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.
Antique Black Forest Brienz Wood Carved Dog Letter Opener 1890s, Austria Vienna
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautifully carved and richly expressive, this antique dog head letter opener is a fine example of late 19th-century Black Forest or Brienz craftsmanship. Hand-carved from wood, the ...
Glass, Wood
Unicorn Mythical Creature Vienna Bronze Letter Opener, Antique Austria 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic early 1960s Austrian letter opener. It has a nice patina. I did not clean it, so the next owner can decide what he wants to do with it. This highly collectible vintage piec...
Brass, Bronze
Scandinavian Ceramic Microcosmos Pen-Holder w. Blue Tits on a Birch Branch
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A naturalistic pen-holder in the shape of this glazed ceramic micro cosmos with a blue tit family (Parus caeruleus) going on with life on an old 'tired' birch wood branch with cracks...
Ceramic
$410Sale Price|61% Off
French Mounted Horse Hoof Inkwell and Pen Holder, Late 19th Century
Located in Labrit, Landes
Mounted horse hoof inkwell with horseshoe pen holder Inkwell shoe ferrer pen holder with beautiful finish, popular art work Shipping: L11 P19 ...
Chrome, Wrought Iron
19th Century Swedish Painted Child Size Vanity Mirror
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A second half of the 19th century Scandinavian vanity mirror for kids. This Little hand painted in "Faux bois" technique mirror has a little...
Mirror, Pine
Early Swedish 19th Century Wooden Folk Art Box with Originally Paint
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A Swedish original painted Folk Art box. From the beginning of the 19th century, most likely used to keep writing supplies and office materials.
Pine
$175Sale Price|43% Off
Uredale Glass Paperwight Pebble Shape Star Decoration, North Yorkshire 20th C
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is an unusual hand-made Art-Glass paperweight from Uredale Glass, Masham, North Yorkshire, England which we date to the late 20th century. The paperweight is hand made in the...
Glass
Vintage Hand-Carved Marble Bookends, Aztec Mayan Design, Mexico, 1950s
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Pair of vintage green and white marble Aztec Mayan stone bookends. Vintage handcrafted large heavy natural marble bookends with Aztec Mayan green head on a pyramidal form. These are very substantial, heavy and well handmade bookends. They are hand carved white with white natural color of the marble and the green marble carved Mayan head...
Marble
African Tuareg Hand-Tooled Black Leather Box, Mauritania, 1950
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Hand tooled black leather box from Africa. Very fine workmanship with tribal traditional African symbols on black leather. African Tuareg style probably ...
Leather
20th Century Bronze Letter Opener in African Tribal Art Bakota Style
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Brass Figural Letter Opener, Bakota Style, Gabon, 20th Century This striking brass letter opener is crafted in the Bakota style of Gabon, Central Africa. The piece displays elegant ...
Bronze
$304Sale Price|85% Off
Ceramic Inkwell, Late 19th Century, Sweden
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Fantastic ceramic inkwell, with what seems to be a pottery oven in the midst of two naivistic lions. You lift of the top lid to place pens and lift up the two lions heads for ink. Co...
Ceramic
Swedish 19th Century Wooden Folk Art Box With Shaving Knives
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A Swedish original painted Folk Art box. From the beginning of the 19th century, used to keep shaving knives and similar supplies. Included 3 knives with the razor blades in English ...
Wood
Small Danish Wooden Tobacco Jar, circa 1800-1825
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Small Circular Danish wooden tobacco jar, circa 1800-1825 The jar has "TOBAK" and illustrations of two chalk pipes painted on one side of the jar...
Birch
$247Sale Price|74% Off
19th Century Faux Bamboo Desk Accessory Brass Ruler
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
19th Century Faux Bamboo Desk Accessory Brass Ruler
Brass
Set of Two Moroccan Antique Tribal Powder Case Flasks
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Antique Moroccan Decorative Bottle. Destined to be a conversation piece no matter where you place it, this is another of those rare items you'll only find at Mosaik. Moroccan Antique...
Brass, Tin
Royal Doulton The Mendicant Figurine, Hand-Painted Porcelain, 1939
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Royal Doulton The Mendicant, Moroccan figurine of a man wearing a turban and playing a tamburine. High glazed, finely modeled bone china with exquisi...
Porcelain
Royal Doulton "The Gaffer" British Porcelain Figurine
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Royal Doulton "The Gaffer". Made in England, by Royal Doulton England, "The Gaffer". Royal Doulton, H.N. 2053, finely painted porcelain figure of "The Gaffer", collectable, high gl...
Porcelain
Royal Doulton "the Carpet Seller" Moroccan Decorative Porcelain Figurine
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Royal Doulton "the carpet seller," Moroccan figurine of a carpet seller. Made in England, by Royal Doulton England, the "Carpet Seller," Royal Doulto...
