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.
10
1,935
83
35
to
253
1,349
567
2,053
2,015
2,019
2,053
1,121
1,112
318
194
186
112
107
83
59
42
38
28
21
21
19
6
77
565
1,293
118
378
517
191
44
30
66
81
64
81
54
65
24
22
1,068
494
358
261
223
893
719
627
162
141
56
25
23
10
10
Style: Folk Art
Spanish Colonial Mexican Folk Art Ex-Voto Retablo Painting Catholic Saint 1800s
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautiful 19th-century Spanish Colonial Mexican Folk Art ex-voto retablo lámina painting featuring an unknown Spanish Roman Catholic Saint.
The work is hand-painted on metal (li...
Category
19th Century Mexican Antique Folk Art
Materials
Metal, Tin
19th Century American Folk Art Heart Shaped Iron Pad Lock & Key, Dated 1875
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
19th-century American folk art Heart-shaped forged iron pad lock and key, dated 1875
A remarkable 19th-century American heart-shaped forged iron padlock and key is a true testament ...
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wrought Iron, Iron
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
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
Materials
Wood
Early 20th century decorative dutch working windmill
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Early 20th century decorative dutch working windmill circa 1920.
We are pleased to offer this delightful scale model of a dutch windmill. This could have only been commissioned for...
Category
Early 20th Century Dutch Folk Art
Materials
Birch, Walnut
Very Rare Large Victorian Hand Carved Salesman Sample Skiff Boat American C 1865
Located in Incline Village, NV
Very rare large size salesman sample skiff boat, circa 1865; hand carved out of a single piece of wood (perhaps maple) with Victorian period black print stenciling to the side in inc...
Category
1860s American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Early 20th Century Fairground Roulette Wheel
Located in London, GB
Early 20th Century Fairground Roulette Wheel
French in its origin, this early 20th century hand crafted pine roulette wheel is in full working order. With its original metal wheel ...
Category
Early 20th Century French Folk Art
Materials
Pine
Antique American Hand Woven Hooked Rug Long Runner, Circa 1880-1900
Located in Rochester, NY
Antique American folk art hand woven wool hooked rug. Circa 1880 - 1900. Good original color / well defined design / overall nice pile. A hard to find long runner / corridor / hallw...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wool, Burlap
Colonial Mexican Folk Art Ex-Voto Retablo Painting of Santo Niño de Atocha 1800s
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautiful 19th-century Spanish Colonial Mexican Folk Art ex-voto retablo lámina painting featuring Santo Niño de Atocha (also known as - Holy In...
Category
19th Century Mexican Antique Folk Art
Materials
Metal, Tin
19th Century Folk Art Rocking Horse
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Antique Folk Art painted and decorated rocking horse. In antique condition with splits and repairs, pictured. Dimensions: 37.5"H x 54"W x 11"D. Ask us about our local NYC delivery.
Category
19th Century Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Colonial Mexican Folk Art Ex-Voto Retablo Painting of Mother Mary & Jesus, 1800s
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautiful 19th-century Spanish Colonial Mexican Folk Art ex-voto retablo lámina painting featuring Mother Mary with the infant Jesus Christ (faded and now almost a ghost-like figur...
Category
19th Century Mexican Antique Folk Art
Materials
Metal, Tin
Large Folk art /surrealist Oil painting on canvas.. Circus scene. " Burning Tent
Located in Buffalo, NY
Large Folk art / surrealist Oil painting on canvas.. depicting circus scene. "Burning Tent".. Very well executed.. amazing detail..
Category
1950s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Canvas, Wood, Paint
MIKE MATAS - Vintage Folk Art Whale Carving on Stand - Signed - Canada - C. 1980
Located in Chatham, ON
MIKE MATAS - Vintage folk art hand-carved pine model of a whale - mounted by two brass pins to the base - finished with a semi-gloss varnish - signed and dated - possibly from the ea...
Category
Mid-20th Century Canadian Folk Art
Materials
Brass
18th Century Serpent Door Knocker
Located in London, GB
18th Century Serpent Door Knocker
An unusual object in the form of a late 18th Century wrought iron door knocker in the shape of a serpent.
Dimensions in inches: H 16” x W 1.5” x...
Category
18th Century Unknown Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wrought Iron
Elena Basilevsky Painted Stone Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
Elena Basilevsky (XX) painted stone sculpture of a musician, signed to side and mounted to ebonized base. Overall: 11" H x 7.75" W x 4.25" D.
