Charles Hart Penguin
Vintage 1930s American Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Wood
People Also Browsed
Antique Late 19th Century American Folk Art Weathervanes
Iron
Vintage 1980s French Animal Sculptures
Bronze
Mid-20th Century American Toys
Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Natural Specimens
Art Glass
Vintage 1980s American Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
20th Century American Folk Art Decoys
Wood
Early 20th Century American Adirondack Weathervanes
Copper, Iron
Late 20th Century American Folk Art Carnival Art
Wood
Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Animal Sculptures
Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Weathervanes
Copper, Iron
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
2010s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
Antique 1890s American Adirondack Weathervanes
Iron, Sheet Metal
Antique 19th Century American Weathervanes
Copper
Antique Mid-19th Century American Weathervanes
Copper
20th Century African Masks
Lucite, Wood
Recent Sales
Vintage 1940s American Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
A Close Look at Folk Art Furniture
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.