Grand Duchess Tatiana

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.

Memorabilia from historical events hold endless value, with every piece telling a story. Antique and vintage political and patriotic memorabilia express pride and heritage and include campaign posters, banners and recruitment advertisements.

World War II posters bring history to life. They celebrate the heroes who fought for their country, as do buttons, flags and banners from this era. Beyond the initial goals of political campaign memorabilia — which served to prominently position candidates in front of voters and amplify a candidate’s platform — vintage campaign prints, posters, buttons and more are interesting relics of another time and place. And like a lot of folk art, these items are imbued with narrative and make for colorful and meaningful additions to shelves and walls.

Find a range of international patriotic items on 1stDibs — banners from the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II are available, as are nesting dolls of the Russian royal family from the 1900s. Each item is a rare treasure, and historic finds like these add meaning to a space. Items promoting women’s right to vote inspire hope. Letters signed by presidents are treasured by admirers.

The range of these works on 1stDibs includes European and American campaign buttons, textiles and flags (and other works in fabric), uniforms and hats. Each piece of antique and vintage political and patriotic memorabilia is a slice of history, making for a unique gift or collector’s item.