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 49–60 of 92 results

  • Sale! Antique/Vintage Kitchen God and His Wife, China #16850BME

    Antique/Vintage Kitchen God and His Wife, China #16850BME

    Original price was: $625.00.Current price is: $375.00.
    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 Comical Character (Topeng Bondres), Bali (1266WCE) $395

    Antique/Vintage Mask of Comical Character (Topeng Bondres), Bali (1266WCE) $395

    $395.00

    Balinese masks (tapel in Balinese, topeng in Java), are said to have existed since the 10th century and often are danced in sacred Hindu stories with important moral, ethical, historical and philosophical ideas, This is especially true as many come from ancient Hindu texts like ancient epics the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Babad Dalem, the…

  • Antique/Vintage Rangda Mask on Museum Stand, Indonesia, Bali (1310BML) SPECIAL PRICE

    Antique/Vintage Rangda Mask on Museum Stand, Indonesia, Bali (1310BML) SPECIAL PRICE

    $875.00

    In Bali, Indonesia, Hindu villages have a sacred collection of woodcarvings in the form of Balinese masks (topeng) danced as offerings to the gods with a gamelan percussion orchestra. Balinese dance masks are endowed with magic (tenget) ), especially. the 2 central to Balinese mythology, culture and their past of animism:  Rangda and Barong. Barong…

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  • Sale! Antique/Vintage Silver Pendant of Ganesh with Parvati, India #22059XHE

    Antique/Vintage Silver Pendant of Ganesh with Parvati, India #22059XHE

    Original price was: $295.00.Current price is: $245.00.
    Ht: 2.75”. W: 2.5” D: 0.25” 1.3oz.  |  FREE SHIPPING WITHIN THE CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This rare pendant of Ganesh and his mother Parvati seated on a throne is framed within a betel shape with scalloped edges. It is finely crafted heavy silver piece with a top round suspension loop that mirrors the ovule on the bottom. Used as a protective amulet, it shows signs of wear that give it a smooth fine patina.

  • Sale! Antique/Vintage Sweetmeats Confection-Mold, China #19434

    Antique/Vintage Sweetmeats Confection-Mold, China #19434

    Original price was: $425.00.Current price is: $215.00.
    H: 16.5″ W: 10.5″ D: 2.25″ CALL 213-568-3030 OR EMAIL [email protected] FOR SHIPPING QUOTE

    This finely detailed hardwood mold was used to make sweetmeats confections, perhaps mooncakes for the Chinese Autumn Moon Festival. It is covered with deeply carved propitious symbols for marital harmony, sons and successful endeavors:  a four clawed dragon for fertility, two ducks symbolizing marital bliss and harmony, one atop a carp for conjugal bliss and achieving noble rank and a boat with a sail for making all this easy sailing. This would be a great accessory or gift (especially for weddings) to spice up any kitchen.

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  • Pair of Antique/Vintage Carved Opera Figures (16161LME), China SPECIAL PRICE

    Pair of Antique/Vintage Carved Opera Figures (16161LME), China SPECIAL PRICE

    $875.00

    We cannot precisely identify this pair but the seller said the costume details were of opera figures which were extremely popular during the Qing dynasty until it ended. Beautifully carved from a very dense hardwood, the figure and wife sit on a 3 level pedestals with long back supports. Clearly an official with a deeply…

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  • Rare Vintage Balinese Sweet Jauk Mask, Lombok (1320ZAR) SPECIAL PRICE

    Rare Vintage Balinese Sweet Jauk Mask, Lombok (1320ZAR) SPECIAL PRICE

    $395.00

    Balinese carvings and masks are ethnic folk art and a blend of Hinduism and its initial animism. Most masks made in Bali are from pulai wood that rarely cracks and is easier to carve. As it is not native to Lombok, carvers there use a variety of woods some of which were dense with others light….

  • SOLD Antique Animal Shaped Wood Coconut Cutter, Thailand #3450ZSE SOLD

    SOLD Antique Animal Shaped Wood Coconut Cutter, Thailand #3450ZSE SOLD

    $395.00
    SOLD

    This antique coconut grater is a very practical multi-use creation designed to cut, grate, shave, husk, and shred coconuts and large fruits and vegetables. Some were carved as crouching rabbits and others like this were realistic renderings of small mammals. Its decorative appeal includes lovely 6-petal flowers above its four legs and elegantly curved and metal piece extending ”  W:from its mouth. With its warm and rustic feel, it would be a unique decorative addition to any kitchen and an interesting conversational piece.

  • SOLD Antique Moon Cake Confection Mold, China (1150LEM) $1150

    SOLD Antique Moon Cake Confection Mold, China (1150LEM) $1150

    $850.00

    The Mid Autumn Moon Festival, also called the Mooncake Festival, is the 2nd most important holiday after the Chinese New Year, celebrated when the full moon is at its brightest point on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. It is a time for multi-generational gatherings when families dine together in harmony,…

  • SOLD Antique/Vintage Small Square Rug w/Double Dorje/Vajra, China

    SOLD Antique/Vintage Small Square Rug w/Double Dorje/Vajra, China

    $375.00

    This rug was made in China for Vajrayana/Tibetan Buddhists who were taught this form of Buddhism by Tibetan monks invited there to teach Tibetan Buddhism. Rugs like this were made both for domestic Chinese use and for export to Tibet. Made from wool and natural dyes, this fringed small square has a cotton foundation and…

  • Sale! SOLD Vintage Demon Mask (Jauk), Bali (1301-16QBE) $110

    SOLD Vintage Demon Mask (Jauk), Bali (1301-16QBE) $110

    Original price was: $110.00.Current price is: $0.00.
    H: 7.625″ W: 6.125″ D: 3.375″ | FREE SHIPPING within continental u.s.!

    Most jauk keras (strong, scary) masks of a giant are often red or orange to reinforce a volatile dance with jerky movements. This jauk manis (good, sweet) mask dance is a more controlled, regulated and enacted with more calm and human movements. Personally collected in Bali in the 1970s, it is in excellent condition with expected minor scratches and paint losses.

  • SOLD Vintage Earth Witnessing Buddha, Laos (3185A- ELO) $295

    SOLD Vintage Earth Witnessing Buddha, Laos (3185A- ELO) $295

    $295.00
    H: 9”  W: 4.25  D: 3.125” | FREE SHIPPING

    This mid 20th century Buddha Shakyamuni in Earth Witnessing position is carved in rural Lao style. Covered with gilt, the small rustic and simply carved image follows Lao artistic canons for depicting a Buddha: a curved hairline and high arched eyebrows that meet at the bridge of the nose, distinct hair curls, long ears, and a flame-shaped radiance emerging from his ushnisha. Its very large base is as tall and wide as the image, reflecting Laotian beliefs that a high pedestal reflects a deep respect for the Buddha. A base has been added for display purposes.  Authentic old Lao images, even small personal ones like this, are difficult to find.

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