Folk Art Boxes
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.
to
28
181
7
98
76
27
29
5
1
1
2
3
5
2
2
2
1
1,072
873
775
668
274
223
182
181
127
124
113
111
100
89
81
71
43
25
151
63
57
39
22
89
87
101
66
57
31
29
Height
to
Width
to
181
181
181
6
1
1
1
1
Style: Folk Art
Folk Art Jewelry Box from the 1940s in Copper with Women Nude
Located in Berlin, DE
This charming jewelry box from the 1940s was made out of copper
and is hand-dented.
It shows a nudist art of a woman. It is in a beautiful original condition.
A unique piece whic...
Category
1940s German Vintage Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Copper
Antique American Folk Art Tramp Art Carved Box
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique American Folk Art Tramp Art Carved Box, probably Late 19th/Early 20th Century. A decorative box ornamented with layers of classic Tramp Art chip carved borders enclosing vel...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Velvet, Wood
An Early French Marriage Chest
Located in Shipston-On-Stour, GB
A French marriage chest, also known as a cassone or coffre de mariage, which was traditionally given as part of a bride’s dowry.
The chest is beautifully hand-painted with a variet...
Category
Early 18th Century French Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
19th Century Swedish antique genuine rustic Bent wood box with original paint
Located in Boden, SE
19th Century Swedish Folk Art Bentwood Box from Hälsingland, Northern Sweden.
Oval box with lid.
Originalpainted with nice patina after several hundred years of use.
Beautifully pain...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
19th Century Swedish Allmoge Folk Art Bentwood Chest
Located in Pearland, TX
An incredible Swedish hand-painted chest, having hand-forged iron straps and fittings. Original key included.
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Bentwood
Antique Swedish Wooden storage box 1865 Handmade Folk Craft
Located in Forest, BE
Swedish antique pine and birch wooden storage box. . Fine quality of bentwood. It is a true piece from the 19 century. Initials are hand painted on the top 1865 and hand engraved und...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Birch, Pine
Chinese Checkered Papier-Mâché Box
Located in Chicago, IL
Formed around a simple wooden frame, this papier-mâché storage box is a charming example of Chinese folk art. Crafted with old newspapers and dyed rice paper, the box would have been...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Paper
Early 20th century Norwegian pokerwork tine box
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Early 20th century Scandinavian pokerwork tine box circa 1904.
Beautiful quality small Norwegian pokerwork tine box. Stunning desktop item, with carved dragons to the sides and aro...
Category
Early 20th Century Norwegian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
Early 20th Century Vintage Artists Paint Box and Pallet, Denmark
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Danish Vintage Artists Paint Box and Pallet, Early 20th Century
Well loved Danish artists traveling wooden box with everything needed to paint on location. This charming box, acqui...
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Brass
Hand-Carved English Yorkshire Terrier Box, Circa 1930's
Located in High Point, NC
Vintage English hand-carved box in the form of a Yorkshire Terrier. This box just grabs your heart and squeezes it with the fluffy coat of fur and the sweet expression. This piece ...
Category
1930s English Vintage Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Fruitwood
Chinese Blossom Papier-Mâché Box
Located in Chicago, IL
Formed around a simple wooden frame, this papier-mâché storage box is a charming example of Chinese folk art. Crafted with old newspapers and dyed rice paper, the box would have been...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Paper
18th Century Swedish genuine country Folk Art box with original paint
Located in Boden, SE
A very beautiful folk Art box from Burträsk ,Västerbotten Northern Sweden.
A very decorative original painting that is typical of that region.
Nice salmon pink original painting ins...
Category
1890s Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
Small 19th Century original painted sarcophagus box
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Small 19th century original painted sarcophagus box circa 1870.
Beautiful decorative box with original paint. Sarcophagus shaped lidded box in original paint with traces of origin...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine, Paint
Antique Tibetan Egg Shaped Box with Turquoise Blue Stone Inlay
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Antique Tibetan Nepal Egg Shaped Box with Gilt Interior and Turquoise Blue Stone Inlay.
Antique Chinese Tibetan brass filigree with turquoise beads egg ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Nepalese Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Multi-gemstone, Brass
Late 19th Century Tramp Art Box
Located in Bradenton, FL
Vintage late 19th century Tramp Art Box inset with mirror and fabric. "Tramp Art" objects began in the 1870s, driven by the abundance of wooden cigar boxes and their availability to ...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Textile, Wood
Antique Swedish Wooden barrel 1800's Handmade Folk Craft great condition
Located in Forest, BE
Swedish antique pine hand crafted wooden barrel. Made to be used as a washing basin or a grain storage. Fine quality of bentwood. It is a true piece from the early 19 century. Beaut...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine, Birch
An Early French Marriage Chest
Located in Shipston-On-Stour, GB
A French marriage chest, also known as a cassone or coffre de mariage, which was traditionally given as part of a bride’s dowry.
