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The image shows the interior of an art gallery exhibiting various sculptures and artifacts related to Victorian objects. The space features exposed wooden beams on the ceiling, contrasted with modern white walls. The exhibits are arranged throughout the room, including a large

FOLK ART

About the
Collection

The largest collection of British Folk Art in the UK. Folk Art refers to objects made within the context of a community’s everyday life.

Made by artists working within a popular rather than ‘fine art’ tradition, many of these objects have grown out of long-established craft practices in local communities.

Folk Art can be objects made for a specific purpose – such as shop signs, agricultural implements and weathervanes – and decorative pieces created primarily to satisfy the maker.

Often, these items provide an insight into what life was like for ordinary people, both rural and urban, during the 19th and early 20th century. Our current display has been curated by artist and designer Mark Hearld, who produced new work in response to the collection, including a wallpaper design.

Explore the Compton Verney collection

My father didn’t set out to become a collector, he gathered eight or nine pictures and asked himself ‘Do I want more?’ – suddenly, his dining room was full!

Sally Kalman, daughter of original collector Andras Kalman.

Discover more

Download our gallery guide to find out more the Folk Art collection
and the artworks on display in our galleries

Download guide

130 items matching ''
Bridge Foot, Castleford, Yorkshire

Bridge Foot, Castleford, Yorkshire

1892
Artist: Thomas Wainwright
Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle

About 1800-1900
Artist: Unknown
White Villas

White Villas

About 1880
Artist: Unknown
West Bromwich Sweep

West Bromwich Sweep

About 1850
Artist: Unknown
Tradesmans Friendly Union

Tradesmans Friendly Union

About 1828
Artist: Unknown
Tom Sayers, Prize Fighter

Tom Sayers, Prize Fighter

About 1840
Artist: Unknown
Three Sober Preachers

Three Sober Preachers

About 1860
Artist: Unknown
Pottergate, Richmond, Yorkshire

Pottergate, Richmond, Yorkshire

1847
Artist: John S Newton
Old Man and Donkey

Old Man and Donkey

1833
Artist: George Smart
Musselburgh

Musselburgh

1873
Artist: T. Collier
The Hunt

The Hunt

About 1780
Artist: Unknown
Girl with Cherries

Girl with Cherries

About 1820
Artist: Unknown
Garner’s (the Marine Library), High Street, Margate

Garner’s (the Marine Library), High Street, Margate

About 1820
Artist: Unknown
The Fleet Offshore

The Fleet Offshore

1780-1790
Artist: Unknown
Feline Friends

Feline Friends

About 1870
Artist: Unknown
Family Group

Family Group

About 1840
Artist: Unknown
The Earth Stopper

The Earth Stopper

1840
Artist: George Smart
Duck Shooting

Duck Shooting

About 1830
Artist: Unknown
Daisy the Cow

Daisy the Cow

About 1790
Artist: Unknown
The Charing Cross Arms

The Charing Cross Arms

1819
Artist: Harrison
Champion Ratcatcher

Champion Ratcatcher

1840
Artist: Unknown
Ceremony at Gretna Green

Ceremony at Gretna Green

1907
Artist: Unknown
The Cathedral, Old Church Steps

The Cathedral, Old Church Steps

1852
Artist: G H Hepworth
Canine Friends

Canine Friends

About 1870
Artist: Unknown
Boxers

Boxers

About 1850
Artist: Unknown
Boxers

Boxers

About 1850
Artist: Unknown
Bear Baiting

Bear Baiting

1830s
Artist: Unknown
A Still Life with Cheese, Bread and Beer

A Still Life with Cheese, Bread and Beer

1870
Artist: James Booth Higginson
A Pair of Pigs

A Pair of Pigs

About 1850
Artist: Unknown
Sunbeam

Sunbeam

1875-1880
Artist: Gunner Baldie
Waiting Outside Number 12

Waiting Outside Number 12

About 1870
Artist: Unknown
A Terrible Shipwreck: 12th February 1870 at Kingsdown near Deal

