Folk Art Painted Furniture
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
Folk Art Lacquer Speckled Mirror by Artist Ira Yeager
By Ira Yeager
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Charming folk art wood framed mirror featuring a whimsical lacquer speckled marigold yellow finish by artist Ira Yeager (1938-2022). The mirror has a thick wood frame constructed in ...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Glass, Wood
18th Century Original Red Painted Trestle Table from New England
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This very folky and all original red painted and wood pegged 18thc trestle table with a worn painted plank top.The base contains rose head nails and early peg base.The shoe feet. are...
Category
18th Century American Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Pine
Scandinavian Grandchild Clock with Painted Flowers Decorations
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Tall and narrow grandfather floor clock in the original yellow and flower decoration, possible Denmark or Scandinavian for sure, circa 1875.
Du...
Category
Late 19th Century Scandinavian Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Brass
Green painted Southern Yellow Pine 19th century carriage strong box forged iron
Located in Mobile, AL
Green folk painted Southern yellow pine carriage trunk or strong box. The size is just about perfect for liquor bottles, too. Dovetail construction with hand forged clasp and hinges. The original finish was likely brown and it looks like it got it's first coat...
Category
1840s American Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
Indian Folk Art Painted Cupboard
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Indian folk art painted cupboard
This is an unusual piece, the cupboard stands on a small plinth, it is painted in the detailed Indian Folk Art Style ...
Category
Early 1900s Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Paint
Exceptional 1750 Red and Blu Painted Blanket Chest, Central Europe
Located in Albignasego, IT
Small Antique painted blancket chest
Measures: H. 31cm - L. 72cm - P. 45cm
Rare small chest in painted fir wood.
The decorations are geometric, of an intense blue color, with ...
Category
Mid-18th Century Italian Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Fir
Moroccan Pedestal Table, Moorish Hand Painted Design Octagonal Shape Table 1960s
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage 1960s Moroccan pedestal table.
hand painted Moroccan side table on a dark maroon background color with floral and geometric designs in blue and ochre colors.
Moroccan octagon...
Category
Late 20th Century Moroccan Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
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 Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood, Paint
Late 19th Century Quebec Paint Decorated Plant Stand, circa 1890
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique Quebec paint decorated plant stand or bucket bench, circa 1890, pine slat construction with three shelves, fluted backsplash and apron, and deli...
Category
1890s Canadian Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Pine
19th Century American General Store Apothecary Grain Paint Hand Stenciling
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Beautiful 19th century general store large scale yellow pine apothecary in old surface. Found in the north eastern united states. Most likely of Pennsylvania origin. Red stain grain ...
Category
1880s American Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
Folk Art Painted Chicken Drinks Table by Ira Yeager
By Ira Yeager
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Rustic and charming folk art painted side table or drink table by artist Ira Yeager (American 1938-2022). The table features an oil on board painting depicting a white French chicken or rooster with a 19th century date 1840 and signed with his initials. Ira loved painting 18th-19th century French...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
Large Painted Open Bookcase, Folk Art
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Large Folk Art painted open bookcase.
This is a larger than usual open fronted bookcase it is 20” deep
The bookcase is painted in the tradit...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Paint
Swedish Gustavian Dowry Chest with Exceptional Interior Painting, Dated 1782
Located in New York, NY
An exceptional Swedish Gustavian dowry chest with original paint on the interior and exterior. The interior painting depicts a marriage scene and...
Category
18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Iron
Unusual Folk aRT "CARTOON" hand painted child's high chair /tray
Located in Buffalo, NY
Unusual Folk aRT "CARTOON" hand painted child's high chair /tray,, Charming little item.. Retains original paint ,,surface,,, Minor veneer missing ( back side). see photo,,Very usabl...
Category
1920s American Vintage Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
Pine Trunk or Blanket Chest in Original Decorative Paint
Located in Baltimore, MD
What a beautiful and interesting trunk, in original paint, from Germany. The front of the piece is sponged in shades of red and burgundy with three arched baroque-style panels, trimm...
