Catalog: Antiques: Decorative Art: Folk Art (96)

A beautifully limned tinsel, or foil, painting, reverse painted on glass. The subject matter is a white urn, filled with a an array of various flowers, including a large rose and a lily. The period and probably original frame is of high quality.

This good-sized painting is in overall excellent condition, as is the frame...

A wonderful and amusing hooked rug depicting an aardvark. I have collected many rugs featuring animals but have never seen another with an aardvark. Well, at least I think this is someone's interpretation of an aardvark, or possibly a beaver, armadillo or pangolin. Whatever the craftsman was aiming for, one has to smile at this, and at the pinkish salmon background color surrounded by a scalloped teal border. Cotton yarn and with original burlap foundation.

The size is 43" by 30 1/2"...

An absolutely charming group of small schoolgirl paintings of animals, soldiers, plants, etc., mounted together and presented in three period gilt frames. The back of each framed group indicates that these were all done around 1840 by Miss E. Green of Pennsylvania.

The condition is generally very good, with some rippling to the paper. The frames have expected wear but display well...

An unusual foil, or tinsel, painting depicting two birds hovering over a large flowering plant. The painting is done basically in tones of taupe and green. The frame is period and is most likely original. The back is sealed with paper that appears to have been a student's calligraphy practice.

Condition is very good, with some very minor paint separation at some points on the edges. The grayish areas in the painting are shadows from when the photograph was taken...

Showing the whimsy that exemplifies good American folk art, this watercolor double portrait depicts a young man and woman who are clearly siblings. The artist achieved a starkness by having them in black clothing and not accentuating the details of their garb. In fact, the basic touches of color are only the blue in the girl's eyes and in the sky against which they are posed. Note that neither sitter is gazing directly at the viewer, nor are they looking in the same direction...

Vibrant yellow with black freehand decoration. All original with very, very minor touchups to black. Signed Charles(?) H. Blanders, Putnam, NY?. 10 7/8" by 5" by 4 1/2". Excellent condition.

A superb oil on canvas American folk art painting depicting a man orating about temperance. He is standing beneath trees which are arching to almost form a bower over him. A courting couple is on either side of him, with a church in the background. The symbolism of the couples probably reflects the belief that marital and family relations improve in temperance households. Note also that the orator is holding a bottle in his left hand, probably just after having poured the contents on the ground...

A totally charming box from, and decorated in the style of, Snyder County, Pennsylvania; grain painted with gilt and gray highlights; polychrome stencil painting of fruit on top; terrific painted keyhole escutcheon; 9 1/2" by 6 1/2" by 5 1/4"

Top has scrapes and scratching, but 99% of the paint is still intact, and the uncommon nature of the overall decoration on this piece far outweighs the damage

Another fine example from our personal collection of animal hooked rugs, this one featuring an elephant posed on grass with fruited tree branches descending from the top of the rug.

The rug has a felt border, easily detached if so desired. The condition is excellent, with good colors and some slight scattered wear to the border. The size is 40" by 30".

A charming hooked rug depicting a woman holding a flower and sitting in a chair beside a large kettle over an open fire. The wall behind her shows a painting and a window through which can be seen a church. Rugs of this size and this period showing an interior scene are quite uncommon.

The 21" by 17" rug is mounted in a museum approved manner on acid free board. The condition is excellent, with no issues.

A striking and colorful painting on silk of a signet ring with, not surprisngly, the word "Signet" and the date 1870; period frame; 11 1/4" by 9 1/2" framed size, 8 1/2" by 6 1/2" sight size

A charming watercolor on paper of a house amid a group of trees, signed "JDT" and dated 1896. Excellent condition. Sight size 8 1/4" by 5 3/4".

A pine lap desk, in original turkey red with yellow sponged decoration; probably PA; 13" by 11" by 6". Excellent condition.

A wonderful cutlery tray, probably of Vermont origin, made around 1840. What makes it so exceptional is the decoration, closely akin to "vinegar painting." Red paint was put on a yellow base, and a solvent added. This made the combination of colors run together, producing a somewhat mottled effect.

Another notable point is that the tray is in excellent condition, with no cracks or breaks. The paint is all original and untouched, with a nice dry surface...

A fine American tinsel or foil painting depicting a wreath of flowers, with a bird, around a grouping of fruit and foliage. The wreath is on a variation of the relatively rare "snowflake" type of background. This technique appears to have been done primarily in the 1870's period. The frame and wooden backboard are original.

There is a crack in the glass at the top left, and a small piece of glass is missing...

A charming folk art, watercolor on paper, portrait of a very pretty young woman. She is wearing a mourning band on each arm, and is sitting quietly on a chair, with the sheet music of "The Julia Polka" on her lap. Since the painting is titled, in pencil along the lower margin, "Julia ???", the most likely explanation is that this is Julia, mourning for the loved one who probably wrote the song for her...

This striking and well executed miniature watercolor painting, on natural organic material, depicts a blue-eyed handsome young gentleman. He is wearing a black coat and tie, white shirt with a stickpin, and is sporting a fashionable hairstyle for the times.

The sight size of the painting is 2 1/2" by 2". It is housed in its original cast brass locket which is 2 5/8" by 2 1/8", and, in the engine turned back, has a glazed aperture containing a woven plait of hair. Below this aperture is e...

A charming tinsel (foil) painting depicting a variety of flowers in an urn placed on a stone slab. Dating from the last half of the 19th century, the painted frame, worth a bit of money on its own, is likely earlier, with a wood backboard The painting is in fine condition, with only some very small minor speckles in the black background. The frame could use a little spiffing up. Sight size is 9 1/2" by 13 1/2", and the framed size is 13 1/4" by 17 1/8".