How To Identify Early American Folk Art

There are many types of folk art out there!

What Are Some Defining Characteristics of Folk Art?

Folk art pieces tend not to stick to a rigid set of defining factors. Often never formally educated in fine art, many folk art creators will lack consistency, as the hand-made nature of these works is not only a source of pride, but also an outlet for unique expression. Sometimes the form is mainly about self-expression, as in the case of crazy quilts or African American improvisational quilts.

Crazy quilts were initially inspired by the crazed Japanese ceramics shown at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. Via/ Missouri Historical Society

Today, untrained yet successful artists’ works are often referred to as outsider art, and there is some crossover here with folk art. But, outsider art does not always have a link to traditional techniques or themes, thus removing it one more step from true folk art.

Collecting Folk Art Today

When collecting antique American folk art, one of the most popular areas of the genre, you should always look for signs of how the item was made. You should be able to discern some defining features of a handmade product such as paint marks or slightly irregular stitches.

The antique hand-painted designs of the Pennsylvania Dutch are some of the most-copied forms of folk art in the U.S. Via/ Wiki Commons

Since many forms of folk art have been copied, often by artists or companies who are not based in the U.S., it’s important to understand some of the history behind how these items were made over the centuries. An informed eye will go a long way towards successfully identifying genuine pieces of antique folk art. With some research you can effectively tell regional crafts apart from items made on an assembly line.

Of course, indications of age are always a welcome sign as some of the reproductions and fakes circulating today have all the hallmarks of being handmade because they are. Items that are made in an old-fashioned style, but which show no signs of wear will instantly raise the red flag for collectors.

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