Folk Art Scientific Instruments
FOLK ART STYLE
Folk art is a genre of art that shares the creator’s traditions, offering not just an artistic display but an opportunity to learn about a culture. Antique, new and vintage folk art typically reflects a heritage or location. It can include utilitarian objects and handmade art as diverse as weather vanes, duck decoys, portraiture and paintings, carnival art and quilts.
Quilts are a quintessential part of American folk art but their roots are international, with quilting dating back to Ancient Egypt. The practice spread to Europe and was especially prominent in the Middle Ages, with one of the oldest surviving examples being the Tristan quilt made in Sicily in the 14th century. They were made as bedcovers and clothing, including as a layer for knights to wear beneath their armor. Native American folk art includes functional objects reflecting their heritage, such as baskets, textiles and wooden pieces.
Elsewhere, the vast range of work associated with Mexican folk art includes masks made by Mexican craftspeople for traditional celebrations and ceremonial dances. Mexican masks are part of the country’s folk-art traditions that go back thousands of years and play a role in festivals and theater.
Works in the folk art tradition are valuable because of the skills involved, like weaving, hand-carving wood and even stonework. Many folk artists are self-taught, while some train as apprentices within their community. By using available materials and taking a personal approach to their creations, artists ensure each piece is unique and conveys a story.
During the Great Depression, artistic materials in America were hard to come by, so artisans used discarded wood from cigar boxes and shipping crates to make highly stylized, notched pieces — most often picture frames and boxes — that are today sought after by collectors. This folk art style is called tramp art and was popular from roughly 1870 until the 1940s.
Folk art brings vibrant culture and traditions into your home. Browse an extensive collection of antique, new and vintage folk art on 1stDibs.
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Style: Folk Art
Antique 19th century pewter hourglass
Located in Bilzen, BE
A 19th century 4-column hourglass made entirely of pewter.
Height 17.5 cm, base 10 x 10 cm.
Category
19th Century German Antique Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Pewter
Vintage Copper Horse
Sulky Weathervane
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A vintage copper Horse and Sulky Weathervane with good size and fine traditional form mounted on a faux finished wood plinth base.
Dimensions:
Base - 25 3/4" L x 9 1/4" W
Horse - 3...
Category
20th Century Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Copper, Brass, Wire
18th Century Carpenters Hand Plane Tool, Signed and Dated 1791
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Rare Museum-level 18th Century carpenters tool, an antler hand plane, hand-carved to look like a lion. Signed with initials and dated 1791.
Category
Late 18th Century Scandinavian Antique Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Metal
$1,400 Sale Price
56% Off
Set of Six Mushroom Botanical Scientific Specimen Models by Somso Germany 1950s
By Somso
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This rare vintage models of botanical scientific specimen depicts mushrooms native to Central Europe. This kind of items are used as teaching material in German schools or as showpie...
Category
20th Century German Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Composition
Mushroom Botanical Scientific Specimen Model Europe, 1950s or older
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This rare vintage model of a botanical scientific specimen depicts a mushroom native to Central Europe. This kind of items are used as teaching material in German schools or as showp...
Category
20th Century Czech Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood, Paper
Mushroom Botanical Scientific Specimen Model Europe, 1950s or older
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This rare vintage model of a botanical scientific specimen depicts a mushroom native to Central Europe. This kind of items are used as teaching material in German schools or as showp...
Category
20th Century Czech Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood, Paper
Rare 19th Century Large Original Painted Lightning Rod on Stand
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fantastic folky oversized 19th century mustard over copper Lightning rod ball on a professional iron stand. The base is a plank of original work that the...
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Copper
$700 Sale Price
71% Off
Large Antique Wooden American Mortar and Pestle
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Large wood antique American mortar and pestle.
Early 19th c. Americana turned wood footed mortar and pestle.
American, late 19th century wooden mortar and pestle...
Category
Early 20th Century Moroccan Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
Vintage Woman Figurine Lady Sewing Tailor Tape Measure
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Very charming small figurine of a lady that functions as a tape measure. This vintage piece was commonly found on a sewing table and has both centimeters as well as inch measurements...