The chest is beautifully hand-painted with a variet...
Category
Early 18th Century French Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Large Wooden Tramp Art Box Folk Art Gold 20th Century
Located in Poperinge, BE
Large tramp art box with lid and brass handle, folk art object made of layered pieces of gold, partly gold colored, from the late first half of the 20th century.
Beautiful form of f...
Category
1940s European Vintage Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Antique Swedish Large Wooden storage box 1802 Handmade Folk Craft
Located in Forest, BE
Swedish antique pine and birch wooden storage box. The lady’s got them to store there small goods at the wedding. Fine quality of bentwood. It is a true piece from the early 19 centu...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Birch, Pine
Antique Hindu Brass Box with Peacocks and Elephants
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Antique Hindu brass decorative box.
This is an antique Mughal style brass Indian ornate locking trinket box container.
It has six compartments that lock ...
Category
Late 19th Century Indian Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Brass
Vintage Tin Box Cookie Jar Belsnickel Santa Claus Vintage Germany, 1930s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This beautiful decorative Christmas Tin Box with Santa or Belsnickle Picture is a true treasure. It was made in Germany, around 1930s. These are very har...
Category
1930s German Vintage Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Tin
Antique Genuine Swedish Folk Art Box Made by Hand in Pine with Authentic Patina
Located in Kramfors, SE
Swedish folk art box made by hand in solid pine. This box is made in northern Sweden during the mid 1800s, around 1850, and is in original condition with the first layer of paint. Th...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
Antique Swedish Wooden barrel 1800's Handmade Folk Craft great condition
Located in Forest, BE
Swedish antique pine and birch hand painted wooden barrel. Made to be used as a washing basin. Fine quality of bentwood. It is a true piece from the early 19 century. Beautiful patin...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Birch, Pine
Asian Black and Red Round Box Lacquer Offering Vessel Urn
Located in North Hollywood, CA
South Asian Burmese black and red lacquer box, offering vessel urn with compartment for storage.
This round lacquer ware box from Burma is made from bamboo and lacquer.
In Burma (now...
Category
Late 20th Century Burmese Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Bamboo
Mid 18th century Swedish pine chest decorated with labyrinth
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 18th century Swedish pine chest decorated with labyrinth circa 1730.
Rare and beautiful Swedish pine chest. Traces of original paint to the outside with decorative metal strap...
Category
Mid-18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Metal
Antique Swedish Large Wooden storage box 1800's Handmade Folk Craft
Located in Forest, BE
Swedish antique pine and birch wooden storage box. The lady’s got them to store there small goods at the wedding. Fine quality of bentwood. It is a true piece from the early 19 cen...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Birch, Pine
19th Century Swedish antique rustic Folk Art Wooden box with original color
Located in Boden, SE
19th century Swedish folk art wooden box from Piteå, Norbotten Northern Sweden
The wooden box has untouched original color.
The box is stable in construction.
Nice storage inside.
Ha...
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Iron
Chippewa Birch Bark, Quills & Sweetgrass Box with Tulip - Canada - Early 20th C.
Located in Chatham, ON
Vintage Chippewa (also known as Ojibwe) birch bark lidded box with porcupine quill decoration and sweetgrass rims fastened with black thread - featuri...
Category
Early 20th Century Canadian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Softwood
Large Folk Art Sea Shell Encrusted Tissue or Kleenex Box Cover
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A large folk art sea shell encrusted tissue box. This shell-covered box is the perfect way to add coastal design to a space. It is rectangular in sh...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Shell, Fabric, Wood
Swedish 18th Century Yellow Folk Art Painted Wooden Box
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A painted turn of the 18th-19th Century Swedish Folk Art wood box, with original yellow paint on the exterior. The original ochre yellow color has be...
Category
1790s Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Metal
19thC Antique Folk Art Treenware Carved Turned Wood Tea Caddy Box Handpainted
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
This striking antique 19th-century treenware tea caddy is a beautiful example of folk art craftsmanship. Skillfully hand-carved and turned from wood, this charming caddy features a r...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Large Antique Carved Painted Collectibles Box with Lions
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Antique carved wood painted box featuring two lions. This rectangular box features a hinged lid made of iron. The box is perfect for collectables as well as securing important docume...
