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Folk Art Furniture

FOLK ART STYLE

Folk art is a genre of art that shares the creator’s traditions, offering not just an artistic display but an opportunity to learn about a culture. Antique, new and vintage folk art typically reflects a heritage or location. It can include utilitarian objects and handmade art as diverse as weather vanes, duck decoys, portraiture and paintings, carnival art and quilts.

Quilts are a quintessential part of American folk art but their roots are international, with quilting dating back to Ancient Egypt. The practice spread to Europe and was especially prominent in the Middle Ages, with one of the oldest surviving examples being the Tristan quilt made in Sicily in the 14th century. They were made as bedcovers and clothing, including as a layer for knights to wear beneath their armor. Native American folk art includes functional objects reflecting their heritage, such as baskets, textiles and wooden pieces.

Elsewhere, the vast range of work associated with Mexican folk art includes masks made by Mexican craftspeople for traditional celebrations and ceremonial dances. Mexican masks are part of the country’s folk-art traditions that go back thousands of years and play a role in festivals and theater.

Works in the folk art tradition are valuable because of the skills involved, like weaving, hand-carving wood and even stonework. Many folk artists are self-taught, while some train as apprentices within their community. By using available materials and taking a personal approach to their creations, artists ensure each piece is unique and conveys a story.

During the Great Depression, artistic materials in America were hard to come by, so artisans used discarded wood from cigar boxes and shipping crates to make highly stylized, notched pieces — most often picture frames and boxes — that are today sought after by collectors. This folk art style is called tramp art and was popular from roughly 1870 until the 1940s.

Folk art brings vibrant culture and traditions into your home. Browse an extensive collection of antique, new and vintage folk art on 1stDibs.

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Style: Folk Art
1 of the 350 Handmade Antique Ceramic Tiles by Devres, France, 1920s
Located in Rijssen, NL
This is a large set of 350 antique French handmade ceramic tiles. Manufactured by Devres, circa 1920s. Colorful pattern in yellow, red and green. These tiles would be charming displa...
Category

1920s French Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Naive School Portrait Of A Man With A Map, Original Antique Oil Painting
Located in Bristol, GB
ANTIQUE ORIGINAL OIL ON CANVAS PAINTING DEPICTING A MALE SITTER Depicting a rather portly man with a characterful face in a curly wig with a flouncy collar and sleeves. He is pointi...
Category

18th Century Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Canvas

Hand Carved Armchair in Oak & Velvet, Danish Cabinetmaker, Jugendstil, 1939
Located in Odense, DK
This Jugendstil armchair, crafted by a Danish cabinetmaker in 1939, is a timeless blend of elegance and craftsmanship. Made from oak, its frame boasts intricate hand-carved details i...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Velvet, Oak

C1940 Hand Crafted Wooden French Folk Art Airplane with Moving Parts
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous hand crafted Art Deco styled airplane with the French colors on its tail. All there except for the tails wheel. Otherwise in excellent antique condition with minimal wear. ...
Category

1940s French Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Plastic, Hardwood, Paint

Small mid 19th century Swedish painted pine strong box
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Small mid 19th century swedish painted pine strong box circa 1842. Beautiful small scandinavian strong box, presented with scraped back paint to reveal original.  Feintly still bari...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pine, Paint

Finnish Folk Cupboard, Circa 18th Century
Located in Helsinki, FI
An impressive, late 18th century Finnish folk art cupboard, in full original condition featuring very heavy patina and signs of a long life. Amazingly the cupboard still retains the ...
Category

Late 18th Century Finnish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

19th Chinese Checkers Game Board with Original Paint
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th Chinese checkers game board with original paint form Pennsylvania. beautiful colors and patina.
Category

19th Century American Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Chelsea Textiles Original Needlepoint Tulip Artwork In Red White and Yellow
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Needlepoint Wood Framed Artwork of Tulips from Chelsea Textiles One-of-a-kind needlepoint artwork from Chelsea Textiles. This framed artwork features tulips in rust, orange, yellow ...
Category

