Folk Art Building and Garden 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.
Style: Folk Art
Color: Brown
A Large Pair of Extraordinary Decorative Early 20th C. Wooden Barn Doors
Located in Nashua, NH
A beautiful pair of very large interlocking hardwood barn doors which have been in storage in a 19th C. New England barn for many many years. Each door is very intricately and beautifully decorated on their interior sides with a lattice and sunburst wooden...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wood
Solid Teak Wood Column Base of Traditional Javanese House, Organic c. 1900
By Southeast Asia
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
A wonderful soild teak wood column base the once occupied the interior structure of a traditional Javanese "Limasan" house. Limasan houses have a design ancestry of more than a mille...
Category
Early 20th Century Indonesian Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Teak
Solid Teak Wood Column Base of Traditional Javanese House, Organic c. 1900
By Southeast Asia
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
A wonderful soild teak wood column base the once occupied the interior structure of a traditional Javanese "Limasan" house. Limasan houses have a design ancestry of more than a mille...
Category
Early 20th Century Indonesian Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Teak
Solid Teak Wood Column Base of Traditional Javanese House, Organic c. 1900
By Southeast Asia
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
A wonderful soild teak wood column base the once occupied the interior structure of a traditional Javanese "Limasan" house. Limasan houses have a design ancestry of more than a mille...
Category
Early 20th Century Indonesian Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Teak
Rare Antique Japanese Carved Stone Garden Cottage Model
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Rare and complete Antique Japanese carved stone architectural model of a traditional Folk Cottage. Having a doorway and grid window at the fron...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Stone
Swedish wooden wabi sabi style planter 1940’s
Located in Valby, 84
Rare solid wooden planter in a Wabi Sabi style made by a talented Swedish craftsman in the 1940’s in Sweden.
The planter is the perfect planter for inside your home and will look gr...
Category
1940s Swedish Vintage Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Birch
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 Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wood, Paint
18th Century Swedish Folk Art Door With Faux Marble Original Decorations
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
An 18th century Swedish original painted Folk Art small door. The front side is all in original condition with working lock and original key (Request video). With faux marble paintin...
Category
Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Pine
tuscan oil jar. 40s
Located in Felino, IT
olive oil jar. ,use vase / tuscan terracotta umbrella stand, 1940s. made entirely of handmade and kiln-fired terracotta. frost-proof and very durable. can be used as an umbrella stan...
Category
1940s European Vintage Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Terracotta
19th Century German Carved Polychrome Carousel Horse by P. Schneider
Located in Forney, TX
A rare antique, circa 1890s, German hand carved and painted wood carousel horse carnival fair ride by Peter Schneider (famous for making the first double decker carousel in 1898).
...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wood
St. Julien Weather Vane Attributed to J.W. Fiske 19th Century Full Bodied Metal
Located in Stamford, CT
St. Julien with Sulky Molded Copper Weather Vane, attributed to J.W. Fiske, New York, last quarter 19th century, full-bodied molded sheet copper horse and driver vane with cast iron horse's head and driver's hands, sheet copper reins and seat, copper rod wheels, mounted on a ebony base. This has the original threading as seen in the last photo below.
A very similar Attrib Fiske Weathervane...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Copper
Late 19th Century Carved Wooden Angel
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Impressive wood carved angel with amazing detail. Certainly the work of a master carver. Found among the entire contents of a Catholic Church in the Midwest which was said to have cl...
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Gesso, Wood, Paint
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 Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron, Metal
Large Mexican Folk Art Wrought Iron Rooster Weathervane, c. 1940
Located in San Francisco, CA
A large circa 1940 Mexican Folk Art wrought iron rooster weathervane presented on a rustic reclaimed wood base.
Features a sheet metal rooster perche...
Category
1940s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron, Sheet Metal
Cement Pagoda Garden Ornament
Located in New York, NY
Charming cast stone pagoda landscape ornament in 3 sections
Dimensions: 26.5" H x 11" W x 11" D.
Dealer: S138XX.