Category
Early 20th Century German Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plastic
$108 Sale Price
20% Off
Mushroom Botanical Scientific Specimen Model Europe, 1950s or older
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This rare vintage model of a botanical scientific specimen depicts a mushroom native to Central Europe. This kind of items are used as teaching material in German schools or as showp...
Category
20th Century Czech Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood, Paper
Mushroom Botanical Scientific Specimen Model Europe, 1950s or older
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This rare vintage model of a botanical scientific specimen depicts a mushroom native to Central Europe. This kind of items are used as teaching material in German schools or as showp...
Category
20th Century Czech Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood, Paper
Set of Two Mushrooms Scientific Models Europe , Germany 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This rare vintage set of two different types of mushrooms, show Models which are native to middle Europe. This kind of items are used as teaching material in German schools. Colorful...
Category
1960s German Vintage Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood, Paper
Mushroom Botanical Scientific Specimen Model Europe, 1950s or older
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This rare vintage model of a botanical scientific specimen depicts a mushroom native to Central Europe. This kind of items are used as teaching material in German schools or as showp...
Category
20th Century Czech Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood, Paper
Mushroom Botanical Scientific Specimen Model Europe, 1950s or older
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This rare vintage model of a botanical scientific specimen depicts a mushroom native to Central Europe. This kind of items are used as teaching material in German schools or as showp...
Category
20th Century Czech Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood, Paper
Mushroom Botanical Scientific Specimen Model Europe, 1950s or older
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This rare vintage model of a botanical scientific specimen depicts a mushroom native to Central Europe. This kind of items are used as teaching material in German schools or as showp...
Category
20th Century Czech Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood, Paper
Mushroom Botanical Scientific Specimen Model Europe, 1950s or older
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This rare vintage model of a botanical scientific specimen depicts a mushroom native to Central Europe. This kind of items are used as teaching material in German schools or as showp...
Category
20th Century Czech Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood, Paper
Mushroom Botanical Scientific Specimen Model Europe, 1950s or older
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This rare vintage model of a botanical scientific specimen depicts a mushroom native to Central Europe. This kind of items are used as teaching material in German schools or as showp...
Category
20th Century Czech Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood, Paper
Mushroom Botanical Scientific Specimen Model Europe, 1950s or older
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This rare vintage model of a botanical scientific specimen depicts a mushroom native to Central Europe. This kind of items are used as teaching material in German schools or as showp...
Category
20th Century Czech Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood, Paper
Mushroom Botanical Scientific Specimen Model Europe, 1950s or older
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This rare vintage model of a botanical scientific specimen depicts a mushroom native to Central Europe. This kind of items are used as teaching material in German schools or as showp...
Category
20th Century Czech Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood, Paper
Stunning Mushroom Botanical Scientific Specimen Model Europe, 1950s or older
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This rare vintage stunning large model of a botanical scientific specimen depicts a mushroom native to Central Europe. This kind of items are used as teaching material in German scho...
Category
20th Century Czech Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood, Paper
Mushroom Botanical Scientific Specimen Model Europe, 1950s or older
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This rare vintage model of a botanical scientific specimen depicts a mushroom native to Central Europe. This kind of items are used as teaching material in German schools or as showp...
Category
20th Century Czech Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood, Paper
Mushroom Botanical Scientific Specimen Model Europe, 1950s or older
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This rare vintage model of a botanical scientific specimen depicts a mushroom native to Central Europe. This kind of items are used as teaching material in German schools or as showp...
Category
20th Century Czech Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood, Paper
Danish 19th Century Brass Surveying or Level Tool on Tripod
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Surveyors tripod level tool from the late 19th century. The tripod is made of wood and the level is brass. The wood tripod is 39.75in high.
Category
Mid-19th Century Danish Antique Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
19th C. German Stag Horn Thermometer and Barometer
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A remarkable German Folk Art Weather Station in the Black Forest Style. Elaborate and sinuous construction with stag horns of various sizes, boar tusk...