Category
Mid-19th Century German Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Pine
Blu Floral Painted Wall Frieze, 1810 circa
Located in Albignasego, IT
Original Tyrolean wall painted frieze, hand decorated.
Measures: H. 63 cm, W. 27 cm, D. 2.5 cm
Tyrolean frieze in carved and hand painted wood. On an aquamarine background we find a garland of roses that frames the inscription Maria (Mother Mary in ancient Latin), then a pair of colorful birds that symbolize good luck on a bouquet of yellow flowers.
This particular accessory can have various uses; from a pure decorative element, to be hung or placed on a wall, it can also be customized with antique metal hooks...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Fir
Victorian Folk Art House Table or Wall Art
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa late 1800s, wood, and glass, American, possibly New York. Charming beyond belief, this polychrome Folk Art House was originally made to feature a ...
Category
1890s American Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
Swedish 19th Century Wooden Child's High Chair
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Swedish early 19th century wooden child's high chair.
Category
Early 19th Century Scandinavian Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
19th C Folk Art Barge Wear, Toleware Log Box
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
19th C folk art barge wear, Toleware log box
Delightfully decorated with flowers, this toleware box is rectangular with chamfered corners and decorated...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Tin
19th Century Folk Art Long Wooden 7 Peg Coat Rack
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
19th Century folk art long wooden 7 peg coat rack.
Plain and simple, a Folk Art hand sculptured rack with Blacksmith made iron pegs on a 61” long rail...
Category
19th Century Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Iron
Small Round Swedish Original Painted Folk Art Box Dated 1792
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A small Swedish 18th century Folk Art box with original paint.
The box is most likely used to keep jewelry and other precious items. Box is carved with inscription "ANNO 1792 DEN 27...
Category
Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
Victorian Folk Art House Table or Wall Art
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa late 1800s, wood, and glass, American, possibly New York. Charming beyond belief, this polychrome Folk Art House was originally made to feature a ...
Category
1890s American Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
Folk Art Cottage Comb Tray Shelf, Circa Late 1800s
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa late 1800s, wood, and glass, American, possibly New York. Charming beyond belief, this polychrome Folk Art House was originally made to feature a ...
Category
1890s American Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
Victorian Folk Art House Table or Wall Art
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa late 1800s, wood, and glass, American, possibly New York. Charming beyond belief, this polychrome Folk Art House was originally made to feature a ...
Category
1890s American Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
Important & Rare Pennsylvania 18thc Paint Decorated Cradle
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fantastic early 18thc Pennsylvania painted and decorated baby cradle with strong German Dutch influence . This early cradle has come out of a fifty year collection and was found in Southern Pennsylvania originally . The hex signs...
Category
18th Century American Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
18th Century Blanket Chest Blue and Red Painted
Located in Albignasego, IT
Ancient Tyrolean painted chest.
Measures: H. 70, L. 174, P. 63
Antique painted chest.
On the front it has two mirrors with geometric decor...
Category
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Fir
Victorian Mahogany Sign Painted Chest of Drawers, Fisher Gentleman’s Outfitter
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Victorian mahogany sign painted chest of drawers, fisher gentleman’s outfitter shop display
This is a real Gem, the chest of drawers i...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Paint
European Folk Art Painted Low Table with Drawer
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
European Folk Art painted low table with drawer
This is a lovely piece, it has painted floral decoration, it stands on small legs and has a drawer...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Paint
Original Old Painted Storage Basket, Hand Decorated
Located in Albignasego, IT
Original old painted alpine storage basket, hand decorated
Measures: Height 48 cm – Base diameter 39 cm – Top diameter 50 cm
Hand painted antique Tyrolean wooden tub. Entirely painted in a beautiful teal blue, on the edge it is decorated with a motif of red triangles while on the central bands are painted scenes of a wedding.
