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Folk Art Architectural Elements

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
1 of 52 Handmade Antique Ceramic Tiles by Devres, France, 1920s
Located in Rijssen, NL
One of 52 antique French handmade ceramic tiles. Manufactured by Devres, circa 1920s. Colorful pattern in yellow, red and green. These tiles would be charming displayed on easels, fr...
Category

1920s French Vintage Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Ceramic

Set of 6 of Total 120 Dutch Blue Glazed Ceramic Tiles by Le Glaive, 1930
Located in Rijssen, NL
This is an amazing set of Dutch blue handmade tiles. A beautiful and color. With 6 different stylized designs. We offer 20 tiles from the same design. In total 120 tiles...
Category

1930s Belgian Vintage Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Ceramic

Large Cast Iron House Trees Polychrome Door Stopper, American 19th Century
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Cast Iron House Trees Polychrome Door Stopper or Large Bookend 19th Century original painted cast iron doorstop has great patina. This heavy weight doorsto...
Category

Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Iron

Set of 35 Antique Ceramic Tiles by Pas De Calais Desvres, France, circa 1850s
Located in Rijssen, NL
Recently lifted from its original home, this amazing and unique set of 35 antique French handmade ceramic tiles. Designed by Maison four maintraux-Hornoy and manufactured for Pas de ...
Category

1850s French Antique Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Ceramic

Set of 6 of Total 120 Dutch Dark Green Glazed Ceramic Tiles by Le Glaive, 1930
Located in Rijssen, NL
This is an amazing set of Dutch dark green handmade tiles. A beautiful and color. With 6 different stylized designs. We offer 20 tiles from the same design. In total 120 tiles with 6...
Category

1930s Belgian Vintage Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Ceramic

Antique Handmade Roof Rider Brick, Germany 1844
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Handmade Roof Rider Brick, Germany 1844 An antique roof rider made of clay featuring a head in outsider art style. Handmade in Germany in 1844. Good condition, one edge cut ...
Category

Mid-19th Century German Antique Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Clay

Italian 16th/ 17th Century Folk Art Forged Iron Coat of Arms
Located in Buisson, FR
Unique and wonderful folk art coat of arms, Depicting a eagle holding a rabbit, two crosses and two castle's and on the top a grotesque head. This beautiful period piece is made out ...
Category

16th Century Italian Antique Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Iron

1 of the 100 Unique Antique Relief Tiles, circa 1920 S.A. Pavillions
Located in Rijssen, NL
Several pcs. exceptional antique wall tiles, Société des Pavillions, Florennes (S.A. des Pavillions). Beautiful quality. The dimensions per tile a...
Category

1920s Belgian Vintage Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Ceramic

1930s Architectural Model, 'Doll House', Modernist Adobe Home, Interior Lighting
Located in Buffalo, NY
1930s Architectural Model, possibly a hand made doll house? Modernist Adobe Home. Amazing design, proportion. Color, patina, surface. Very detailed. Removable exterior walls, working light fixtures in each room as well as outdoor porch light.
Category

1930s American Vintage Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Stucco, Wood

Moroccan Traditional Caidale Tent 20 ft x 40ft
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Moroccan traditional caidale tent are used outdoor for ceremonial events, wedding, parties. For centuries the tribal people of Morocco's Atlas Mountains have passed down the art of h...
Category

Late 20th Century Moroccan Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Fabric

19th century polychrome arms mounted in iron base
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of charming hand painted arms from a 19th century figure. The hand painted arms are mounted on an octagonal base.
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Wood, Paint

Cast Bronze Door Bells
Located in Calabasas, CA
Cast Bronze Door Bell, styled after the Eames House, Case Study #8, Oaxacan Folk Art Door Bell. The Bell is lost wax cast from a clay Ox Cart Bell sourced from Oaxaca. It has 4 sound...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Bronze

Diamond Shaped Zinc Roof Finial or Garden Ornament Sculpture
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Fascinating objet d'art created and painted by artist Ira Yeager (American 1938-2022). Crafted from patinated zinc with an aged patina and verdigris. The four-sided diamond shape is ...
Category

