Folk Art Lacquer
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
Vintage Burmese Betel Box “Kun-It”
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Vintage Burmese Betel Box “Kun-It”, a cylindrical woven container with a deep lid and shallow interior tray, all covered in layers of red black and...
Category
Mid-20th Century Burmese Folk Art Lacquer
Materials
Bamboo, Lacquer
Vintage Burmese Betel Box “Kun-It”
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Vintage Burmese Betel Box “Kun-It”, a cylindrical woven container with a deep lid and shallow interior tray, all covered in layers of red black and...
Category
Mid-20th Century Burmese Folk Art Lacquer
Materials
Bamboo, Lacquer
Burmese Yun Lacquer Container, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
In many southeast Asian cultures, offering guests a betel quid to chew was the fundamental symbol of hospitality. A blend of leaves, nuts, seasonings, and sometimes tobacco, betel was kept in finely worked and decorated boxes. This round container was originally the lid to a Burmese betel box...
Category
Early 20th Century Burmese Folk Art Lacquer
Materials
Bamboo
Rare Set of Two Qing Dynasty Chinese Architectural Temple Brackets
Located in Forney, TX
An original matched pair of exceptionally carved Chinese temple architectural ornaments, the ornate decorative brackets salvaged from an early Qing Dynasty temple, the richy detailed...
Category
Early 19th Century Asian Antique Folk Art Lacquer
Materials
Wood, Lacquer, Paint
Pair of Qing Dynasty Chinese Religious Temple Architectural Ornament
Located in Forney, TX
A scarce pair of Qing Dynasty temple architectural ornaments, the decorative antique building element fragments each elaborately hand carved, polychrome painted and lacquered, richly detailed featuring two figural pairs accented...
Category
Early 19th Century Asian Antique Folk Art Lacquer
Materials
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood, Lacquer, Paint
Asian Black and Red Round Box Lacquer Offering Vessel Urn
Located in North Hollywood, CA
South Asian Burmese black and red lacquer box, offering vessel urn with compartment for storage.
This round lacquer ware box from Burma is made from bamboo and lacquer.
In Burma (now...
Category
Late 20th Century Burmese Folk Art Lacquer
Materials
Bamboo
1940s Burmese Lacquered Red Tray Large Size Bamboo Thai Stand
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Early 20th century large Burmese lacquered bamboo tray handcrafted red Thai lacquered rattan footed stand.
This Thai features a drum shape circular tray top sitting above a body rhythmically accented with spindle motifs, the ensemble resting on a confirming plinth.
Burmese (Myanmar) lacquer ware has a long tradition dating back to the 13th century.
Lacquer in Burma is called “Thitsi” meaning the sap of a Thitsi Tree (Melanhorrea Usitata).
Typically, bamboo and wood are used as a frame or base in making lacquer work.
This table tray stand called a “Dang lan”.
This stand is constructed with woven bamboo that is then applied with many layers of lacquer.
Black lacquered frame covered with red lacquer.
A large high quality handcrafted wooden elevated tray...
Category
Mid-20th Century Thai Folk Art Lacquer
Materials
Rattan, Wood, Paper, Bamboo
Large Burmese Gilt and Lacquered Wood Temple Offering Vessel
Located in North Hollywood, CA
A very large Asian Burmese gilt and lacquered wood bamboo offering vessel, container adorned with mirror and jewels colored gems with a conical removable top.
Burmese temple offering covered box, with a red lacquer interior, richly decorated with gold leaf and glass "gems" on the exterior and red in the interior and bottom.
Very fine handcrafted and hand painted piece of folk religious Asian Thai Art...
Category
Early 20th Century South Asian Folk Art Lacquer
Materials
Bamboo
Burmese Red Carved Wood Temple Offering Box
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Burmese red lacquered temple offering box called "Hsunok".
Burmese offering basket made of carved bamboo wood painted and lacquered in hues of red and oranges.
The lid adopts a Burmese temple shape, with a sharp top surmounting a gadroon dome.
This kind of basket is used to display offerings to Buddhist temples, in Asia.
During most of the 19th century Burma was ruled by members of the Konbaung dynasty, the last dynasty that would rule the country.
This Asian Burmese red offering...
Category
Early 20th Century South Asian Folk Art Lacquer
Materials
Bamboo
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Japan Red Lacquered Box 19th century
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Early 20th Century, Large Burmese Betel Box, “Kun It”
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Highly Decorative Antique Burmese Lacquered Betel Box / Kun-It, Circa 1900
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
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Previously Available Items
Burmese Yun Lacquer Betel Box, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
In many southeast Asian cultures, offering guests a betel quid to chew was the fundamental symbol of hospitality. A blend of leaves, nuts, seasonings, and sometimes tobacco, betel was kept in finely worked and decorated boxes. This round Burmese betel box...
