Native American broadly describes any Indigenous people in North America and encompasses hundreds of tribes and groups, all with distinct cultures. Native American–style furniture and decor likewise varies widely, from pieces created by Indigenous people to those appropriated by non-native designers.
Indigenous furniture’s rich heritage includes the bentwood boxes of the Northwest Coast carved from cedar for storing household or ceremonial objects. Generations of Native American people have made baskets for holding household items, with those in the Northeast using sweetgrass and those in the Southeast using pine needles and wicker. Artisans in the Plateau region wove watertight pieces like cradles from plant materials. Although these objects were intricately made, they were usually utilitarian rather than decorative.
The colonization of North America and the removal of Indigenous people from their lands led to the suppression of these practices. Many styles that used Native American motifs — such as Southwestern style, which was heavily influenced by the geometric patterns of Navajo textiles — have historically not involved Indigenous creators and, instead, have taken their traditions without their tribal context.
When decorating a home with Native American–style furniture, it is important to do so respectfully, by understanding the origins of motifs and objects and examining who profits from their sale. There are now Indigenous-led companies, such as Cherokee designer Cray Bauxmont-Flynn’s Amatoya and Totem House Design, promoting Indigenous work in furniture and home decor. Supporting Indigenous artists and artisans is essential to confronting the still pervasive issue of cultural appropriation in design.
Find a collection of Native American living room furniture, folk art, rugs and carpets, decorative objects and other items on 1stDibs.
Black Inuit Pacific North West Native American Decorative Lidded Box Bird Motif
Located in Red Lion, PA
Small Round Inuit Northwest Coast Native American Lidded Box with Bird Motif: Possibly in Volcanic Pearlite This exquisite small black...
Composition
Navajo Sterling Silver & Turquoise Hand Made Pill Boxes, Set of Three, 1930s
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A set of three hand made sterling silver pill cases or trinket boxes, Navajo, Native American – circa 1930s. The boxes are decorated with ...
Sterling Silver
1992 Alaska Native Nations Spakwus Eagle Bentwood Yellow Cedar Box
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1992 Alaska Native Bentwood Box Spakwus Eagle Red and Black Native Nations Yellow Cedar signed appears as David R Moore dated art 92 August 10.75 x 5.38 d x 7.5 h Preowned vintage c...
Bentwood, Cedar
Sterling Silver Continental Pill or Patch Box
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is a wonderful late 19th century sterling patch or pill box in the 17th/18th century style. The box is designed as an oval with a repousse lid depicting a farm yard vignette detailed with farm buildings, chickens and family life. The reverse is a simple polished sterling oval that has been hallmarked and bears the export mark "Germany". The box is in overall very good condition; the clasp is tight and no heavy wear is present. This silver piece would make an outstanding ring presentation box...
Sterling Silver
Tessellated Horn and Cedar Wood Box
Located in San Diego, CA
A very well crafted tessellated Horn cedar wood box, circa 1980s. The piece is very heavy and solid and measures 6.375"W x 4.5"D x 3.5"H. #3772
Horn, Cedar
$1,421Sale Price|47% Off
H 7.68 in W 15.36 in D 10.24 in
Swedish 18th Century Bentwood Travel Box or Chest
Located in Buisson, FR
Rare and very beautiful Swedish travel box with stunning patina and hand forged iron details. Working lock and key ( bronze key from the 19th century). Sweden, circa 1750-1800. Weath...
Iron
$345Sale Price|20% Off
H 14 in W 18 in D 10 in
Decorative Box with lid, Vintage Wooden Brown Jewellery Box, Hand Carved
Located in Wembley, GB
A handmade wooden jewellery box with a lid and lock, it is perfectly designed and created in a suitable size for keeping valuables inside. The top of this box has leaf patterns and l...
Papercord, Boxwood, Driftwood
$626
H 0.56 in W 1.38 in D 1.7 in
Pill Box Silver Sterling Enamel hand-engraved Baroque-style design Salimbeni
By Giorgio Salimbeni, Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Rounded rectangular pill box in 925/1000 sterling silver with a fine hand-engraved Baroque-style design and fire-enamelled finish. Dimensions: 3.5 x 4.3 x 1.4 cm. Weight: 36 g. Desi...
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
$390
H 4 in W 18 in D 13 in
Vintage Chinese Black Lacquer Floral Box with Bird Motif and Felt Interior
Located in Yonkers, NY
This vintage Chinese lacquered box is finely decorated with an allover floral and foliate composition accented by delicately rendered birds, executed against a deep black ground. The...