Category
Late 19th Century European Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Metal
Burmese Yun Lacquer Container, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
In many southeast Asian cultures, offering guests a betel quid to chew was the fundamental symbol of hospitality. A blend of leaves, nuts, seasonings, and sometimes tobacco, betel was kept in finely worked and decorated boxes. This round container was originally the lid to a Burmese betel box...
Category
Early 20th Century Burmese Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Bamboo
Antique Black Forest Brienz Hand Carved Trinket Box, Folk Art 1890s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Found in Germany at an estate sale, this hand carved trinket box or catchall is perfect for the collector. Nice antique collectible to display in yo...
Category
1890s German Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Hand-Carved Vintage Folk Art Wooden Tramp Art Style Storage Box
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Hand-Carved vintage Folk Art wooden Tramp Art style storage box from Poland.
This handcrafted Tramp Art style box is covered with geometric designs creating alternating depths on all...
Category
Mid-20th Century Polish Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Vintage Swedish, decorated, bent wooden box. Handpainted 'Kurbits' style.
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
A beautiful vintage bent wooden box known as a "Svepask" from Sweden. This item can be dated to 1947 and derives from Gagnef in the Dalarna region. It has been decorated with a tradi...
Category
1940s Swedish Vintage Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Bentwood
Swedish Marriage Box
Located in Greenwich, CT
A Swedish dowry box presented to the bride by her parents on the occasion of her marriage, decorated with homemade pigments in traditional folk-art patterns in faded grey blues and s...
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Antique Red Tole Metal Tea Coffee Countertop Storage Bin
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Wonderful patina on this antique general store tea or coffee canister. Certainly a unique piece that could used on a kitchen counter or in a reta...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Metal
Hand Made Dovetailed Pyrography and Inlaid Lid Keepsake Box with Photo Album
Located in Ferndale, MI
Beautifully made keepsake box. Hinged lid and spine are intricately inlaid with mother of pearl, exotic wood, beads. Backside has pyrographic image burned in. All nicely joined with dovetail detail. Not sure on country of origin. Backside image does show local dress for the area. Vintage photo album...
Category
Mid-20th Century Finnish Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Brass
Mid 19th Century Swedish Folk Art small Travel box /chest with original paint
Located in Boden, SE
Mid 19th Century Swedish Folk Art Travel box from Skellefteå Västerbotten, Northern Sweden.
Beautiful untouched original paint.
Dated 1858
Decorated with handwrought iron around the ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Iron
Antique Swedish Hand-Made Folk Art Pine Flour Box
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique hand-made flour box from Sweden made in folk art during the second half of the 19th century, around 1860 to 1870. These boxes were either hung on the...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
Antique Swedish Wooden butter storage box 1800's Handmade Folk Craft
Located in Forest, BE
Swedish antique pine and birch wooden butter storage box . Fine quality of bentwood. It is a true piece from the early 19 century. Engraved with initials in top of the lid. Nice add...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Birch, Pine
Antique American Folk Art Tramp Art Carved Box
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique American Folk Art Tramp Art Carved Box, probably Late 19th/Early 20th Century. A decorative box ornamented with layers of classic Tramp Art chip carved borders enclosing vel...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Velvet, Wood
Mid 19th century Swedish painted pine shaped box
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Rustic tine pine work box of large proportions circa 1850.
Shaped and metal bound edges and hinges. Original handles and paint.
Hinges have broken, which could be fixed but presen...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
Antique Swedish Wooden basket 1800's Handmade Folk Craft natural color
Located in Forest, BE
Swedish antique pine and birch wooden storage box. It was left with the natural wood who now have a charming patina. Fine quality of bentwood. It is a true piece from the early 19 ce...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Birch, Pine
19th Century Tramp Art Jewelry Box
Located in High Point, NC
19th century tramp art jewelry box from England. The box has a domed top with layers upon layers of molded edges, leading up to a graceful formed...
Category
19th Century English Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Fruitwood
Antique Swedish Wooden basket 1800's Handmade Folk Craft Blue and black
Located in Forest, BE
Swedish antique pine and birch wooden storage box. It was painted blue with black edges. Fine quality of bentwood. It is a true piece from the early 19 century. More units could be f...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Birch, Pine
Collectible spectacular rare big box, casket, tramp art, folk art, 1885, Austria
Located in Wien, AT
This incredibly rare box is made in the famous austrian tramp art around 1880 to 1890, its a extraordinary richly decorated example of these boxes.
The object is rectangular in shap...
Category
1880s Austrian Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Brass
19th Century Large Store Tea Tin Hand Painted Parnall & Sons Bristol, England
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous and large store tea tin by Parnall & Sons who were the people to see for outfitting your store and much more as the company grew from 1830. Hand painted showing a girl servi...
