Saint Infant Atocha
Antique 19th Century Mexican Folk Art Paintings
Metal, Tin
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Organic Modern Chandeliers and Pen...
Ceramic, Clay
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Organic Modern Figurative Sculptures
Clay, Ceramic
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Sculptures and Carvings
Ceramic
Vintage 1950s Mexican Country Ceramics
Ceramic, Clay
Vintage 1960s Mexican Primitive Vases
Ceramic
2010s Mexican Folk Art Toys
Ceramic, Clay
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Organic Modern Figurative Sculptures
Clay, Ceramic
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Organic Modern Figurative Sculptures
Clay
2010s Mexican Modern Figurative Sculptures
Clay
2010s Mexican Benches
Clay, Pine
Vintage 1980s Mexican Art Deco Ceramics
Clay
20th Century Folk Art Ceramics
Majolica
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Organic Modern Figurative Sculptures
Clay
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Organic Modern Figurative Sculptures
Clay
2010s Mexican Benches
Clay, Wood
20th Century Folk Art Ceramics
Majolica
Recent Sales
Antique 19th Century Mexican Folk Art Paintings
Wood, Paint
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.
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In 1995, the artist embellished a found poster of Martin Luther King with visionary markings.
At Colonial Williamsburg, Everything Old Is New Again
With the help of a new director, the Virginia institution's folk art and decorative arts museums are undergoing extensive upgrades.
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Tramp Art, America’s Most Misunderstood Art Form, Is Trending in Interiors
Designers are beginning to see this enigmatic form of folk art in a whole new light.