Porcelain
18th Century Folk Art Wood and Wrought Iron Candleholder
Located in Copenhagen, K
Adjustable wrought iron and wood candle holder with wood base and snipe nail.
Iron
Charming Victorian Hand Carved Pine Stationary Box
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A charming Victorian hand carved pine stationary box The Box is good quality and in very good condition for its age, the hand carved sloping doors on...
Pine
Khaki Size 6 Log Bowl by Loyal Loot Hand Made from Reclaimed Wood
Located in calgary, CA
Perfect as a feature objet d'art on your table or shelves, a catch-all for jewellery and special items, or displayed as a group for a striking centrepiece. Each Log Bowl is unique and makes the perfect one of a kind gift. Log Bowls combine the beauty of a tree in its natural state with a high-gloss, vibrant finish. Each bowl is handmade using locally reclaimed trees of all varieties (fallen or cut down due to infrastructure or inclement weather). The trees are hand selected, gathered, turned and finished by Loyal Loot...
Wood, Willow
Early 18th Century Wooden Folk Art Ink Sander
Located in Copenhagen, K
Very lovely wooden ink sander with small carvings all around it.
Wood
Vintage Wooden Letter Opener With Folk Style Art on Handles.
Located in Seattle, WA
Makers Mark Reading “Spindlermuhle” on the Back. Translate From German to a Town in the Czech Republic. Vintage Condition Consistent with Age as Pictured. Dimensions. 8 W ; 1 1/2 D
Wood
$2,190 / set
H 3.15 in W 3.15 in D 5.32 in
Three Sterling Silver Mounted Commemorative Horse Hoof Inkwells
Located in London, GB
These interesting inkwells were crafted in Britain between the Victorian period and early to mid-20th century. The works have been created from horse hooves, applied with sterling silver mounts. Each hoof has been set onto a silver horseshoe and features a silver top and lid. Two of the tops have been engraved to imitate real horse hair, while the third is more simple, with banded ornament. All three have been given covers, two of which feature commemorative inscriptions. One lid states, ‘The Grey/1907-1917’ — presumably the name of the favourite racehorse, whose hoof this is — and another reads, ‘Mavourneen/ Died June 29th / Aged 53’. ‘Mavourneen’ is an Irish Gaelic word meaning ‘my beloved’. The dedicatee’s age of 53 implies that they were a human, perhaps a jokey, or racehorse owner. The lids open up onto a silver-lined interior, intended to be used for storing ink as part of a desk arrangement. The inkwells are stamped, on their underside, with silver hallmarks and maker’s marks, ‘J.T.’ and ‘C & CS’. This set of three horse hoof inkwells...
Sterling Silver
$524Sale Price|20% Off
H 6.07 in W 16.42 in D 11.62 in
Swedish folk art painted wooden box "Timplåda" with sliding lid
Located in Kvidinge, SE
Painted box with a typical Swedish art work decor, dated 1836. A 'timplåda' is a traditional Swedish wooden box, handcrafted with care. Popular during the 18th and 19th centuries, ...
Pine
Hand Painted Middle Eastern Moorish Style Photo Album, 19th Century
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Antique Middle Eastern Qajar style Moorish picture photo album, with hand painted miniatures on the cover. This fine Middle Eastern Moorish style scrapbook is hand painted with 22-k...
Paper
Marble Desk Pen Holder Organizer
Located in New York, NY
A substantial marble desk pen/pencil/marker holder organizer, in the modern style, Midcentury Modern design period, circa mid-20th century. Organizer can hold small pieces of paper, ...
Marble
19th Century Giltwood Watch Holder
Located in New Orleans, LA
Beautifully carved figural giltwood pocket watch stand.
$700
H 10 in W 8.63 in D 6 in
Vintage Murano Glass Dressing Table/Vanity Mirror, Italy, Mid 20th Century
Located in Chatham, ON
Vintage - Murano glass - dressing table/vanity mirror - all original fittings with silver leaf backed mirror - finished and hinged wood easel back (can be wall mounted) - unsigned - ...
Art Glass, Mirror, Hardwood
19th Century Baccarat Inkwell
Located in Tampa, FL
A Baccarat crystal inkwell with decorated bronze. Circa 19th century, France. The interior is two inches deep and the opening is one inch wide.
Crystal
$5,000
H 2.76 in W 9.85 in D 5.12 in
Enamel cloissoné and gilt bronze inkwell. France, late 19th century.
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Enamel cloissoné and gilt bronze inkwell. France, late 19th century.
Bronze, Enamel
Early 19th Century Swedish Hand-Carved Oak Lidded Box, Wabi-Sabi Folk Art
Located in Stockholm, SE
A beautifully understated early 19th-century Swedish lidded box, hand-carved in solid oak and rich with age and character. The simple circular form is elevated by a deeply developed ...