Mid-20th Century English Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Fabric

Framed Watercolor on Paper of a Cuban Sailboat
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Watercolor on paper of a sailboat in repose, flying a Cuban flag, in a tropical setting as if some grand adventure is waiting. Presented under glass and sign...
Category

20th Century Cuban Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Paper

19th Century Swedish Folk Art chairs with original paint
Located in Boden, SE
A pair of similar 19th century Swedish country chairs. Very slight difference with great patina ,see pictures Scraped by hand to its beautiful blue original color. Such nice ext...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pine

Original Painted Blue Dome Top Trunk with Birds and Flowers, Sweden dated 1841
Located in Round Top, TX
Original blue painted dome top oak trunk from Sweden with traditional hand-painted details including beautiful bird and floral motif along top and front. Monogram of AHD and date "18...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wrought Iron

Antique Unusually Large Wooden Bowl, Swedish Handmade with Original Hardware
Located in Kramfors, SE
Unusually large wooden bowl from northern Sweden. The bowl is an antique from the early 1800s, made by hand and completely unique. It has original hardware and handles in iron. Attra...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pine

Southern Folk Art Face Jug, 1990s
By Cleater & Billie Meaders
Located in Coronado, CA
A wonderful example of southern folk art, this face jug is in fantastic original condition without any issues. Large scale, hilarious expression, white eyes popping against a dark gr...
Category

1990s American Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pottery

Early 20th Century Persian Tabriz Pictorial Accent Rug
Located in New York, NY
An antique Persian Tabriz pictorial accent rug handmade during the early 20th century. Measures: 4' 6" x 5' 11" Persian rugs & carpets: Persia (Iran) is a moderately large cou...
Category

Early 20th Century Persian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

Original Antique Print of Butterflies, 1847, Unframed
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of butterflies. Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Cpt. brown with original hand color. Pub...
Category

1840s English Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Paper

Arma Christi Calvary, France 19th Century
Located in PARIS, FR
Superb and rare Arma Christi calvary, popular work, France end of the 19th century. Beautifully executed work. Fair condition. Several small misses and ancient restaurations. Seen ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

19th Century Italian Tole Chandelier
Located in Greenwich, CT
Whimsical Italian 19th Century polychrome tole 12 light chandelier, with bacchanalian theme, featuring clusters of grapes in embossed tin, the whole retaining original paint and all ...
Category

Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal

Mid 19th century Swedish hand painted dome top trunk
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 19th century Swedish hand painted dome top trunk circa 1854. Beautifully decorated coffer in it's original paint.  Initialed on the front a g l d and dated 1854, further decorat...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pine, Paint

19th Century Lignum Vitae Fishermans Priest Turned in Lignum Vitae
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
19th Century Lignum Vitae Fishermans or Anglers Priest Turned in Lignum Vitae a good heavy quality fishing priest, lignum vitae, otherwise known as the Wood of Life is the heavies...
Category

19th Century Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Fruitwood

Mid 19th century Swedish folk art hand painted pine coffer
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 19th century Swedish folk art hand painted pine coffer circa 1841. Fine quality piece of Scandinavian folk art.  Made from solid pine with a slight dome top lid.  Base coated in...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pine, Paint

Art Populaire Workbench or Counter, France, 19th Century
Located in Antwerp, BE
Art populaire workbench, a timeless piece steeped in history and character, featuring three spacious drawers and the versatility to serve as a sideboard, counter, or workbench. Its a...
Category

19th Century French Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

A rare 19th century folk art diorama of two sailing vessels racing at sea.
Located in Central England, GB
This most attractive mid 19th century folk art cased diorama shows a view at sea with a large three mast English ship being chased in a racing situation by a smaller and faster singl...
Category

Mid-19th Century English Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Other

Wrought iron candlestick or cellar rat, Normandy, France, early 20th century.
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
Wrought iron candlestick or cellar rat, Normandy, France, early 20th century. Worn but in good and complete condition. Superb piece of folk art.
Category

