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
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.
African Tuareg style probably ...
Category
Early 20th Century Mauritanian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Leather
19th Century Folk Art Rectangular Wood Pencil Trinket Box
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Danish charming handcrafted box with unbeatable patina. This storage or keepsake box is in untouched original condition with age-appropriate wear from use. The wooden lid slides effo...
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Metal
Rare Asian camphorwood jewelry box from the 1950s
Located in Cantù, IT
Rare Asian camphorwood jewelry box from the 1950s
Category
20th Century Central Asian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Mid 19th century Swedish folk art painted box
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 19th century swedish folk art painted box circa 1865.
Good quality swedish pine metal bound box. Decorated with original ragwork paint and blue painted strap work. Hand painte...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Metal
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
1960s Vintage Moroccan Inlaid Hexagonal Wood Box
Located in North Hollywood, CA
1960s Handcrafted Bone Inlaid Trinket Moroccan Wood Trinket Box.
Handmade artisanal mid century inlaid trinket decorative lidded Moroccan box.
This hexagonal shaped decorative box ha...
Category
Mid-20th Century Moroccan Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Bone, Fruitwood
Antique Scandinavian Wooden Container Tejne Original Blue Paint, Sweden ca 1850s
Located in Silkeborg, Silkeborg
Antique Scandinavian wooden container with original blue paint.
It´s most likely from Sweden and most likely made around 1850.
We suppose it has been used for storage of food. It ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Scandinavian Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
19th Century Original Folk Art Painted Chest of Drawers
Located in Godshill, 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
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
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
Asian Burmese Carved Wood Temple Offering Lidded Box
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Burmese bamboo temple offering lidded box, basket.
This kind of wooden basket is used to transport and display offerings to Buddhist temples, in Asia....
Category
Early 20th Century South Asian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Bamboo
19th Century Scandinavian Folk Art Carved Oak Table Top Chest
Located in Norwich, GB
A lovely 19th century oak lidded-top table chest with hand carved leaf scrolls and roundel carvings, having swivel carrying handles to the sides.
The chest has a rustic charm and sh...
Category
19th Century European Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Oak, Pine
Antique Folk Art Box with Carved and Painted Cottage Scenes
Located in Atlanta, GA
Incredible Folk Art hand-carved and painted box with a charming cottage with tiled roof on the hinged lid. Three sides feature scenes of trees behind white fences and the box is rais...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Velvet, Wood, Paint
1960s Vintage Asian Large Hand Carved Wooden Humidor Footed Box
Located in North Hollywood, CA
1950s Vintage Asian Large Hand Carved Wooden Humidor Box.
Hand-carved Kashmiri style Mid 20th century wood box richly decorated overall with s...
Category
Mid-20th Century Indian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Folk Art Painted Document Box 19th Century American
Located in Hudson, NY
A spectacular and fine, painted and stenciled, pine documentbox. The original blue paint having turned a dark green over time with the varnished finish, typical of Boston pieces. Yo...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Brass
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
$1,000 Sale Price
20% Off
French Tramp Art Hand-Carved Wooden Box with Diamond Motifs, circa 1890
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Tramp Art wooden box dating to circa 1890, intricately hand-carved with the layered, notched construction characteristic of the style. The rectangular form is richly ornamen...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Antique Swedish Large Wooden 'svepask' storage box, 1851, Handmade Folk Craft
Located in Balen, BE
Antique Swedish Large Wooden 'Svepask' Storage Box – Dated 1851, Handmade Folk Craft
A rare and authentic example of 19th-century Swedish folk art, this large 'Svepask' storage box ...
Category
1850s Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Bentwood
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.
A-916-335
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood, Walnut
Large Tramp Art Hinge Lid Box
Located in Mt Kisco, NY
A handcrafted Tramp Art box or small chest. A detailed design on four tapered feet. The interior is lined with white quilted fabric and the lid is fitted with a large finial. The bot...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
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
$495 Sale Price
44% Off
Faux Malachite Leather Decorative Indian Maharaja Box
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A beautiful unique Indian motif box with a lid. This piece would be fantastic for storing cigars, tv remotes, or miscellaneous items on a dresser or coffee table. The top of the box ...
Category
20th Century Indian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Leather, Faux Leather, Paint
$600 Sale Price
20% Off
Moroccan Berber Tuareg Metal Tribal Flask Overlay
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Great decorative Moroccan Berber Tuareg metal brass powder flask. African decorative brass with front richly decorated with Moorish embossed brass ocverlay. Moroccan tribal powder fl...
Category
20th Century Moroccan Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Brass
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
Wood, Bentwood, Pine
$376 Sale Price
30% Off
Vintage Hand-Painted Wooden Jewelry Trinket Box - Folk Art Style
Located in Seattle, WA
This charming vintage wooden jewelry box features hand-painted floral designs in a traditional folk art style. With vibrant, delicate flower...
Category
1970s Vintage Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
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
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 lid which opens to reveal a unfitted interio...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine, Paint
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
Brass, Iron
$788 Sale Price
20% Off
Folk Art, Hand Executed Modernist, Art Deco Airplane /Trinket Box
Located in Buffalo, NY
Folk Art, hand executed modernist, Art deco Airplane sculpture with hand built and painted trinket box.
