Classic Maine Eider Drake Decoy, circa 1920s
Located in Nantucket, MA
Classic antique Maine Eider Drake Decoy, circa 1920s, with head tucked back in contented posture
Category
Vintage 1920s American Folk Art Decoys
Materials
Wood
Maine Decoy
Gus Wilson Turned Head Black Duck Decoy, South Portland Maine, circa 1930s
$3,800
H 6.5 in W 16 in D 6 in
Gus Wilson Turned Head Black Duck Decoy, South Portland Maine, circa 1930s
Located in Nantucket, MA
Classic Gus Wilson Turned Head Black Duck Decoy, South Portland Maine, circa 1930s, beautiful rough
Category
Vintage 1930s American Folk Art Decoys
Materials
Wood
Recent Sales
Flying Mallard Hen Decoy Attributed to Gus Wilson
By Gus Wilson
Located in New Hope, PA
-1950) of South Portland, Maine. This decoy was made to be hung as a decorative carving. Gus Wilson
Category
Vintage 1930s American Folk Art Decoys
Materials
Wood
Red Breasted Merganser Decoy, circa 1960s
Located in Nantucket, MA
Maine decoy artist Gus Wilson - those slight little touches give the duck a lot of personality and
Category
Vintage 1960s Canadian Folk Art Decoys
Materials
Pine
19THC ORIGINAL BLACK PAINT DECOY DUCK FROM MAINE
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19THC DECOY DUCK WITH ORIGINAL BLACK PAINT FROM MAINE. GREAT ORIGINAL SURFACE.
Category
Antique 19th Century American Folk Art Decoys
Materials
Wood
19th C. Decoy original black paint from Maine
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th C. Decoy original black paint from Maine, great condition
Category
Antique 19th Century American Animal Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Charming Very Large Folk Art Decoy
Located in Hopewell, NJ
A supersized hand carved and painted Folk Art duck decoy from Maine.
Category
Vintage 1950s American Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Wood
American Folk Art Peacocks in Tree Sculpture Signed by NJ decoy carver Ken Kirby
Sold
H 23.5 in W 17 in D 9 in
American Folk Art Peacocks in Tree Sculpture Signed by NJ decoy carver Ken Kirby
Located in Forney, TX
and New Jersey, later in Maine. Ken Kirby Decoy Classics was born. In his early years, he discovered a
Category
Late 20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Twig, Wood, Paint
Gus Wilson Turned Head Black Duck Decoy, Maine, circa 1930s
By Gus Wilson
Located in Nantucket, MA
Classic Gus Wilson Turned Head Black Duck Decoy, South Portland Maine, circa 1930s, beautiful rough
Category
Vintage 1930s American Folk Art Decoys
Materials
Pine
New England Half-Sized Goose Decoy, circa 1900
Located in Nantucket, MA
North Shore of Massachusetts or the Southern Coast of Maine, a well made working decoy hand carved from
Category
Antique Early 1900s American Folk Art Decoys
Materials
Pine
Eider Decoy
Located in New York, NY
Early Maine decoy with original graphic paint.
Category
Antique 19th Century American Decoys
Materials
Wood, Paint
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Mirror Swedish Beige Gray Empire Neoclassical Signed, 19th Century, Sweden
$3,500
H 64 in W 25.6 in D 2 in
Mirror Swedish Beige Gray Empire Neoclassical Signed, 19th Century, Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Mirror Swedish Empire Neoclassical signed, 19th century, Sweden. A mirror made during the Empire period, first half of 19th century. Signed with maker's name paper stamp on back, cir...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Neoclassical Wall Mirrors
Materials
Wood
19th Century American School19th Century American School - Gentleman with Groom, Horse and Hounds by a House, 1830
$25,079
H 29.53 in W 38.98 in
19th Century American School - Gentleman with Groom, Horse and Hounds by a House
Located in London, GB
AMERICAN SCHOOL (CIRCA 1840) A Gentleman with Groom, Horse and Greyhounds outside a Country House Oil on canvas Framed 75 by 99 cm., 29 ½ by 39 in. (frame size 87 by 113 cm., 34 ¼...
Category
Early 19th Century American Realist Animal Paintings
Materials
Oil
Charles Towne19th century English portrait of a White/grey hunter in a stable, circa 1820
$19,500
H 31 in W 33 in
19th century English portrait of a White/grey hunter in a stable
By Charles Towne
Located in Woodbury, CT
English 19th century portrait of a White / Grey hunter in a stable. Charles Towne was born in Wigan in 1763. He was trained as a coach painter, and by the age of 17 was set up in t...
Category
1820s Old Masters Animal Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas
Vintage Inspired Handcrafted Fluted Farmhouse Porcelain Pendant Light
$2,000 / item
H 8.5 in Dm 17.5 in
Vintage Inspired Handcrafted Fluted Farmhouse Porcelain Pendant Light
By DBO Home
Located in Sharon, CT
Classic, elegant, with a perfectly imperfect touch. We just love our new porcelain Parasol Fluted Pendants. Inspired by a vintage pie cover, we designed them to hang over our kitchen...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Bohemian Chandeliers and Pendants
Materials
Brass
Antique Rare Swedish Sideboard, Unusually Low Gustavian Style Original Paint
$5,830
H 28.94 in W 38.59 in D 22.84 in
Antique Rare Swedish Sideboard, Unusually Low Gustavian Style Original Paint
Located in Kramfors, SE
Rare antique Swedish sideboard. The sideboard is unusually low and made in gustavian style. It is an authentic country house furniture from 1834 made in Hälsingland. The frame is mad...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Sideboards
Materials
Pine
English Mahogany Four-Poster Gadrooned Tester Bed with Marlboro Feet, Circa 1760
$35,000
H 101 in W 60.5 in D 78.5 in
English Mahogany Four-Poster Gadrooned Tester Bed with Marlboro Feet, Circa 1760
Located in Charleston, SC
English mahogany four-poster bed with gadrooned serpentine tester, carved reeded and floral post and terminating on Marlboro feet with original brass casters. Bed is queen-size. Cust...
