Folk Art Boxes
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
19th Century Mexican Lacquered Box
Located in Mexico City, MX
This chest from the 19th century is a majestic example of the technique known as ‘maque’, or lacquer, developed in Mexico over the centuries. It is lacquered in an orange background and profusely decorated on all sides. On its front a the ornament of two symmetrical Mexican flags...
Category
1850s North American Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Handcrafted Antique Tinned Copper Metal Betel Box, India
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Beautiful handcrafted antique tinned copper decorative octagonal betel box with with lid, handle and brass latch.
The metal is delicately and int...
Category
Early 20th Century Indian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Tin, Copper, Brass
Small mid 19th century Swedish painted pine strong box
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Small mid 19th century swedish painted pine strong box circa 1842.
Beautiful small scandinavian strong box, presented with scraped back paint to reveal original. Feintly still bari...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine, Paint
Petite Indian Swivel Box
Located in Chicago, IL
This petite keepsake box with a swivel lid is crafted in the tradition of Indian bidri-ware, with a dark metal body decorated with simple silver inlay. Composed of a zinc and copper ...
Category
20th Century Indian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Metal, Silver
Small Scandinavian 19th century original painted sarcophagus box
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Small 19th century original painted sarcophagus box circa 1870.
Beautiful decorative box with original paint. Sarcophagus shaped lidded box in original paint with traces of origin...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine, Paint
Tramp Art Box, Large Scale and Unusual Form. Circa 1900
Located in Stamford, CT
Large scale tramp art box of unusual form. At 2 feet wide quite impressive in scale and equally impressive in the ambition of the craftsman who created it. The geometry of the psuedo...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Indian Etched Brass Vanity Box, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This Indian three-tier box was crafted in the early 20th century and originally used as a vanity chest or jewelry box. Etched with an elegant all-over floral motif, the brass box is swathed in a rich red pigment with a metallic sheen and dotted with pops of blue, white, and green on the blossoms. Like an accordion sewing box...
Category
Early 20th Century Indian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Brass
Indian Brass Betel Nut Box, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This ornate Indian betel nut box dates back to the early 20th century. Known in India as a paan daan, this box was used in the ritual of chewing betel nut or paan, a practice that da...
Category
Early 20th Century Indian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Brass, Copper
French 19th Century Folk Art Leather Box
Located in Buisson, FR
Beautiful weathered Folk Art box made out of wood and covered with leather. Working lock and key.
France, circa 1850
Weathered, small losses.
Category
19th Century French Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Leather, Wood
Vintage Hand Painted Folk Art Decorative Wood Box, Trunk or Stool in Pink
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A decorative folk art hand-painted wood box with a hinged lid. A fabulous little box perfect for toy storage or small miscellaneous items. The top of the piece is hand-painted with t...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood, Paint
Small Swedish Folk Art Painted Box
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A Swedish allmoge folk art painted little box with a combination lock most probably from the region of Dalarna in central Sweden. Hand carved and origi...
Category
1920s Swedish Vintage Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
Round Primitive Ceramic Decorative Trinket Studio Pottery Dish with Lid in Brown
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A round studio pottery trinket dish in brown. This piece will be perfect for a nightstand, coffee table, or bar. It is round and glazed in a deep brown. The lid on the top features a...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Ceramic, Clay
A whimsical antique Black Forest hand carved wood figural tobacco humidor box.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A whimsical antique Black Forest hand carved wood figural tobacco humidor box. Modeled as a dog with removable head and glass inset eyes.
Category
20th Century German Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Glass, Wood
Early 20th Century Vintage Artists Paint Box and Pallet, Denmark
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Danish Vintage Artists Paint Box and Pallet, Early 20th Century
Well loved Danish artists traveling wooden box with everything needed to paint on location. This charming box, acqui...
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Brass
Pennsylvania Sponge Decorated Box On Later Stand
Located in Essex, MA
Square form with hinged lid with original brass bail handle. Faux bois decoration. The matt black painted wood base with square section legs and H form stretchers.
Category
1840s American Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
Mid 19th century Swedish folk art painted box
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 19th century Swedish folk art painted box circa 1865.
