Folk Art Decorating Catalogs
Amish Oak Furniture A Result Of Austere Lifestyle
The Amish take great pride in their traditional lifestyle and they also take great pride in their woodworking skills, passed on from generation to generation. After being a secret for hundreds of years, Amish furniture is now prized the world over for its beauty and durability, handcrafted from hardwoods such as red oak and maple for lasting value. In addition, the Amish specialize in certain pieces that modern factories can’t duplicate, such as very large dining tables, bentwood rockers, and clock cases. All of this comes naturally to this unique culture, because furniture making has always been integral to the Amish identity and economy.
In the late 1600s, the Amish splintered from the Mennonites. Both were Anabaptists who believed in adult baptism and strict rules of conduct, and they were often persecuted in Europe. They took to heart a verse in the Bible from II Corinthians 6:17: “Come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord.” So they formed their own farming communities and learned to be self-sufficient, making their own furniture, candles, cloth, and tools. Even staying to themselves, the Amish people were persecuted in Switzerland, Germany, and other parts of Europe. When William Penn claimed that his new state across the Atlantic would offer religious freedom, they fled to America around 1730.
Now the Amish live in 220 different settlements in 22 US States, plus Ontario, Canada, but most people are familiar with their large communities in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania and Ohio. The Amish shun modern conveniences in everyday life and only use telephones and public transportation when it is absolutely essential. They adhere to strict codes of dress and conduct, and they believe in hard work, frugality, and living in harmony with nature. This austere lifestyle is balanced by a vibrant artistic vision that has created memorable works of art in furniture, ceramics, weaving, and quilting. The love of manual labor and a respect for rural traditions has resulted in homespun crafts that are eagerly sought by the rest of the world.
Throughout the centuries, there have been memorable schools of Amish-Mennonite furniture makers in the US, such as the Soap Hollow craftsmen and the Jonestown movement. Many of these pioneer woodworkers used geometric patterns and simple compass spirals, as well as flowers, birds, and other representational motifs. Today the Amish build solid wood furniture in all kinds of styles, from Mission to Bon Bell, French Country, McCoy, Adirondack and Chippendale. But they have never lost track of their humble beginnings. In fact, being humble and productive are canons of the Amish faith, and so is passing on skills and knowledge.
For an Amish child, schooling in a one-room schoolhouse or home usually ends after the eighth grade, and that is when many of them become apprentices to master craftsmen. They learn how to hew, join, and sand wood products the old-fashioned way, with never a shortcut taken for the sake of convenience. There are not any smokestacks or assembly lines in an Amish community. The person building a bentwood rocking chair has no doubt built hundreds of them, starting during his apprentice years and working up to the status of master craftsman. One artisan might specialize in a particular piece of furniture, such as corner cabinets, making them all one at a time, by himself. Other craftsmen work together in the communal spirit for which the Amish are famous, creating furniture that’s intended to last a lifetime. Each piece is unique.
Although they always meet the needs of their community first, the Amish are accustomed to selling goods to the general population. The discovery of folk and decorative arts during the 1920s gave a big push to the popularity of Amish oak furniture, and sales have produced a positive cash flow ever since. Not even their famous roadside stands that offer fruits and vegetables, crafts, and kitchen goods can equal the welcome income from furniture. The Amish do not need much from the outside world, but a little cash is always useful to buy raw materials. Online shopping has made their unique creations even more accessible to the rest of the world, but the buyer should beware. There are poor-quality fakes of Amish furniture on the market, often made in China.
One good way to find the genuine article is to look for the unique family-centered traditions of real Amish furniture. The Amish have large families who enjoy dining together, plus they often worship in their homes and educate their children there. Therefore, they have a fondness for large tables with many leaves. Most Amish homes have movable interior walls to allow placement of a large table, seating 22 or more. Many businesses have found that sturdy Amish tables are more practical for the conference room or meeting areas than regular office furniture. Remember that the Amish create unique benches, hutches, sideboards, corner cabinets, and other accessories that are not found in the catalog of a typical furniture company. That’s how to tell them apart.
