Folk Art Models and Miniatures
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
Rare Pug Bulldog Dog Celluloid Figurine vintage, Austria 1920s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A rare pug or bulldog Figurine bought in Austria. It is made of Celluloid and very delicate, this would be a great addition for your Toy or Bulldog collection. It is in nice conditio...
Category
1920s German Vintage Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Wire
Antique hand made wooden scale model of an 18th century farm cart circa 1920
Located in Central England, GB
This very fine meticulously constructed wooden scale model copies the design of a late 18th or early 19th century full sized working example.
It dates to circa 1920.
This cart is we...
Category
Early 20th Century English Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Wood
RARE , LARGE Complete set of 8 Christmas Putz Houses, loofah trees, balconies
By Leo Putz
Located in Buffalo, NY
Rare , large, complete set of 8 Christmas PUTZ Houses,, Loofah Trees, balconies, etc.. In original box.Amazing original condition. Stamped on bottom MADE ...
Category
1920s Japanese Vintage Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Laminate, Paper
Vintage Cast Aluminum Santa or Father Christmas
Located in Redding, CT
Vintage Solid Aluminum Santa or Father Christmas. This cast aluminum St.Nicholas would be a wonderful addition to any Christmas collection.
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Aluminum
Jim Rose Legacy Collection - Chest of Drawers, Solid Cast Iron Miniature
By Jim Rose
Located in Chicago, IL
This exquisite miniature chest of drawers is inspired by Shaker furniture. Made from solid cast iron with a natural rust patina and vintage nail heads for the drawer pulls, The artis...
Category
Early 2000s American Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Steel
Collection of Treen Kitchenalia, Butter Marker This is a great little Collectio
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Collection of Treen Kitchenalia, Butter Marker
This is a great little Collection of Treen Kitchenalia, a Butter Marker, this has a naive cow carving, a lemon squeezer and a turned sycamore egg cup
A good set for the collector, a bit of historical wood worm on the butter Stamp...
Category
19th Century Antique Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Sycamore
Traditional Wooden Artist Mannequin Model Doll Vintage Italy, 1920s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A handmade wooden Artist mannequin model - all joints move as they should. Found on a Estate sale in Verona, Italy.
Shows some wear - but looks beautiful on display! Some scratches a...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Metal
Traditional Wooden Artist Mannequin Model Doll Vintage Italy, 1920s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A handmade wooden Artist mannequin model - all joints move as they should. Found on a Estate sale in Verona, Italy.
Shows some wear - but looks beautiful on display! Some scratches a...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Metal
Large Antique German Chocolate Mold with Bunnies and Chickens
Located in Redding, CT
Large Antique German Chocolate Mold with Bunnies and Chickens. Nice hinged double door German chocolate mold. The molds themselves have ...
Category
Early 20th Century German Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Tin
Artificial Smoked Parma Ham Country Kitchen Folk Art Decoration Vintage 1950s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A vintage Belgium Decorative Item nice to display in your country style home or kitchen. Found at an Estate Sale in Brussels, Belgium.
Category
1950s Belgian Vintage Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Plastic, Rubber
Artificial Smoked Ham Country Kitchen Folk Art Decoration Vintage Belgium 1950s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A vintage Belgium Decorative Item nice to display in your country style home or kitchen. Found at an Estate Sale in Brussels, Belgium.
Category
1950s Belgian Vintage Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Plastic, Rubber
Artificial Pepperoni Sausage Country Kitchen Folk Art Decoration Vintage 1950s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A vintage Belgium Decorative Item nice to display in your country style home or kitchen. Found at an Estate Sale in Brussels, Belgium.
Category
1950s Belgian Vintage Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Plastic, Rubber
Artificial Smoked Ham Country Kitchen Folk Art Decoration Vintage Belgium 1950s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A vintage Belgium Decorative Item nice to display in your country style home or kitchen. Found at an Estate Sale in Brussels, Belgium.
Category
1950s Belgian Vintage Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Plastic, Rubber
Late 19th Century Pennsylvania Miniature Walnut & Pine Paneled Chest of Drawers
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine Late 19th century miniature two-drawer chest of drawers.
With paneled sides and turned feet and knobs.
Cosisting of Walnut with a pine secondary and nail construction.
Fo...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Walnut, Pine
Wood Carved American Folk Art Muscle Car
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Hand carved Folk Art American Muscle car. Wood carved with original paint surface.
Category
1950s Vintage Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Wood
Rare pocket watch stand, miniature armchair, antler boar thooth, 1900, Tramp Art
Located in Wien, AT
Very nice and rare example of a pocket watch stand, in form of a miniature armchair, made around 1900-1910 in Austria or South Germany / Black Fores...
