Folk Art Furniture
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
Art Populaire Workbench or Counter, France, 19th Century
Located in Antwerp, BE
Art populaire workbench, a timeless piece steeped in history and character, featuring three spacious drawers and the versatility to serve as a sideboard, counter, or workbench. Its a...
Category
19th Century French Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Wood
Large Decorative Dish, Biot, France c. 1960
By Biot
Located in St Ouen, FR
Exceptional dimensions for this extra-large dish which can be also a wall-mounted decoration.
Glazed earthenware with incised floral decor.
Hollow stamp on the back.
Ceramic center...
Category
1960s French Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Earthenware
Original Antique Print of a Tiger, 1847 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a tiger
Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames.
Lithograph after Captain Brown with original hand color.
Publi...
Category
1840s English Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Paper
Contemporary hand-sewn Curllusion quilt by British master maker
Located in London, GB
'Curllusion' quilt in Blanc de Vert colourway by British artist-maker, Emily Campbell. Emily’s knowledge of sewing combines with the formal and visual principles she learned as a two-dimensional designer to re-imagine the patchwork quilt. She has interpreted traditional patchwork geometry, dispensing with floral prints in favour of bold combinations of solid colour. Emily quilts all her designs for us by hand. Bespoke sizes are therefore possible.
An accomplished undergraduate dress and costume maker, Emily progressed from an English degree to a diploma in Clothing Technology and became a pattern maker for the fashion designer Jean Muir. After completing her Master of Fine Arts at Yale School of Art she practised as a graphic designer at Pentagram in New York before embarking on a series of national and international programme director roles in the arts, design and education.
In 2012, a quilt made from old denim and canvas work clothes featured in an exhibition about Gee’s Bend (the famed quilting community in Alabama). This prompted Emily to up-cycle the family’s old jeans into her first patchwork quilt. She studied rhythm, rule and variation in Anni Albers’ pattern drawings. She took inspiration from Gustav Klimt, Victor Pasmore and Ellsworth Kelly, and many more artists besides. Emily is the founder of Pemberton Qwilts. This takes its name from Sheila Frances Hayes, née Pemberton, who first taught Emily to sew.
Three of Emily’s ‘TV Quilts’ were commissioned by Anya Hindmarch for her concept store at London Fashion Week 2023. These bear a single word of personal significance (see images). Emily was also among the textile artists selected for a group show at David Parr House, Cambridge that year.
Helen...
Category
2010s British Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Cotton, Linen, Silk, Natural Fiber
19th Century Mexican Lacquered Box
Located in Mexico City, MX
This chest from the 19th century is a majestic example of the technique known as ‘maque’, or lacquer, developed in Mexico over the centuries. It is lacquered in an orange background and profusely decorated on all sides. On its front a the ornament of two symmetrical Mexican flags...
Category
1850s North American Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Wood
C19th Painted Refectory Table
Located in Shipston-On-Stour, GB
A fantastic late 19th Century refectory table in its original folk art decoration, the top with foliate scenes of birds in foliage with vines and bunches of fruit on a ocre backgroun...
Category
1880s Dutch Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Wood, Paint
"Saint George slaying the dragon" by Raymond Vaillant
By Raymond Vaillant
Located in Paris, FR
This sculpture by Breton sculpter Raymond Vaillant depicts the famed Saint George slaying the dragon, thereby demolishing an evil force that survived on human sacrifices. Here, we se...
Category
1940s French Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Granite
19th Century Monumental English Harvest Basket
Located in Buchanan, MI
19th century monumental English harvest basket, great at the foot of a bed or amazing coffee table.
Category
19th Century English Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Rattan
Pair of Folk Art Chairs with Tractor Seats, France, 1950s
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Almost-pair of French "homemade" iron chairs with very comfortable! tractor seats. Original paint.