Category
19th Century German Antique Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Antler, Horn
Mushroom Botanical Scientific Specimen Model Europe, 1950s or older
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This rare vintage model of a botanical scientific specimen depicts a mushroom native to Central Europe. This kind of items are used as teaching material in German schools or as showp...
Category
20th Century Czech Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood, Paper
Mushroom Botanical Scientific Specimen Model Europe, 1950s or older
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This rare vintage model of a botanical scientific specimen depicts a mushroom native to Central Europe. This kind of items are used as teaching material in German schools or as showp...
Category
20th Century Czech Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood, Paper
Emile Deyrolle 19th Century Plaster, Wire and Wood Didactic Germination Models
Located in Buffalo, NY
Les Fils D'Emile Deyrolle, Paris. Extremely rare set of five 19th century French painted plaster, wire and wood Didactic models depicting progression, Anatomie Vegetalf, beautifully ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wire
Related Items
French 19th Century Medieval Château Pewter and Wood Birdcage with Turrets
Located in Atlanta, GA
A large 19th century pewter and wood decorative birdcage shaped as a French medieval château. This exquisite French château birdcage is a definite must in terms of decorative accents...
Category
19th Century French Antique Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Pewter
$1,950
H 34 in W 35 in D 20 in
19th Century Bronze Pipe
Located in Copenhagen, K
Fantastic bronze pipe from the Vienna tobacco museum’s collection, from Belgian Congo.
Category
19th Century Congolese Antique Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Bronze
Vintage Boho Glazed Cermic Horse Statue
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This glazed ceramic horse channels the regal spirit of ancient Tang dynasty artistry with a strikingly rich palette of amber, jade, and cream. Its flowing saddle and ornate tack appe...
Category
Late 20th Century Chinese Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Ceramic, Paint
Antique Scientific Didactic Model of the Yew Seed, Germany made in the Twenties
Located in Milan, IT
Taxus baccata, enlarged and removable didactic model of the yew seed, tree very used as hedge, belonging to the order of the conifers. German manufacture of the twenties made of papi...
Category
1920s German Vintage Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
$1,981
H 22.84 in W 6.7 in D 6.7 in
Four 18th Century Engraved and Hand-Colored Maps by Weigel
By Christoph Weigel
Located in Copenhagen, K
Small collection of four engraved maps of Italy, Balkan and of Central Asia.
Two are of Italy, one Corsica and Northern Italy and the other of the Southern Italian boot...
Category
18th Century German Antique Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Paper
$450 / item
H 15.75 in W 18.12 in D 0.79 in
Antique Sword / Walking Stick Cane 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful antique English gentleman's hardwood sword stick with a carved bone pommel and a sterling silver mount, with hallmarks for Birmingham 1896 and makers marks for th...
Category
1890s Antique Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Silver
1930s Germany Botanical Model of the Lamium Purpureum Flower
Located in Milan, IT
Educational model of the Lamium purpureum L. (false purple nettle) flower made of painted papier mâché with a Bakelite base from the 1930s, German ma...
Category
1930s German Vintage Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Parchment Paper
Very Large 19th Century French Napoleon III Period Ebony and Bronze Hourglass
Located in Fayetteville, AR
Standing at 16 inches in height, this large scale nineteenth century Napoleon III period hourglass features three turned ebonized wood disks joined by bronze supports and finished wi...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Bronze
$1,995
H 16 in Dm 7.5 in
18th Century Italian Hand Carved and Painted Wood Madonna Statue
Located in Dallas, TX
18th century Italian hand carved and painted wood Madonna statue depicts the virgin Mary in contemplative prayer, and poised in triumph over evil. Orig...
Category
Mid-18th Century Italian Antique Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
Antique Jerusalem Rosary Cross – 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Exquisite 19th-century rosary cross from Jerusalem, crafted from olive wood and adorned with engraved mother-of-pearl plaques. The cross and beads are mad...
Category
1860s Antique Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Fruitwood
Soldier on Horse Pull Toy Vintage Folk Art Ore Mountains, German, 1950s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This old hand carved wooden Soldier and horse on wooden wheels Toy, was made in the Ore Mountains (Erzgebirge) in Germany. It remains fully functional. Crafted in Germany during the ...
