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.
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Style: Folk Art
Antique Very Rare Swedish Black Bentwood Box
Located in Kramfors, SE
Very rare bentwood box made by hand in pine from Sweden. The box has a great size which is significantly larger than most other boxes. It is made by hand with excellent craftsmanship...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
Folk Art 1930 Mechanical Desk Barrel Box In Polychromate Wood
Located in Miami, FL
Folk art desk barrel box.
Very unusual piece of folk art, created around the 1930. This is a mechanical desk barrel box carved in wood and decorated with painting. Shown a man dre...
Category
1930s American Vintage Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood, Paint
Norwegian Blue Painted Pantry Box
Located in Greenwich, CT
Good early 19th-century Scandinavian paint decorated the bentwood pantry box with stitched seams, retaining original floral decoration and dark robin egg blue paint, with wonderful p...
Category
1820s European Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Bentwood
Scandinavian Hand Painted Folk Art Pine Box
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Scandinavian hand painted folk art pine box, circa 1850.
Fine example of traditional Swedish hand painted woodenware.
Slight dome topped li...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine, Paint
Mid-19th Century Swedish Painted Table Top Writing Desk
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid-19th Century swedish painted table top writing desk circa 1850.
Good quality table top bureau, presented in original scraped back paint. ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine, Paint
Scandinavian Hand Painted 19th Century Pine Strong Box
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Scandinavian hand painted 19th century pine strong box circa 1840.
Good example of traditional rustic Swedish woodwork. Painted in a russet red paint with hand painted cream drag...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Steel
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
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
19th Century Hand Painted Tine Decorative Box
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century hand painted tine decorative box circa 1860.
Good quality Swedish tine box, used for storing valuables or foods for secure storage. This examp...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
Antique Tall Copper Storage Chest
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An authentic and all original condition copper Repoussé food storage chest. Tin lined with repousse palmettes on the hinged lid. Brass top handle and lock plate. Originally acquired from a large collection of Nautical items...
Category
19th Century Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Brass, Copper
Carved and Painted Watermelon Box by Frank Finney
By Frank Finney
Located in Nantucket, MA
Carved and painted watermelon bowl by master carver Frank Finney. Lift top lid, with scraping style interior. Signed on bottom "Finney" with his initals.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Rare Antique Swedish Blue Marbled Pine Chest
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique blue marbled chest from northern Sweden made during the late 1700s. The chest is very unusual and in untouched original condition. Made in pine with working lock and key. The...
Category
Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wrought Iron
Antique Folk Art Rustic Farmhouse Log Cabin Shaped Toy Chest Storage Box
Located in Dayton, OH
Rare and antique folk art doll house box or toy chest in the shape of a rustic green cabin with two glass windows and a shingle roof.
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Glass, Hardwood, Paint
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
Antique Black Forest Brienz Hand Carved Trinket Box Catchall, Folk Art 1890s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Found in Italy at an estate sale, this hand carved trinket box or catchall is perfect for the collector. Nice antique collectible to display in your...
Category
1890s Italian Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
19th Century Swedish Antique Rustic Folkart Chest / Box with Original Paint
Located in Boden, SE
19th century Swedish folk art wooden box from Boden, Norbotten Northern Sweden.
Beautiful colorful color.
The wooden box has untouched original ...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
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
Early 20th Century Folk Art "American Eagle" Silhouette Decorative Box
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Folk art decorative box with eagle motif in attractive red paint (ca. 1910-1920, USA). The hinged top opens to reveal a divided storage compartment, per...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood, Paint
Vintage Coastal Brown Rectangular Sea Shell Covered Box with Lid, Arthur Court
By Arthur Court
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A fabulous shell covered Folk Art box with lid. Covered in brown, black and cream conical shaped shells, it is a striking statement piece. The box which the shells cover, is created ...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Shell, Wood
Antique Tramp Art Diamond 2 Tier Hinged Wood Jewelry Presentation Box
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Tramp Art Diamond 2 Tier Hinged Wood Jewelry Presentation Box. Item features stunning work and carving, hinged lid with interior mirror, moha...
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
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
19th Century Blue Swedish Folk Art Chest or Box
Located in Kramfors, SE
Blue folk art chest or box from Sweden. The chest is in untouched original condition with the first layer of original paint. Hand wrought hardware in iron with functional lock and key.
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
Early 20th Century Hand Carved Indian Box
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century hand carved Indian box
We share what we love, and we love the detail of this hand carved Indian box, likely to have been u...
