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.
19th Century American Folk Art Wall Clock, circa 1875, Maine
Located in Essex, MA
CIRCA 1875 FOLK ART AROOSTOOK MAINE WALL CLOCK Unique Hand Built Walnut Skeletal Clock with all wooden works, possibly by Janes Kendrick Osgood of Houlton, having painted numbers and...
Maple
Dated 1976 Norwegian Rosemaling Wall Clock by Ingeborg Aaltvedt
Located in Skien, NO
Ingeborg Aaltvedt for Porsgrund Porcelain Rosemaling Wall Clock, Norway 1976 A rare Norwegian wall clock by Porsgrund Porcelain, hand-painted by artist Ingeborg Aaltvedt in 1976. Th...
Porcelain
$927Sale Price|20% Off
Christmas Antique English Iron Clock Dial Face - Rare Holy Family Dial - Working
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A Rare and lovely antique iron clock dial dating from around 1850. It features a charming painting of the Holy Family, Jesus, Mary and Joseph to the arch. Beautifully painted in the ...
Brass, Iron
Unique Hand-Painted Stone Wall Clock with Bear Motif and Natural Moss
Located in Skien, NO
A unique sculptural wall clock crafted from a thin slice of natural stone, hand-painted with a forest scene featuring a gray bear among pine trees and grasses. The artist ingeniously...
Stone
$927Sale Price|20% Off
Antique English Iron Clock Dial Face, Smuggler, Fully Working with Seconds Hand
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A lovely antique iron clock dial dating from 1850 featuring the legendary smuggler and brigand Will Watch. Beautifully painted in the vibrant colours of the theater, he was portrayed...
Brass, Iron
$795Sale Price|20% Off
Antique English Iron Clock Dial Face, Country Garden, Fully Working
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A lovely antique iron English clock dial circa 1840 in its original enamel, charmingly decorated and English country garden flowers. With ancient craquelure, marks of a long life and...
Iron
$839Sale Price|20% Off
Antique English Iron Clock Dial Face, Bird, Fully Working
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A lovely antique iron clock dial circa 1830 in its original enamel, charmingly decorated with birds and flowers. To the corners are charmingly painted flowers and summer fruits. With...
Iron
Antique Edwardian Quality Hand Painted Porcelain Mantle Clock
Located in Ipswich, GB
Antique Edwardian quality hand painted porcelain mantle clock having a quality hand painted decorated porcelain clock case with flowers, leaves an...
Porcelain, Glass
$8,308
H 41.5 in W 13.3 in D 7.9 in
Large and Hand Carved Gothic Revival with Carillon Sound Wall Clock, ca 1900
Located in Lisse, NL
Stunning clock for the collectors of rare and truly stylish Gothic antiques. Gothic wall clocks are a rare find and this more than three feet tall specimen probably is the best an...
Brass, Enamel, Wrought Iron
Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Wall Clock
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A traditional Austrian Biedermeier wall clock featuring a rectangular carved and gilded wood frame clock face; surmounted by a gilt bronze winged eagle. The decorations on the frame ...
Bronze
Contemporary Wall Clock 'Moment' in Black Lava Stone
By Buzao, Bentu Design
Located in Paris, IDF
Wall clock 'Moment' by Buzao x Bentu design. Black lava stone Measure: Diameter 24cm.
Lava
French 19th Century Ormolu Cartel Wall Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality 19th century French gilded ormolu wall clock, having Rococo influences to the scroll foliate decoration and cherubs above the eight day striking movement, circa 1880.
Ormolu
Tiffany & Co. Stone and Metal Desk Clock with Original Dial and Hands, 1930's
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Tiffany & Co. STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco / Articulated Desk Clock METAL / MATERIAL: Nickle, Brass, Stone CIRCA / YEAR: 1930's DIMENSIONS / SIZE: 12 Length X 17...
Stone, Brass, Nickel
19th Century Hand Painted, Engraved and Gilt Brass Carriage Clock
Located in London, GB
A fine carriage clock The engraved gilt case rises from an ogee plinth, and is dressed with elliptical polychrome enameled plaques to the fascia and the sides, depicting children ...
Brass
Nomon Swing Wall Clock By Andres Martinez
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Among the fashionable and avant-garde watches offered by the Nomon brand, is the Swing G Wall Clock. It has an innovative design using dark tones of walnut and Gold needles. It is part of the Gold N collection that stands out for showing the elegance of home, while maintaining simplicity at all times. The combination of simplicity and elegance will go hand in hand with the decorative style of your home, establishment or office. The use of wooden floors, furniture or dark sofas, or the decorative piece of your choice, will be enhanced in beauty and character. You should take into account the neutral color palette for the walls and thus know where to place it. The Swing G Watch by Nomon stands out for being one of those watches with wooden pendulum variations in its lower part. American walnut wood is the star and main material of this work of are, in addition to its polished brass needles...
