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 61–72 of 99 results
Most ethnic Luristan (Lorestan) Iron Age bronzes were small items found in the the Zagros Mountains valleys in Lorestan Province, Western Iran. Other items found included tools, small vessels and horse-fittings, many buried with the deceased as ancestral pieces for use in their afterlife. Although their origin is not certain, they were likely Persians related to…
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….
Antique hand-crafted kitchen-accessories and tools and other objects such as coconut cutters are examples of the artistic skills of Thai carvers to transform functional and utilitarian objects into attractive decorative pieces. Coconuts are ubiquitous in Thailand, used for all aspects of Thai life: coconut milk and meat are staples in traditional Thai dishes and are…
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,…
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…
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.
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.
Influenced by Islam for centuries, Javanese theater in Indonesia is stylized, didactic and full of central characters said to be cultural and historic icons of morality. Mask drama theater (Topeng Wayang) in Java is dominated by the conservative central Javanese palace courts (kraton) of Surakarta, Solo and Jogjakarta (Yogyakarta) which have long supported mask makers,…
This lovely carving is likely the Queen Mother of the West (Xiwangmu) and may be a puppet head or an attachment to a larger figure. Xiwangmu is the most important female deity in the Taoist pantheon generally identified by a single phoenix in her headdress. The unique headdress here has three phoenixes instead of her…
This rare, vintage spirit mask is from Timor in Indonesia. Their animism is characterized by ritual exchanges between individuals or social groups with ancestral and fertility spirits having a close reciprocal link between the deceased and the secular world as ancestors require sustenance, respect and attention (i.e. offerings), while humans seek advice, good fortune, health…
This doll of a Chinese official as part of a Chinese opera has a unique gold and silver thread stitched and sequined design circling a series of triangular mountains topped by only traditionally shaped clouds, generally not on an official’s robe. In many cultures, dolls were used as children’s entertainment and as didactic tools to…
One of the three largest ethnic groups in Nigeria, Benin and Togo numbering over 20 million, Yoruba are among the most skilled African craftsmen. Traditional Yoruba religion has a complex hierarchy of deities comprised of a supreme creator with some 400 lesser gods and spirits. Having one of the world’s highest rates of twin births…
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