India (3120FLK) $75

    $75.00
    H: 9.5″  W: 2″  D: 1.2″ | FREE SHIPPING!

    This antique hardwood local female deity from a provincial area in South India is a Devi, a positive female spirit and fertility deity. Hand crafted as a child’s toy, it was intentionally crudely carved without much detail  and created to entertain and instill pride in the local community’s heritage and religion. It has a shiny patina from natural hand oil as it was handled daily for a century or so.  

  • Antique/Vintage Framed Glass Painting of a Peacock, India (3982MCE) $395

    $395.00
    H: 16″  W: 13 ” D:  1″ | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    This glass painting of a peacock with Krishna Playing his Flute (3983MCE) was one of a pair of inset panels in a highly decorative antique Indian cabinet or chest. Beautifully painted with reflective silver accents it is a vibrant an d remarkable wall hanging.  As both panels were originally displayed together, we recommend they be kept as a pair. Peacocks, the national bird of India, are an integral part of Hindu and Indian art and culture depicted in spiritual and decorative art.

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  • Antique/Vintage Framed Glass Painting of Krishna Playing his Flute, India (3982MCE) $395

    $395.00
    H: 16″ W: 13″ D: 1″ | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    This vibrant glass painting of Krishna along with the painting of a Peacock (3983MCE) were insets in a highly decorated Indian wood cabinet or chest. Krishna is one of the most popular Hindu deities, beautifully depicted here in a bright yellow dhoti, peacock feather crown, and jewels in serenading his adoring gopis with his engaging flute. The unique frame complements the paianting’s richness and vintage feel.

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  • Antique/Vintage Jetayu Mask, Museum Quality Stand, Bali (1208JKE) $650

    $650.00
    H: 13.75”  W: 6.25”  D: 9” | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    Jetayu is the mythical demi-god divine bird in the Hindu epic the Ramayana. It is a very rare Balinese mask with a fine patina from decades of dance performances. The crowned forehead and snout, huge round eyes, wide-open mouth, curled leather tongue, expressive jaw muscles with upper and lower sets of piercing sharp teeth in graduated sizes reflect the pinnacle of skilled woodcarving and polychrome painting.

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  • Antique/Vintage Kitchen God and His Wife, China (16850BME) $625

    $625.00
    H: 8.25″  W: 3.125″  D: 2.25″ | FREE SHIPPING!

    This Kitchen God and his Wife is posed as streamlined virtual mirror-images and fashioned with a general quality relying on paint rather than deep carving for details. They sit on backless chairs on a plinth, with simplified gold officials’ robes with long color sashes, and well-carved black and gilt head gear. The wife’s face is smooth, generalized and the male face has a more deeply carved surface and painted highlights.

     

  • Antique/Vintage Mask of a Comical Character, Bali (1266WCE) $395

    $395.00
    Ht: 7”  W: 5”  D: 3.25” | FREE SHIPPING!

    The third eye on this topeng bondres is ironic, as it depicts a very odd clown-like, personality. Very well-carved, he has uneven bloodshot eyes, an almost hairless head, angular bony eye-sockets and a recessed face with black age lines on each side of a puny nose. The protruding red lips, open mouth with two teeth and mustache are not balanced and describe a weirdo demanding our attention. He is a strange and wacky Balinese jokester who evokes laughter and is exactly what the Balinese love: a abnormal slapstick clown with physical oddities. Personally collected in Bali in the 1970s, this piece is in excellent condition for its age and use with expected minor paint losses and scrapes.

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