Category
1920s Indian Vintage Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Antique French Folk Art Keepsake Box
Located in Charleston, SC
This beautiful hand decorated keepsake box has a beautiful green velvet on the outside. The top shows a metal cross with shell decorations. The inside is Lined with a silk green on t...
Category
Early 20th Century French Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Metal
Swedish Original Blue Painted 19th Century Box
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A Swedish blue and red painted pine-wood box from the Gustavian period or the early 19th Century. The hand painted flower decoration has still the remaining of the rococo period kind...
Category
Early 1800s Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Iron
Vintage Handcrafted and Carved Wood Box Leaf Motif, Jewelry Box, Keepsake Box
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage handmade beautifully carved wooden box, jewelry box or keepsake box.
The Inside has 2 compartments which measure 3.38 x 3.38 inches.
No makers mark.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood, Walnut
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 Folk Art Grain Painted Blanket Chest with Strap Hinges, Dated 1846
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Folk Art blanket chest or trunk offers grain painted wood construction with central date of 1846, strap hinges and interior patch ...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Paint, Wood
19th Century Folk Art Hand Painted Domed Trinket Box
Located in Bradenton, FL
19th century European hand painted domed trinket box, folk art style.
Category
19th Century European Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
20th Century German Hand Painted Oval Bentwood Box
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautifully hand painted bride box. Bentwood Pantry Box with floral and figural design. Mildly distressed paint. Oval box with lid. A nice addition to any r...
Category
20th Century German Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Bentwood
Decorative Re Painted 19th Century Wine Box, Trug
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Decorative re painted 19th century wine box, trug.
A delightful piece painted over, advertising Roy Hugo Butcher.
The Carrier is made in pine and painted ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
19th Century Original Folk Art Painted Chest of Drawers
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
19th Century original Folk Art painted chest of drawers.
A Very attractive painted pine chest of drawers, it is decorated with flowers on the top and sides, the drawer fronts and ...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Paint
Anthony Redmile Shell Encrusted Duck or Swan Box Redmile Objects London England
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
Beautiful RARE Anthony Redmile shell encrusted swan or duck form box, 20th c.
Red lined interior with "redmile objects london - england' stickers. Substantial weight.
Category
Mid-20th Century English Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Shell, Lacquer
Whaler Made Bone and Ebonized Wood Round Lidded Box, circa 1850
Located in Stamford, CT
Whaler made antique bone and ebonized wood round box, circa 1850. With pierced bone medallion and delicately carved bone spiral decorative supports on the...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Bone, Wood
Wooden Turned Treen Pot, Container or Vide Pouche, England Late 20th Century
Located in London, GB
A skilfully crafted piece of turned treen with an interesting silhouette. The piece opens into two sections leaving an interior space to prize, hide or store a treasure or two. There...
Category
1990s English Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Antique Tramp Art Box / Jewelry Box Carved Brass 1893 Chip Carved War Decoration
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Gorgeous Tramp Art box / Jewelry box marked 1893 and decorated with brass.
The box contains multiple guns & pike helmets and a lions head holding a brass ring to open the chest.
...
Category
1890s American Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Brass
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
Maitland Smith Neoclassical Painted Oval Metal Toleware Box Bin Yellow Roses 23"
Located in Dayton, OH
Large vintage maitland smith oval toleware box or bin with painted metal base, handles, and wooden lid, painted in black with yellow roses in a wreath pat...
Category
20th Century Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Metal
Italian Jewelry or Decorative Box, Early 20th Century
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Early 20th Century Italian jewelry box. This sweet petite box is a perfect piece to hold jewelry or any small collectibles. Sitting atop a vanity, dresser or a desk, the hand painted...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Rectangular Carved Wood Bird Motif Box with Hinged Lid and Batik Interior
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A beautiful rectangular Sumatra hinged box with a Phoenix bird motif. An excellent piece to display on a coffee table or side table. This lovely box features a colorful phoenix (or p...
Category
20th Century Indonesian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood, Paint
Folk Art Hand-Carved Wooden Box with Grapes and Leaves
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Breathtaking folk art hand-carved wooden box with grapes, vine and leaf detail.
This Dionysian solid wood box is a compliment to any kitchen, great for recipe cards or tea bags. Can also be used for mementos, 420, or a vintage postcard collection.
Category
20th Century Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Swedish Folk Art Hunting Box Dated 1802 in Oak
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A Swedish oak-wood box from the Gustavian period dated 1802. The richly carved box with scenes of a dog hunting a deer, doves flying and black grouses. Decorated with a pattern of ro...