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Vintage Red Lacquer Rattan Box, Mid-20th Century, Burma
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Vintage Red Lacquer Rattan Box 6-1/4" dia x 4-1/4" tall, Mid-20th Century, Burma
Many layers of lacquer applied to a finely woven rattan base resulted in this sturdy, simple cylindr...
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Mid-20th Century Burmese Folk Art Lacquer
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Rattan, Lacquer
19th Century Hand Painted Kashmiri Polychrome-Lacquered Table
Located in London, GB
A Kashmiri polychrome-lacquered table
We are proud to offer a rare Kashmiri polychrome – lacquered table of trefoil shape with a mid-section tray, decorated overall with long-tail...
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1870s Pakistani Antique Folk Art Lacquer
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Wood, Paper
Vintage Carved Teak Wood Betel Tray from Northeast Thailand, Mid-20th Century
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Vintage carved teak wood betel tray from Northeast Thailand, mid-20th century.
This old teak betel tray is a charming example of rural northeast Thai folk art. It was used to hold t...
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Mid-20th Century Thai Folk Art Lacquer
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Teak, Paint
H 9.5 in W 8.75 in D 8.75 in
Fine Russian Kholui Lacquered Lidded Box Hand Painted & Signed, Mid 20th Century
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a finely hand painted lidded lacquered box made in Russia, fully signed and dating to Circa 1950, which we attribute to the Russian Kholui region workshop.
The hexagonal ...
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Mid-20th Century Russian Folk Art Lacquer
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Free Shipping
H 1.5 in W 3.25 in D 2.88 in
Vintage Painted Lacquer Tray on Stand, Shan of Burma, Early to Mid-20th Century
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Vintage painted lacquer teak wood tray on stand, Daung-lan. Shan of Burma. Early to Mid-20th century.
This red and black decorated tray comes from the Shan State of Eastern Burma, a...
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1930s Burmese Vintage Folk Art Lacquer
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Teak, Lacquer
H 7.25 in Dm 16.25 in
Noh Lacquered Lion Mask
Located in Pasadena, CA
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Burmese Yun Lacquered Betel Box
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Burmese red lacquer betel-box finely decorated and hand painted with scene of Asian architectural building and figures.
Cylindrical red lacquer betel-box, 'kun it,' with internal tr...
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Early 20th Century Burmese Folk Art Lacquer
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Bamboo, Lacquer
Handcrafted Lacquered Red Thai Stand Wooden Tray
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Handcrafted contemporary red Thai lacquered rattan footed tray. Inspired by an antique tribal tray.
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A small very high quality handcrafted wooden elevated tray...
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Late 20th Century Thai Folk Art Lacquer
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Rattan
Fine Russian Palekh Lacquered Lidded Box Hand Painted Signed and Dated 1965
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a very finely hand painted lidded lacquered box made in Russia, fully signed and dated 1965 which we attribute to the Palekh region workshop.
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Mid-20th Century Russian Folk Art Lacquer
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Paper
Free Shipping
H 1.07 in Dm 4 in
Thai Red Carved Wood Temple Offering Box Basket
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Thai red lacquered temple offering box called "Hsunok".
Thai offering basket made of carved bamboo wood painted and lacquered in hues of red and oranges.
This kind of basket is used to display offerings to Buddhist temples, in Asia.
This Asian Burmese red offering...
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Late 20th Century South Asian Folk Art Lacquer
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Bamboo
Vintage Bamboo Betel Box. Original Color, Cambodia, Early to Mid-20th Century
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Vintage bamboo betel box/tray. Original color. Cambodia. Early to Mid-20th century.
This old bamboo box was used to hold the condiments and paraphernalia for betel nut chewing. It would be brought out whenever guests came to visit, or when the family gathered around. Betel chewing was a fundamental social activity thorughout Southeast Asia, practiced by rich and poor. The objects surrounding betel chewing reflected the social status of their owners, and were a source of pride. This example is from Cambodia and reflects the same colorations and patterning that can be found in many Cambodia textiles. It is a relatively rustic piece, constructed of bamboo, lacquered and painted and possessing the down to earth charm...
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1930s Cambodian Vintage Folk Art Lacquer
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Bamboo, Lacquer, Paint
Folk Art lacquer for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Folk Art lacquer 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 lacquer created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include asian art and furniture, decorative objects, building and garden elements and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with bamboo, lacquer and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art lacquer made in a specific country, there are Asia, Southeast Asia, and Myanmar 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 lacquer differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $180 and tops out at $4,850 while the average work can sell for $840.
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