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Folk Art Shelves and Wall Cabinets

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
Rustic Painted Folk Art Wall Shelf with Drawers
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Rustic Painted Folk Art Wall Shelf with Drawers This charming little wall hanging shelf has 2 small drawer and id hand painted in a Folk Art Style The shelf is 14” high, 20” wide an...
Category

19th Century Antique Folk Art Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Pine

French Chasse Inspired Towel and Soap Rack Just the thing for the smallest room
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
French Chasse Inspired Towel and Soap Rack Just the thing for the smallest room in the house, made in aluminium and embossed with a French Hunting Dog scene The rack fits on the wa...
Category

1910s Vintage Folk Art Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Aluminum

19th Century Swedish Folk Art Hanging Cabinet
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A Swedish country folk art hanging cabinet in pine with 4 panel glass door with antique glass.
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Wood

Pair of Green Hand Made Wooden Corbels
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Green corbels perfect to hold your shelf and bring some fun maximalist style to any wall. These are lightweight as they are made of wood. Each piece can be easily installed with scre...
Category

20th Century Folk Art Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Wood

2 Heavy Cast Iron Horse’s Head Wall Brackets
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
2 Heavy Cast Iron Horse’s Head Wall Brackets The statues are of a sculptured horse’s head supporting a bracket on the top There are 2 of these supe...
Category

Early 20th Century Folk Art Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Iron

Hand Painted Decorative Folk Art Wall-Mounted Shelf
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Whimsical Folk Art shelf (circa 1920s, USA) featuring carved and hand painted decoration. There are three tiers for storage in sky blue, green, and blue with carved and painted 'colu...
Category

1920s American Vintage Folk Art Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Wood

Exceptional Tramp Art Mirrored Wall Cabinet
Located in Mt Kisco, NY
An antique Tramp Art hanging cabinet with mirrored panel doors that open to a single shelving unit, over one long drawer over two short drawers.
Category

19th Century American Antique Folk Art Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Wood

18th Century Folk Art Wall Shelf, Island of Amager, Denmark
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
18th century Folk Art wall shelf, Island of Amager, Denmark Shelf is decorated with carved figures.
Category

Late 18th Century Danish Antique Folk Art Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Wood

Pait of Lattice Style Wall Pockets
Located in Nantucket, MA
Made of Mahogany with scalloped bottom shelf.     
Category

Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Dutch Folk Art Hindeloopen Painted Wall Cabinet, 1940s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Stunning and elegant Folk Art wall cabinet. Striking Dutch design from the 1940s. Original pine base which has been hand-painted in the so called Dutch Hindeloopen style. Behind the ...
Category

1940s Dutch Vintage Folk Art Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Glass, Pine

Related Items
Amorph Riva Shelf in Black Lacquer Wall Mounted
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Amorph Riva shelf, black lacquer, wall mounted. The shelf comes with concealed bracket. Available in different dimensions and custom sizes. About Amorph: Amorph is a design and ma...
Category

2010s American Folk Art Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Wood

Pair of 19th Century Carved & Gilded Corbels Converted to Bookends, Circa 1890
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A highly decorative pair of 19th century Regence-style painted & gilded architectural corbel elements with hand carved acanthus leaf detail, salvaged from the interior of a 19th cent...
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Late 19th Century Canadian Antique Folk Art Shelves and Wall Cabinets

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Wood

Antique Swedish Empire Wall Cabinet 19th Century Walnut Gilt Bronze Hanging
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Gorgeous & stylish Swedish wall cabinet in Empire style 19th century. with carvings in walnut & gilt bronze decorations Really nice solid wood quality with hand carved decorations. ...
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Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Bronze

Antique Salvaged Carved Wooden Architectural Wall Brackets, Corbels or Shelves
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This matched pair of antique hand-carved walnut wall brackets were salvaged from an early Victorian house in Montreal, Canada. The brackets are unsigned, but presumed to have originated from Canada in approximately 1850 in the period Victorian style. The brackets are solid walnut in their composition and have ornate decorative carvings. These wall corbels...
Category

Mid-19th Century Canadian Antique Folk Art Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Walnut

Pair of Antique Oak Corbels / Wall Brackets
Located in Pomona, CA
An old and interesting pair of Oak Corbels featuring nicely carved figureheads. The figureheads of bearded men are draped in a headscarf made up of O...
Category