20th Century American Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Zinc

American Folk-Art Finial with Dove
Located in Doylestown, PA
An American folk-art tin rooftop finial with a dove on top, circa 1900 or earlier, rusted finish.
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Tin

Art Deco Cast Iron Christmas Tree Stand, Vintage, German, 1930s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This beautiful Art Deco green and golden color cast iron Christmas tree stand, was made in Germany, in the 1930s. A nice addition for yo...
Category

1930s German Vintage Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Iron, Metal

Early 20th Century Carnival Carousel Funhouse Architectural Columns
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Fun antique architectural elements from carnival carousel or funhouse ride. Layers of beautiful original park paint. Great scale for wall art or to act as a frame for something else. Unique and original fairground art!
Category

1890s American Antique Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Wood

Giant Wood Early 20th Century Hand Painted Americana Barber Shop Sign
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Large and chunky Americana! Fantastic and original Barber Shop trade sign in the shape of a barber pole. Great statement piece. Layers of super graphic red and white original paint. ...
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Wood

Pair of Antique Cast Iron Elements as Table Lamps
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A large and very solid feeling pair of antique iron architectural elements as lamp bases. Three part shaped iron elements with decorative motifs with leaves on the tops and bottoms. ...
Category

19th Century Antique Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Iron

Pair of Qing Dynasty Chinese Religious Temple Architectural Ornament
Located in Forney, TX
A scarce pair of Qing Dynasty temple architectural ornaments, the decorative antique building element fragments each elaborately hand carved, polychrome painted and lacquered, richly detailed featuring two figural pairs accented...
Category

Early 19th Century Asian Antique Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl, Wood, Lacquer, Paint

Rare Set of Two Qing Dynasty Chinese Architectural Temple Brackets
Located in Forney, TX
An original matched pair of exceptionally carved Chinese temple architectural ornaments, the ornate decorative brackets salvaged from an early Qing Dynasty temple, the richy detailed...
Category

Early 19th Century Asian Antique Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Wood, Lacquer, Paint

Danish Early 19th Century Iron Weather-Vane With Rose Finial, Dated 1821
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Danish early 19th century iron weather-vane with rose finial, dated 1821.
Category

Early 19th Century Danish Antique Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Iron

18th Century Copper and Iron Estate Made Weather Vane
Located in Hastings, GB
An incredible large estate made weather vane on a later base. Beautifully worn and with a wonderful patina, the vane features honest later repairs in copper to the centre, dating to ...
Category

1790s English Antique Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Copper, Iron

8 Old Fairground Art Panels circa 1930
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
8 old fairground art panels circa 1930 probably panels of an old carousel. These panels are slightly curved from origin and the base is in pine. Ther...
Category

1930s French Vintage Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Pine

Antique Child's Wheelbarrow, Mid-19th Century
Located in Downingtown, PA
Great for flowers, plants, wine. It is small enough to be placed on a sideboard for display. Antique Child's Wheelbarrow, Mid-19th century The Canadian child's wheelbarrow is insc...
Category

Mid-19th Century Canadian Antique Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Wood

Delft Ceramic Decorative Tile Featuring a Man on Horse
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Delft tile featuring a noble man riding a horse. This characterful Delftware tile a man on horseback in expressive blue coloring on a whit...
Category

Early 20th Century Dutch Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Ceramic, Clay

Folk Art Wood Wheel Sculptural Element
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gorgeous and unique hand-crafted wooden wheel with 2 "spokes". Possibly from a small wooden wagon or cart. The 5" thick wheels are carefully carved fr...
Category

19th Century Antique Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Steel

Set of 6 of Total 120 Dutch Blue Ceramic Tiles by Gilliot Hemiksen, 1930s
Located in Rijssen, NL
This is an amazing set of Dutch blue handmade ceramic tiles. Manufactured by Gilliot Hemiksen, 1930s. With 6 different stylized designs. We offer 20 tiles from the same design. In total 120 tiles...
Category

1930s European Vintage Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Ceramic

Pair of Green Hand Made Wooden Corbels
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Green corbels perfect to hold your shelf and bring some fun maximalist style to any wall. These are lightweight as they are made of wood. Each piece can be easily installed with scre...
Category