Category
Mid-20th Century Asian Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Cement
American Turned Newel Finial Post
Located in Chicago, IL
Dated to the early 20th century, this antique turned newel post was crafted from American oak with a simple ball finial top. The original dark finish...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Oak
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 Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Pine
Cast Stone Pagoda Garden Ornament
Located in New York, NY
Single square cement pagoda landscape ornament in two sections;
Dimensions: 18" H x 14" W x 14" D.
Dealer: S138XX
Category
20th Century Asian Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Cast Stone
Large Hand-Carved Cypress Knee Figural Sculpture After Botticelli's Venus, 1970s
Located in San Francisco, CA
An impressively sized and strikingly beautiful semi-nude female figural sculpture strongly evocative of Sandro Botticelli's "Birth of Venus", hand-carved from an unusually large cypr...
Category
1970s American Vintage Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Cypress
Large Antique East African Carved Wood & Bronze Antelope Deer Folk Art Sculpture
Located in Forney, TX
A large, rare, and most impressive antique hand carved and painted wood and metal stylized antelope African folk art sculpture with beautifully aged distressed patina.
Handmade in East Africa, dating to around the late 19th / early 20th century, possibly earlier, this scarce, one-of-a-kind, museum quality work, features a richly detailed patinated bronze head and tail with etched textural elements, tall ears and faux ringed...
Category
Late 19th Century African Antique Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Bronze
Heavy Quality Brass Fireside Companion Set, Horses
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Heavy quality brass fireside companion set, horses
This is a heavy quality set on its own stand, shovel, tongs, poker and hearth brush, the s...
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Brass
Green Swirl Ceramic Touring Pottery Folk Art Pot in Green and Brown
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A beautiful green, brown, and cream touring pot or planter. This piece is glazed on the interior in rich emerald verdigris blue-green glaze and will be perfect for use as a planter.
Bottom reads in black:
Made in Cripple Creek...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Ceramic
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 Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wood
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 Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wood, Lacquer, Paint
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 Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Steel
Folk Art Americana Victorian Carved Mirrored Carousel Panels
Located in New York, NY
5 American Victorian stripped and decorated carved carousel panels with oval etched mirror (priced each).
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wood
Decorated Dutch Antique Copper Bowl / Pot with Lid, 18th Century, Dated 1750
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Antique copper bowl with lid, 18th century
Beautiful and richly decorated antique copper pot with lid with a very attractive decorated dec...
Category
18th Century Dutch Antique Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Copper, Metal
Hand-Painted Wooden Double Doors in Original Frame, circa 1930
Located in Evergreen, CO
Hand-painted in the folk art style that is typical of the Northern European area of the Netherlands and Belgium, these charming doors in their original frame feature a floral and fowl motif. A framed arched transom with six vertical spindles crowns the door. The dimensions of the door opening are 24 inches wide x 69 inches high. A latch across the mid-section of the door and door bolts...
Category
Early 20th Century Dutch Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wood
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 Building and Garden 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 Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Copper
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 Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wood
Antique Folk Art Dog And Cat Form Brass Andirons
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An authentic Pair of Antique Cat and Dog Andirons in original as found condition. Ca. early 20th c. hollow cast brass. Each seated and looking out. The cat with a wide curled tail, t...
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Brass
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 Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wood
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 Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood, Lacquer, Paint
Antique Indonesian Carved Deer Architectural Temple Sculpture
Located in Forney, TX
A rare and incredible Indonesian hand carved and painted red deer architectural salvaged temple ornament.
Dating to the 19th century or earlier, hand-...
Category
19th Century Southeast Asian Antique Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wood, Paint
19th Century Carved and Polychrome Pair of Continental Laplander Painted Figures
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Continental Laplander (19th Century) carousel style carved and painted life-size figures.
Category
19th Century Antique Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wood
Kentucky Horse Farm Fireplace Mantel Horse Legs
Located in Santa Monica, CA
This pair of giant sculptural wooden horse legs, at 5 ft. tall, was once part of a large mantel at the home of a horse ranch in Kentucky. Said to have been A...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wood
Vintage Hand Carved Wood Blacksmith Statue
Located in South Bend, IN
A unique hand carved wood statue of a blacksmith
20th century
Measures: 11" W x 9" D x 32.75" H.
Good original vintage condition.
