Wooden Tramp Art Sculpture
Antique 19th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Pop Art Animal Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
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21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Dining Room Chairs
Wood
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass, Bronze, Enamel, Nickel
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Benches
Fabric, Velvet, Lacquer, Wood
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass, Aluminum, Nickel, Chrome, Enamel, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
Textile, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile
Vintage 1960s American Arts and Crafts Table Lamps
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Austrian Rustic Wall Mirrors
Mirror, Softwood
Antique 19th Century French Rustic Wall Mirrors
Wood
1990s Pop Art Portrait Prints
Board, Lithograph, Screen, Woodcut
1990s Pop Art Figurative Prints
Lithograph
Antique Early 1900s American Folk Art Native American Objects
Pine
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Stools
Wood, Pine
Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wardrobes and Armoires
Chestnut
Antique 1890s American Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
Antique 19th Century American Folk Art Cupboards
Wood
Recent Sales
20th Century Folk Art Sculptures
Wood, Glass
Antique 1880s American Folk Art Decorative Boxes
Early 20th Century European Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
Antique 1880s German Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
Vintage 1930s American Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Pine
Early 20th Century German Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Antique 1880s British Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Pine
Vintage 1960s Unknown Table Lamps
Metal
Early 20th Century German Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
20th Century American Folk Art Table Lamps
Wood
Antique 19th Century Folk Art Sculptures
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.