Remember that the Amish lifestyle is one of choice. They are Anabaptists, which means they practice adult baptism instead of infant baptism. This is an important distinction, because only adults can make an informed decision about being baptized and committing to the Amish faith. Before they are baptized, teenagers are encouraged to sample life in the outside world in an experimental period called rumspringa. That translates to “running around” in the old Pennsylvania Deutsch tongue. The youths are still bound by their traditional rules, but they are in the outside world, living, dressing, and behaving as regular young people. It is a good chance to find out how the rest of the world lives, so they will not be curious about it for the rest of their lives. Rumspringa is over when the young person decides to be baptized into the church and stay permanently in Amish society. Roughly, 80% choose to remain Amish.
So the Amish woodworker has made a conscious decision to excel at this time-honored craft, by building handsome furniture today and by educating young people to carry on the tradition. With the belief that manual labor is a virtue, comes the certainty that every piece of furniture is a testament to Amish faith and skill.
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The Van Rensselear Children Portrait 1840 antique oil painting ! Folk art $24,900.00 |
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Antique Pair of Iconic American Folk Art Carved Pine Wood Eagle Sculpture – RARE $20,000.00 |
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Metal Art Sculpture Sculptor for Hire Travel Design fabricate install folk art ! $20,000.00 |
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Mamie Falk Folk Art Oil Painting – Considered Minnesota’s “Grandma Moses” $19,750.00 |
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Yuri Gorbachev ORIGINAL Landscape Oil painting Folk Art $17,500.00 |
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Folk Art wood statue of Grover Cleveland 1894 $9,500.00 |
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Antique Ship Captain Folk Art Carved Coconut Chalice $8,500.00 |
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Original Oil On Canvas Painting by Minni Hines Bayou Scene Folk Art 24×48 $8,495.75 |
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Chinese folk art sculpture carving stone inkstone for painting and handwriting $6,890.00 |
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Chinese handcraft folk art stone sculpture carving inkstone inkslab fly dragon $6,329.00 |
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Banjo Boy/ Pre-Civil War Folk Art on Linen $6,000.00 |
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LARGE Antique Americana Folk Art Painting of Boy -Civil War Col. Orlando H Moore $5,999.99 |
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Yuri Gorbachev Original Oil Painting Russian Art Folk $5,990.00 |
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Chinese handcraft folk art sculpture carving inkstone inkslab—Avalokitesvara $5,590.00 |
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AMERICAN FOLK ART PUPPET THEATRE QUEENS,NY $5,000.00 |
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Clementine Hunter Signed Framed Folk Art Painting Cotton Pickin’ c1977 20×26.25 $5,000.00 |
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vincent van gogh sculpture outsider folk art Dale Teachout assemblage junk $5,000.00 |
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Bessie Harvey Folk Art Found Object Museum Piece!!! $5,000.00 |
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PAIR OF 19TH C FOLK ART PORTRAITS PAINTINGS SIGNED P MARTIN 1886 HUSBAND & WIFE $4,999.99 |
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ANTIQUE 19th CENTURY AMERICAN FOLK ART ETCHED GLASS ALLEGHENY CTY PA GERMAN WOW $4,999.99 |
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ANTIQUE 19th CENTURY AMERICAN FOLK ART FISH HOOK MASSIVE IRON TRADE SIGN $4,999.99 |
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Signed OLD master GESSO FRAME OIL ON CANVAS PORTRAIT NELSON pipe Folk art $4,999.00 |
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Clementine Hunter Folk Art Painting Signed “Picking Cotton” $4,850.00 |
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Chinese folk art sculpture carving stone inkstone double dragon holding the sun $4,690.00 |
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FOLK ART OIL PAINTING PORTRAIT CHILD ICONIC RED DRESS PRINCE CHARLES SPANIEL $4,500.00 |
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Corbels Pair Wood Winged Griffins Victorian Old Paint Architectural Folk Art $4,500.00 |