Category
20th Century Folk Art
Materials
Stone
Early 19th Century Wooden Horse
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Early 19th Century Wooden Horse
A handsome Dapple Grey galloper with Horse Hair mane and tail, he has a classic open mouthed expression and bright glass eyes
Our Handsome galloper h...
Category
1860s Antique Folk Art
Materials
Oak
Folk Art Wedding Chest, Anno 1960
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A beautiful example of a wedding chest from the hungarian tribes of the kalota, the illustrations are traditional with images of flowers and tulips. The chest was part of a dowry pa...
Category
1960s Hungarian Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Pine
Double Sailor's Valentine of Sea Shells and Motto "Ever Thine"
Located in Downingtown, PA
Double Sailor's Valentine of Sea Shells and Motto "Ever Thine",
Barbados, West Indies,
Circa 1885
A double sailor's valentine with Spanish Cedar box...
Category
Early 20th Century Bajan Folk Art
Materials
Shell
Whimsical Folk Art Painted Lady Liberty Political Figure
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Whimsical hand made carved wood and painted folk art hanging liberty figure.
Category
1960s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Zabihi Collection Early 20th century Kashan Pictorial Landscape Scenery Rug
Located in New York, NY
Finely Woven Botanical early 20th century Kashan Pictorial Rug. A brown Deer, 2 rabbits in a pretty surrounding.
Details
rug no. j1868
size 2' 1" x 2' 10" (64 x 86 cm)
Category
Early 20th Century Persian Folk Art
Materials
Wool
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
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
Outsider Art Painting titled Spielunkers, 3/10/09 RRD
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Outsider art painting using paper cutouts on masonite board titled Spielunkers, 3/10/09 RRD. Assemblage measures 25" wide, 2.25" deep and 8.5" high. We had the painting professiona...
Category
Early 2000s American Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Paint
Antique Folk Art Rocking Horse Sculpture
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A vibrant Antique Folk Art Rocking Horse Sculpture in all original condition. The Horse has a nice Primitive form, beautiful outstretched stride, faceted eyes, iron stirrups, red vi...
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art
Materials
Metal
A. RUSHTON - Vintage Folk Art Oil Painting - Framed - Canada - Mid 20th Century
Located in Chatham, ON
A. RUSHTON - Vintage folk art oil painting on canvas covered panel - signed lower right - framed (likely original) - Canada - mid 20th c...
Category
Mid-20th Century Canadian Folk Art
Materials
Paint
19th Century Sailor's Folk Art Woolie with Ship of the Line and Sloop, ca 1850
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th Century Sailor's Folk Art Woolie with Triple Decker Ship of the Line and Sloop, ca 1850, depicting a starboard side view of a majestic square-rigged triple decker warship under ...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wool
Chesapeake Bay Scaup Drake Sink Box Wing Decoy, circa 1940
Located in Nantucket, MA
Early Chesapeake Bay Scaup Drake Sink Box Wing Decoy, circa 1940, a very shallow flat bodied decoy in original condition, original black and white paint on head and body, and painted...
Category
1940s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Outsider Art Painting titled The Pink Spider, 7-27-09 RRD
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Outsider art painting using paper cutouts on masonite board titled The Pink Spider, 7-27-09 RRD. Assemblage measures 33.5" wide, 2.25" deep and 13.25" high. We had the painting profe...
Category
Early 2000s American Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Paint
Early-20th Century Boul Club Sign
Located in London, GB
Early-20th Century Boul Club Sign
A complete one off, in the form of a hand carved / painted oversized Boul club advertising sign dated 1922. Completely u...
Category
Early 20th Century French Folk Art
Materials
Pine
19th Century hand carved wood and polychromed Jeu de massacre fairground figure
Located in London, GB
19th Century hand carved wood and polychromed Jeu de massacre fairground figure
A rare piece of fairground art, in the form of an oversized hand carved painted polychromed Jeu de ma...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Folk Art
Materials
Pine
Old Vintage Pair Native American Folk Art Portraits Signed JP Macett
Located in South Burlington, VT
Vintage pair (2) Folk Art or Outsider Art Portraits of Native Americans. The female displays braided hair and a necklace with pendant of possible an acorn or shell; the male with a ...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Oak
Outsider Art Painting titled Meet The Seekers, 1-3-10
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Outsider art painting using paper cutouts on masonite board titled Meet The Seekers, 1-3-10. Assemblage measures 13.25" wide, 2.25" deep and 29.75" high. We had the painting professi...