1880s English Antique Folk Art Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Oak

Coat Rack Shelf
Located in Annville, PA
The Mahogany Coat Rack Shelf by Niagara Furniture is a great accessory that is both useful and decorative. Created from the finest mahogany solids and ...
Category

2010s Folk Art Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Mahogany

Coat Rack Shelf
Coat Rack Shelf
H 8 in W 36 in D 8 in
English Regency Style Plum Pudding Hardwood Wall Bracket/ Shelf
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
English Regency style plum pudding hardwood wall bracket/ shelf. England, Circa 1900s. A single substantial carved plum pudding hardwood wall bracket/shelf, large enough to hold a c...
Category

Early 20th Century English Folk Art Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Hardwood

19th Century Chinese Temple Architectural Corbel Carved Sculpture Pair
Located in Forney, TX
A majestic pair of antique architectural salvaged Chinese temple corbels, now mounted as one-of-a-kind wooden sculptures on custom floor standing display pedestal stands. Originally commissioned for an important religious temple in China, the impressive large scale wall bracket corbels were notoriously difficult as they had to serve as both highly decorative temple ornaments and structural building elements used to support the weight of a wall. Hand-crafted in the early 19th century, smilarly styled design, each exceptionally hand carved, sculpted, and painted by highly trained artisans. Profusely carved and decorated, featuring very fine quality high relief work throughout, extensive bas relief, pierced openwork, rich carvings and intricate incised detailing, depicting various Chinese folk religion figures and imagery. Rising on bespoke handmade stands, consistenting of sturdy rectangular shaped thick plank plinth base embellished with foliate carvings, held upright by turned column single support. Rich in culture and history, interesting, unusual, highly decorative, whimsical and artistic, sure to add sophisticated elegance, rustic character, color, space, texture and lots of visual interest. Dimensions, largest (approx): Each: 32.5" H, 19" W, 7.25" D. Please note, the objects were sourced and transported both legally and ethically, retaining partial original red wax export seal to top. Display the three Sanxing, in their iconic representation as three, old, bearded, wise men, which dates back to the Ming dynasty, when the Gods of the three stars were represented in human form for the first time. One panel having two monumental smiling figures with hand painted eyes and tongue, the other fragment depicting four figures, seated and standing, likely Immortals, Gods, Shen deity, and other characters from ancient Chinese mythology and folklore. Both pieces with elaborate lotus and pine tree motif, a powerful symbol of wisdom and longevity. Sanxing figures are an important part of Asian culture. Statues of these three Gods...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Folk Art Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Wood, Paint

Swedish Rococo Style 19th Century Grey Painted Wall Cabinet with Distressing
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swedish Rococo style painted wood wall cabinet from the 19th century, with angular pediment, distressed grey paint, molded accents and two doors. Created in Sweden during the 19th century, this Rococo style wall cabinet features an angular pediment with molded accents, sitting above two simple doors. These doors open to reveal light painted inner shelves offering convenient storage opportunities, including an upper serpentine one, made to store spoons. The ensemble is painted in a soft grey color with great distressing, typical of the Swedish taste aiming at brightening the rooms during the dark and long Scandinavian winters. The sides are sans décor and the back is, of course, unfinished. With its Rococo lines, rustic character and nicely weathered appearance, this grey painted Swedish Rococo style wooden wall...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Wood

Antique 19th Century German Grunderzeit Wall Cabinet / Small Cabinet Carved Oak
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Magnificent and very rare Gründerzeit wall cabinet handmade from European oak. Striking German design from the 1880s made with exquisite craftsmanship. Solid oak and original oak...
Category

Late 19th Century German Antique Folk Art Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Wood, Oak

Antique Asian Carved Foo Dog Lion Architectural Corbels, a Pair
Located in Forney, TX
A magnificent pair of Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) antique Chinese architectural elements with beautifully aged patina. circa 1900 Most impressive large scale, likely sculptural corbels from a Buddhist temple or imperial palace, late 19th / early 20th century, each intricately hand carved with very fine detailing, similarly styled pair, modeled as guardian foo lion, depicted with outstretched arched body, mouth ajar, clutching floral ball, having elaborate openwork carvings, with scattered remnants of original polychrome paint remaining. The highly decorative architectural salvaged ornamental building elements presented on custom made hand carved wooden sculpture stands...
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Early 20th Century Chinese Folk Art Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Wood, Paint