Category
20th Century Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wood
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 Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wood
Hand Painted Wooden Railings from a Fair Ground
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Hand painted wooden railings from a fair ground
Great decorative pieces, there are 2 of these one 5ft long and the other 8ft
Each has a 3.5” wide to...
Category
Mid-20th Century Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wood
Pair of Ceramic Round Shaped Japanese Hibachi's
Located in Stamford, CT
Pair of 19th century ceramic shaped Japanese hibachi's with three vertical incisions either side and paper applique decor.
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Ceramic
Vintage Cast Iron Doorstop "Carpenter" American, circa 1910
Located in Incline Village, NV
From the Alice in Wonderland series, this full figured American cast iron doorstop features the "Carpenter" and he is sitting down with hands on knees, a ruler in his back pocket, often referred to as "taking a break". Unknown manufacture albeit the number "665" is stamped at the lower part of the hollowed out interior (see image. The doorstop is completely original in excellent all original paint, with no repairs, no restoration, and no touch up paint. It is nicely painted in brown, orange, and black, with flesh tones to the face and hands. Dimensions are 5 3/4" High x 4" Deep x 3" Wide. It has quite a bit of weight to it considering it's size. Excellent age crazing and patina throughout. The doorstop is circa 1910, judging by the finish and the popularity of Alice in Wonderland in America.
The doorstop is referenced on page 200 in "The Doorstop Book" by John and Nancy Smith...
Category
1910s American Vintage Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
Antique Folk Art Wire/Wood Birdcage
Located in Sheffield, MA
The antique bird house is composed of wire and wood framing and floor. The front facade has an arched center section and side "towers." There are th...
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wood
Vintage Cast Iron Doorstop "Lady With Flowers", American, circa 1915
Located in Incline Village, NV
This hollow back figural doorstop features an attractive young lady carrying flowers in one arm, and a long shawl in her other arm. The doorstop is in an abundance of excellent origi...
Category
1910s American Vintage Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
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 Building and Garden 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 Building and Garden Elements
Ivy-Motif Folk Art Pottery Garden Column & Planter - France, Early 20th Century
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Delightful and unusual Folk Art glazed pottery set comprised of a pedestal and a planter, decorated with an ivy creeper.
The pot has delicately scalloped edges.
The piece is remini...
Category
Early 20th Century French Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Terracotta
Vintage Carved Wooden Door Panels
Located in Napa, CA
Beautifully carved Pakistani wood doors from the 17th Century. Doorway consists of 3 panels.
Category
17th Century Pakistani Antique Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wood
Pair of Terracotta Shoe Planters, circa 1960
Located in High Point, NC
Pair of large terracotta planters in the shape of a pair of shoes.
Category
20th Century English Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Terracotta
Organic Folk Art Jardiniere Plant Stand with Real Branches and Twigs
Located in Lisse, NL
Stunning Early 1900 Handmade Folk Art Jardiniere.
This antique, one piece plant stand is a fine example of the craftsmanship and the wonderful designs of bygone times. Where else th...
Category
Early 20th Century German Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wood
Early 19th Century, French Child's Wooden Swing
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
This is a very rare piece, it comes from a Nursery in France, the Wooden frame of the swing folds flat, when opened the swing seat can be hung on the Iron Stays, and the occupier of the seat can push his or herself using the iron rings to swing to and fro
The wooden frame has seen so many years of use that it has developed a curve but the wood is still very strong and the finish is Genuine French Shabby Blue it has not been repainted or touched up
This deserves to be a museum piece but it is perfectly sound so there would be no reason for it not to be used with proper supervision, as with all French Furniture...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wood
18th Century Flemish Wood Carved Nativity Angels
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Superb pair of nativity angels. Wood carved with layers of original paint and gesso. Found in a church attic in Belgium. Fantastic craftsmanship and emo...
Category
18th Century Belgian Antique Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Gesso, Wood
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 Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
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 Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wood
Folk Art building and garden elements for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique folk art building and garden 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 building and garden elements created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include building and garden elements, folk art, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art building and garden elements 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 building and garden elements, popular names associated with this style include OTHR, Devres, Berber Tribes of Morocco, and Hubley Manufacturing Company. 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 building and garden 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 $225,000 while the average work can sell for $1,396.
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