Oak
Carl Auböck #7211 Letter Opener "Turned", Austria 2022
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #7211 letter opener "Turned", Austria 2022.
Brass
$650
H 5.5 in W 16 in D 9 in
Antique Anglo-Indian Fluted Writing Box With Secret Drawers. Early 19th Century
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful writing box made from a tropical hardwood Fabulous shape and plain fluted carving. It gives it a modernist appearance Probably Sri Lankan 3 secret drawers* Replaced lea...
Wood
19th century hand painted rustic Swedish box
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century hand painted rustic Swedish box circa 1850. Good quality near square decorative strong box. Made from solid pine and hand painted in the traditional scandinavian way, ...
Pine, Paint
Sold
H 5.32 in W 1.58 in D 0.6 in
Margeuritte Daisy Letter Opener Page Turner Coupe Papier One-of-a-Kind France
Located in Trensacq, FR
Unique One-of-a-Kind Marguerite Daisy Letter Opener / Coupe-Papier / Page Turner — Signed “Didier” Beautifully detailed, hand crafted love token depicting a single stemmed bloom. A ...
Brass, Metal
Sold
H 5.25 in W 6 in D 2.13 in
Boy on a Gilt Elephant Metal Money Box Piggy Bank, Antique Austria 1890s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Gorgeous vintage metal money bank. A beautiful decorative item in metal. Made in Austria, circa 1890s to 1900s. Nice addition to any collection, desktop, living room or children's ro...
Metal
Sold
H 2.63 in W 2.75 in D 3.38 in
Mountain Hut Lodge Haus Wachenfeld Metal Money Box Piggy Bank, Vintage 1930s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Gorgeous vintage metal money bank. A beautiful decorative item in metal. Made in Germany, circa 1920s to 1930s as a souvenir building bank. Nice addition to any collection, desktop, ...
Metal
Sold
H 7 in W 6.5 in D 4 in
A Charming Horse Shoe and Stirrup Stationary or Letter Rack This is a very attr
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A Charming Horse Shoe and Stirrup Stationary or Letter Rack This is a very attractive and useful piece, the rack is made in brass, it has a stirrup at the centre of 2 horseshoes set...
Brass
Sold
H 8 in W 0.5 in D 0.5 in
Samurai Sword Faux Bamboo Vienna Bronze Letter Opener, Antique Austria 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic early 1960s Austrian letter opener. It has a nice patina. I did not clean it, so the next owner can decide what he wants to do with it. This highly collectible vintage piece ...
Brass, Bronze
19th Century Devil Letter Opener
Located in Oakland, CA
19th Century cast bronze devil letter opener, having a rich patina to the bronze with the Devil's face near the base of the handle, an unusual item.
Bronze
Vintage Brass Tennis Racket Clip 1980s
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Brass Tennis Racket Clip 1980s. A vintage paper clip holder featuring a brass tennis racket. Brass Tennis Racket Paper Holder Clip, Desk an...
Brass
Vintage Christmas Nutcracker Figure Wood Erzgebirge Germany
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Folk Art vintage wooden nutcracker figure from the Erzgebirge. The region Erzgebirge formerly Eastern Germany is famous for this special kind of nutc...
Wood
Collection of English Glass "Dump" Weights
Located in Greenwich, CT
Nice collection of 5 English 19th Century blown glass "dump" or "end of day" weights in various sizes, all with slight aqua tones. Reportedly, these weights were made by the glassbl...
Blown Glass
Sold
H 7.1 in W 12.6 in D 7.9 in
Wooden Box, casket, Carved Antler, Tramp Art, 1880, Austria/Black Forest Germany
Located in Wien, AT
Spectacular wooden box, advanced tramp art, made circa 1880 in the Salzburg region - Austria or Bavaria, Germany. The box has a substructure of basswood, inside partly cherry wood. ...
Horn, Wood
Sold
H 9.13 in W 1.25 in D 0.13 in
Bulldog Pug Dogs Vienna Bronze Letter Opener, antique Austria 1910s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic early 19th century Austrian letter opener with Pug Dog motive. It has a nice patina. I did not clean it, so the next owner can decide what he wants to do with it. This highly collectible antique piece is in very good condition, consistent with age and use. Nice addition to your room, desktop or just for your collection of pug dog items...
Bronze, Brass
Sold
H 0.75 in W 11.5 in D 4 in
Bulldog Pug Dogs Vienna Bronze Trinket Tray or Catchall, antique Austria 1890s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic late 19th century Austrian Trinket tray, or catchall. Vintage brass trinket dish with Pug Dog motive. It has a nice patina. I did not cle...
Bronze