Folk Art
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 Folk Art English Whirligig/Weathervane Figure
Located in London, GB
Early 20th Century Folk Art English Whirligig/Weathervane Figure
A quirky and charming example of an early 20th Century English folk art whirligig / Weathervane Figure. Stood on a r...
Category
1920s British Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Wood
18th Century Swedish Folk Art Door With Faux Marble Original Decorations
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
An 18th century Swedish original painted Folk Art small door. The front side is all in original condition with working lock and original key (Request video). With faux marble paintin...
Category
Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art
Materials
Pine
Early 20th Century Folk Art French Weather-Vane Plane
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century Folk Art French weather-vane plane.
For sale in this lot is an early 20th century handmade Folk Art French weather-vane plane. Th...
Category
1940s British Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Exceptional Painted Bookcase with Gold Leaf Carvings
Located in Albignasego, IT
Exceptional bookcase painted in blue and red with gold leaf carvings.
Two large side pillars, with richly carved scrolls, lacquered and gilded wi...
Category
1810s Italian Antique Folk Art
Materials
Fir
Late 19th Century Carved Wooden Angel
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Impressive wood carved angel with amazing detail. Certainly the work of a master carver. Found among the entire contents of a Catholic Church in the Midwest which was said to have cl...
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Gesso, Wood, Paint
St. Julien Weather Vane Attributed to J.W. Fiske 19th Century Full Bodied Metal
Located in Stamford, CT
St. Julien with Sulky Molded Copper Weather Vane, attributed to J.W. Fiske, New York, last quarter 19th century, full-bodied molded sheet copper horse and driver vane with cast iron horse's head and driver's hands, sheet copper reins and seat, copper rod wheels, mounted on a ebony base. This has the original threading as seen in the last photo below.
A very similar Attrib Fiske Weathervane...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Copper
Primitive carved sandstone
Located in Miami, FL
Archaïque polished probably ritual stone ring from Central America or Caraïbe island .
Face carved and polished sandstone or granite.
Category
15th Century and Earlier Unknown Antique Folk Art
Materials
Sandstone
Set of Three Circa Circa 1910 Shooting Targets
Located in Hudson, NY
Set a three circa nineteen ten american target practice items. A chicken, a goose and a pig, are the designs of these 3 whimsical and fantastic targets. Possibly part of a larger car...
Category
1910s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Iron
Folk Art Portrait Painting "Young Girl In a Red Dress", American, Circa 1825
Located in Incline Village, NV
Lovely full length portrait of a young girl in this folk art painting; oil on canvas mounted on board. She is posing wearing an attractive and colorful red dress while holding a flor...
Category
1820s American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Canvas
Whimsical Carousel Pig Carnival Ride Mexican Attrib Higareda Brothers
By Higareda Brothers
Located in Forney, TX
A rare and whimsical vintage Mexican carnival amusement ride carousel pig attributed to the Higareda workshop.
This ultra charming carousel pig carving was made in a smaller scale f...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Paint
Nepalese Sandalwood Buddha Tree, 20th Century
Located in Islamabad, PK
The sculpture, expertly carved from fragrant Nepalese sandalwood, stands as a testament to the rich tradition of wood carving in Nepal. The medium itself adds a sensory dimension to ...
Category
20th Century Nepalese Folk Art
Materials
Sandalwood
Mexican Burnished Clay Hand Oaxaca Sculpture Mixtec Ceramic with Red Face
Located in Queretaro, Queretaro
This Mexican red ceramic clay hand sculpture is a piece by artist Manuel Reyes. Made with clay from Oaxaca and Zacatecas, painted with oxides from the reg...
Category
2010s Mexican Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic, Clay
Jim Rose - Construct No. 05, Salvaged Steel and Aluminum Industrial Objects
By Jim Rose
Located in Chicago, IL
Jim Rose, known primarily for his steel furniture, was an avid collector and scoured salvage yards for unique, interesting items. Here he has welded together various metal pieces to...
Category
2010s American Folk Art
Materials
Metal, Steel
Vintage Wood Carousel Rabbit with Carrots, France, 1950s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Vintage wood carousel rabbit with carrots.
This French vintage wooden carousel animal - carousel decoration animal dates circa 1950 - 1960.
It's a hand-carved / hand-crafted carousel figure with a great looking aged patina in the meantime. This cute fairground rabbit with beautiful eyes had a succesfull hunt and is carrying two large carrots on his shoulders.