Category
2010s American Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Paint
Outsider Art Painting titled E-Z FRIEZE-E3 2008 RRD
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Outsider art painting using paper cutouts on masonite board titled E-Z FRIEZE-E3 2008 RRD. Assemblage measures 49.25" wide, 2.25" deep and 7.25" high. We had the painting professio...
Category
Early 2000s American Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Paint
Outsider Art Painting titled Triple Play, 3/10-3/16/2008 RRD
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Outsider art painting using paper cutouts on masonite board titled Triple Play, 3/10-3/16/2008 RRD. Assemblage measures 30" wide, 2.25" deep and 8.75" high. We had the painting prof...
Category
Early 2000s American Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Paint
Pair of Greyhound Guard Dogs, Natural Rust Weathered in Cast Iron
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Pair of Greyhound Guard Dogs, Natural Rust Weathered in Cast Iron
This Super pair of Large Outdoor or Indoor Dogs these chaps have a good rusty outdoor patina they have been guard...
Category
1940s Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Iron
19th Century Carved Oak Folk Art Wall Figurative Plaque.
Located in London, GB
19th Century Carved Oak Folk Art Wall Figurative Plaque.
Just carved for the fun of it, this 19th century hand carved oak plaque illustrates an old ...
Category
1890s British Antique Folk Art
Materials
Oak
A Set of Six Hungarian Red Ware Folk Art Cups and Saucers by Imre Szűcs
Located in Morristown, NJ
A set of 6 Hungarian Folk Art Red Ware tea cups and saucers by Imre Szűcs. A black/brown based glaze decorated with white dots. The undersides are signed by Imre Albert Szucs and mar...
Category
Late 20th Century Hungarian Folk Art
Materials
Pottery
19th Century Sailor's Woolie with Ship at Anchor Within Oval Cartouche, ca 1850
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th Century Sailor's Folk Art Woolie with Ship at Anchor Within Oval Cartouche, ca 1850, depicting a square-rigged single decker warship under furled sails, anchor chain leading off...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wool
Unusual Tramp Art / Folk Art Wood and Stone Clock, sculpture. cabinet.
Located in Buffalo, NY
Unusual Tramp Art / Folk Art Wood and Stone (granite) Clock, sculpture. cabinet.. Amazing decorative item.Antique hand crafted,Stone ,granite cylinders,
Category
1890s American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Stone, Granite
Zabihi Collection Large Deer Turkish Pictorial Rug
Located in New York, NY
mid-20th century Turkish Rug with 2 large Deers surrounding multiple borrders and a central medallion
Details
rug no. j3741
size 4' 10" x 10' 5" (147 x 318 cm)
Category
20th Century Turkish Folk Art
Materials
Wool
Hungarian Red Ware Folk Art Rooster - Lidded Jug/Teapot by Imre Szűcs
Located in Morristown, NJ
A Hungarian Folk Art Red Ware Rooster Lidded Jug/Teapot by Imre Szűcs. A black/brown based rooster decorated with white dots and green, yellow and red painted elements. The spout is...
Category
Late 20th Century Hungarian Folk Art
Materials
Pottery
Highly Decorative 19th Century European German Cleaver, Kitchen Butcher Utensil
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Antique 19th century European cleaver. Made from hand-wrought iron with wood handle. Great as a graphic wall decoration. Found at an estate sale in Nuremberg, Germany. Nice to displa...
Category
Mid-19th Century German Antique Folk Art
Materials
Iron
French Turn of the Century Hand Carved Tramp Art Folk Mirror with Raised Motifs
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French hand carved Tramp Art folk wall mirror from the early 20th century, with raised motifs. We currently have two available, priced and sold $1,750 each. Created in France at th...
Category
Early 20th Century French Folk Art
Materials
Mirror, Wood
Water Serpent (Palulukang) and Mud Man (Koyemsi) - Kachina Doll
Located in Soquel, CA
Water Serpent (Palulukang) and Mud Man (Koyemsi) - Kachina Doll
Brightly painted, dynamic sculpture by an unknown artist. The figure is dressed as a medicine man, with feather and fur accents. The Mud Man is holding a piece of leather and a drum, about to wrestle with the Horned Water Serpent (Palulukang) that is emerging from a pottery jar , or Mudhead kachina clown...
