1850s Folk Art

Folk portrait of a bull in oil on canvas, signed L.D.D. and dated 1885. Found at an estate in the Hudson, New York area. The painting’s great style and presence in the stylized anima...

A beautiful cabinet from rural southern Germany, dating from 1852. It was originally given as a wedding gift. Crafted from solid pine, it is hand-painted in vibrant colors. It has it...

A pine wedding chest from Central Europe, probably German, circa 1850. The terracotta red color scheme is typical of the style and is often seen in Swedish and German painted furnitu...

Antique pine wedding chest from Central Europe, probably of German origin, circa 1850. The original color scheme with deep shades of black, red, and green is characteristic of the re...

A pine wedding chest from Central Europe, probably German, circa 1850. The terracotta red color scheme is typical of the style and is often seen in Swedish and German painted furnitu...

This is a rare 31-star medallion printed American flag, celebrating the addition of California to the Union. The flag is printed on silk and has a spectacular “Great Star” canton pat...

A pine cabinet from rural southern Germany, dating from around 1850. The cabinet was probably given as a wedding gift. This cabinet is made of solid pine and is hand-painted in earth...

This fine double handled blue decorated stone ware crock is in good condition with minor chip on interior. There is an embossed three above the hand painted and decorated flowers on ...

This bell has a wonderful and very loud sound. Ideal for a large house to call all the residents out to eat or on your property in the country, the children will hear this sound from...

19Thc Medium blue original painted pantry box with original lid.Copper nail construction.Fine as found condition.

Scandinavian Folk Art oak cask, crafted in the 19th century and steeped in rustic tradition. Constructed from robust oak staves and secured with authentic iron banding, this piece e...

Vertical mirror galvanometer made in 1850 circa, oak and glass, three adjustable screws at the base. Tool constituted by a magnet bar movable inside a coil and connected to a needle. In the absence of current the needle is positioned vertically while when the coil is crossed by the current it creates a magnetic field that moves the needle. This type of galvanometer was used for measurement of insulation of telegraph cables...

Wonderful toleware chest Not sure what the original function was. No evidence to suggest it was a coal bin. Cream painted with gilt decoration in neoclassical style. Original paint...

Low shepherd’s chest with a beautiful appearance and proportions. These chests were made in the same way for centuries. They were decorated with traditional magical geometric symbols...

salt box from the high mountain village of Bessans in the Maurienne region, part of the wing is unfortunately missing there is a collection label indicating its provenance

19th Century Sailor's Woolie of Flag-Bedecked Triple Decker Ship of the Line, circa 1850, a British sailor's hand-crafted woolwork picture with a larboard side view of a triple decke...

19th Century English Folk Art Gentleman’s Cane A rare and quite special example of a 19th Century folk art English gentleman’s walking cane with a h...

Birth announcement for Daniel Konig, Allentown PA 1854. Nicely framed and matted. Condition consistent with age. Overall size 23" by 27" Image size 16' by 13.5".

19th Century Sailor's Woolie of a British Steam Frigate, circa 1850, a hand crafted sailor's woolwork picture with larboard side view of a British Naval Auxiliary Steam Frigate unde...

Watercolor featuring the American Barque A.J. Harvey. Inscribed in the lower center of the painting and with the original handwritten adn signed label on the reverse. "Barque A.J. ...

From the days of Moby Dick, this heavy tool was used to remove blubber from a whale carcass. The triangular blade is cast at one end of a long cylindrical handle, the other end is wr...

Pawnee pipe tomahawk. File burnt and tacked with remnants of yellow paint over entire shaft. Exhibited in the Wichita Falls Museum 1967, Maryland Academy of Art and Science 1969, Flo...

Pair of Italian Neoclassical Griffon Majolica terracotta pedestals with flanking circular floral tops and resting on molded step back plinths. Mid 19th century.

This exquisite antique beaded purse from Germany, dating to around 1850, is a remarkable example of 19th-century craftsmanship and textile art. Richly embroidered with vibrant glass beads in exceptionally fresh and bold colors, the purse features a charming depiction of a dog on one side and a colorful parrot on the other. The attention to detail extends even to the edges, where additional animals and floral motifs are intricately stitched, showcasing the skill and artistry of its original maker. The interior is lined with fine, buttery-soft deerskin leather, offering a luxurious tactile experience. While some minor bead losses and carefully executed repairs are visible, the overall condition is impressively well-preserved for its age. The drawstring is missing, but with the addition of a new ribbon, this delicate piece could even be used again—though it remains most striking as a collector’s item or display piece. Antique purses like this, especially with such vivid imagery and expert beadwork, are increasingly rare and highly sought after. A wonderful find for lovers of textile history, decorative arts, or romantic Victorian accessories.

Hooked and shirred hearth rug, New England, circa 1850s in wool, cotton and linen. This dramatic folk art piece is in excellent condition. Depicting a recu...

Captain's gig sternboard hardwood with rope carved border and brass lettering "Terpsichore Sandefjord" Norway. Great old sternboard from the Captain's gig from the Terpsichore. Circa...

