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 66 results
Rare and very fine vintage woodcarving of Dewi Sri Balinese Hindu goddess of rice and prosperity in excellent condition considering it is a much used piece. Depicted as a young, attractive and fertile woman with highly decorative headdress. Can be mounted on a wall.
Chinese opera dancer doll with elaborate headdress and 5-petal plum blossom on sash symbolizing the Five Happinesses: prosperity, long life, health, living a virtuous life and dying a natural death.
Vintage Burmese teak heddle-pulley used in strip-weaving on small handlooms. Here surmounted by a ferocious mythical lion as guardian of Buddhist law. Mythical beasts believed to protect the weaver and assure high quality weaving.
This ethnic and folk-art Bali legendary court minister (topeng patih) is performed in a special mask dance named Topeng Panjegan, as only one dancer interprets five different characters wearing full face masks preventing speech. Patih manis (Sweet Minister) is often the first solo dance after a gamelan orchestra introduction, and this patih keras (strong minister)…
Woven from strands of raffia palm leaves, this traditional vintage bordered square Kuba cloth from the Democratic Republic of the Congo was made using vegetable dye and is embellished with sophisticated embroidered, applique and patchwork linear designs.
Woven from strands of raffia palm leaves, this traditional vintage bordered square Kuba cloth from the Democratic Republic of the Congo was made using vegetable dye and is embellished with sophisticated embroidered, applique and patchwork linear designs.
Vivacious attendant doll offering huge peach in vibrant Chinese dance costume in red, yellow, green-blue with sequins, silver and gold thread and plum blossoms as wish for Five Happinesses. On Lucite stand, part of set of 4 .
All ethnic mask (topeng) dances in Bali are accompanied with music from a gamelan percussion orchestra as are dramas and other entertainments considered as offerings to honor, please and attract the favor of the gods and ancestral spirits. In the west dancers put on masks to pretend they are someone else. Balinese dancers become the…
Court ministers (patih) in Bali, Indonesia are danced in mask (topeng) performances named Topeng Panjegan where a single dancer interprets 5 legendary characters wearing full face masks, cannot speak and much portray them only through gestures and body language and positions. Patih manis (literally sweet, a good natured, diplomatic minister) is often the first solo…
Balinese monkey masks (topeng bojog) are used in dance-dramas based on the ancient Indian moral epic the Ramayana. In Balinese Hinduism, monkeys as sacred guardians and protectors of temples where their auspicious presence brings good luck.
Traditional Burmese dance has its roots in folk religion and is a combination of ancient animism, nat worship and a later syncretic blend with Buddhism. Ethnic minorities often perform dances that include warriors , Zawgyi (shaman) and nats wielding swords or holding drums while dressed in full-body costumes. Burmese performances were regulated with limitations on…
This charming vintage folk-art panel of a barefoot female farmer with a woven rattan basket behind her with the handle over her forehead is part of a 3 part set of farmer images
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