Category
1980s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Fur, Feathers, Paint, Wood, Leather
Eye and Glasses Window Display Trade Sign
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Eye and Glasses Window Display Trade Sign
The sign is made in presses tin, it seems to be hand painted with the slogan Eye Glasses Sold Here
The sign is a ...
Category
1930s Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Tin
Antique Wire Fox Terrier Iron Door Stop, Hubley
Located in Riverdale, NY
Charming Iron Wire Haired Fox Terrier Door Stop with intact original paint attributed to Hubley circa 1910. Hard to find with original patinaed cold ...
Category
1910s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Iron
Four Meissen Porcelain Plaques Depicting the Four Seasons
Located in London, GB
This delicately detailed set of four allegorical porcelain plaques portrays family scenes within the theme of the four seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.
Spring can be ide...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Early 19th Century Folk Art Hand Painted Games Board
Located in London, GB
Early 19th Century Folk Art Hand Painted Games Board
A highly decorative example of a late 19th Century hand painted/crafted games board. Double sided with one side being painted by...
Category
1890s British Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Splendid four rams Ntomo Mask, Bamana Population, Mali
Located in Paris, FR
Splendid four rams Ntomo Mask, Bamana Population, Mali
Four Rams, Ntomo Mask, Mali, Wood and cowrie shells. Dimensions: 52 x 14.5 cm 20.48 x 5.51inches
The Ntomo mask is used in th...
Category
20th Century Malian Folk Art
Materials
Shell, Wood
Splendid Kpélié Mask, Sénoufo population, Ivory Coast 1950
Located in Paris, FR
Splendid Kpélié Mask, Sénoufo population, Ivory Coast 1950
Kpélié Mask, wood covered with copper
Dimensions 36.5 x 14.5 cm / 14.17 x 5.51 inches
The populations speaking the Sénouf...
Category
1950s Ivorian Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Wood
19th Century English Folk Art Gentleman’s Cane
Located in London, GB
19th Century English Folk Art Gentleman’s Cane
A rare and quite special example of a 19th Century folk art English gentleman’s walking cane with a h...
Category
1850s British Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Prison Folk Art Matchstick Model Boat Ship Maritime Night Light Sculpture 31"
Located in Dayton, OH
Mid century three tiered prison folk art / tramp art model steam boat sculpture. Upcycled cardboard framing structure, matchstick exterior with glossy...
Category
Mid-20th Century Folk Art
Materials
Metal
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. Thes...
Category
2010s American Folk Art
Materials
Steel
Swedish Folk Art Midcentury Hand Carved Wall Cabinet
Located in New York, NY
Swedish mid-20th century Folk Art wall cabinet of carved pine, painted in “mahogany” red. The motif depict a man in a horse pulled carriage, various animals including a snake, crayfi...
Category
Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Paint
19th Century Hand Carved Folk Art Tyrolean Figure
Located in London, GB
19th Century Hand Carved Folk Art Tyrolean Figure
A lovely example of a mid-19th Century folk art hand carved Tyrolean (Austrian) figure of a man with moveable arms. A wonderful n...
Category
1850s Austrian Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Carnival Midway Punk Knockdown Goat Game
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Vintage carnival punk. Unusual goat named "Billie". Knock "Billie" over and win the prize.
Category
1940s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Canvas
Splendid Seven rams Ntomo Mask, Bamana Population, Mali, 1930-1940
Located in Paris, FR
Splendid Seven rams Ntomo Mask, Bamana Population, Mali, 1930-1940
Seven Rams Ntomo Mask, Ségou region, Mali, Wood, cowrie shells, reptile skin. Dimensions: 61.5 cm / 24.02 inches.
...
Category
1930s Malian Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Shell, Wood
Hand Crafted Wooden Mortar and Pestle
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A well crafted wooden Folk Art Mortar and Pestle. The piece is used for crushing everything from herbs and spices, to medicines. While the piece is practical, the wooden craftsmans...
Category
20th Century Folk Art
Materials
Wood
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.
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Gee Quilts
Gees Bend Quilt
Gees Bend Quilters
Folk Art Snake
Victory Flag
Folk Romania
American Folk Art Cast Iron
Antique Carousel
Antique Carousels
Indian Arrow
Marketplace Antique Furniture
Carved Puppets
Victorian Antlers
Antique Native American Beads
Memory Folk Art
Native American Beadwork
North Star Antique
Antique Civil War Era