"Nudes with Lyres, " Rare, Limited Edition Wall Shelf with Symbolist Prints
By Adolfo Magrini
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Extraordinarily rare, this rosewood and brass shelf unit incorporates a pair of Symbolist/Art Nouveau prints featuring male nudes playing highly stylized lyres by Adolfo Magrini. The...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Folk Art Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Previously Available Items
Dutch Folk Art Hindeloopen Painted Wall Cabinet, 1940s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Stunning and elegant Folk Art wall cabinet. Striking Dutch design from the 1940s. Original pine base which has been hand-painted in the so called Dutch Hindeloopen style. Behind the ...
Category

1940s Dutch Vintage Folk Art Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Glass, Pine

Brass Pineapple Key Holder
Located in Cordova, SC
Brass wall key holder composed of four pineapples with four hooks. In very good condition.
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Folk Art Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Brass Pineapple Key Holder
Brass Pineapple Key Holder
H 3.5 in W 1 in D 8 in
Antique Carved Oak Ornamental Folk Art Maple Leaf House Wall Sconce Shelf
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage ornamental folk art wall shelf or sconce in the form of a house. Made of quartersawn oak featuring reticulated ornate details with turned columns and central maple leaf. Meas...
Category

Early 20th Century Folk Art Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Oak

Original Painted Swedish Folk Art Hanging Cabinet
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
An original painted hanging cabinet from Sweden in pine, from the rural folk art "allmoge" traditional region of Dalarna. This folk art piece ...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Pine

Antique Tramp Art Wallcabinet with Mirror and Revolving Brass Candle Walllight
Located in Munich, DE
This marvellous wallcabinet with it's original mirror features two revolving brass candlesticks.
Category

1880s Unknown Antique Folk Art Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Wood

Early 19th Century Swedish Pine Wall Plate Rack
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique wall plate rack made during the early 19th century in northern Sweden. The rack is pine and is most likely intended to hang on a wall. ...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Pine

Early 19th Century Swedish Pine Wall Plate Rack
Early 19th Century Swedish Pine Wall Plate Rack
H 44.49 in W 44.89 in D 11.42 in
Antique Painted Pine Proscenium Curtain Wall Curio Shelf Theater Bookcase
Located in Dayton, OH
Large antique wall hanging shelf with two tiers, framed like a stage proscenium or window with carved curtains. Made from Pine. Measure: 35"...
Category

Early 20th Century Folk Art Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Pine, Paint

Antique Folk Art Painted Wall Hanging Shelf Colonial Early American Primitive
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique wooden wall hanging shelf with drawer, painted with a yellow, green and red Folk Art floral design, marked “Todds” on the reverse.   
Category

Early 20th Century Folk Art Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Hardwood, Paint

Green Painted Swedish 19th Century Folk Art Mirror and Wall Shelf
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A late 19th century green painted Folk Art shelf with an installed mirror in the middle. This charming Folk Art shelf and mirror is presented in its ori...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Mirror, Wood

Early American Tramp Wall Hanging Shelf
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Early American Folk Art Tramp style wall hanging shelf.
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Oak

Antique Painted Swedish Hanging Corner Cabinet
Located in Round Top, TX
The simplicity of a single painted flower adds to the visual appeal of this small Swedish hanging corner cabinet. The pine cabinet, which is dat...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Pine

19th Century Handcrafted Oakwood Folk Art Wall Cabinet with Beveled Mirror
Located in Lisse, NL
Unique Folk Art wall cabinet. This late 19th century wall cabinet is probably of Dutch Colonial origin and it has the most beautiful patina. This practical size wall cabinet comes w...
Category

Late 19th Century Asian Antique Folk Art Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Mirror, Oak

Folk Art shelves and wall cabinets for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Folk Art shelves and wall cabinets for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage shelves and wall cabinets created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include wall decorations, case pieces and storage cabinets, building and garden elements and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art shelves and wall cabinets made in a specific country, there are North America, United States, and Europe pieces for sale on 1stDibs. 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 shelves and wall cabinets differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $99 and tops out at $2,900 while the average work can sell for $900.

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