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.
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Style: Folk Art
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
Hand-Wrought Black Iron Snake Andirons
Located in St. Louis, MO
Vintage pair of hand-wrought black iron snake form andirons.
Category
1940s American Vintage Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
19th Century Cast Iron Fiske Cherub Boy Garden Statue
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Cherub garden statue attributed to Fiske Foundry, circa 1870s. Great original black surface with traces of old white paint surface. Holes in feet ...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Limestone, Iron
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
Folk Art Metal & Wire Rooster Chair
Located in Hanover, MA
It is impossible not to smile when sitting on the back of this vintage metal craft rooster. Constructed of scrolled metal wire loops it is strong ...
Category
1950s American Vintage Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Steel
Folk Art Industrial Forged and Blackened Iron Andirons with Scroll Feet, c. 1940
Located in New York, NY
AFP0598
A pair of vintage andirons, made in the folk art style with truck axles, topped with a bouquet of engine valve stems and terminating in scrolled feet. The iron in a blackened...
Category
1940s Vintage Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Wrought Iron
Abstract Cubist Iron American Church Crucifix
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Vintage iron abstract cubist crucifix from American Church. Found in the midwest. Great detail. Quite heavy.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
Vintage English Terra-Cotta Pot Man Sculpture for Home, Garden Cty Staffordshire
Located in Chicago, IL
Outstanding vintage English terra-cotta flower pot man. This guy is the perfect folk art host for most anywhere, here at the store we have him in the foyer welcoming guests...
Category
20th Century English Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Terracotta
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 Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Metal
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
Iron Boot Scraper with Ram's Head Finial
Located in Greenwich, CT
A generous iron boot scrape with twisted shaft handle and bronze finial of a ram's head mounted on a heraldic helmet. Decorative scrolled base imprinted with "1928". In the manner...
Category
Early 20th Century English Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron, Bronze
Late 19th Century Fiske Foundry Cast Iron Dog
Located in Santa Monica, CA
J.W. Fiske foundry attributed cast iron Whippet dog. Incredible white paint surface with many different layers of white paint.
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
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 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
Concrete Soldier Statue circa 1900 Chicago Area Garden
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Exceptional 6 ft. tall American Folk Art concrete soldier statue with original paint surface and inset glass 'gem.' Fantastic workmanship. Originally pa...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Concrete
Iron Swordfish Created by a Nebraksan Farmer, circa 1940s
By Byron Groelz
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Iron swordfish created by Byron Groelz, a farmer from Phillips, Nebraska. Born around 1900, Mr. Groelz made decorative iron for an environment on his ranch.
Category
1940s American Vintage Folk Art Building and Garden Elements
Materials
Iron
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
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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