Early 20th Century French Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Steel

Dutch Folk Art Hindeloopen Painted Tilt Top Table, 1900s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Magnificent and rare Folk Art Hindeloopen tilt top table. Striking Dutch design from the 1900s. Solid pine dished oval top, standing on a folding base with three turned splayed legs ...
Category

Early 1900s Dutch Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pine

Vintage Swiss Made Comtoise Pocket Watch with Hunters Motives
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Swiss Made Comtoise Pocket Watch with Hunters Motives A very nice vintage pocket watch manufactured by ARSA (Auguste Reymond S. A.), Switzerland. The case is made of metal a...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal

Very large pictorial Korhogo cloth Ivory Coast
By Korhogo Tribe
Located in Henley-on Thames, Oxfordshire
Large pictorial Korhogo cloth, produced by the Senufo people of the Ivory Coast, West Africa. named after the local village (Korhogo) where these types o...
Category

Mid-20th Century Ivorian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Linen

18th Century Carpenters Hand Plane Tool, Signed and Dated 1791
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Rare Museum-level 18th Century carpenters tool, an antler hand plane, hand-carved to look like a lion. Signed with initials and dated 1791.
Category

Late 18th Century Scandinavian Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal

Traditional 19th century painted kitchen rack
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Traditional 19th century painted kitchen rack circa 1880. Beautiful piece of rustic european woodenware from hungary. This piece when fixed to the wall was originally used for stor...
Category

Late 19th Century Hungarian Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pine, Paint

Vintage Marx Fire Chief Friction Action Toy Sedan American, Circa 1930
Located in Incline Village, NV
This original vintage friction activated toy sedan" Fire Chief" Car by The Marx Toy Company, circa 1930, is a difficult toy to find, especially in this variation, which I have not se...
Category

1930s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Tin, Steel

Antique Mickey Mouse & Minnie Mouse Train Hand Car by Disney & Lionel Circa 1934
Located in Incline Village, NV
Vintage Mickey/ Minnie Mouse Toy Wind-Up pre-war handcar (train car) circa 1934; by The Lionel Train Company in collaboration with Walt Disney Enterprises. The wind-up toy car features Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse pumping alternatively, up and down as if moving the car across the tracks or floor. It actually works by winding up the car by the winding stem with the original vintage clockwork key. When wound, place down on the floor or on train tracks (O Gauge) and the handcar will move across the floor while a bell chimes (see video attached to listing). It is okay to simply leave the key on the stem. The car is in original red hand paint with Mickey and Minnie in colors of black, white, green dress to Minnie; red outfit on Mickey; both have oversized original orange boots, while Minnie is sporting a wooden red hat. They both have their original tails. Both figures are 4 1/2" resin composition and in full paint, excellent coverage with very little paint lacking, if at all. All four legs are restored, which is the case with almost all examples. The car itself is metal and painted red with a gold manufacturing logo in the center stating "Mickey Mouse Handcar" copyright "Walt Disney"; "The Lionel Corporation, New York"; "Made in U.S. of America". "No. 1100". Great working; great looking iconic cross collectible antique toy...
Category

1930s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal

19th Century New England Folk Art Schooner Weathervane
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th Century New England Folk Art Schooner Weathervane, circa 1890, having a carved and painted wooden hull with bowsprit, spars and deck house; wooden masts with wire standing rigging; iron anchors; sheet metal main sail, American flag, and flat-cut sailor manning the helm. The schooner has great lines and style - very graceful sheer, nicely shaped clipper bow, that whimsical sailor at helm...
Category

Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal

A wood catchall mid-20th century French folk art
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
A remarkable catchall, emblematic of mid-20th century French folk art, stands out for its ingenious use of half a fruit tree trunk, likely from a cherry tree. This particular trunk s...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Fruitwood

Vintage Brass Tennis Racket Clip 1980s
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Brass Tennis Racket Clip 1980s. A vintage paper clip holder featuring a brass tennis racket. Brass Tennis Racket Paper Holder Clip, Desk an...
Category