Good quality swedish pine metal bound box. Decorated with original ragwork paint and blue painted strap work. Hand painte...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Metal
19th Century American Nautical Inlaid Box
Located in Stamford, CT
19th Century American sailor made nautical themed inlaid ships wheel on the top, also called the helm. The front, sides and back are inlaid with geometric cir...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Ebony, Fruitwood, Mahogany
American Walnut and Fruit Wood Box With Geometric Inlay, Circa 1900
Located in Stamford, CT
Wonderful 19th century American box with intricate and beautiful geometric inlay. This was created by a true craftsman. Interior painted with removable sectioned tray.
15.75 inches ...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Fruitwood, Walnut
3 19th century Hand Made Treen Items, Pounce, Plumb Bob, Bodkin
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
3 19th century Hand Made Treen Items, Pounce, Plumb Bob, Bodkin
An interesting sewing item with a bodkin, needle case and thread winder in one, a Sycamo...
Category
19th Century Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Sycamore
Antique Tibetan Egg Shaped Box with Turquoise Blue Stone Inlay
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Antique Tibetan Nepal Egg Shaped Box with Gilt Interior and Turquoise Blue Stone Inlay.
Antique Chinese Tibetan brass filigree with turquoise beads egg ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Nepalese Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Multi-gemstone, Brass
Vintage Hand Carved Nut Woodenware Catchall, 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Found in Austria at an estate sale, this hand carved nut catchall is perfect for the collector. Nice Mid Century collectible to display in your home. Made by Talarico about 1960s.
Category
1960s American Vintage Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Butchers Balance Scales, Advertising Palethorpes’ Sausages
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Butchers Balance Scales, Advertising Palethorpes’ Sausages
Palethorpes’ Sausage Scales with Brass Bell Weights
The scale has a brass weight plate on one...
Category
1920s Vintage Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Iron
Mid 19th Century Swedish Folk Art small Travel box /chest with original paint
Located in Boden, SE
Mid 19th Century Swedish Folk Art Travel box from Skellefteå Västerbotten, Northern Sweden.
Beautiful untouched original paint.
Dated 1858
Decorated with handwrought iron around the ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Iron
Tramp Art Match Book Sewing Box Early 20th Century
Located in Stamford, CT
Wonderful and whimsical tramp art sewing box made with old matchbooks. The colorful geometric patterns make this a compelling and just plain fun piece of folk art. Cloth top for hold...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Silk, Paper
19Th Century Large Tramp Art Box
Located in Hastings, GB
A good sized tramp art box, three dimensional decoration to each side, the brass capped feet of inverted pyramid form, the inside of the lid covered in a rich burgundy velvet.
Brass...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Brass
Folk Art Hand Painted Trinket Box in the Style of Peter Hunt Circa 1940s
By Peter Hunt
Located in Peabody, MA
Primitive hand decorated trinket box in the style of the noted Provincetown folk artist Peter Hunt, ca. 1940s. Humorous interior label indicates it is "four of four of a kind" and ...
Category
1940s American Vintage Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood, Paint
Swedish Original Painted Box Dated 1866
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A 19th Century original painted decorative box from the region of Jämtland in Sweden, close to the mountain that separates the two Scandinavian countries Norway and Sweden. These ty...
Category
1860s Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
Russian Hand Painted Lacquerware Palekh Miniature Table Box
Located in Forney, TX
A rare and exceptional finely painted vintage Imperial Russian lacquerware box.
Exquisitely hand-crafted in the Palekhsky District (Палех) of wes...
Category
20th Century Russian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Lacquer
Large Swedish Antique Folk Art Hand Made Pine Flour Box
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique Swedish flour box made by hand in solid pine. The box is from northern Sweden and made around the mid 19th century, 1840 to 1850. The box is in untouched original condition w...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
Russian Lacquered Palekh Firebird Folk Art Keepsake Trinket Box USSR 5.5"
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage USSR Russian Firebird folklore / fairy tale keepake trinket box featuring hinged lid, footed base and red interior.
Palekh
Zhar-Ptitsa (Slavic Firebird)
Chernishova (last na...
Category
Mid-20th Century Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Hardwood, Lacquer
Decorated Victorian Pine Blanket Box with Stud-work Design
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Decorated Victorian Pine Blanket Box with Stud-work Design
This is a very attractive pine box, it has been decorated with a tulip design in brass stud work
The pine has darkened w...