Category
Mid-19th Century British Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Metal
Early 19th Century Swedish Folk Art Travel Box / Chest with Originalpaint
Located in Boden, SE
Early 19th century Swedish Folk Art travel box from Skellefteå Västerbotten, Northern Sweden.
Beautiful untouched originalpaint.
Decorated with handwrought iron around the box and ov...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
Russian Hand Painted Lacquerware Palekh Miniature Table Box
Located in Forney, TX
A rare and exceptional finely painted vintage Imperial Russian lacquerware box.
Exquisitely hand-crafted in the Palekhsky District (Палех) of wes...
Category
20th Century Russian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Lacquer
Antique Swedish Wooden basket 1800's Handmade Folk Craft natural color
Located in Forest, BE
Swedish antique pine and birch wooden basket. It was left with the natural wood who now have a charming patina. Fine quality of bentwood. It is a true piece from the early 19 century...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Birch, Pine
Swedish Folk Art 19th-Century Bentwood Box - Svepask
Located in Kvidinge, SE
An old original Bentwood Box from the late 19th century
A beautiful piece full of history in oval shape with amazing patina and style with traces of age and use
"Svepask" was used ...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine, Bentwood, Wood
Antique Wooden and Cardboard Apothecary Pharmacy Storage Jar for Valerian Root
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic early 1900s wooden and cardboard apothecary pharmacy storage jar or box for Valerian Root. Nice addition to your room or just for use it on your desk. Found at an estate sale...
Category
Early 1900s German Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Plywood, Paper
Antique Swedish flour Wooden storage box 1800's Handmade Folk Craft blue painted
Located in Forest, BE
Swedish antique pine and birch wooden flour box. All made by hand, the lid is perfectly adjusted to the barrel. Fine quality of bentwood. It is a true piece from the late 18 century ...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Birch, Pine
19th Century Wooden Bible Box "Forget Me Not" with Secret Concealed Compartment
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
19th Century wooden Bible box "Forget Me Not" with secret concealed compartment
The four words in the corners are quite cute and charming:
Danish...
Category
19th Century Scandinavian Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Box
Located in Chicago, IL
A fascinating and truly unique early 20th century American Folk Art box with the most wonderful Greek temple design with eight blue painted Doric columns around the perimeter and wit...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Handcrafted Antique Tinned Copper Metal Betel Box, India
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Beautiful handcrafted antique tinned copper decorative octagonal betel box with with lid, handle and brass latch.
The metal is delicately and int...
Category
Early 20th Century Indian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Tin, Copper, Brass
Antique Silver Repousse Islamic Talisman Holder
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Antique Silver Repousse Islamic Talisman box Holder.
Large Berber tribal ethnic talisman pendant holder.
In triangular shape, silver repousse talisman miniature case which would have stored select verses of the Koran Revelation considered to hold special protective powers.
This would have originally been worn by someone to protect from the evil eye.
The front has intricate, dense design., the back is plain, the box have been sealed and soldered to protect the scriptures.
Large silver triangle pendant with hanging beads, embossed silver metal with geometrical relief and repousse.
This beautiful antique ethnic piece could be worn as a piece of jewelry, pendant or pin broch, necklace, pendant.
Silver Metal triangle shaped box with eleven hanging charms that will makes sounds to push away any bad spirit when moving.
Great Islamic Folk Art, metal work, bold, beautiful and musical.
The containers would have also held a miniature paper scroll containing a combination of prayers and Koranic verses.
Material: German nickel silver.
circa 1920s. Probably from North India, Kashmir, but similar to the North African Berber and Tuareg Jewelry...
Category
Early 20th Century Moroccan Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Silver
Victorian Era Tramp Art Chip Carved Trunk/ Box with Additional Glove Box
Located in Waxahachie, TX
2 handmade boxes included.
Rare 1800s Tramp Art Lion Door knocker Hand Carved Storage Box / Jewelry Box / Crimson Velvet with Brass Hardware
With intricate and elaborate decoration, ...
Category
19th Century British Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Brass
Antique Rajasthani Footed Chest Box India 1900's
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Antique Rajasthani Shekhawati Merchant's Footed Chest Box India 1900's.
Early 20th Century Indian carved wood storage cash footed box used by merchants in ...
Category
Early 20th Century Indian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Metal
Folk Art boxes for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique folk art boxes 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 boxes created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, folk art, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, softwood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art boxes made in a specific country, there are Europe, Scandinavia, and Sweden pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original boxes, popular names associated with this style include Berber Tribes of Morocco, Anthony Redmile London, Arthur Court, and Frank Finney. 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 boxes differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $95 and tops out at $4,600 while the average work can sell for $848.