Folk Art Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures
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.
Mid-20th Century Thai Folk Art Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures
Fabric, Wood
Early 20th Century French Folk Art Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures
Metal
1970s American Vintage Folk Art Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures
Metal
19th Century Antique Folk Art Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures
Wood
19th Century Antique Folk Art Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures
Steel
Mid-19th Century Danish Antique Folk Art Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures
Brass
1930s British Vintage Folk Art Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures
Wood
1870s European Antique Folk Art Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures
Metal
20th Century English Folk Art Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures
Wood
1960s American Vintage Folk Art Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures
Metal
18th Century Italian Antique Folk Art Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures
Pine
19th Century French Antique Folk Art Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures
Textile, Wood
1910s American Vintage Folk Art Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures
Wood
Early 1900s French Antique Folk Art Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures
Pine, Oak
19th Century French Antique Folk Art Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures
Copper, Iron
1960s American Vintage Folk Art Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures
Metal
19th Century Spanish Antique Folk Art Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures
Fabric, Wood
19th Century European Antique Folk Art Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures
20th Century European Folk Art Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures
Marble
Early 20th Century French Folk Art Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures
Iron
Late 19th Century French Antique Folk Art Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures
Metal
1950s German Vintage Folk Art Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures
Metal
Early 1900s Italian Antique Folk Art Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures
Oak
1880s Japanese Antique Folk Art Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures
Wood, Paint
1980s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures
Brass
1920s British Vintage Folk Art Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures
Bronze
Early 1900s Danish Antique Folk Art Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures
Art Glass
1980s French Vintage Folk Art Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures
1920s European Vintage Folk Art Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures
Late 20th Century American Folk Art Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures
Wood, Paint
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures
Pine
Early 20th Century Folk Art Mobiles and Kinetic Sculptures
Metal