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.
1940s Chinese Vintage Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Wool
Mid-20th Century Nepalese Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Bronze
Early 20th Century Mongolian Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Wool
20th Century Mongolian Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Wool
19th Century Antique Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Pine
Early 20th Century Mongolian Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Wool
19th Century Indian Antique Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Brass, Copper
Early 19th Century Asian Antique Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood, Lacquer, Paint
Mid-20th Century Turkish Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Fabric
Late 19th Century Turkish Antique Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Leather
Late 20th Century Sri Lankan Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Ceramic, Porcelain
Mid-20th Century Omani Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Wool, Silk
Mid-20th Century Indian Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Metal
Late 19th Century Indian Antique Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Bronze
20th Century Burmese Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Wood, Lacquer
15th Century and Earlier Javanese Antique Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Terracotta
Early 20th Century Turkish Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Velvet, Cotton, Silk
1960s American Vintage Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Wood, Paper
19th Century Indian Antique Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Brass
20th Century Japanese Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Bamboo
Early 20th Century South Asian Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Bamboo
18th Century Indian Antique Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Metal, Silver, Brass
20th Century Turkish Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Velvet
Mid-20th Century Japanese Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Wood, Hardwood
1950s Indian Vintage Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Bronze
Late 20th Century Turkish Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Fabric
1960s Turkmen Vintage Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Cotton, Silk
19th Century Korean Antique Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Brocade, Wood, Paper
Late 20th Century Burmese Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Bamboo
Early 20th Century Turkish Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Fabric
20th Century Canadian Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Canvas
Late 20th Century Unknown Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Wood
Early 20th Century African Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Bronze
Early 20th Century Thai Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Wood
Mid-20th Century Japanese Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Stoneware
Early 20th Century Burmese Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Bamboo
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Wood, Paper
1920s Chinese Vintage Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Paper
Late 19th Century East Asian Antique Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Hardwood, Paint
1920s Chinese Vintage Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Paper
1920s Chinese Vintage Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Paper
Early 20th Century Korean Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Textile
19th Century Korean Antique Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Lacquer
Mid-20th Century Congolese Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Cotton, Raffia
1990s Turkmen Folk Art Asian Art and Furniture
Cotton