Category
Early 1800s Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Iron, Brass
Vintage Handcrafted and Carved Wood Box House Motif, Trinket Box, Keepsake Box
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage handmade beautifully carved wooden trinket box, jewelry box or keepsake box.
Depicting a village scene with Houses & Palm Trees.
Folk Ar...
Category
Mid-20th Century Peruvian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood, Walnut
Round Blue Lapis Lazuli and Marble Stone Jewelry or Trinket Box with Lid
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Beautiful blue Lapis Lazuli and Carrara marble stone jewelry box. Created from genuine blue Lapis Lazuli, this box is low in profile and round in form. This lovely jewelry or trinket box features a lid that sits snuggly onto its base. Both of which are completely covered in this beautiful blue stone.
The interior of the box's base and lid, are created using Carrara marble. The lid features stays, which retrofit into the base, and allow the top to hold to the base without sliding or moving. The exterior is flanked with the gorgeous richly-hued blue lapis lazuli stone.
How We Would Style It:
This blue stone box...
Category
20th Century Indian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Lapis Lazuli, Carrara Marble
African Tuareg Hand-Tooled Black Leather Box
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Hand tooled black leather box from Africa.
Very fine workmanship with tribal traditional African symbols on black leather.
Tuareg style probably Maurit...
Category
Early 20th Century Mauritanian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Leather
Superb Antique Folk Art Parquetry Casket Styled Writing Box or Lap Desk
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This exquisite antique parquetry writing box or lap desk is unsigned, but presumed to have been made in Canada in approximately 1900 in a Folk Art style. The box itself, including th...
Category
Early 20th Century Canadian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Softwood
African Tuareg Hand-Tooled Brown Leather Box
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Hand tooled brown leather box from Africa.
Very fine workmanship with tribal traditional West African symbols on leather.
Tuareg style probably Maurita...
Category
Early 20th Century Mauritanian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Leather
Swedish 18th Century Original Blue Folk Art Painted Box
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Swedish 18th century original painted decorative Folk Art box, with original lock and key.
Category
Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
Danish 19th Century Wooden Folk Art Bible Box "Forget Me Not"
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Mid-19th century wooden box designed to look like a Bible. Text engraved with monogramme.
The four words in the corners are quite cute and charming:
Danish: "FOR - GLEM - MIG - EJ"...
Category
19th Century Danish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Colorful Semi Precious Stone Rectangular Jewelry or Trinket Box with Lid
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A beautiful colorful decorative box with lid created from Carrara marble and inlaid with a variety of semi-precious stones. The sides are inlaid with a variety of stones in abstract ...
Category
20th Century Indian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Stone
19th Century Mexican Lacquered Box
Located in Mexico City, MX
This chest from the 19th century is a majestic example of the technique known as ‘maque’, or lacquer, developed in Mexico over the centuries. It is lacquered in an orange background and profusely decorated on all sides. On its front a the ornament of two symmetrical Mexican flags...
Category
1850s North American Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Javanese Solid Teak Storage Box with Engravings Mid-20th Century
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
This teak storage box comes for the Island of Java, Indonesia. Dating to the Mid-20th Century it was crafted from a single block of teak. It features ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Indonesian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Teak
Antique Box Casket Australien Aboriginal Oil Painting of a Lizard
Located in Munich, DE
This highly unusual wooden box is painted int he tradition of Australien Aboriginies. The box is made from blackened wood and painted with oil colors.
Category
1910s Australian Vintage Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
"Campfire Supreme" Marshmallow Tin, Boy Scout Motif, American, Circa 1915
Located in Incline Village, NV
This is a rare tin that was used to sell and promote marshmallows. The top of the tin is decorated to reflect the Boy Scouts in their ubiquitous camping tradition of sitting around t...
Category
1910s American Vintage Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Tin
Colorful Semi Precious Stone Rectangular Jewelry or Trinket Box with Lid
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A beautiful colorful decorative box with a lid created from Carrara marble and inlaid with a variety of semi-precious stones. The sides are inlaid with a variety of stones in abstrac...
Category
20th Century Indian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Stone, Jade, Carrara Marble
Small Round Swedish Original Painted Folk Art Box Dated 1792
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A small Swedish 18th century Folk Art box with original paint.
The box is most likely used to keep jewelry and other precious items. Box is carved with inscription "ANNO 1792 DEN 27...
Category
Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Antique French Storage Box with Hand-Painted Clown Motif
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Ca. late 19th century French oak storage box with hand-painted 'clown' decoration to the top and a floral motif to the bottom component. Attractive color...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Oak, Paint
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.
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