Category
1950s German Vintage Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
$340
H 7.75 in W 6.88 in D 2.75 in
Antique Rare Judaica Dreidel Germany 19th Century
Located in Doha, QA
An absolutely unique Bone Dreidel originated from Germany in 19th century. It has six sides shaping Star of David. Each side has one or two Yiddish letters on top which refer to an O...
Category
19th Century German Antique Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Bone
Previously Available Items
English Antique Periscope Walking Stick Cane by R
J Beck ca. 1917
Located in Shippensburg, PA
WORLD WAR I BRITISH TRENCH PERISCOPE WALKING CANE
R & J Beck, Ltd., England, ca. early 20th century
Marked "Periscope Mk IV 1917 R & J Beck Ltd. No. 13196"
36" H x 3 3/8" W
An unu...
Category
20th Century English Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass, Copper
Antique Late 19th Century Wooden Abacus with Brass Rods and Wood Beads
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
This antique late 19th-century wooden abacus is a timeless tool of calculation, showcasing beautifully crafted natural wood beads in alternating shades of brown and black. The frame ...
Category
1890s Czech Antique Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
H 2.37 in W 12.8 in D 283.98 in
RARE 1920
s Anatomical Model of a Pig, made in France Luis M. Meusel
By Meusel Luis
Located in Buffalo, NY
This rare French Teaching model measures over 32 inches long and 16 inches tall. The base is wood and splits in two along with the PIG. One side shows a beautiful realistic animal an...
Category
1920s French Vintage Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Plaster, Wood
Vintage French Hour Sand Glass in Pewter
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
French Pewter and Sand 15 Minutes Hour Glass
Category
1920s French Vintage Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Pewter
Unusual Early 20th Century Tramp Art Barometer Diorama
Located in London, GB
Unusual Early 20th Century Tramp Art Barometer Diorama
One of the most unusual pieces of early 20th century American tramp art we have had the privilege to uncover. Encased in a lat...
Category
1930s American Vintage Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Pine
19th Century Swedish Folk Art Mortar or Grinder
Located in Allerum, SE
Charming 19th century folk art boat-shaped mortar or grinder, perfect for the coffee today ;) ca 1830 Sweden.
Category
19th Century European Antique Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Wood
The Man in the Iron Mask
Located in London, GB
The Man in the iron mask
A highly decorative hand-crafted example of an early 20th Century iron mask on hinges, with slits for eyes, nose, and mouth with a ...
Category
1920s French Vintage Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Sheet Metal
Early 20th Century English Bulls Death Mask
Located in London, GB
Early 20th Century bulls death mask
This is a very unusual and morbid object, used in the early 20th century by English famers this object would have been used to put down bulls or cattle. The object would have been placed over the head of the bull and strapped firmly into place. Then a riffle would have been placed over the hole and fired so that the bull / cattle could not see death coming, so to speak. The object is now more of a decorative curiosity object...
Category
1920s British Vintage Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Iron
Vintage Ebony And Brass Liner
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Vintage ebony and brass liner.
Category
Early 1900s Danish Antique Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Brass
Black Forest Antler Thermometer
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Black Forest Antler Thermometer with US brass scale 20 to 80 degrees.
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Antler
Pair of Lacquered Antler Magnifying Glasses
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Pair of beautifully lacquered authentic antler magnifying glasses, choose one or both. The turquoise piece has silver accents and measures 13" l x 4 diameter and the coral piece has ...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Materials
Antler
American Folk Art Wood and Iron Compass trade Sign, Large-Scale
Located in Stamford, CT
Antique wood and iron compass. An early model of a handmade tool in working condition with a rich patina. This would have been used as an interior advertising trade sign for a compas...
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Scientific Instruments
Folk Art scientific instruments for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique folk art scientific instruments for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage scientific instruments created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include more furniture and collectibles, folk art, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art scientific instruments made in a specific country, there are Europe, Germany, and Africa pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original scientific instruments, popular names associated with this style include Berber Tribes of Morocco, and Emile Deyrolle. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for scientific instruments differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $380 and tops out at $16,000 while the average work can sell for $950.
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