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 73–84 of 101 results

  • Sale!

    Vintage Bearded Doll Official-Dancer Acrylic Stand, China (1301B-EAO) $195

    Original price was: $195.00.Current price is: $165.75.
    Ht: 8.75″  D: 4″  D: 3.125″ | FREE SHIPPING within Continental U.S.!

    This delightful doll mounted on a frosted acrylic stand is dressed as a bearded official wearing a traditional ‘spread-wing” official’s hat. Originally mounted on a wood stick seen under his attire, he wears a dark blue and gold robe with a loose black, red and silver official’s belt and boots.  Although dressed as a Chinese official, he is clearly an entertainer. He holds a set of paper clappers (Kuaiban)– meaning “fast boards,” a two-millennia old Chinese castanets-like instrument made of bamboo or wood slats tied together which entertainers rattle, shake, or clap together to produce a complementary sound or beat. This piece is in excellent condition with expected signs of wear and use in the clothing and minor paint losses.

     

  • Sale!

    Vintage Carved Ibeji with Necklace, Africa, Nigeria Yoruba (1964BHA) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $475.00.Current price is: $403.75.
    H: 9.625″  W: 3″  D: 3″ | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This vintage Ibeji  portrays a simple yet strong elegance with his characteristic large conical head, long curved neck and elaborately striated hairstyle. His extremely large round bulging eyes under heavy lids, flaring nose, full lips, and large flat ears reflect the Yoruba idealized form of beauty and exemplify being a correct and upstanding example of tribal values. His prominent genitalia and buttocks and his sturdy vertical stance on wide feet, thick legs and strong rounded shoulders and arms symbolize his strength and fertility. Scarification patterns appear on his cheeks and forehead, and he wears a necklace with traditional Yoruba blue and multi colored beadwork.

  • Sale!

    Vintage Carved Mask of a King, Bali (1301-12EBE) $105

    Original price was: $105.00.Current price is: $89.00.
    H: 8.125″  W: 6″  D: 3.5″ | FREE SHIPPINGwithin continental u.s.!

    Dalem is an idealized and refined mask (topeng, tapel) of a model Hindu King from Bali and is usually white symbolizing purity. The mask and dance present actions, postures and gestures validating the traits of a good king: grace, poise, dignity and refinement. This piece is well carved, balanced and in fine proportion, and the crown and the animal hide and hair eyebrows and mustache are well integrated in portraying the king’s confidence. It is in very good condition with a wash applied as a the mask to make it look older. It was personally collected in Bali in the 1970s.

    Click here for the blog Indonesian Dance Masks (Topeng): Spiritually Connecting the Community

  • Sale!

    Vintage Carved Tibetan Cham Mask of a Horse, Nepal (11325B-GHL) $325

    Original price was: $325.00.Current price is: $276.25.
    H: 13.5”  W: 7.5”  D: 5” | FREE SHIPPING!

    This Tibetan mask shows the mastery of Tibetan carvers. It emphasizes the horse’s strength and alertness by cutting deeply around the large and widely separated eyes, raising the lids, creating black eyelash lash patterns as if the horse is moving and proving its strength and stamina. Its open mouth reinforces this and reveals a fine set of teeth. In excellent condition, it was personally collected in Nepal in the late 1970’s.

  • Sale!

    Vintage Carving of a Brahmana, Museum Quality Stand, Bali (1267BEM) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $675.00.Current price is: $378.25.
    Ht: 15.5”  W: 8”  D: 5”     |  CALL 213-568-3030 OR EMAIL [email protected] FOR SHIPPING

    This charming Balinese mask is a traditional female Dayu, an ethnic Balinese high-caste Hindu Brahman Woman. This beautiful carving is too large to be a traditional dance mask , it is a beautiful decorative piece. Presented as a charming and beautiful woman from the top Hindu caste, she has delicate, detailed and sensitive features, that are superbly and subtlety carved. It is  presented on a museum quality metal stand.

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  • Sale!

    Vintage Dayak Ancestor Mask (Hudoq), Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo) (1200TSK) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $485.00.Current price is: $412.25.
    H: 14.75”  W: 12.125”  D: 4.375” | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    Dayak Hudoq made after the arrival of masks from Java show their influence, but now even masks like this valid Vintage Dyak piece are hard to find. Authentic with strong parallels with traditional Hudoq pieces, it is painted in an unusual detailed pattern while the projecting mouth and nose, pierced eyes and undulating snake-like elements on the separately carved and attached wing-like ears align with Hudoq tradition. Mask reproductions throughout Indonesia are referred to as “antique baru” (new antiques), but this original, later, authentic vintage mask is hard to find and scarce. Personally collected in the 1970s, it is in excellent condition, placed on a museum-quality metal stand and without restoration or repairs except for the new wing-ear bindings.

