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.
Early 1900s English Antique Folk Art Furniture
Paper
Late 20th Century American Folk Art Furniture
Cedar
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Soapstone, Wrought Iron
20th Century American Folk Art Furniture
Sterling Silver
19th Century Italian Antique Folk Art Furniture
Teak
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Furniture
Wood
Late 20th Century Unknown Folk Art Furniture
Blown Glass
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Furniture
Brass, Copper
1950s Japanese Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Metal
1910s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Metal, Iron
1880s American Antique Folk Art Furniture
Pine
1970s Indian Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Fabric, Wood, Paint
1920s Belgian Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Oak
Early 20th Century Israeli Folk Art Furniture
Ceramic, Pottery, Stoneware
20th Century Central African Folk Art Furniture
Leather, Glass, Paint, Paper
1960s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Ceramic, Majolica
Mid-20th Century French Folk Art Furniture
Concrete
Mid-20th Century Balinese Folk Art Furniture
Silk
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Pine
Early 1900s German Antique Folk Art Furniture
Composition
19th Century British Antique Folk Art Furniture
Glass, Wood
Early 20th Century Folk Art Furniture
Metal
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Folk Art Furniture
Paint
1880s Austrian Antique Folk Art Furniture
Pine
Early 20th Century Indian Folk Art Furniture
Copper, Iron
20th Century Japanese Folk Art Furniture
Wood, Cedar
1890s French Antique Folk Art Furniture
Wood
20th Century Indian Folk Art Furniture
Textile, Silk, Paint
1950s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Tin
1910s Austrian Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Antler, Wood
20th Century American Folk Art Furniture
Shell, Mirror, Wood
Late 20th Century Moroccan Folk Art Furniture
Fabric
Mid-20th Century Thai Folk Art Furniture
Fabric, Wood
Early 1900s Scandinavian Antique Folk Art Furniture
Wood
Early 20th Century Southeast Asian Folk Art Furniture
Cut Glass, Wood, Giltwood, Lacquer
Early 20th Century Chinese Folk Art Furniture
Pine
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Folk Art Furniture
Pine
1880s American Antique Folk Art Furniture
Copper, Iron, Zinc
1850s Romanian Antique Folk Art Furniture
Beech
1950s Balinese Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Cotton, Paint
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Copper
1940s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Earthenware, Pottery
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Furniture
Bronze, Copper
Early 20th Century Folk Art Furniture
Wool
1890s American Antique Folk Art Furniture
Wool
1950s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Leather
1950s Swedish Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Wool
Late 19th Century Uzbek Antique Folk Art Furniture
Cotton, Silk
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Furniture
Wood, Bentwood
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Birch, Pine
Early 1800s Dutch Antique Folk Art Furniture
Delft
1920s Unknown Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Mirror, Paper
Early 1900s European Antique Folk Art Furniture
Copper
Early 20th Century Uzbek Folk Art Furniture
Cotton
19th Century Bajan Antique Folk Art Furniture
Shell
1960s Swedish Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Wood
1930s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Tin
20th Century American Folk Art Furniture
Wood