This accessory can have various uses, and given its medium size it can adapt to many environments. It can be used as an original blanket or magazine holder for the living room, or as a large vase filled with dried flowers, or as a pure decorative element, enhancing a corner of the house. Another idea could be to apply a removable cover in antique wood, thus transforming it into an entrance or living room table, or into a colorful bedside table...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Fir
Charming Bow Front Carved Painted Cupboard
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Charming bow front carved painted cupboard
A unique hand painted piece, the cupboard has bow fronted shape with a 2 door cupboard
The door fronts and the sides of the cabinet ha...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Paint
19th Century Pennsylvania Dutch Polychrome Rocking Cradle
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Charming 19th century Pennsylvania Dutch rocking cradle or doll cradle featuring an original polychrome decorated frame. Finished in a dark green backgroun...
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Paint, Wood
Swedish 18th Century Original Blue Folk Art Painted Box
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Swedish 18th century original painted decorative Folk Art box, with original lock and key.
Category
Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Pine
19th Century Original Painted Wall Board Food Plate Folk Art Bavarian German
Located in Epfach, DE
19th Century original painted wall board food plate folk art Bavarian German
The typical bavarian plate is labeled with M.L.B. 1882.
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
19th Century Swedish Travelling Writing Desk Originalpaint
Located in Boden, SE
19th century writing desk from Lulea Norrbotten, North of Sweden.
Untouched original painting with beautiful floralpainting & initials. Dated 1817.
This is a weddingift.
No lock o...
Category
1810s Swedish Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Pine
American Painted Folk Art Canopy Bed, Ex. Collection of Estee Lauder
Located in Las Vegas, NV
This is an extraordinary Folk Art painted post bed from the American southwest, circa 1830-1840.
A rare size unique Folk Art form identified as from early Germanic settlements of Texas, 19th century.
Freehand decorated headboard and canopy suspended on 4 exceptionally tall pencil posts.
This piece came to Las Vegas in early 1999 by way of an article in architectural digest
featuring Dayton Ohio antique...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
19th Century Large Store Tea Tin Hand Painted Parnall & Sons Bristol, England
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous and large store tea tin by Parnall & Sons who were the people to see for outfitting your store and much more as the company grew from 1830. Hand painted showing a girl servi...
Category
Mid-19th Century British Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Metal
American Cast Iron Painted Coffee Grinder, Star Mill, Philadelphia, Circa 1885
By Star Mill
Located in Hollywood, SC
American cast iron coffee grinder with the original blue and red paint. Grinder has the original brass hopper, wood handle, and catch pail as well. Model # 10, Star Mill, Philadelphi...
Category
1880s American Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Brass, Iron, Tin
Hand Painted Feline Motif Upholstered Leopard Print Wood Chair in Green & Orange
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A whimsical hand painted wooden chair with upholstered leopard print cushion. The back of this piece is wood, with a stylized carved design in or...
Category
20th Century Portuguese Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Wood, Paint
Rare and Vibrant Painted Blanket Chest
Located in West Chester, PA
A rare and bright blanket chest in brilliant reds contrasted with blacks. The decoration is nicely painted with urns and flowers flanked by pillars and hearts on the corners. There i...
Category
1780s American Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Pine
Mid-18th Century Carved Wardrobe
Located in Albignasego, IT
Antique Tyrolean (Northern Italy) carved wardrobe, mid-18th century
Measures: H. 187cm, L. 156cm, P. 60cm
Wardrobe with two doors and two drawers, notched, in fir wood. The front is slightly convex, a typical process in the area of?? Origin of this wardrobe. The whole surface is embellished with carvings with baroque cartouche...
Category
Mid-18th Century Italian Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Fir
19th C Lancaster County Original Painted Small Bin
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This amazing all original paint decorated or grain painted over mustard painted base is dovetailed construction & square nails as well. The lid comes off and has a brass shaker...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Pine
19-Drawer Hand Stenciled Apothecary
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Functional general store herb and spice apothecary drawers found in New Hampshire. All dovetailed and hand stenciled drawers with handwritten notes on the inside for measurements and pricing. Each drawer has a hand stenciled painted banner...
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
Folk Art Adam and Eve from Midwest Lodge
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Fantastic hand-painted and carved lodge piece from the Midwest. Painting depicts Eve picking the apple from the snakes mouth. The Stand has a hand-carved snake that wraps around the ...