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FOLK ART PAINTING SULLIVAN COUNTY NEW YORK J R GEROW $4,500.00 |
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Exceptional Folk Art Painting $4,500.00 |
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Johnnie Swearingen! Great Folk Art!!! Peddling Melons $4,500.00 |
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New England Folk Art Portrait on Canvas Ca.1830 $4,500.00 |
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Clementine Hunter Signed Framed Folk Art Painting Wash Day c1977 19.25 x 23.25in $4,500.00 |
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A Outstanding Early Trade Axe,Folk Art Hatchet, $4,500.00 |
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Yuri Gorbachev Original Oil Painting Russian Art Folk $4,490.00 |
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FANTASTIC FOLK ART CHEST $4,200.00 |
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Clementine Hunter Signed Framed Folk Art Painting African Headdress c1977 25.5h $4,000.00 |
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ANTIQUE MINIATURE PRIMITIVE FOLK ART WOOD RURAL SCENE FRAMED 12 1/4″ UNIQUE $3,885.00 |
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*RARE TRAMP / FOLK ART Shoe Shine Box – Brass/Wood-Detailed-Ornate-Exquisite $3,800.00 |
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Antique KNOTTY Tree Root Twig FOLK ART CHAIR Set GOODY KOONCH West Virginia $3,750.00 |
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Original Mexican Folk Art Icons Retablo:18-19th century $3,650.00 |
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Chinese handcraft folk art sculpture carving inkstone-an old man finshing alone $3,590.00 |
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Folk Art Hand Carved Soldier,6ft Tall Pick Up Only $3,532.50 |
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Unique/Exceptional Large Oval Folk Art Santa Claus Wood Carving signed Cobb 98 $3,500.00 |
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Painting Vintage 50s Cowboy Folk Art Levis Jeans Vinicur Little Buckaroo Parade $3,500.00 |
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Advertising Art / Folk Art / Christmas Hooked Rug – 5′x3 1/2′ $3,500.00 |
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Johnnie Swearingen! Great Folk Art!!! $3,500.00 |
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Chinese handcraft folk art sculpture carving inkstone inkslab—Lofty aspiration $3,490.00 |
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Terrazzo Marble Micro Mosaic Latin Ethnic Musicians Mural Folk Fine Art $3,374.99 |
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Original Mexican Folk Art Icons Retablo:18-19th century $3,250.00 |
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FINE 19c EARLY FOLK ART PORTRAIT PAINTING $3,225.00 |
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Israel Jewish Art,Sara Hagay,Israeli Folk Dance “hora”,Oil,Judaica,Framed $3,000.00 |
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mud painting signed jimmy sudduth a real folk art outsider master piece $3,000.00 |
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ANTIQUE AMERICAN FOLK ART WOOD CANE ISLE ROYALE FIRE WW2 D DAY GI ? KENOSHA WI $2,999.99 |
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FRANK WYSO OUTSIDER FOLK ARTIST PENNSYLVANIA COAL MINERS 4 WORKS OF ART $2,999.99 |
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King’s Couch Rare One of a Kind Yard Art from Chicago Folk Hand Made furniture $2,999.99 |
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ANTIQUE 19th AMERICAN FOLK ART NATURALIST BUFFALO SETON STYLE CATLIN PAINTING $2,999.99 |
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Chinese handcraft folk art sculpture carving inkstone inkslab man walk in forest $2,999.00 |
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Chinese handcraft folk art sculpture carving inkstone inkslab a man watch moon $2,999.00 |
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fine Chinese handcraft folk art stone sculpture carving inkstone inkslab scenery $2,890.00 |
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Temperance Movement Folk Art Painting Folk Art Temperance Painting $2,850.00 |
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Anonymous Folk Art Carving Figure with Crown in Skirt with Snake $2,799.99 |
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ANTIQUE OIL PAINTING FOLK ART NEW ENGLAND ‘HUGES’ 1892 $2,750.00 |
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Chinese handcraft folk art stone sculpture carving inkstone inkslab with dragon $2,690.00 |
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FOLK ART Antique Wood Polychrome Carved Asian Figure Sculpture $2,500.00 |
