Folk Art Carved Child in Chair

A strange, large scale folk art carving of a boy in a chair. Circa 1920's - 1930's.

Early Folk Art Carving of an Abstract Man

Available at Anonymous Works.

Early Box of Strange Folk Art Carvings

An early box of strange folk art carvings. Found in the Midwest.

Primitive Automaton Figure

Circa 1920-1930's primitive automaton figure. Unknown as to it's original purpose. A slow moving electric motor in the hollow body moves the right arm back and forth.

Available at Anonymous Works.

19th Century Folk Art Carved African American Figure

Available here.

Reunited

Almost 5 years ago, I acquired a nice folk art carved figure of a black man that had a distinctive construction that made me think that it may have been part of a 19th century trade sign. This past week, I was lucky enough to discover that he had a companion! This figure is of a white man and the remnants of his outfit (with apron) suggest a worker of some type, possibly a butcher, blacksmith, carpenter...What's interesting is being able to see some of the elements that were missing from the black figure, including the original hands and two large metal eye hooks that affixed the figures to something. Who knows if there's more figures left to be discovered?

19th Century Primitive Southern Folk Art Figure

Updated shots of a previous post.

Early Mysterious Folk Art Hourglass Figure

Early 20th Century Folk Art Carvings of Two New Orleans Gentlemen

Recently found in New Orleans. 13 1/2" tall.

Early Folk Art Articulated Figure

A Pair of Figural Folk Art Carvings

From the 2006 Fall Decorative Arts Auction at Cowan's.

Here's the item description:

A figure of a sailor, having arms, torso and legs carved separately (arms are attached with screws) and white seed bead eyes. In a dry, polychrome painted surface with blue cravat accented in gold; 9.75" high; AND a robustly carved pine boxer with head and arms carved separately, arms attached with wood screws, face accented by brown glass seed beads, 10" high.

Did not sell.

19th Century Primitive Southern Folk Art Figure

Just got this figure today. Really, really nice form and great size at 2 ft. tall. Interestingly, it seems the form was made using planks of 2 x 6" Southern Pine which were affixed together and then carved. The back of the head is flat and unpainted and there are two holes in the back that look like they were used for mounting at one time, so the seller thought that maybe this had been part of a 19th century trade sign. I suppose it's possible.