Folk Art Lettering Patterns
Thoughts on ART Santa Fe
Until this weekend, the only art fairs I had ever been to were in New York. When I discovered that I had fortuitously booked a personal trip to Santa Fe during ART Santa Fe, I was very excited to see what I anticipated would be a different tasting menu of art galleries–certainly more exhibitors from the American southwest, perhaps a bit more representation from south of the border. And certainly another question I was eager to challenge pertained to my own New York snobbishness: how does the art scene here compare to that of New York? Will the quality of work hold a candle to one of the most important art hubs in the world?
Upon walking into the art fair, one entered a lobby of sorts, with a few pieces that seemed a promising preamble before entering the fair itself: of note was François Morellet’s Untitled neon sculpture, from local Santa Fe gallery Zane Bennett Contemporary Art, as well as Gift (2009), an archival print on Fuji pearl by Kathleen Wilke, represented by Decorazon Gallery (Dallas, TX). But, I found, as I entered the actual exhibition space, the quality of works certainly covered the spectrum.
Before I go any further, perhaps I should explain that I have two essential and perhaps obvious requirements when I behold a work of art: first, the piece must draw me in aesthetically–it must be visually compelling. The formal principles of color, composition, design, size, shape, texture, etc, must be sound. This can be admittedly subjective because I do think it’s fairly intuitive: when an art object isn’t formally sound, you just know it. Secondly, the work must have some loftier ambitions: after its formal qualities have pulled me in, the work must keep me engaged with some food for thought. It doesn’t have to be an overwhelming brain teaser about the state of humanity; often the piece will evoke a certain feeling in me, and I take a moment to ask myself why it has evoked this particular feeling and what that means, why I may like the feeling or dislike it. I also encourage these two very basic principles of art-looking in any collector: your collection is your’s, it should start with your personal interaction with the art object, not what some gallerist or consultant tells you about the work of art.
A decent amount of the work I found at ART Santa Fe I found fulfilled step one of my art appreciation process, but was entirely lacking in step two. Some of these pieces often hail from a folk or crafts tradition, which don’t aspire to conceptual ends, such as some of the selections from Gallery Ten472 (California). In this sense, you can’t exactly say the work of art failed, but personally, this kind of art doesn’t do it for me. Some of the pieces at the fair were so generic they very well could have been on display next to Jack Vettriano “Singing Butler” in a framing shop. I hate to be harsh, but there it is.
Jack Vettriano’s Singing Butler of 1992, ubiquitous in cheap gallery display windows.
There were also some strong galleries with some compelling work. One of the first pieces I was drawn to were paintings by Robert Sagerman (Galerie Renate Bender, Munich). Abstract Expressionism meets Pointillism in his paintings that assume the dimensionality of relief sculpture (see detail of a painting, below). The title of his paintings come from the number of paint marks he makes to stack them up: a 12 x 12 inch piece is called 2,411 while a 41 x 71 inch painting is 16,710, thereby highlighting the process of the painting as an integral dimension of its meaning. The effect is a very textured and sensuous art work with a robust, living presence.
I also enjoyed the sculpture of David Henderson (William Siegal Gallery, Santa Fe), who has exploited the medium of carbon fiber to acrobatic ends. Given the size and texture of the pieces (which evoke polished marble or granite) they seem to have an incredible weight, but at crucial points of structural integrity, the sculpture nearly disappears to thin and delicate core. These balancing acts are achieved because of the very lightness of the carbon fiber (the largest sculpture on view, 70 x 18 x 28 inches, weighed six pounds and could be held in one hand). I should also mention that these pieces attach to the wall in innovative ways, allowing flexibility of installation. The very vulnerability (well, seeming vulnerability–the gallerist mentioned that one of the smaller pieces had been knocked on the floor opening night, rolled down the hallway and still didn’t break) and tension of the pieces simultaneously stirs uneasiness and awe in the beholder.
A few more artists sparked my fancy: Chen Long-Bin’s busts were quite fascinating (Plum Blossoms Gallery, Hong Kong). Long-Bin enjoys using text based media (magazines, books) and exploring them in new ways–from the raw material of stacked phone books, Long-Bin carves out busts of famous figures, such as legendary U.S. presidents and Buddhas. Just as with a piece of wood or stone, the varied, happenstance patterns of the phone book lend unexpected highlights and beautiful texture to each piece.
Left: Chen Long-Bin’s Lincoln
Lastly, David Buckingham‘s George Carlin RIP was a clever and poignant addition to the art fair. Buckingham’s “words” pieces are composed entirely from found scraps of lettering and signage that he salvages around the L.A. area. His George Carlin RIP piece was a string of explicatives, witty and flippant and, like his other work found on his website (buckinghamstudio.com), challenges the loftiness of high art with its humorous pop culture aesthetic and references.
This last work by Buckingham was also one of the few red dots I spotted in the art fair. I chatted with the gallerist representing Buckingham, and he noted that sales were extremely slow. He also added that half has many galleries had registered to exhibit at ART Santa Fe as last year. This did not surprise me–the fair was much smaller than I anticipated. After some relieved reports regarding art fairs earlier this summer (such as Art Basel) I had hoped ART Santa Fe might have some success, but it may be the more homegrown, modest art fairs that are the real casualties of this recession.
The final verdict: am I snob, or a justified critic? I hope the latter–yes, I found much of the art to be second or even third tier, but I also must point out that all of the highlights I have mentioned did not come from New York galleries. I was quite impressed that some of the local Santa Fe galleries do have quite an eye for artistic talent. Overall it was enjoyable to see a non-New York art fair, and now I have my eyes on another destination for comparison: South America perhaps?
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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 |