Brass
Clocks - Tall-case clock - 19th century
Located in Porto, PT
Clocks - Tall-case clock - 19th century. French; 19th century; enamel dial with Roman numerals. Oak wood case decorated with vegetal motifs. Mechanism needs servicing. Dimensions: 23...
Wood
Chapel clock - 19th century
Located in Porto, PT
Chapel clock - 19th century. Late 19th century American mahogany case; metal dial with Roman numerals. In working order. Dimensions: 51.1x27x11 cm.
Wood
$490Sale Price|30% Off
H 15.5 in W 9.75 in D 6 in
Antique French Morbier Comtoise Movement Clock Face Weights & Pendulum
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique 19th century French Comtoise / Morbier clock movement with embossed brass pediment featuring a scene of the Flight into Egypt with the Virgin Mary and infant Jesus on a donke...
Metal, Brass, Enamel
Junghans Wall Clock
Located in Vienna, AT
Wood box, clock face with Arabic numbers, restored new battery movement.
Wood
$525
H 39.5 in W 13 in D 4 in
New Haven Clock Co Banjo Clock With Reverse Painted Glass and Mahogany Case
Located in San Francisco, CA
New Haven Clock Co Banjo Clock With Reverse Painted Glass and Mahogany Case 13"W x 4"D x 39.5"H
Glass, Mahogany
German Ceramic Wall Clock by Garant
Located in Vienna, AT
Ceramic clock with a mechanic movement with floating anchor made my Garant (later Hugo Hättich) in Germany in the early 1950s. Delivery time about 2-3 weeks. The movement will be ...
Ceramic, Glass
19th Century Austrian Empire Gilt-Wood Wall Clock
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Highly sculptural Austrian Empire hand carved gilt-wood clock depicting an eagle holding a fabric piece. The center of the piece has a clock situated in it with Roman numerals. Made ...
Glass, Giltwood
Antique English Iron Clock Dial Face, Bird, Fully Working
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A lovely antique iron clock dial circa 1820 in its original enamel, charmingly decorated with a bird and flowers. With ancient craquelure, marks of ...
Iron
Antique English Iron Clock Dial Face, Birds, Fully Working
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A lovely antique iron clock dial circa 1830 in its original enamel, charmingly decorated with birds and flowers. To the corners are charmingly paint...
Brass, Iron
Sold
H 17 in W 12 in D 2 in
Antique English Iron Clock Dial Face, Sailor Departs Ship Lyre, Fully Working
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A lovely antique iron clock dial dating from 1840 featuring the beautiful folk tale of a woman singing and playing a lyre for her lovers safe return...
Brass, Iron
Antique English Iron Clock Dial Face, Bird, Fully Working
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A lovely antique iron clock dial circa 1830 in its original enamel, charmingly decorated with a bird and flowers. With ancient craquelure, marks of ...
Brass, Iron
Unique Hide and Stag Heads Custom Wall Clock
Located in San Diego, CA
Very unique and interesting large custom wall clock. This custom made clock is beautifully covered in a brown hide in the entire face, with 4 brass s...
Brass
Sold
H 23.23 in W 15.75 in D 2.76 in
Original Acrylic on Wood Painting of Two Cardinals Nesting by A. Rangel Hidalgo
Located in Mexico, DF
Original signed acrylic painting on wood depicting a pair of Cardinals nesting by Alejandro Rangel Hidalgo. The painting was commissioned (and hence the name of the person that did) ...
Acrylic, Wood
Antique French Clock Dial Face Wall Clock, Fully Working
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A charming antique French comptoise clock dial, beautifully naïve repoussé work surround with peacocks and swans, porcelain enamel dial with brass hands. Originally with a large weig...
Brass, Iron
Antique French Clock Dial Face Wall Clock, Fully Working
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A charming antique French comptoise clock dial, beautifully naïve repoussé work surround with painted decoration, porcelain enamel dial with brass hands. Originally with a large weig...
Iron, Brass
Antique English Iron Clock Dial Face, Swan, Fully Working
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A lovely antique iron clock dial circa 1830 in its original enamel, charmingly decorated with a swan and romantic folly ruins. With ancient craquelu...
Brass, Iron
Antique English Clock Dial Face, Country Garden, Working
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A lovely antique iron clock dial circa 1830 in it's original enamel, charmingly decorated with country garden flowers. With ancient craquelure, mark...
Brass, Iron
Early 19th Century Swedish Folk Art Wall Clock
Located in Kramfors, SE
Folk Art wall clock made during the first half of the 19th century. The clock is in untouched condition and with original paint. The mechanism is the sa...
Pine
19th c. Painting With Enamelled Wall Clock
Located in Copenhagen, K
Fantastic and rare German or Austrian wall clock, where the clock is in the middle of a painting. Pendulum and key inside. Painting is in a wooden box with a glass door in front of it.
Wood