Category
Mid-20th Century French Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Iron
Vintage Hand Sewn Red & Green Floral Quilt Full Size Bedspread Applique Patchwrk
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage hand sewn quilt. Features a red and green rose motif with ribboned border. Perfect for the holiday season.
Dimensions:
82" x 81" (Length x Wi...
Category
20th Century Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Cotton
Indian Goddess Figurine Statue
Located in Dallas, TX
Beautifully authentic hand carved statue of an Indian deity goddess. Distressed paint finish.
Category
18th Century and Earlier Indian Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Paint
"Untitled" by Moshe Katz Mixed Media on Canvas
Located in San Diego, CA
Highly textured portrait of a jewish man. This piece is fascinating, original and signed.
Moshe Katz was born March 2, 1937 in Bucharest, Romania. With his parents, he fled the Nazis...
Category
1960s Israeli Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Original Antique Print of Pigeons, 1847 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of pigeons.
Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames.
Lithograph after Cpt. brown with original hand color.
Publish...
Category
1840s English Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Paper
Pair of French Wrought Iron Martini Tables
Located in London, GB
Wrought iron martini tables, hand made in England to an original 1940s French design.
Finished with a natural bronze patina as standard. Ca...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary English Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Iron
Vintage Medium Black Olive Pot
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Vintage Medium Black Olive Pot
Discover the timeless charm of our Vintage Medium Black Olive Pot, a testament to the beauty of rustic elegance. Crafted with meticulous attention to ...
Category
19th Century European Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Terracotta
Vintage Small Black Olive Pot
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Vintage Small Black Olive Pot - 19th Century
Discover the timeless charm of our Vintage Small Black Olive Pot, a testament to the beauty of rustic elegance. Crafted with meticulou...
Category
19th Century European Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
New England Quilt Oak Leaf Pattern Circa 1900
Located in Hudson, NY
Striking and beautiful New England quilt with oakleaf pattern. Investor investive condition with a highly modernist design pattern. Found in Maine, this quilt made from pumpkin orang...
Category
Early 1900s American Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Cotton
Mexican Arbol de la Vida Tree Life Dolls ColorFolk Art Ceramic Clay Candelabra
Located in Queretaro, Queretaro
This colorful tree of life (árbol de la vida) with a toy like aspect is a unique piece by Marco Antonio Castillo, son of renowned artist Alfonso Castillo. Hand made with natural clay...
Category
2010s Mexican Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Clay
Early Folk Art American Two Sided Framed Military Drawing with Map
Located in Savannah, GA
This unusual set of drawings in a double sided frame came out of an old New England Estate in a Beacon Hill, Boston home. From what we have gathered, they are hand-colored drawings o...
Category
Late 18th Century American Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Glass, Wood, Paper
Arma Christi Calvary, France 19th Century
Located in PARIS, FR
Superb and rare Arma Christi calvary, popular work, France end of the 19th century. Beautifully executed work.
Fair condition. Several small misses and ancient restaurations. Seen ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Wood
19th Century Swedish Folk Art chairs with original paint
Located in Boden, SE
A pair of similar 19th century Swedish country chairs. Very slight difference with great patina ,see pictures
Scraped by hand to its beautiful blue original color.
Such nice ext...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Pine
Vintage Turkish Tulu Rug
Located in New York, NY
A vintage Tulu Turkish rug from the mid-20th century. A wide plain saturated marsala colored border with a beige open field. No ditzy ornamentation. Totally graphic with a very long ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Turkish Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Wool
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 Furniture
Materials
Steel
Antique Wood Animal Horse Sculpture, Northern Swedish Folk Art Original Paint
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique wooden horse sculpture from northern Sweden. The horse is from around 1850 and has a body in pine with original paint. The sculpture is made by hand and a one of a kind piece...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Pine
French Tramp Art Turn of the Century Mirror with Geometric Motifs, circa 1900
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Tramp Art Turn of the Century mirror from circa 1900, with hand-carved geometric motifs and protruding corners. Delve into the captivating world of French Tramp Art with thi...
