Trying to get that old-world library look in your dining room, or maybe you've got a hallway wall that you want to fill with clustered vintage artwork? We're here to help — let us direct you towards 10 sources for traditional art ranging from $20 to the low hundreds.
- The Loaded Trunk: This web shop collects traditional accessories and artwork from around the world and has a nice selection of Indian miniatures. Shown above: Miniature Elephant Painting from India, $58.
- Postcards from Provence: Julian Merrow Smith has a "painting a day" site, where he sells both originals and giclees (editions printed with archival inks on heavyweight cotton rag paper). Shown above: Lemon Giclee, $50.
- Flea Markets: Vintage paintings and sculptures consistently show up at flea markets for anything from $25 to $2,500. Shown above: A cluster of vintage artwork, photographed by James Merrell for Elle Decoration and Elle Interiors via Decor8.
- Ruby Lane: This antique aggregate site allows customers to search by price, and they have both high and low artwork for sale. Shown above: Still Life Oil Painting, Judy Jones Fine Art, $150.
- Etsy: As a hub for hundreds of thousands of sellers, Etsy consistently has good and inexpensive vintage artwork for sale if you're willing to wade through some mucky e-shops. Shown above: Pair of Framed Winter Landscape Paint by Numbers at the Vintage Cabin, $39.
- Lost Art Salon: The walls of this San Francisco gallery are covered in reasonably priced vintage artwork, and their website lists their current inventory. Shown above: Mid-20th Century Oil on Canvas, $235.
- ShopGoodwill.com: One of the few non-profit thrift shops with a strong online presence, Goodwill's website hosts auctions on secondhand merchandise. It operates the same way eBay does — you can bid against other people on goods and "win" an item. Shown above: Lakeside Retreat Paint by Number, currently up for auction.
- Shorpy / Juniper Gallery: Shorpy is a blog that collects historic photos, and Juniper Gallery is their retail arm. Through the gallery, you can order high-resolution prints in a variety of sizes. Shown above: JG-175 Skeeters Branch Newsies: 1910, $20 - $300, depending on size.
- Library of Congress Prints and Photos Online Catalog: As the national archive, they have over 14 million items in their collection, and you can order copies of prints for a small fee through their duplication services. Shown above: Sioux Chiefs by Edward Curtis, 1905, Library of Congress Prints and Photo Collection, public domain.
- eBay: Like many of the sites listed here, they have both good and bad art — all of it up for online auction. Shown above: French Landscape Painting, currently listed for a "buy it now" price of $175.
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Oh my - the price of the Indian miniature makes me wince. If you travel through Rajasthan, you can get that exact style (they're mass-produced throughout the region) for maybe $5.
I moved from Missouri to Florida to live with my dear son, so it was goodbye to Winter scenes, so I obtained off many, many blogs, wintry pictures. In my new TAA I have one hallway wall, covered with pictures of Snow. They are beautiful pictures. probably taken by professional photographers, and they are hanging on white walls, with black frames down to my (originally master bedroom) mini apartment, and I am so thrilled to enter this room also. Pictures, empty picture frames, a gorgeous couch, used but expensive when new, and also the same kind of tables, plus sideboard which became my kitchen, so to speak, with pictures lined all along wall, held up by small round rubber contraptions that are usually put on inside kitchen cupboard doors to keep them from banging, to hold pictures in place on surface of sideboard. White dishes, spaghetti on white plate, small supper pies, on white plates, sweet rolls, etc. in pictures. Then real dishes (from CB2) and Coffee Brewer, Toaster, both black with stainless steel. And a butcher block to keep stains off highly polished top to protect it from water or messes. I have a beautiful chair my son gave me so it won't slide around, and drop me to the floor (stinky stroke) and lovely beautiful computer monitor in front of it. Then I have picture of Tim Berners-Lee (sp?) who invented the Internet when he was young and gave it to the world for free, on my desk to honour him. He is sitting next to my computer monitor. Sigh. I am so happy. sincerely, mary
@JaclynC - ah but the price of a ticket to India makes me wince more. :)
Just wanted to say THANKS to this post I trawled through some vintage etsy shops and now own a lovely little original painting :) You can look at it here if you like :) http://firsthouseontheright.blogspot.com/2010/10/affordable-art.html
Agree with Jacklyn's comment. I picked one up in India for about $7. But, for those who wince at the price of the plane ticket, I've also seen them on ebay for about $20.
The "Lemon Giclee" link for Julian Merrow Smith's work is incorrect; it goes to a Loaded Trunk item.
i love the Skeeters Branch Newsies pic