Category
Early 1900s Austrian Antique Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Antler
Antique Miniature Folk Art Yellow Painted Dresser Chest of Drawers 11"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique miniature chest of four drawers, painted in yellow with brown details and red and orange folk art style flowers.
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Hardwood, Paint
Bronze Yacht Anchor, Desk Ornament This is a lovely piece a working miniature
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Bronze Yacht Anchor, Desk Ornament
This is a lovely piece a working miniature
The Yacht Anchor is fully articulated and lends itself yo making a useful. Paper weight for the Yach...
Category
Early 1900s Antique Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Bronze
Hand Carved Mexican Folk Art Archangel, circa 1940-1970 (FREE SHIPPING)
Located in San Francisco, CA
About
Hand carved, painted Mexican wooden folk art archangel on custom stand.
Creator Unknown. Mexico.
Date of manufacture circa 1940-1970.
Materials and techniques paint, w...
Category
Early 20th Century Mexican Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Wood, Paint
19th Century Diorama of Sailing Ship ‘Eleanor’
Located in Dublin 8, IE
19th Century diorama of the sailing ship ‘Eleanor’ in original glazed case.
Painted antique shadowbox diorama of a three-masthead clipper ship alo...
Category
19th Century Antique Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Glass, Wood
Pair of Mid-Century Folk Art Leather and Paper Mache Big Cat Figures
Located in Charleston, SC
For your consideration we have 2 mid-20th century era “big cat” leather wrapped animals. One being a panther who seems to be slowly approaching ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Leather, Paint, Parchment Paper
20th Century Diorama Folk Art Three Mast Model Ship in a Bottle English, C 1930
Located in Central England, GB
A fine Diorama Folk Art Model ship in a bottle
This skilfully made diorama of a three-mast early 19th century sailing ship at harbour with a raised landscape behind and cottages set...
Category
20th Century English Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Glass
3 Masted Sailing Ship in a Bottle
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
3 masted sailing ship in a bottle
Detailed model ship diorama within a spirit bottle dates to circa 1920.
It portrays a three masted fully r...
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Art Glass
Early 20th century barbers point of sale hair comb and brush
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century barbers point of sale hair comb and brush
We share what we love, and we love this rare example of an oversized point of sale barbers hair...
Category
1930s British Vintage Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Plastic, Wood
Early 20th Century Scratch Built Church Model
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century scratch built Church model
We share what we love, and we love this scratch-built pine model of a church. Hand carved detail with gla...
Category
Early 1900s British Antique Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Pine
French Hand-Painted Lady Sculpture Door Stop in Solid Cast Iron
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Late 19th century door stop, France, circa 1880.
This lady sculpture is made in heavy solid cast iron and is in it original hand-painted colors.
Category
19th Century English Antique Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Iron
Late 19th Century Hand Carved And Painted Wooden Carousel Horse Head
Located in Aramits, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Hand-carved and painted massive wooden horse head, late 19th century, probably from a small carousel or children's toy. Very nice patina through peeling paint and wear.
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Wood
"Blower Bentley" Sculpture by Paul Jacobsen
Located in Wiscasset, ME
Constructed of wood, paint and some metal mixed media.
Paul Jacobsen used everyday objects, such as chairs, cars, airplanes, trains, motorcycles and puzzles, all built from scrat...
Category
2010s North American Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Wood, Paint
Vintage Instructional Mushroom Model
Located in Houston, TX
Vintage instructional mushroom model from an art school in France. Entire set pictured together in last three images.
Category
1940s French Vintage Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Concrete
Large Vintage Model LCM USN Landing Craft
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Large vintage model LCM USN landing craft.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Aluminum
Early 20th Century English Folk-Art Farmer and His Wife Model
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century folk-art farmer and his wife model
We are proud to offer an unusual hand carved folk-art model of a farmer and his wife sat on a cart pulled by two oxen. This ite...
Category
1940s European Vintage Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Pine
Monumental and Unusual Folk Art Stage Coach Figure and Horses, 1927
Located in Buffalo, NY
Monumental and unusual Folk Art stage coach figure and horses, 1927. All hand executed, amazing detail, working lamps, velvet interior on coach.
Category
1920s American Vintage Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Leather, Velvet, Plaster
Midcentury Era Folk Art Made Collection of Miniature Antique Farm Implements
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This framed collection of over two dozen handcrafted miniature antique farm implements are all unsigned, but presumed to have been made in Canad...