20th Century Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Wood

19th Century Baroque Carved Polychromed Architectural Column Capital Table Pair
Located in Forney, TX
An early 19th century pair of Baroque hand carved and painted wooden architectural salvaged exterior building elements, now repurposed and fashioned for use as one-of-a-kind pedestal tables. Intricately detailed, whimsical sulptural design, executed in classical corinthian column capital form, having spiral scroll volutes, acanthus leaf carvings, figural ancient mask...
Category

19th Century Antique Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Wood

1 of the 144 Handmade Antique Ceramic Iles by Devres, France, circa 1910s
Located in Rijssen, NL
This is a amazing and unique set of 511 antique French handmade ceramic tiles. Manufactured by Devres, circa 1910s. Stylized design. Each patte...
Category

1910s French Vintage Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Ceramic

Wooden Architectural Gou Mata Temple Elements, India, Ca 1900
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
Very decorative wooden architectural elements made in India around the year 1900. These carriers, each 28 centimeters high, were part of ...
Category

Early 1900s Indian Antique Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Wood

Large Copper Architectural Eagle
Located in Nantucket, MA
Spread wing eagle perched on a sphere, molded copper, with a great gilded surface on the front. The back has a nice natural veridigris, American, Late 19th early 20th century. Purpor...
Category

Late 19th Century North American Antique Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Copper

Set of Unique Antique 32 Ceramic Tiles with Fisch by Onda, Spain, circa 1900
Located in Rijssen, NL
34 pcs. Exceptional antique wall tiles, white with cobalt blue and moss green image of a fish (Onda, Spain Valencia). The dimensions per tile are 5...
Category

Early 1900s Spanish Antique Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Ceramic

Cast Iron Clock Face Surround from Observatory Clock Tower Double-Sided
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Very cool cast iron clock face surround, observatory time. Double-sided with great paint surface. Substantial heavy duty iron hooks. Lots of potential...
Category

Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Iron

Antique Burmese Carved Architectural Wood Pole
Located in Atlanta, GA
A striking architectural pole carved from solid teak that was used for building construction in Burma circa 19th century. Serving both structural and ornamental purposes, this types of carved poles...
Category

19th Century Burmese Antique Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Wood

Vardo Wagon Panels, circa 1880
Located in London, GB
Carved wooden gypsy vardo wagon panels, circa 1880 This lot is a very rare and unique set of 6 hand carved wooden gypsy Vardo travelling wagon panel strips. The wooden panels wou...
Category

1890s British Antique Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Wood

Pair of 19th Century Monumental Folk Art Doorways Mounted as Room Divider
Located in Stamford, CT
Pair of monumental Folk Art doorways mounted as room dividers. These large and impressive very fine carved doors are hinged together and can easily come apart to be used as their int...
Category

Late 19th Century Antique Folk Art Architectural Elements

19th Century Wood Clock Face
Located in New York, NY
Interesting weathered wood clock face with painted hands. The back story is a local (Upstate NY) church was being built around the mid-19th century, ...
Category

19th Century American Antique Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Wood

19th Century French Carousel Ride, Carved Wood Sparrow with Metal Body
Located in New York, NY
19th C. painted wood French Carousel ride, with the "body" made of iron rods. The bird figure has only one wing, as originally the other side had a spoke which connected to the cente...
Category

19th Century French Antique Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Metal

Maritime Architectural Element
Located in Stamford, CT
A maritime architectural element of painted and carved wood representing Neptune.
Category

19th Century English Antique Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Wood

19th Century Agile Painted Wooden Figure
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
According to tradition earlier at Schackenborg Castle. Similar figure of a soldier, is to be found at the Danish National Museum. Schackenborg Castle came to belong to the Schack family 11 generations ago. The last count had no children...
Category

19th Century Danish Antique Folk Art Architectural Elements

Materials

Wood

Folk Art architectural elements for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique folk art architectural elements 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 architectural elements created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include building and garden elements, folk art, wall decorations and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art architectural elements made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original architectural elements, popular names associated with this style include OTHR, Devres, Berber Tribes of Morocco, and Delft. 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 architectural elements differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $70 and tops out at $32,500 while the average work can sell for $1,200.

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