A Terrible Shipwreck: 12th February 1870 at Kingsdown near Deal

1870
Artist: T.L Mourilyan R.N
A Suprising Incident

A Suprising Incident

About 1811-1850
Artist: J Miles
South View of Fen End Farm

South View of Fen End Farm

1790
Artist: initialled M.L.L.
Skipton, Yorkshire

Skipton, Yorkshire

Early 1800s
Artist: Unknown
Schooner Approaching Harbour

Schooner Approaching Harbour

1930
Artist: Alfred Wallis
Scarborough

Scarborough

About 1850
Artist: Unknown
Royal Ratcatcher

Royal Ratcatcher

About 1807
Artist: J Mark or Clark
Prize Ram

Prize Ram

About 1870
Artist: Unknown
Nelson

Nelson

About 1850
Artist: Unknown
Nine Angry Bulls

Nine Angry Bulls

About 1830
Artist: Unknown
Nell the Rat Hunter

Nell the Rat Hunter

1852
Artist: John Whitehead
A Morning’s Tally

A Morning’s Tally

1836
Artist: Unknown
Master George

Master George

1870
Artist: Unknown
Lowestoft Lifeboat

Lowestoft Lifeboat

1880
Artist: J Starling
Kirkdale Cave

Kirkdale Cave

About 1824
Artist: Unknown
The Kings Harms

The Kings Harms

About 1800
Artist: Unknown
The Indefatigable

The Indefatigable

After 1796
Artist: Unknown
In the Lion’s Den

In the Lion’s Den

About 1870
Artist: W H Rogers
HMS Serapis

HMS Serapis

About 1850
Artist: Unknown
Greyhound

Greyhound

1837
Artist: W H Ruggles
The Cock Fight

The Cock Fight

About 1850
Artist: Unknown
City Foulers Mark

City Foulers Mark

About 1840
Artist: Unknown
Admiral Lord Exmouth

Admiral Lord Exmouth

About 1815
Artist: Unknown
Carved spoon

Carved spoon

About 1800
Artist: Unknown
Lark Decoy

Lark Decoy

About 1800
Artist: Unknown
Dog

Dog

About 1850
Artist: Unknown
Pig

Pig

Early 1900s
Artist: Unknown
Seated Dog Weathervane

Seated Dog Weathervane

About 1880
Artist: Unknown
Hand Weathervane

Hand Weathervane

About 1900
Artist: Unknown
Floating Swan Decoy

Floating Swan Decoy

1955
Artist: R Madison Mitchell
Bargeware-style Painted Jug

Bargeware-style Painted Jug

1925-1950
Artist: Unknown
Sheep-shearer’s Bench and Sheep Shears

Sheep-shearer’s Bench and Sheep Shears

1850-1900
Artist: Unknown
Sheep with Tree

Sheep with Tree

1850-1900
Artist: Unknown
Reclining Sheep

Reclining Sheep

About 1850-1900
Artist: Unknown
Sailor Whirligig

Sailor Whirligig

Early 1900s
Artist: Unknown
Pull-along Toy Bull

Pull-along Toy Bull

About 1900
Artist: Unknown
Policeman Whirligig

Policeman Whirligig

Early 1800s
Artist: Unknown
Pony and Trap Whirligig

Pony and Trap Whirligig

About 1900
Artist: Unknown
Pair of Whistling Partridge Decoys

Pair of Whistling Partridge Decoys

Between 1850-1900
Artist: Unknown
Lion Weathervane

Lion Weathervane

1900-1950
Artist: Unknown
4 Horn Beakers

4 Horn Beakers

1800-1850
Artist: Unknown
Floating Goose Decoy

Floating Goose Decoy

Probably 1900-1950
Artist: Unknown
Footstool

Footstool

1800-1900
Artist: Unknown
Flax Breaker

Flax Breaker

1850-1900
Artist: Unknown
Coffee Shop Sign (coffee pot)

Coffee Shop Sign (coffee pot)