Category
Antique 1760s English George II Beds and Bed Frames
Materials
Mahogany
ANTIQUE SWEDISH HAND PAINTED GROCERS GRAIN BIN SiDEBOARD HABERDASHERY CUPBOARD
$3,970
H 49.22 in W 47.25 in D 13 in
ANTIQUE SWEDISH HAND PAINTED GROCERS GRAIN BIN SiDEBOARD HABERDASHERY CUPBOARD
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this very nice antique, hand made in Sweden, Green Grocers grain bin top sideboard for fruits, vegetables an...
Category
Antique 1860s Swedish Victorian Sideboards
Materials
Wood
Pair of English Regency Curule Chairs with Swan Motifs and Upholstered Seats
$13,500 / set
H 24.5 in W 26.5 in D 19.5 in
Pair of English Regency Curule Chairs with Swan Motifs and Upholstered Seats
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of English period Regency steel and brass curule armchairs with swan motifs from the early 19th century. This pair of curule Regency chairs circa 1820 features an X-shape stee...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Armchairs
Materials
Brass, Steel
Set of Six 19th Century English Dining Chairs
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Set of Six 19th Century English mahogany dining chairs, one carver and five side chairs. With original castors. Recently recovered in quality fabric.
Category
Antique 19th Century English Country Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Mahogany
British Sailor's Woolwork of a Royal Navy Second Rate Battleship
Located in Downingtown, PA
British Sailor's Woolwork of a Royal Navy Second Rate Battleship, Circa 1875 The charming simple sailor's woolie depicts a starboard side view of a Royal Navy second rate battleship...
Category
Antique 1870s English Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Wool
Antique Swedish Genuine Blue Country Cabinet
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique Swedish blue cabinet. The cabinet is a genuine Swedish country house furniture from the early 1800s, around 1820. The cabinet is in two parts and made by hand from solid pine...
Category
Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Country Cabinets
Materials
Pine
PAIR OF ARMORIAL COAT OF ARMS VINTAGE BROWN LEATHER STEAMER TRUNK SIDE TABLEs
$5,503 / set
H 20.08 in W 24.41 in D 16.54 in
PAIR OF ARMORIAL COAT OF ARMS VINTAGE BROWN LEATHER STEAMER TRUNK SIDE TABLEs
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely exquisite pair of lightly restored, vintage hand dyed brown leather steamer trunks with one ...
Category
20th Century English Victorian Trunks and Luggage
Materials
Brass
A Folding Safari Chair With Stitched Tan Leather Straps & Seat Faux Bamboo Legs
$3,483
H 34.26 in W 22.84 in D 18.9 in
A Folding Safari Chair With Stitched Tan Leather Straps & Seat Faux Bamboo Legs
By Maison Jansen
Located in Reading, Berkshire
A Faux Bamboo & Stitched Tan Leather Folding Campaign Safari Chair With Sling Arms & Brass Mounts Havana Teak and Faux Bamboo & Brass Folding Chair in the style of Maiso...
Category
Mid-20th Century British Campaign Chairs
Materials
Brass
Large Framed American Flag Folk Art Quilt
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Nicely faded American flag quilt. Excellent hand stitched dancing Folk Art stars. Skilled quilting, a nice graphic large-scale wall hanging. White stripes have faint blue and white c...
Category
Early 20th Century North American Folk Art Political and Patriotic Memor...
Materials
Cotton
American American Painted Cast Iron "Old Salt" Maine Fisherman Doorstop
$225
H 6.75 in W 2.75 in D 2.25 in
American American Painted Cast Iron "Old Salt" Maine Fisherman Doorstop
By Hubley Manufacturing Company 2
Located in Downingtown, PA
American Painted Cast Iron "Old Salt" Maine Fisherman Doorstop or Bookend, Hubley Manufacturing Company, The 1920s. The two larger figures depict an old salt fisherman standing ...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Nautical Objects
Materials
Iron
Antique Swedish Blue Country Table in Gustavian Style, Drawer and Genuine Patina
$3,619
H 29.93 in W 35.63 in D 22.45 in
Antique Swedish Blue Country Table in Gustavian Style, Drawer and Genuine Patina
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique Swedish country table in gustavian style from northern Sweden. The table is a genuine country house furniture from around 1840. Made by hand in solid pine and in genuine and ...
Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Gustavian Side Tables
Materials
Pine
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A Close Look at Folk-art Furniture
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.
Finding the Right Decoys for You
Vintage, new and antique decoys have become fashionable decor in modern homes.
The history of decoy ducks, shorebirds, geese and other waterfowl as part of the folk art tradition stretches back thousands of years. Tule duck decoys made between 400 B.C. and 100 A.D. by Indigenous people for use in hunting have been found in Nevada that are similar to decoys still in use today.
Waterfowl decoys are now often made of plastic and foam, but vintage duck decoys from the mid-19th to early 20th century were frequently made of wood. Canvas duck decoys were popularized from the 1920s to ’40s as a lightweight alternative. These folk art pieces feature hand-painted feathers and long, flat bodies, lending themselves well to display in living rooms on shelves and in cabinets.
One of the fascinating aspects of handcrafted waterfowl decoys is their regional variation to match the local birds. For example, German decoys are regularly decorated with green and gray paints, making them look like mallard ducks. Scandinavian decoys are typically black and white, resembling the common eider.
Either option could be a rustic treasure for one’s home, adding a touch of eclectic art to any room. Browse antique, new and vintage decoys on 1stDibs today.