Category
Early 20th Century French Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Wood
Pair of 19th century folk art stoneware ceramic bottles realised in La Borne
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
La Borne - France
Realised circa 1850
Pair of 19th century stoneware ceramic bottles
unique pieces
Original good condition
number one
height 25 cm
large 12 cm
number two
heigh...
Category
19th Century French Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Set of Folk Art Baskets, France, Early 20th Century
Located in Antwerp, BE
Beautiful collection of four folk art baskets, crafted with meticulous skill and care in the time-honored tradition of coiled baskets. Each basket testifies to the rich history of cr...
Category
Early 20th Century French Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Straw
Wrought Iron Rooster Candlestick Holder Horshoe Folk Art
Located in Vancouver, BC
For those brave enough to forge a life of light. The rooster lights the day at the crack of dawn to make claims to the work yet to be done.
Out from the horseshoe sprouts this lovi...
Category
1940s Swedish Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Wrought Iron
Mid 19th century traditional Swedish painted coffer
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 19th century traditional Swedish painted coffer circa 1855.
Fine quality piece of rustic furniture, with a desirable flat top surface which lends itself to more uses than it's d...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Pine, Paint
Vintage Swiss Made Comtoise Pocket Watch with Hunters Motives
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Swiss Made Comtoise Pocket Watch with Hunters Motives
A very nice vintage pocket watch manufactured by ARSA (Auguste Reymond S. A.), Switzerland. The case is made of metal a...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Metal
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 Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Clay
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 Furniture
Materials
Copper
Original Antique Print of a Willow Warbler, circa 1880, 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Willow Warbler
Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames.
Lithograph after Alexander Francis Lydon.
Original ha...
Category
1880s English Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Paper
Antique Unusually Large Wooden Bowl, Swedish Handmade with Original Hardware
Located in Kramfors, SE
Unusually large wooden bowl from northern Sweden. The bowl is an antique from the early 1800s, made by hand and completely unique. It has original hardware and handles in iron. Attra...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Pine
Large Framed Antique Korean Jakhodo Minhwa Folk Art Painting
Located in Atlanta, GA
A large Korean folk-art painting framed in a carved gilt frame under museum-quality acrylic glass. The ink and watercolor on paper was dated circa late 19th century to turn of the 20...
Category
Late 19th Century Korean Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Paper, Wood
Large Italian Giltwood Ornamental Corona Crown, Late 19th Century
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Italian Architectural Element Giltwood 19th Century Carved Corona Crown
Large gilt-wood element, featuring decorative acanthus leaves, carving around the...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Giltwood
Found and Salvaged Steel House Structure, Modern and Minimalist Sculpture
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 and interesting items. Here, a collection of found steel is reworked, pr...
Category
2010s American Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Metal, 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 Furniture
Materials
Wool
Set of 12 Original Antique Prints of Ducks After Francis Lydon, C.1880
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful set of 12 antique prints of ducks.
Lithographs after the original drawings by Alexander Francis Lydon
Original colour
Published by John C. Nimmo, Circa 1880.
Unframed
...
Category
1880s English Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Paper
African Tuareg Mat
Located in New York, NY
An african Tuareg Mat depicting with a geometrice design. Tuareg mats are known for their durability because of their reed and leather materials. Ke...
Category
1930s North African Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Leather, Reed
Original Antique Print of a Giant Breve, 1847 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a giant breve.
Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames.
Lithograph after Cpt. Brown with original hand color...
Category
1840s English Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Paper
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 Furniture
Materials
Sandalwood
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 Furniture
Materials
Wool
Wedding Chest, Circa 1880
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A painted pine wedding chest from Hungary with the original blue paint, circa 1880. Clean on the inside. Neat coffee table, collector's item or st...
Category
1880s Hungarian Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Pine
Late 18th Century Light Blu Floral Painted Blanket Chest
Located in Albignasego, IT
Tyrolean (Northern Italy Alpine Region) light blue painted chest
Measurements: H. 81cm – L. 142cm – D. 59cm
Period: approximately 1780
Origin: Tyrol
Essence: Fir
Tyrolean chest ent...