1850-1900
Artist: Unknown
Cockerel Weathervane

Cockerel Weathervane

1800-1850
Artist: Unknown
Child's Wheelbarrow

Child's Wheelbarrow

1800s
Artist: Unknown
Windsor Chair

Windsor Chair

1800 -1900
Artist: Unknown
Green-Painted Solid Seat Turner’s Chair

Green-Painted Solid Seat Turner’s Chair

About 1800s
Artist: Unknown
West Country Comb-Back Windsor Armchair

West Country Comb-Back Windsor Armchair

Late 1700s or early 1800s
Artist: Unknown
Dug-out Seat

Dug-out Seat

1800-1900
Artist: Unknown
Windsor Chair

Windsor Chair

Artist: Unknown
Candleholder

Candleholder

Mid 1800s
Artist: Unknown
Butcher's Block

Butcher's Block

Early 1800s
Artist: Unknown
Tub

Tub

About 1890
Artist: Unknown
Bull with Tree

Bull with Tree

About 1750-1800
Artist: Unknown
Two Boxers

Two Boxers

About 1815
Artist: Unknown
Pointer Dog Weathervane

Pointer Dog Weathervane

1850-1950
Artist: Unknown
Top Hat Trade Sign

Top Hat Trade Sign

Artist: Unknown
Three Legged Dog, Toasting Fork

Three Legged Dog, Toasting Fork

1750-1850
Artist: Unknown
Teapot, Trade Sign

Teapot, Trade Sign

1850-1900
Artist: Unknown
Swan Public House Sign

Swan Public House Sign

1700-1750
Artist: Unknown
Soldier Whirligig

Soldier Whirligig

Early 1900s
Artist: Unknown
Beechwood Settle

Beechwood Settle

Early 1800s
Artist: Unknown
High Back Settle

High Back Settle

Early 1800s
Artist: Unknown
Screwdriver

Screwdriver

1900-1950
Artist: Unknown
Rifle Trade Sign

Rifle Trade Sign

1800-1900
Artist: Unknown
Rick Knife

Rick Knife

About 1900
Artist: Isaac Nash
Model of a Potter’s Workshop

Model of a Potter’s Workshop

About 1900
Artist: Unknown
Butcher's Shop Trade Sign

Butcher's Shop Trade Sign

After 1900
Artist: Unknown
Pincers

Pincers

1900-1950
Artist: Unknown
Pewter Vase

Pewter Vase

Artist: J. Seard
Pestle and Mortar, Trade Sign

Pestle and Mortar, Trade Sign

1800-1900
Artist: Unknown
Peat Cutter’s Spade

Peat Cutter’s Spade

Artist: Unknown
Padlock Trade Sign

Padlock Trade Sign

1800-1900
Artist: Unknown
Man with House Weathervane

Man with House Weathervane

1800-1900
Artist: Unknown
Man with Pipe Weathervane

Man with Pipe Weathervane

1800s
Artist: Unknown
Lile Clog Shop Trade Sign

Lile Clog Shop Trade Sign

1800s
Artist: Unknown
Lifeboat Model

Lifeboat Model

Early 1900s
Artist: Unknown
Wooden Ladle

Wooden Ladle

1800s
Artist: Unknown
Key Trade Sign

Key Trade Sign

1800-1900
Artist: Unknown
Kettle, Trade Sign

Kettle, Trade Sign

About 1900s
Artist: Unknown
Ink Stamp Trade Sign

Ink Stamp Trade Sign

1900-1950
Artist: Unknown
Military Patchwork

Military Patchwork

Between 1854 and 1876
Artist: Unknown
Grater Trade Sign

Grater Trade Sign

Artist: Unknown
Flying Goose Decoy

Flying Goose Decoy

Early 1900s
Artist: Unknown
Fairground Carousel Pig

Fairground Carousel Pig

Late 1800s
Artist: Unknown
Ditcher’s Shovel

Ditcher’s Shovel

1850-1900
Artist: Unknown
Coffee Pot Trade Sign

Coffee Pot Trade Sign

1850-1900
Artist: Unknown
Child's Commode Chair

Child's Commode Chair

1800-1850
Artist: Unknown
Red Painted Pine Chest

Red Painted Pine Chest

Early 1700s
Artist: Unknown
Chestnut Roaster

Chestnut Roaster

1850-1900
Artist: Unknown
Primitive Comb-Back Windsor Armchair

Primitive Comb-Back Windsor Armchair

1700s
Artist: Unknown
Model of a Butcher's Shop

Model of a Butcher's Shop

About 1900
Artist: Unknown
Boar’s Head, Trade Sign

Boar’s Head, Trade Sign

1800-1900
Artist: Unknown
Fire Improver Bellows

Fire Improver Bellows

About 1800
Artist: Unknown
Gunsmith or Armourer's Shop Sign

Gunsmith or Armourer's Shop Sign

After 1900
Artist: Unknown
Woolen Draper's or Inn Sign (The Golden Fleece)

Woolen Draper's or Inn Sign (The Golden Fleece)

1850-1900
Artist: Unknown
Fishmonger’s Trade Sign

Fishmonger’s Trade Sign

1900-1950
Artist: Unknown