     

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  • Sale!

    Vintage Female Doll in Ceremonial Dress, China (1301C-EAO) $195

    Original price was: $195.00.Current price is: $165.75.
    Ht: 8.75″  W: 4″  D: 3.125″ | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    Originally mounted on the wood stick now inserted into an acrylic stand, this vintage elegantly dressed female doll is a dancer in ceremonial dress holding her elongated finely defined hands in front of her chest grasping a flower. Her wood head is beautifully painted and her black hair is intricately coiffed in a bun, a ponytail down her back, and with two upstanding ovals decorated with sequins, cloth, and plastic florals. She wears a long beige flowing dress with a contrasting red jacket, belt and sash that hangs down to the base inset with five pedal sequin flowers symbolizing a plum blossom and a wish for the Five Blessings and longevity.

  • Sale!

    Vintage Female Doll in Ceremonial Dress, Acrylic Stand, China (1301D-EAO) $195

    Original price was: $195.00.Current price is: $165.75.
    H: 10.5″  W: 3.5″  D:  3.125″ | FREE SHIPPING

    Originally mounted on the wood stick now inserted into its acrylic stand, this vintage, stately, elegantly dressed female folk-art doll is an opera dancer in ceremonial dress holding her elongated finely defined hands in front of her chest. Her wood head is beautifully painted and her black hair is intricately coiffed in a bun and ponytail down her back and adorned with two upward standing ovals decorated with sequins, cloth and plastic florals. She wears a long flowing beige dress with a contrasting yellow jacket, belt and sash hanging down to the base with five pedaled green flower plum blossoms, inset sequins, highlighted and outlined with silver thread and bright red shoes.

  • Sale!

    Vintage Hand Carved Dewi Sri, Hindu Rice Goddess, Indonesia, Bali (3045DLK) $265

    Original price was: $265.00.Current price is: $225.25.
    H: 14.5″  W: 6.625″  D: 2.375″ | FREE SHIPPING

    This very fine and very beautiful vintage woodcarving of Dewi Sri , Devi Sri or Sridevi in Java, the Balinese Hindu goddess of rice and prosperity, is in excellent condition considering it is a much used vintage piece. Personally collected in Bali in the 1970s, it reflects the offerings made to Dewi Sri placed in the rice fields to protect the rice harvest. She is depicted here as a young, attractive and fertile woman wearing a striking, highly detailed and decorative headdress similar to those worn in Balinese dances leaving her upper forehead bare and framing her oval face with high curved eyebrows, wide-open eyes and beautiful pursed lips. With its flat back it can be mounted on a wall.

  • Sale!

    Vintage Heddle Pulley with a Mythical Animal (3303EKE) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $245.00.Current price is: $208.25.
    Ht: 12”  W: 4.125”  D: 3.25” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    Burmese heddle-pulleys are decorated with carvings of mythical or auspicious animals to provide protection and assure good quality weaving. A powerful ferocious Burmese Lion with open roaring mouth and thick main sits atop the pulley highlighting the area below where the weaving thread travels around the bobbin between the wood triangle pieces holding it. A fine folk art teak carving in excellent condition it is mounted on a metal pole on a black wood base.

  • Sale!

    Vintage Ibeji with High Round Hat, Nigeria, Yoruba (1965BHA) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $385.00.Current price is: $327.25.
    H: 7.75″ W: 2.625″ D: 2″    FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This Nigerian Ibeji carving reflects Yoruba artistic and cultural conventions with oversized elongated heads where one’s spirit, intelligence and seat of divine power lie and large coiffures. With  high rates of twin births with a high mortality rate, the Yoruba have a “twin cult” that honors deceased twin(s) with carved images. Mothers wash and clothe them daily and provide prayers, sacrifices and spiritual care. This unusual Ibeji is short and stocky with a simple tall hat rather than a plaited coiffeur. His bulging eyes have round indentations and his prominent lips are in slight smile and scarification of the Pele clan.

     

  • Sale!

    Vintage King’s Strong Minister Mask, Bali (1301-18PBE) $125

    Original price was: $125.00.Current price is: $106.25.
    Ht: 8.5” W: 6.51” D: 4.5″ | FREE SHIPPING within continental u.s.!

    This traditional Patih (minister) Keras (hard, strong, forceful) Balinese mask is deeply carved, and his huge red lips symbolize a tough, intense, easy to anger but powerful man in a position of prestige. Exaggerated facial elements of large bulging eyes, a powerful stare, huge, bright red lips and a thick animal hair/hide mustache indicate his internal strength as a trusted minister carrying out his king’s wishes. This mask was personally collected in Bali in the 1970s and is in excellent condition with minor scratches and losses consistent with age.

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