Category
19th Century Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
1960s Vintage Asian Large Hand Carved Wooden Humidor Footed Box
Located in North Hollywood, CA
1950s Vintage Asian Large Hand Carved Wooden Humidor Box.
Hand-carved Kashmiri style Mid 20th century wood box richly decorated overall with s...
Category
Mid-20th Century Indian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
A Treen Sphere Enclosing Needle and Thread Spool
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
A Treen Sphere Enclosing Needle and Thread Spool
A wonderful piece when unscrewed to open it reveals inside a needle case at the centre and a double thread spool which slips over it...
Category
19th Century Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Olive
Scandinavian Tine, or Svepask, Painted Bentwood Oval-Shape Box
Located in Houston, TX
Scandinavian tine, or svepask, painted bentwood oval-shape box circa late 19th century, probably from the Sogn og Fjordane region. Box is created from thin layers of steam-bent wood ...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Iron
Folk Art Geometric Inlaid Wood Small Hinged Box
Located in West Chester, PA
Hand made geometric inlaid wooden hinged xox with red enameled interior.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Bespoke Wine Box Gift Box, Tidy, Hamper, Caddy
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Bespoke Wine Box Gift Box, Tidy, Hamper, Caddy
This attractive piece can be put to many uses, with Christmas and Thanks Giving just around the corner, it would make a great hamper ...
Category
Early 2000s Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Cedar
Early 19th Century Swedish Folk Art Travel Box / Chest with Originalpaint
Located in Boden, SE
Early 19th century Swedish Folk Art travel box from Skellefteå Västerbotten, Northern Sweden.
Beautiful untouched originalpaint.
Decorated with handwrought iron around the box and ov...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
Bespoke Wine Box Gift Box, Tidy, Hamper, Container This attractive piece can b
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Bespoke Wine Box Gift Box, Tidy, Hamper, Container
This attractive piece can be put to many uses, with Christmas and Thanks Giving just around the corner, it would make a great ham...
Category
Early 2000s Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Cedar
Anniversary Magnum Gift Box, Tidy, Hamper, Caddy
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Anniversary Magnum Gift Box, Tidy, Hamper, Caddy
This attractive piece can be put to many uses, with Christmas and Thanks Giving just around the corner, i...
Category
Early 2000s Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Cedar
Early 20th Century Folk Art "American Eagle" Silhouette Decorative Box
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Folk art decorative box with eagle motif in attractive red paint (ca. 1910-1920, USA). The hinged top opens to reveal a divided storage compartment, per...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood, Paint
Swedish Butter Box with Zig-Zag Design
Located in Houston, TX
Swedish butter box with zig-zag design carved imprint. Light colored faded wooden finish.
Note: Due to regional changes in humidity and climate during shipping, antique wood may shr...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
1960s Vintage Moroccan Inlaid Hexagonal Wood Box
Located in North Hollywood, CA
1960s Handcrafted Bone Inlaid Trinket Moroccan Wood Trinket Box.
Handmade artisanal mid century inlaid trinket decorative lidded Moroccan box.
This hexagonal shaped decorative box ha...
Category
Mid-20th Century Moroccan Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Bone, Fruitwood
19th Century Treen Money Box A fine 19th century treen money box
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
19th Century Treen Money Box
A fine 19th century treen money box, made in fruitwood with brass feet and handle, the money box is in good condition for its age, lovely colour and pat...
Category
1880s Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Fruitwood
19th Century Swedish Provincial Spice Box
Located in Mjöhult, SE
Charming 19th century Swedish provincial spice box in its original condition with two sliding doors and one drawer. The interior contains eight compartments intended for different dr...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
Antique Swedish Small Handmade Folk Art Box
Located in Kramfors, SE
Swedish folk art box made by hand in solid Swedish pine. The box is in original condition with the untouched original paint. Made in northern Sweden around the 1860s. It has most lik...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
Bespoke Wine Box Gift Box, Tidy, Hamper, Caddy
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Bespoke Wine Box Gift Box, Tidy, Hamper, Caddy
This attractive piece can be put to many uses, with Christmas and Thanks Giving just around the corner, it would make a great hamper ...
Category
1990s Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Cedar
Bespoke Wine Box Gift Box, Tidy, Hamper, Caddy
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Bespoke Wine Box Gift Box, Tidy, Hamper, Caddy
This attractive piece can be put to many uses, with Christmas and Thanks Giving just around the corner, it would make a great hamper o...