Late 20th Century French Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Brass

Charming Art Deco Mirrored Wall Display
Located in Riverdale, NY
Charming Mirrored Art Deco Wall Display from the 1940's. Shaped like a bird house, handmade of wood painted bright white with slightly Folksy/ French 40's/Surrealist/Dorothy Draper v...
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

A wooden lantern mold France 1950
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
This wooden lantern mold, originating from a former paper lantern manufacturing facility, is a superb decorative piece, boasting a highly graphic design. It consists of seven detacha...
Category

1950s French Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Vintage Toy Wind-Up Speed Boat with Driver by Lindstrom Toy Co., American 1933
Located in Incline Village, NV
Vintage toy speed boat manufactured by the Lindstrom Toy Company of Bridgeport Connecticut, circa 1933 or earlier; the Lindstrom company having been founded in 1913, made quality tin...
Category

1930s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Tin

English Mocha Pottery Blue & Yellow Slip Jug with Cat's Eye Decoration
Located in Downingtown, PA
Mocha Pottery Blue & Yellow Slip Jug with Cat's eye decoration, Early 19th Century. This early 19th-century mocha-decorated pottery jug features a central band of yellow slip adorne...
Category

Early 19th Century English Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pearlware, Pottery

Vintage "Masuyama" Lehman Wind-Up Toy. German, Circa 1913 Rare
Located in Incline Village, NV
Early 1900's German hand painted and lithographed tin wind-up toy, by premier tin and whimsical toy maker, Ernest Paul Lehman, circa 1913. This charming and unique toy portrays a Ja...
Category

1910s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Tin

Vintage Bavarian Traditional Costume Jewelry Cufflinks
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Bavarian Traditional Costume Jewelry Cufflinks A pair Bavarian cufflinks from the middle of the 20th century. A beautiful piece of historical Bavarian folk art jewelry, a re...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal, Silver

Small Scandinavian 19th century original painted sarcophagus box
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Small 19th century original painted sarcophagus box circa 1870. Beautiful decorative box with original paint.   Sarcophagus shaped lidded box in original paint with traces of origin...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pine, Paint

Set of 2 Bamboo Handcrafted French Riviera Stools, circa 1960
Located in Barcelona, ES
Mid-Century Modern pair of bamboo and rattan handcrafted stools , circa 1960. Traditionally manufactured in France. By unknown designer. In original condition with minor wear cons...
Category

1960s French Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Bamboo

Vintage Toy Wind-Up "Baby L" Speedboat by Lindstrom Toy Co., American Circa 1933
Located in Incline Village, NV
Vintage toy speed boat manufactured by the Lindstrom Toy Company of Bridgeport Connecticut, circa 1933 or earlier; the Lindstrom company having been founded in 1913, made quality tin...
Category

1930s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Tin

Vintage Bavarian Traditional Costume Jewelry Charivari with Hunting Pendants
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Bavarian Traditional Costume Jewelry Charivari with Hunting Pendants A Bavarian Charivari from the middle of the 20th century. A beautiful pie...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal, Silver

Folk Art Sculpture of Shore Bird
Located in Houston, TX
The Folk Art Sculpture of the shore bird is a radiant manifestation of creativity and imagination, blending elements of nature with artistic expression. Crafted as a composite heron,...
Category

20th Century Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Composition, Metal

Sue Benner Cellular Structure I Nine Ovals Quilt Circa 2006
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Beautiful hand made quilt by famed quilter Sue Benner. According to her site "While pursuing a degree in molecular biology and a master's in biomedical illustration, Sue Benner crea...
Category

Early 2000s American Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Fabric

Primitive Folk Art Painted Pink Wall Shelf, Handmade Curio Cabinet, Spice Rack
Located in Chicago, IL
Charming handmade folk art wall shelf in pale pink paint with curvy side brackets. One of a kind and highly functional. Can be set on a surface or hung on the wall. Lovely for curios...
Category