Category
Mid-20th Century Canadian Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Leather, Softwood
Hand Carved Vintage Hat Mold Made of Ashwood from Müller, Zürich, Switzerland
Located in Stockholm, SE
Hand carved vintage hat mold, from the hat-making company Carl Müller in Zürich. Pretty as a picture and decorative as a sculpture. Could be placed a...
Category
1940s Swiss Vintage Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Ash
English Folk Art Church Model
Located in London, GB
Folk Art Church Model
We are proud to offer a wonderful example of a mid-20th Century folk-art church model. Built from scratch using various material...
Category
1940s British Vintage Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Wood
"Woodie Wagon Brooklyn Taxi" Sculpture by Paul Jacobsen
Located in Wiscasset, ME
Custom sculpture constructed of painted wood.
Paul Jacobsen used everyday objects, such as chairs, cars, airplanes, trains, motorcycles and puzzles, all built from scratch and turns...
Category
2010s American Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Wood
Amazing English Architects Model, circa 1920
Located in London, GB
Architects Model circa 1920
We are proud to offer a unique circa 1920s architects model of a timber-clad colonial style house in original paint. An a...
Category
1920s British Vintage Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Wood
Emile Deyrolle 19th Century Plaster, Wire and Wood Didactic Germination Models
Located in Buffalo, NY
LES FILS D'EMILE DEYROLLE, PARIS. Extremely rare set of four 19th century French painted plaster, wire and wood Didactic models depicting progression, ANATOMIE VEGETALE, beautifully ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Wire
Impressively Large Antique Diorama or Shadow Box of Sailing Vessel
Located in Hopewell, NJ
A very large impressive diorama or shadow box work of art with detailed sailing vessel.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Glass, Wood
Emile Deyrolle 19th Century Plaster, Wire and Wood Didactic Germination Models
Located in Buffalo, NY
Les Fils D'Emile Deyrolle, Paris. Extremely rare set of five 19th century French painted plaster, wire and wood Didactic models depicting progression, Anatomie Vegetalf, beautifully ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Wire
Large Mahogany Antique Boat Model
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Inspired model of a boat or skiff expertly crafted in mahogany, probably by a boat builder, having a graceful form and has acquired a well earned patina only time can give.
Category
19th Century English Antique Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Staffordshire Pearlware Long Case Clock
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Staffordshire Pottery pearlware model which features a long case clock, stood on a marbleised base. Decorated 'in the round' - decoration to front and ...
Category
1820s English Antique Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Pottery
Carved Wood Folk Art Airplane, circa 1940s
Located in Santa Monica, CA
This carved wood Folk Art airplane has an amazing original paint surface and functional propeller and wheels.
Category
1940s American Vintage Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Sheet Metal
Folk Art Steamship of Large-Scale
Located in Buchanan, MI
Charming Folk Art steamship of impressive scale.
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Wood
19th Century Miniature Chest of Drawers in Original Paint
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century miniature chest of drawers in original paint.
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Wood
Petite Bone Carving of an Indian Soldier
Located in Chicago, IL
This early 20th century figurine is hand-carved of bone to depict an Indian soldier holding a musket rifle. Modeled after Sowar cavalrymen who served under the British East India Com...
Category
20th Century Indian Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Bone, Paint
Jim Rose Legacy Collection - One Door Shaker Inspired Steel Cupboard-Miniature
By Jim Rose
Located in Chicago, IL
This exquisite miniature chest of drawers is inspired by Shaker furniture. Made from welded steel with a natural rust patina and vintage nail heads for the pull, this tall cabinet is fully functioning with a hinged door and latch. Inside are three shelves. Despite it's small size, it makes quite an impression!
Jim Rose Legacy...
Category
Early 2000s American Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Steel
Large Vintage Boat Model
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive handmade boat or cruiser model, expertly crafted in mahogany with brass hardware and attention to detail, retaining her original motor and named Mayflower. Presented on a ...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Mahogany
Crusty Ramshackle Sanatorium/Institutional Model
Located in Seattle, WA
freaky, spooky yet whimsical carved and painted model of a late 19th century/turn of the century institutional building, possibly a sanitorium. Painted windows and carved chimneys w...
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Models and Miniatures
Materials
Wood
Folk Art models and miniatures for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique folk art models and miniatures 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 models and miniatures created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include more furniture and collectibles, folk art, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art models and miniatures made in a specific country, there are Europe, North America, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original models and miniatures, popular names associated with this style include Emile Deyrolle, Paul Jacobsen, and Staffordshire. 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.
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