Large rabbit sculpture...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Found and Salvaged Steel Industrial Objects on Wooden Base
By Jim Rose
Located in Chicago, IL
Jim Rose, known primarily for his steel furniture, was an avid collector and scoured salvage yards for unique, interesting items. Here, a beautifully rusted tobacco box, a steel egg...
Category
2010s American Folk Art
Materials
Metal, Steel
Vintage American Folk Art Copper Chess Board
Located in Chicago, IL
This enchanting mid-20th century American Folk Art chess board is a true testament to naive and outsider craftsmanship and creativity. Hand-crafted with meticulous care, the board fe...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Copper
Robert 'Mouseman' Thompson Folk Art Carved Oak Oval Cutting or Cheese Board
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This solid oak oval cutting board was made by the renowned English furniture maker Robert 'Mouseman' Thompson in his signature Arts & Crafts style. The cutting board has a raised han...
Category
Mid-20th Century English Folk Art
Materials
Oak
Folk Art Oil on Canvas, circa 1830 Attributed to S.V.D. Schans, Unsigned
Located in Incline Village, NV
This American portrait descended through same family from 1830s until July 2012, when I acquired it from executor in Oregon. Early family had lived in New England. It is unusual to h...
Category
1820s American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Canvas
Antique Folk Art Stitched Geometric Patchwork Quilt Blanket Gingham Check
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique hand stitched bedspread / blanket / coverlet / quilt featuring checkered geometric blocks of multicolored gingham, divided by white and...
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art
Materials
Cotton
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
Materials
Leather, Wood
Jim Rose Barn House Structure, Welded Steel Sculpture Made with Salvaged Steel
By Jim Rose
Located in Chicago, IL
This is a welded steel sculpture made by furniture creator Jim Rose. It is sustainable design created from salvaged and recycled steel panels left over from his larger projects. These sculptures reference traditional American Folk Art barn...
Category
2010s American Folk Art
Materials
Steel
Zabihi Collection Red Dragon Vintage Tibetan Rug
Located in New York, NY
A colorful one-of-a-kind Tibetan rug from the 3rd quarter of the 20th century with a dragon motif on red ground
Measures: 3' x 5'7''.
Category
Late 20th Century Folk Art
Materials
Wool
Early 20th Century Carved and Painted Wood Whirligig
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Carved and painted wooden soldier whirligig. Early 20th century American. Soldier has a leather hat with wooden brim. Presented on simple custom museum...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Carnival Midway Sideshow Banner
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Original hand-painted canvas sideshow banner for carnival midway sideshow entrance. Not signed but most likely out of Chicago Tent and Awning's banner ...
Category
1950s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Canvas
Antique Blue Chinese Pictorial Throw Rug
Located in New York, NY
An early 20th century Chinese pictorial throw-size rug
Measures: 2'8' x 5'.
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Folk Art
Materials
Wool
A spherical white ceramic cachepot with cracked enamel France XXth century
By Roger Capron
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
A spherical white ceramic cachepot with cracked enamel, an anonymous work from the 20th century, distinguished by exquisite cutouts that elegantly allow light to filter through. Note...
Category
1970s French Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
Naive Folk Art Country House Landscape, Original Antique Oil Painting, 19th C.
Located in Bristol, GB
ANTIQUE ORIGINAL OIL ON CANVAS PAINTING DEPICTING A RURAL SCENE, POSSIBLY ROSS ON WYE
A charming depiction of a country house and grounds with a town behind including a tall spire...
Category
19th Century English Antique Folk Art
Materials
Canvas, Wood, Paint
Rare Antique Children Carousel Zebra, Germany 1920s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Rare Antique Children Carousel Zebra, Germany 1920s
Item e7300
A wooden carved children's carousel zebra with multicolored painting, made in Germany around 1910. Unrestored original ...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Antique Children Carousel Lama Sculpture, Germany late 19th Century
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Children Carousel Lama Sculpture, Germany late 19th Century
Item e7296
A wooden carved children's carousel lama statur decorated with polychrome painting, made in Germany aro...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Small Mid Century Ceramic Outsider Stoneware Bowl in Blue and Brown
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A petite hand-thrown drip ceramic bowl in blue and brown. This piece is small and perfect for use as a trinket dish for change or keys. The vessel is round in form, and features drip...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic, Paint
Rare Antique Children Carousel Pig, Germany ca. 1920s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Rare Antique Children Carousel Pig, Germany ca. 1920s
Item e7291
A wooden carved children's carousel pig with polychrome painting, made in Germany around 1920. Original unrestored co...