Category
1780s Italian Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Fir
Original Antique Print of Dogs, 1847, 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of dogs
Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames.
Lithograph after Cpt. brown with original hand color.
Publi...
Category
1840s English Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Paper
Wonderful Bronze Antelope Sculpture Signed Gorham Founders OGLM on Base
By Gorham CO.
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful patinated bronze of free standing antelope sculpture signed Gorham founders OGLM on rectangular base.
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Earthenware Hungarian Pottery, circa 1900s
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Earthenware Hungarian Pottery, circa 1900s
Discover the enchanting charm of this antique Hungarian Folk Art pottery, a genuine earthenware treasure that promises to infuse your spac...
Category
Early 20th Century Hungarian Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Earthenware
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 Furniture
Materials
Iron
19th Century Bocce Balls, France, Set of Three
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Late 19th to early 20th century bocce balls, France, set of three
boxwood, iron and brass nails.
The first ball has the letters PP in brass, the second ha...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Brass, Iron
Six Kobe Toys, Japanese, Meiji Period, circa 1900
By Kobe Toys
Located in Incline Village, NV
Kobe Toys are very mysterious and not much is known about them. They were created and hand made during the Meiji period in Japan, which covered the years 1868...
Category
Early 1900s Japanese Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Ebony
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 Furniture
Materials
Oak
Paperweight with Seashore Theme Handmade with Real Sea Shells & Crab, circa 1970
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a beautiful handmade English acrylic paperweight having a seashore theme with real items and dating to the 20th century, circa 1970.
This paperweight is handmade of real i...
Category
20th Century English Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Acrylic
Antique Toy Wind-Up Double Decker Bus by Ferdinand Strauss Toy Co. Circa 1925
By STRAUSS
Located in Incline Village, NV
Antique Wind-Up Double Decker open air bus by the Ferdinand Strauss Toy Company, New York; circa 1925; is quite a large and substantial toy resembling very closely, buses of that era...
Category
1920s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Tin
Set of Three Vintage Portuguese Tulipiere
Located in Chicago, IL
Transport yourself to the vibrant landscapes of Portugal with this captivating set of three vintage 20th century Portuguese blue and white gl...
Category
20th Century Portuguese Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Terracotta
Large Teal, Gold, Navy and Coral Striped Print Lumbar Cushion
Located in Houston, TX
Large teal, gold, navy and coral striped print lumbar cushion hand-sewn from a vintage cotton textile with embroidered decoration. This decorative pillow is self-backed and includes ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary African Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Metal
Traditional 19th century painted Swedish dome top trunk
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Traditional 19th century painted Swedish dome trunk circa 1861.
Hand painted and dated 1861, but chest is older as they are often given away as marriage gifts.
Made from oak rather...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Iron
Ceramic Square Bottle Vase with Naive-Style Motifs in Brown Glaze
Located in Grythyttan, SE
Exuding a distinctive charm, this square-shaped bottle vase features rounded corners and is adorned with captivating painted motifs in brown, beige, and black glazes. The vase's brow...
Category
Late 20th Century Swedish Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Earthenware
Folk Art furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique folk art furniture 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 furniture 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 furniture made in a specific country, there are Europe, North America, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original furniture, 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 furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $20 and tops out at $225,000 while the average work can sell for $1,252.
Read More
At Colonial Williamsburg, Everything Old Is New Again
With the help of a new director, the Virginia institution's folk art and decorative arts museums are undergoing extensive upgrades.
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The French designer, stylist and creative director offers an inside look at the cabinets of curiosities he calls home in Paris and Nice.
Tramp Art, America’s Most Misunderstood Art Form, Is Trending in Interiors
Designers are beginning to see this enigmatic form of folk art in a whole new light.
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