Brass
$13,551Sale Price|20% Off
H 9.06 in W 12.6 in D 7.88 in
Crocodile Cigar Box with Alligator Skin and Wartog Teeth and Cedar Wood
Located in Paris, FR
Cigar box crocodile with cedar wood structure, covered with alligator skin, details in bronze and crystal. With two Wartog teeth. With thermometer to keep your best cigars. Exce...
Crystal, Bronze
$1,650
H 11.75 in W 21.5 in D 13.5 in
Spanish Colonial Era 18th/19th Century Inlaid Cedar Wooden Chest Box Trunk
Located in Forney, TX
A charming scarce Spanish Colonial era parquetry inlaid cedar legged storage chest (large table box / small trunk) with nicely aged warm rich dark patina. circa 1790 Rustic handmade...
Iron
Decorative American Craftsman Studio Wood Lidded Box, 1980's
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Decorative American Craftsman Studio Wood Lidded Box, 1980's Two-piece, oval-shaped, worked, unknown hardwood box with doweled lid made by Jerry Starr, sculptor, NJ, USA. Produced i...
Wood
$250
H 2 in W 4.5 in D 3 in
Decorative Ceramic Chinoiserie Box with Lid and Pink and Blue Floral Motif
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A small Chinoiserie ceramic decorative box with a lid. Rectangular in shape, this box features a hand-painted floral motif on the top of the lid as w...
Ceramic, Paint
$420Sale Price|30% Off
H 8.75 in Dm 19.75 in
Antique Chinese Shanxi Round Bentwood Dumpling Serving Steamer Box 20"
Located in Dayton, OH
Early 20th century Shanxi wooden storage box used for serving steamed dumplings / food at family gatherings. This steamer box features traditional round, rustic, bentwood constructi...
Bentwood
Art Deco Cedar Lined Amboyna Burl Cigarette Box
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Rectangular Art Deco bone trimmed amboyna burl cigarette box, Trimmed in bone on all edges as well as the surfaces of the opening the amboyna extends to all sides including the botto...
Bone, Amboyna
Sold
H 5.25 in W 10 in D 6.5 in
Hand Carved Brown Rectangular Wood Eagle Puzzle Box with Hidden Key Compartment
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A large wooden hand-carved puzzle box with an eagle motif. This large box is created from wood and is rectangular in shape. This box is unique as it has a hidden compartment to hold ...
Wood
Sold
H 4 in W 8.5 in D 4.5 in
Geometric Southwest Rectangular Ceramic Box with Lid in Pink Blue and Green
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A long rectangular ceramic box in a Southwest or Geometric motif. We've never seen a box like this before. The sides are painted in a deep blue with geometric patterns in bright gree...
Ceramic, Paint
Navajo Sterling Silver & Turquoise Hinged Box, by Gary Reeves
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Navajo Sterling Silver & Turquoise Hinged Box, by Gary Reeves Gary Reeves (1962-2014) The Navajo sterling silver and turquoise hinged box, crafted by the r...
Sterling Silver
Sold
H 3.25 in W 5.5 in D 4 in
Mid-Century Era West Coast Haida Styled Copper Covered Box with Repouse Decor
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This small hand-crafted decorative or jewelry box is unsigned, but presumed to have originated from Canada, dating to approximately 1960 and done in the West Coast Haida style. The b...
Copper
Clarence Wells Signed West Coast Haida Styled Decorative Wooden Box
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This decorative wooden box was designed by Clarence Wells of Canada and dates to approximately 1970 and done in the West Coast Haida style. The box is h...
Wood
Navajo Inspired Bone Box
Located in New York, NY
Colorful keepsake box with dyed bone panels with hand incised details lined in zebra wood.
Bone
1920-1930s Navajo Sterling Box
Located in Litchfield, CT
Navajo, American, circa 1920-1930s. Decorated with traditional Concho stamps in a unique motif, this early 20th century Navajo box is fabricated in sterling...
Sterling Silver
Sold
H 15 in W 10 in D 9.5 in
19th Century Native American Sioux Parfleche Box, Painted Hide Plains Artifact
Located in Denver, CO
This antique Sioux Native American parfleche box, dating from the 19th century, is a remarkable example of Plains Indian craftsmanship. Constructed from rawhide and painted with intr...
Hide
Sold
H 0.5 in W 1.63 in L 0.5 in
Miniature .925 Silver and Turquoise Navajo Trinket Box, Typical Navajo Design
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
Miniature .925 Silver Navajo and turquoise trinket box, typical Navajo engraved design on five sides. The box has a turquoise stone mounted in the center on the lid. The box measures...
Silver
Antique Native American Painted Parfleche Box, Plateau, 19th Century
Located in Denver, CO
A rare box form constructed of rawhide and intricately painted in an abstract design with natural pigments and red trade cloth. This was created by a North American Indian living in ...
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