Category
Early 20th Century German Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Early 20th Century Folk Art Ship Diorama
Located in San Mateo, CA
Folk art diorama of a ship being towed by a tug boat. At the bottom of the diorama is a representation of the shore with buildings and a lighthouse. The glass is earlier wavy glass a...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Rope, Glass, Wood
Zabihi Collection Blue Vintage Turkish Reindeer Animal Square Throw Rug
Located in New York, NY
mid 20th century Turkish Rug with a reindeer on a blue field with flowers hovering around
Details
rug no. j3837
size 1' 9" x 1' 11" (53 x 58 cm)
Category
20th Century Turkish Folk Art
Materials
Wool
Zabihi Collection Lion Turkish 20th Century VIntage Rug
Located in New York, NY
MId 20th Century Turkish Rug with a lion motif
Details
rug no. 31818
size 1' 10" x 3' 4" (56 x 102 cm)
Category
Mid-20th Century Turkish Folk Art
Materials
Wool
Zabihi Collection Vintage Turkish Reindeer Animal Square Throw Rug
Located in New York, NY
a mid 20th century turkish anatolian pictorial rug
Details
rug no. j3831
size 2' 4" x 2' 4" (71 x 71 cm)
Measures: 2'4" x 2'9\4".
Category
20th Century Turkish Folk Art
Materials
Wool
Early 19th Century Grain Painted Firkin
Located in Nantucket, MA
Early 19th Century Grain Painted Firkin, possibly late 18th Century, a hand crafted firkin or bucket, having a round lid above a barrel-stave built vessel held by wooden hoops, on so...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Pine
Copper Railroad Locomotive and Tender Weathervane, circa 1900
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique Copper Railroad Locomotive and Tender Weathervane, circa 1900, a hand crafted sheet metal weathervane in form of a 19th Century wood or coal driven steam engine railroad loco...
Category
Early 1900s American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Copper
Pair of Vintage Primitive Oversized Hand Weights/Dumbbells
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Hand-carved dumbbells, each from one continuous piece of wood accented with carved lines (circa 1930s, USA).
Natural toned wood, perfectly aged with rich patina/soiling/splits from a...
Category
1930s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Antique Folk Art Painted Spinning Top Toy
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Folk Art turned and painted wooden toy top retaining its original paint (ca. late 19th Century, USA).
Features a notched stem and striped multi-color design in yellow, green and red....
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Paint
Large Figurative African Mangbetu Anthropomorphic Vessel / Jar
Located in Studio City, CA
This is a fantastic piece likely made by the Mangetu tribe of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is finely detailed and quite large and hefty. These pieces were originally made...
Category
20th Century Congolese Folk Art
Materials
Terracotta
Original Mexican Retablo "Exvotos" Oil on Tin
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1950.We offer this original exvoto.
Votive paintings in Mexico go by several names in Spanish such as “ex voto,” “retablo” or “lámina,” which refer to their purpose, place oft...
Category
1950s Mexican Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Tin
American Folk Art Ship Painting, 1927
Located in Savannah, GA
A folk art ship oil on board, painted by Mrs. E.O. Ricks (Bettie Tully Ricks, 1879-1959) of Alabama in 1927.
27 ¾ by 15 ¾ inches
Category
1920s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Paint
Moroccan Vintage Berber Tribal Ethnic Cuff
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Moroccan Berber tribal bracelet from the High Atlas of Morocco.
Handcrafted by Berber women using Moroccan silver nickel.
The...
Category
20th Century Moroccan Folk Art
Materials
Metal
French, 19th Century Iron Shoemakers Shop Sign
Located in Buisson, FR
Original riveted sheet iron shoemakers shop sign. Unique find,
France, circa 1800-1850. Traces of red paint visible.
Weathered.
Category
19th Century French Antique Folk Art
Materials
Iron
19th Century Decorated Sea Chest
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th Century Decorated Sea Chest, having a hinged lid with breadboard edges, above a dovetailed case with applied molding around base, the original wooden beckets with relief carved ...
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Italian Folk Art Fish Sculpture from 18th/19th Century Fragments Found Objects
Located in Forney, TX
A fabulous large Italian folk art fish sculpture. Hand-crafted in the 21st century using found 18th and 19th century architectural fragments and decorative antique / vintage elements...