1940s Unknown Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paint

Earthenware Hungarian Pottery, circa 1900s
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Earthenware Hungarian Pottery, circa 1900s This exquisite piece of European pottery, originating from Hungary, stands as a testament to the artistic mastery and cultural heritage o...
Category

Early 20th Century Hungarian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Earthenware

Antique Two Panel Screen Hand Painted on Fabric and Wood, Early 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A petite German late 19th or early 20th century screen hand painted on fabric and wood, early 1900s screen with wooden structure and fabric interior, hand painted on one side. The pa...
Category

Early 1900s German Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Stunning Christmas Vintage St. Nikolaus Santa Claus Belsnickel Candy Container
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This vintage St.Nicholas, Santa Claus candy container made of composition, cardboard, felting and Papermache was made in the 20th century and is a charming addition to any Christmas ...
Category

20th Century German Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Composition

Antique European Carved & Painted Folk Art Table Pair
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Charming antique Scandinavian folk art tables. These have an old world feel to them. Hand carved with painted floral design. Not signed ...
Category

Early 20th Century Scandinavian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Chelsea Textiles Original Needlepoint Tulip Artwork
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Needlepoint Wood Framed Artwork of Tulips from Chelsea Textiles One-of-a-kind needlepoint artwork from Chelsea Textiles. This framed artwork features tulips in rust, orange, yellow...
Category

Mid-20th Century English Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Fabric

Organic Tripod Bench in Solid Wood, France, 19th Century
Located in Antwerp, BE
Organic tripod folk art bench that beautifully captures the essence of the wabi-sabi philosophy, a Japanese tradition that appreciates the beauty of natural imperfection and the grac...
Category

19th Century French Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Antique Toy Wind-Up Double Decker Bus by Ferdinand Strauss Toy Co. Circa 1925
Located in Incline Village, NV
Antique Wind-Up Double Decker open air bus by the Ferdinand Strauss Toy Company, New York; circa 1925; is quite a large and substantial toy resembling very closely, buses of that era...
Category

1920s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Tin

L' Art Calligraphique De L'Islam by Khatibi, Abdelkébir Sijelmass Hardcover Book
Located in North Hollywood, CA
L'art calligraphique de l'Islam hardcover art book. Calligraphy Art in Islam, French edition. French Edition by Abdelkebir Khatibi. Large wonderful...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Paper

Antique Indochinese Art Deco Rug in Gold with Kirin Pictorials, from Rug & Kilim
Located in Long Island City, NY
Hand-knotted in wool circa 1920-1930, this 9x11 antique 9x11 Indochinese Art Deco rug is a rare and exciting curation from the Rug & Kilim collection. On the Design: This is an ex...
Category

1920s Chinese Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

19th Century Sailor's Woolie with Trapunto Sails
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th Century Sailor's Woolie, circa 1860, a sailor's folk art woolwork picture of a British frigate with white trapunto sails, the ensign of the White Fleet at the stern, and the fle...
Category

Mid-19th Century English Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

Royal Doulton Porcelain Figurine “Omar Khayyam” Persian Scholar 1964
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Royal Doulton “Omar Khayyam” Persian Scholar 1964 Decorative Porcelain Figurine. Made in England, by Royal Doulton England. finely painted porcelain figure collectable, high ...
Category

Mid-20th Century English Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Zabihi Collection Horse Pictorial Persian Wall Kilim
Located in New York, NY
Accent size Persian Kilim from the late 20th century with what looks like a colorful horse surrounded by small trees on a dark ground color Measures: 4'3'' x 7'2''. This was origin...
Category

Late 20th Century Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

Folk Art furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique folk art furniture for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include folk art, decorative objects, wall decorations and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art furniture made in a specific country, there are Europe, North America, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original furniture, popular names associated with this style include Berber Tribes of Morocco, Mosche Bianche, Jim Rose, and Nils Olsson. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $20 and tops out at $225,000 while the average work can sell for $1,252.

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