Category
Early 2000s Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Cedar
Bespoke Wine Box Gift Box, Tidy, Hamper, Caddy
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Bespoke Wine Box Gift Box, Tidy, Hamper, Caddy
This attractive piece can be put to many uses, with Christmas and Thanks Giving just around the corner, it would make a great hamper ...
Category
Early 2000s Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Cedar
Mid-18th Century Swedish Pine Chest Decorated with Labyrinth
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 18th century swedish pine chest decorated with labyrinth circa 1730.
Rare and beautiful Swedish pine chest. Traces of original paint to the outside with decorative metal str...
Category
Mid-18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Metal
Vintage Indian Handcarved Wooden Decorative Box
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Handcarved wooden trinket box with carved geometric shapes, small handmade ornamental indentations and cream white decor on the lid. Rustic organic ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Indian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Metal
Asian Laquered Box with Lid Hand Painted Unicorn, Mid 20th Century
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a good papier mâché, rectangular shaped black lacquered lidded box, hand enamelled and gilded, made in Asia, possibly Japan during the mid 20th Century.
This rectangular s...
Category
Mid-20th Century East Asian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Paper
Antique Rajasthani Footed Chest Box India 1900's
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Antique Rajasthani Shekhawati Merchant's Footed Chest Box India 1900's.
Early 20th Century Indian carved wood storage cash footed box used by merchants in ...
Category
Early 20th Century Indian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Metal
Small Antique Treen Glove Powderer and Companion Piece. C.1850
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Lovely shaped treen glove powderer
5 holes in the top
Beautiful colour of wood. Possibly pearwood
The companion piece is turned bone. About the same dat...
Category
1850s English Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Antique Silver Repousse Islamic Talisman Holder
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Antique Silver Repousse Islamic Talisman box Holder.
Large Berber tribal ethnic talisman pendant holder.
In triangular shape, silver repousse talisman miniature case which would have stored select verses of the Koran Revelation considered to hold special protective powers.
This would have originally been worn by someone to protect from the evil eye.
The front has intricate, dense design., the back is plain, the box have been sealed and soldered to protect the scriptures.
Large silver triangle pendant with hanging beads, embossed silver metal with geometrical relief and repousse.
This beautiful antique ethnic piece could be worn as a piece of jewelry, pendant or pin broch, necklace, pendant.
Silver Metal triangle shaped box with eleven hanging charms that will makes sounds to push away any bad spirit when moving.
Great Islamic Folk Art, metal work, bold, beautiful and musical.
The containers would have also held a miniature paper scroll containing a combination of prayers and Koranic verses.
Material: German nickel silver.
circa 1920s. Probably from North India, Kashmir, but similar to the North African Berber and Tuareg Jewelry...
Category
Early 20th Century Moroccan Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Silver
Mid-18th Century Hand Painted Traditional Swedish Pine Chest
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid-18th century hand painted traditional Swedish chest/box, circa 1750.
Stunning traditional Swedish box hand painted in the original paintwork. Decorated on all sides with swags...
Category
Mid-18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Metal
Rare Swedish Antique Blue Folk Art Box
Located in Kramfors, SE
Rare antique blue box in folk art from Sweden made during the mid 1800s. The box is an attractive size and can be used for anything from storing documents and stationary to perfume a...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
Wrought Iron Hand Painted Folk Art Train Mailbox
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Unique, Large and functional wrought Iron Mailbox. The piece is a functional mailbox with a pull handle in the front, several train cars, with the last being open to hold boxes and ...
Category
20th Century Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wrought Iron
Antique Folk Art Northern Swedish Handmade Flour Box
Located in Kramfors, SE
Folk Art flour box from northern Sweden. The box was made by hand during the mid-1800s from pine and was used to store flour. Boxes like this would be standi...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
Folk Art boxes for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique folk art boxes for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage boxes created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, folk art, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, softwood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art boxes made in a specific country, there are Europe, Scandinavia, and Sweden pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original boxes, popular names associated with this style include Berber Tribes of Morocco, Anthony Redmile London, Arthur Court, and Frank Finney. 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 boxes differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $95 and tops out at $4,600 while the average work can sell for $848.
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