Category
18th Century Italian Antique Folk Art
Materials
Shell, Driftwood, Giltwood, Reclaimed Wood
NOËL GUAY - Vintage Folk Art Pine Pig Sculpture - Canada - Late 20th Century
Located in Chatham, ON
ATELIER NOËL GUAY - Vintage pine sculpture of a pig - featuring a well modelled form with an intricately chiseled coat, large drooping ears and closely cropped tail - unvarnished fin...
Category
Late 20th Century Canadian Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Antique 19th Century Copper Rooster Weathervane
Located in Houston, TX
This 19th-century American rooster weathervane boasts intricate craftsmanship, with brass finish over copper, a testament to the era's skilled artisans. Standing proudly atop its dir...
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Copper
Large Sculpture / Wall Hanging Titled "PLAY" W.N.Y. Artist John Tracey
Located in Buffalo, NY
Wonderful ,3-dimentional whimsical wall sculpture titled "PLAY" hand crafted by Western New York artist John Tracy..comprised of more than 1000 children's colorful wooden blocks, wheels,, shapes etc. After collecting for ten years ,John had this great idea to create a monumental piece of art which took him over 9 months to assemble... Pictures do NO justice!! This piece is Museum worthy.
John Tracey...
Category
2010s American Folk Art
Materials
Steel
Scandinavian 19th Century Folk Art Wood Grain Shovel
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
This charming folk art shovel is all wood. The patina on this 19th Century piece is incredible and would make a wonderful wall ornament. This shovel would also be impressive added ...
Category
Late 19th Century Scandinavian Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Antique Wingender Pottery New Jersey Blue Decorated Stoneware Pottery
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique Bristol glazed stoneware pitcher.
By the Wingender Pottery of Haddonfield, NJ.
Of ovoid form with a narrow footed base, an incised & dated inscription and floral (tu...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Stoneware
'King Kong' by American Outsider Artist B.D. Floyd
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
'King Kong' by American Outsider Artist B.D. Floyd
American, late 20th century
Oil on Artist Board 21 inches by 24 inches high
Framed 28 inches by 32 inches high
"King Kong" by Ame...
Category
Late 20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Wood
19th Century Sailor's Decorated Sea Chest, signed.
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique Sailor's Sea Chest, Late 19th Century, a British sailor's sea chest made from tropic hardwood, possibly teak, of heavy, solid brass-bound construction with dove-tailed joints...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Folk Art
Materials
Hardwood
Antique Erik Molin Swiss Carved Birch Old Man Nutcracker Figurine w Fish Tail 8"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Erik Molin (Swedish 1855-1933) hand carved birch nut cracker (Nötknäckare). Depicts an elderly man with moustache and monacle / eyepatch, wearing a double breasted coat and ...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Folk Art
Materials
Birch
A Charming Folk Art Decoy Duck
Located in London, GB
England, circa 1900
An English folk art wooden decoy duck, with original paintwork in red umber and charcoal grey.
Height 15.00cm
Width 35.00cm
Depth 15.00cm
Category
Early 20th Century English Folk Art
Materials
Wood
1885 Kentucky Crazy Quilt
Located in Louisville, KY
This 1895 folk art crazy quilt out of Kentucky is an absolute work of art. The selection of bright and unique fabrics of that era are combined in random stained glass fashion. Stunni...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Fabric
Swedish Folk Art 19th-Century Bentwood Box in Pine
Located in Örebro, SE
This is a Swedish wooden box, so-called svepask, from the second half of the 19th century.
This type of vessel was used when the daily provisions were carried out to the fields or to...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art
Materials
Bentwood, Pine
2007 Signed Pottery Lion by Crystal King, Seagrove, NC
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
2007 signed pottery lion by Crystal King, Seagrove, NC. The animal figures are hard to find and very popular - this one with a great face!
8.75" x 6 7/8" h. x 4" w.
Whitehall Antiqu...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Folk Art
Materials
Pottery
Folk Art folk art for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique folk art 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 folk art created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include folk art, decorative objects, wall decorations and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art made in a specific country, there are North America, United States, and Europe pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original folk art, popular names associated with this style include Berber Tribes of Morocco, Mosche Bianche, Jim Rose, and Nils Olsson. 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 folk art differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $35 and tops out at $49,500 while the average work can sell for $1,387.
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