Category
1940s American Vintage Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
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
$1,160 Sale Price
20% Off
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
Vintage Hand Carved Nut Woodenware Catchall, 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Found in Austria at an estate sale, this hand carved nut catchall is perfect for the collector. Nice Mid Century collectible to display ...
Category
1960s American Vintage Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Scandinavian 18th Century Folk Art Hat Or Wick Box
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Large Danish wooden hat or wig box of wood with original painting.
Category
Mid-18th Century Danish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Old Wooden Tramp Art Box Jewelry Box Trinket Folk Art
Located in Poperinge, BE
Beautiful old tramp art box, jewelry box or trinket, trinket box, made in the first half of the 20th century, Belgium.
Beautiful form of folk art, anyone could make a tramp art obje...
Category
1920s Belgian Vintage Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Glass, Wood
Folk Art Geometric Inlaid Wood Small Hinged Box
Located in West Chester, PA
Hand made geometric inlaid wooden hinged xox with red enameled interior.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Russian Lacquered Palekh Firebird Folk Art Keepsake Trinket Box USSR 5.5"
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage USSR Russian Firebird folklore / fairy tale keepsake trinket box featuring hinged lid, footed base and red interior.
Palekh
Zhar-Ptitsa (Slavic Firebird)
Chernishova (last n...
Category
Mid-20th Century Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Hardwood, Lacquer
$188 Sale Price
20% Off
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. Painted blue and faded trough time. Nice addition...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Birch, Pine
Vintage Round Ethnic Hand-Tooled Tuareg Leather Box African Folk Art Mauritania
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Hand-Tooled Tuareg Leather Box – Vintage African Folk Art, Mauritania
This exquisite vintage round leather box showcases the artistry of West African craftsmanship, likely Tuareg in ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mauritanian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Leather
Salvador Teran Mosaic Mexican Brass and Tile Box with Aztec Medallion
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful Tile Mosaic and Brass box with wooden interior - the box is made in Taxco by Salvador Teran, who started the famed Los Castillo shop.
The maker of the box is likely Salv...
Category
20th Century Mexican Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Brass
Antique Swedish Small Handmade Folk Art Box
Located in Kramfors, SE
Swedish folk art box made by hand in solid Swedish pine. The box is in original condition with the untouched original paint. Made in northern Sweden around the 1860s. It has most lik...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
Tramp Art Box, Large Scale and Unusual Form. Circa 1900
Located in Stamford, CT
Large scale tramp art box of unusual form. At 2 feet wide quite impressive in scale and equally impressive in the ambition of the craftsman who created it. The geometry of the psuedo...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
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
Victorian Treenware Hanging Salt Box, 19th Century.
Located in Hannover, DE
I present to you a set of beautiful hanging salt box from the 19th century. The two are made out of wood, rich in colour and patination, They can be left standing but the intention b...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
$429 Sale Price / item
20% Off
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
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
Large Swedish Antique Folk Art Hand Made Pine Flour Box
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique Swedish flour box made by hand in solid pine. The box is from northern Sweden and made around the mid 19th century, 1840 to 1850. The box is in untouched original condition w...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
Collectible spectacular rare big box, casket, tramp art, folk art, 1890, Austria
Located in Wien, AT
This incredibly rare box is made in the famous austrian tramp art around 1890 to 1900, its a extraordinary richly decorated example of these boxes.
The object is rectangular in shap...
Category
1890s Austrian Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Brass
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
$525 Sale Price
20% Off
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
Antique Swedish Wooden butter st1orage 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. Hand graved 1882 inside the lid. Nice addition in...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Birch, Pine
Antique Swedish Wooden Kitchen Cabinet 1846 Handmade Folk Craft great condition
Located in Forest, BE
Swedish antique pine hand build wooden kitchen cabinet. Made to be used as a dough plater storage to the left side and a storage to the right side. Fine quality of wood. It is a true...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
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
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
Decorative Mughal Motif Box with Hinged Lid
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A beautiful Mughal motif wood box with a hinged lid. This lovely box will be a great way to hold jewelry or other trinkets. The top features a battle scene with two men on horses in ...
Category
20th Century Indian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Fabric, Wood
$200 Sale Price
27% Off
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
19th Century American Birds Eye Maple Wood Box
Located in Stamford, CT
19th century birdseye maple box with brass nail head decoration and iron lock plate and hasp. This box is hand crafted with beautiful dovetail joints visible on the corners, evidence...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Brass, Iron
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 Art ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Peruvian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood, Walnut
Wrought Iron Hand Painted Folk Art Train Mailbox
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Unique, Large and functional wrought Iron Mailbox. The piece is a functional mailbox with a pull handle in the front, several train cars, with the last being open to hold boxes and ...
Category
20th Century Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wrought Iron
Vintage Indian Handcarved Wooden Decorative Box
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Handcarved wooden trinket box with carved geometric shapes, small handmade ornamental indentations and cream white decor on the lid. Rustic organic ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Indian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Metal
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
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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