Folk Art Sofas
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
Early 20th Century Carved Lion Bench Oak and Pine Sweden
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Stunning bench from the beginning of the 20th century in carved wood whose sides represent a lion. Made in Sweden, handmade in solid oak and pine with an incredible patina. Very nice...
Category
Early 20th Century Swedish Folk Art Sofas
Materials
Oak, Pine
Mid 19th Century Swedish Antique Rustic Small Folk Art Sofa
Located in Boden, SE
A charming antique sofa from the mid-1800s. The sofa is from Boden Norrbotten, Northern Sweden It's petite and compact, perfect for smaller spaces.
The sofa has a foldable lid tha...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Sofas
Materials
Pine
Bench Swedish Red Wood, 19th Century, Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Bench Swedish red wood, 19th century, Sweden. A bench made during the early 19th century in Sweden. Original paint in a dark red shade.
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Folk Art Sofas
Materials
Wood
Bench Swedish 18th Rustic Century Original Paint, Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Bench Sweden 18th rustic century original paint, Sweden. A bench made during the 18th century in Sweden. Original dark red paint.
Category
Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Sofas
Materials
Wood
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Early 20th Century French Bench Trunk
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Early 20th century French bench trunk.
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Mid 18th Century Swedish Pine Bench
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Early Swedish pine bench from northern Sweden. The bench is a very early version of a seat or sofa and this one also has a reversible backrest. It’s an unusual piece due to its age a...
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H 37.8 in W 72.84 in D 25.6 in
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Mid 19th Century Charming Swedish Painted Folk Art Sofa or Bench
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Early 20th Century Carved Lion Bench Oak and Pine Sweden
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Bench Swedish 19th Century Pine Raw Finish Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Bench Swedish 19th Century pine raw finish Sweden. A pull out bench made during the 19th Century in Sweden. Finish is a raw wood.
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18th Century Southern Swedish Primitive Bench
Located in Kramfors, SE
Primitive Folk Art bench - a so called Fållbänk. The bench was manufactured in southern Sweden around the second half of the 18th century. The bench is in untouched original conditio...
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18th Century Folk Art Rustic Bench from Dalarna Sweden
Located in Kramfors, SE
Rustic folk art bench or 'Fållbänk' as it's called in Swedish. From the county of Dalarna in the middle of Sweden. The seat of the bench can be lifted which makes the area underneath...
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19th Century Northern Swedish Sofa by Johan Lust
By Jonas Lust
Located in Kramfors, SE
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Folk Art sofas for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Folk Art sofas 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 sofas created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, pine and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art sofas made in a specific country, there are Europe, Scandinavia, and Sweden 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 sofas differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $2,750 and tops out at $4,800 while the average work can sell for $3,800.
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