A pine wedding chest from Central Europe, probably German, dated 1852. The terracotta red color scheme is typical of the style and is often seen in Swedish and German painted furnitu...

This mid-19th century American Rockinghamware stoneware flask is a delightful nod to whimsy and practicality. Shaped like a humble potato, it’s a rare ...

Pair of Swiss alp painted wall decoration

Late 19th century Napoleonic prisoner of war dominos 31 A good example of a late 19th Century Napoleonic prisoner of war (POW) hand carved set of 31 dominos, in a sliding painted ...

This is a very rare and important original image of early Western Americana, or more specifically, "Californiana". Mid 19th century and researched to have been engraved in 1856, it captures, in incredible detail, a group of twelve Native American Indians with a baby in a papoose, gathered together in front of their hanging tools, baskets, implements and weaponry behind them on a "tent like" backdrop. There are men, women, young, and elderly. It is a signed wood cut engraving applied in ink by well known wood cut engraver of the mid 19th century, William J. Peirce (active 1851-1879). It is in excellent all original condition with no additions, no restoration of any kind and it is housed in it's original 1 1/2" double beveled wooden birds eye maple veneered frame with a gilt 1/2" filet interior border. "A Group Of California Indians" is engraved at the base along with a non-descript notation "For description see page 381" which appears in the margin, in addition to an illegible signature. Both these line items are also noted by the New York Public Library, where a digital example exists from the esteemed collection of "The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division Picture Collection", which was assembled in 1986 and recently digitalized. The Library of Congress also memorializes this image and theirs is similarly a digital image. My example came out of the Grant Smith Collection of "Californiana", as is noted on the back of the framed engraving. He was located at Main Street in Bolinas, California (see images on the rear for provenance). Research reveals that he was a direct descendant of the coastal Miwok people who built a settlement in the Bolinas lagoon area. The engraving is referenced in both the New York Library and The Library of Congress as "A Group of California Indians". It is one of the earlier images you will find, along with McKenny and Hall lithographed mages of Native American Indians; and because of it's subject matter and extreme rarity, "A Group Of California Indians" commands attention and interest from the Western art collectors' arena. California became a state on September 9, 1850 making this one of the earliest known images (Circa 1856) of "Californiana" and California Native American...

19th Century French folk-art militaria painting 19th Century piece of French folk-art militaria art, gouache on paper in its original frame still with vibrant colours and detail as ...

19th century French heavy bronze farm bell with iron with number 20, high quality, polished.

Figural wooden carving of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Immaculate Conception). Carved in folkloric style, this well-preserved statue retains its original coat of polychrome paint. Its flesh tones, light-blue, and silver-gilding vividly shine through a natural patina that has become glossy from a century’s worth of handling. The Virgin as the "Immaculata" (conceived in immaculate purity), is posed on the globe of the world, in triumph over sin, represented by the serpent that tempted Eve with a forbidden apple. The sculpture's facial features include glass eyes and eyelashes. This rare antique sculpture is perfect for a collection of sacred antique...

19th century Italian trompe l'oeil panels We are proud to offer a spectacular pair of highly decorative 19th century Italian trompe l'oeil panels, each depicting an architectural b...

Primitive Folk Art Painting of a Lady. The painting is quite interesting, as there appears to be a substantial country house that appears to be burning down in the background. Whet...

Cuzco often has unusual iconography but this painting is perhaps unique. Saint Joseph, his hand raised in benediction cradles the child Christ with his own little crown of thorns and...

Early 19th century hand carved Italian Folk-art Figure of Christ For sale in this LOT is a wonderful early 19th century religious Italian church artifact...

We present picture portrait from 1853. Highly recommended item will be perfect complementation of the rooms in not only Classic style, but also Art Deco and modern.  

Pair of American nautical gimbaled nickel silver over brass mounted wall sconces with bulbous flared amber glass shades. Gimbals kept candles straight in rough seas. Pair are candle ...

American oval hand carved timber trade sign with a centered two masted ship, rope border, upper painted banner "The London and New York Trading Company"...

English brass and wood barrel nautical ship captain's spyglass with a single draw, polished sunshade, lense cap, and engraved focal tube by maker James Chapman St. Catherines Dock, L...

American nautical brass housing and wood collar floating distress beacon with a glass lens, mid-19th century.

This is a traditional oil portrait painting of a bearded man, likely from the 19th century based on the style and attire. The subject is depicted from the chest up, wearing formal da...

Wonderful example of American Folk Art, early 1850s-1870s. Stunning piece for your home!  

Vernier Octant by John Todd, London, circa 1850. An eleven inch radius vernier octant by John Todd with ebonised wooden frame with inset bone scale marked ...

Several features make this Caesar's Crown quilt a real standout. It is well pieced and quilted. Having the blocks abut one another creates four leaf clovers in the white off blocks. ...

Title: Girl in forest Artist: Unknown Medium: Watercolor Painted in circa 1850. Dimensions: Image size: 21.3 × 16.3 cm Total dimensions: 36 × 29.5 × 1.7 cm Approximate we...