Category
1930s American Vintage Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
Late 19th Century Swedish Stump Chair in Solid Pine
Located in Kramfors, SE
Swedish stump chair manufactured from a hollowed tree trunk. The chair is primitive and has never been painted. The two bands going around the seat...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Pine
1960s Moroccan Moorish Pedestal Octagonal Table
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Moroccan vintage pedestal table, hand-painted on a dark maroon background color with floral and geometric designs in blue and yellow colors.
Moo...
Category
Late 20th Century Moroccan Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
Pair of Faux Marble Columns, circa 1880
Located in London, GB
Pair of faux marble columns, circa 1880.
This lot is an exceptionally rare original pair of faux marble effect columns dated 1880. These...
Category
1880s Italian Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
Hand-Hammered Raj Black Metal Jug
By Rajhastani
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Raj large hand-hammered and hand-painted metal vessel, originally used to collect waters of the three sacred rivers, the Ganges and Yamuna Sarasvati.
This large jug is much more than...
Category
Mid-20th Century Indian Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Metal
American Odd Fellows Lodge Black Wood Counter Folk Art Grain Painted Hourglass
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Great 19th century American folk art counter with original grain painted surface. Fantastic Hourflassl painted design. Open back. Very solid and sturdy counter. Please note the red c...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
18th Century Folk Art Shelf With Heart And Pineapple Carvings
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Beautiful folk art "Love" Shelf. An old tradition where the man had to make a gift for the fiancee, mostly the items were made in wood with birds or hearts and painted nicely.
Category
Late 18th Century Danish Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
American Odd Fellows Lodge Wood Red Counter Folk Art Grain Painted Gavel
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Great 19th century American Folk Art counter with original grain painted surface. Fantastic Gavel painted design. Open back. Very solid and sturdy counter.
Gavel counter dimensio...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
Late 19th Century Wood and Leather Seat Railroad Station Bench
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Great looking late 19th century railroad station bench found in the mid-west. Original grey paint on wood surface and very nicely aged leather s...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Leather, Wood
Multicolored Blanket Chest with a Geometric
Located in Nantucket, MA
Diminutive size blanket chest with
multicolored geometric painted design
with applied molding standing on bracket base
short turned legs, Western New York,
circa 1820. Measures: ...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Pine
Carved USWV Lodge Pedestal Podiums Folk Art American Flag and Clasped Hands
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Fantastic pair of ceremonial lodge pedestals from United Spanish War Veterans lodge in Toledo, Ohio. One with a very well carved and three dimensional Amer...
Category
1930s Vintage Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
Antique German Black Forest Painted Tole Wooden Pantry Box
Located in Niederdorfelden, Hessen
German painted wooden bride's box or container with tole painting made circa 1900.
Category
Early 1900s German Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
Painted 19th century Folk Art Child's Chair
Located in Troy, NY
Adorable, unusual small chair, with one armrest, containing a small compartment. The original paint beautifully worn and faded (minor retouching and over paint on the bottom stretche...
Category
19th Century Scandinavian Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Pine
Folk Art Wedding Chest, Anno 1903
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Wedding Chest in pastel shades, Eastern Europe, anno 1903, with roses and targets on a red background. A fine example of this particular type of box found in present-day eastern Roma...
Category
Early 20th Century Hungarian Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Iron
Folk Art Wedding Chest, Anno 1905
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Wedding Chest in pastel shades, Eastern Europe, anno 1905, with roses and targets on a red background. A fine example of this particular type of box found in present-day eastern Roma...
Category
Early 1900s Romanian Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Iron
Antique German Hand Painted Cabinet, Anno 1812
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A beautiful cabinet from the rural south of germany, dating from 1812. The cabinet was probably given as a wedding present. This cabinet is made of solid pine and is hand painted in ...
Category
1810s German Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Pine
Folk Art painted furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique folk art painted furniture for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 19th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage painted furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets, folk art and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art painted furniture made in a specific country, there are North America, and United States 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 painted furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $295 and tops out at $29,405 while the average work can sell for $1,923.
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