Folk Art Asian Art and 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 20th Century Japanese Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Bamboo, Straw
Early 20th Century Japanese Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Bamboo, Straw
20th Century Thai Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Metal
Mid-20th Century Thai Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Paper
Mid-20th Century European Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Brass, Copper
1950s Indonesian Vintage Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Canvas, Wood
Early 20th Century African Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Ebony
Mid-20th Century Thai Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Paper
Mid-20th Century South Asian Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Bronze
1950s Indian Vintage Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Bronze
Late 19th Century Omani Antique Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Brass, Copper
Early 20th Century South Asian Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Bamboo
Mid-20th Century Hong Kong Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Plastic, Plaster
Early 20th Century South Asian Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Bamboo
19th Century Indian Antique Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Brass, Copper
20th Century Malian Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Cotton
1960s Israeli Vintage Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Canvas, Acrylic
Early 20th Century Afghan Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Metal, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Gold Leaf
Early 20th Century Japanese Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Wood
Mid-20th Century Indonesian Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Rattan, Wood
20th Century Thai Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Soapstone
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Silver Leaf
Early 20th Century Japanese Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Wood
Early 18th Century Chinese Antique Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Gold Leaf
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Wood, Paper
Early 20th Century Indonesian Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Leather, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Gold Leaf
1960s Israeli Vintage Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Canvas, Acrylic
Mid-20th Century Indian Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Bronze
Mid-20th Century Italian Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Metal
Early 20th Century African Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Ebony
1950s Thai Vintage Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Bronze
Early 20th Century Indian Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Iron
Early 1900s East Asian Antique Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Brass
1950s Thai Vintage Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Bronze
Mid-20th Century Indian Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Wood, Paint
Late 20th Century South Asian Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Bamboo
Mid-20th Century European Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Brass, Copper
1950s Thai Vintage Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Bronze