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HUGE 37″ Antique 19th American Folk Art Carved Gilt Wood Eagle Statue Americana $2,500.00 |
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Antique Primitive Folk Art Hand Carved Wooden Dough Bowl $2,500.00 |
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FOLK ART OIL PAINTING OF THE SS “OCEAN” STEAMSHIP $2,475.00 |
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Ca. 1820 American Folk Art Painting Deformed Man $2,450.00 |
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James Harold Jennings Amazing and Colorful Folk Art! $2,400.00 |
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Doris Lee – Folk Art Painting – Signed and Titled – Original Condition $2,400.00 |
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DC: Prison Folk Art Matchstick Ship, HUGE 5′ Length $2,379.00 |
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Amazing ORIGINAL NAUTICAL AMERICAN FOLK ART PAINTING $2,285.00 |
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Early 20th Century Folk Art Sheep Painting/ Inside Barn $2,250.00 |
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FOLK ART COLLAGE/Presidential Stamp Collage $2,250.00 |
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Folk Art Handmade Ceramic Sculpture Plaque Dentist Pulling Tooth Dicker Vintage $2,200.00 |
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ANTIQUE Americana TRADE SIGN IMMIGRATION FOLK ART NYC ICE CREAM PUSH CART $2,200.00 |
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Ohio Pioneer Abraham Betz 1818 HANDWRITTEN LESSON BOOK with FOLK ART $2,150.00 |
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HAITIAN ART: Vibrant PAINTING, SIGNED by Renowned Folk Artist TOUSSAINT AUGUSTE $2,150.00 |
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Philippines National Artist Abdul Imao Brass Sculpture w/ Base Mindanao Folk Art $2,100.00 |
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Ellen Eilers Calico Country Folk Art Woodcut Ornamental Trees Rare Early Work $2,000.00 |
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ANTIQUE 19th CENTURY AMERICAN FOLK ART FRUIT STILL LIFE WATERMELON OIL PAINTING $1,999.99 |
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ANTIQUE AMERICAN FOLK ART WOOD BALEEN CARVED SPERM WHALE GROTESQUE AMERICANA WOW $1,999.99 |
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ANTIQUE AMERICAN FOLK ART SHIP LIGHTHOUSE LARGE OIL PAINTING GERNAND VERMIER $1,999.99 |
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Vtg Rutherford Tubby Brown Xmas 25″Folk Art Santa Claus $1,999.99 |
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AMERICAN FOLK ART GAMEBOARD TABLE WITH SWASTIKAS $1,999.00 |
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Chinese handcraft folk art sculpture carving inkstone peasant work on his land $1,999.00 |
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LAURA SIQUEIROS “POSEIDONS ADVENTURE” FOLK ART PAINTING $1,999.00 |
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Old Folk Art Cinderella pre Disney & Kincade Beautiful $1,995.00 |
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Clyde Connell 1943 Folk Art hooked rug signed LISTED $1,900.00 |
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ANTIQUE AMERICAN FOLK ART WOOD CARVING TOBACCO CIGAR TRADE SIGN ? DISPLAY WOW $1,899.99 |
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Chinese folk art sculpture carving stone inkstone for painting and handwriting $1,890.00 |
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WELSH AMERICAN SIGNED FOLK ART PAINTING JFK PT 109 $1,850.00 |
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ORIGINAL TEXAS ARTIST FERGUSON OIL PAINTING FOLK ART $1,822.50 |
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C Peterson ORIGINAL modern FOLKART sculpture SIGN ART painted OUT of WORK tools $1,817.00 |
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48x48x1.5″█OIL▀PAINTING█ART█LARGE█BIG█PAINTINGS█FINE█RAW█MALE█REALISM█FOLK_POP█A $1,800.00 |
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American Folk Art Painting of Little Girl Circa 1825 $1,800.00 |
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Emma Schrock Folk Art 16″ by 12″ $1,795.00 |
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c1920 Girl Knitting Folk Woman Antique Art Signed Oil Estate Painting $1,795.00 |
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Folk Art Wood Carving Listed Folk Artist Albert Hoffman $1,750.00 |
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Folk Art New England Oil on Canvas Painting/Circa 1860 $1,750.00 |
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HUTCH TABLE WITH FOLK ART 4 SEASON ARTIST PAINTED TOP $1,750.00 |
