20th Century American Folk Art Carved Stop Sign
Located in Chicago, IL
A 20th century American Folk Art hand-carved and painted wood stop sign mounted on a custom steel stand.
20th Century American Folk Art Mounted Objects
Wood, Paint
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.
20th Century American Folk Art Carved Stop Sign
Located in Chicago, IL
A 20th century American Folk Art hand-carved and painted wood stop sign mounted on a custom steel stand.
Wood, Paint
$784Sale Price|42% Off
A Mounted 17th Century Folk Art Brass Bassinoire Cover from France
Located in Buisson, FR
This pierced brass decorative element from France was originally the cover of a bassinoire from the 1600s. A bassinoire is a device where hot coals are inserted into a vented recept...
Brass
Antique American Folk Art Horse Silhouette Weathervane
Located in San Francisco, CA
On offer is an antique American folk art horse silhouette weathervane, likely dating from the late 19th century to the early 20th century (circa 1890s–1920s). The horse’s flat profi...
Metal
Arts & Crafts Folk Art Chandelier w Music Making & Dancing Sculptures, Great Fun
Located in Lisse, NL
Unique and all handcrafted, practical size antique circular chandelier. Some chances you only get once in your life and that is exactly what we thought when we first saw this unique...
Metal, Iron
Arts & Crafts Folk Art Chandelier with Four Folkloristic Male Figures
Located in Lisse, NL
A museum-quality Arts & Crafts folk art chandelier, conceived and handcrafted in southern Germany in the early years of the 20th century. This exceptional sculptural pendant transcen...
Iron
Gilt Thai Ceremonial Headdress, Hand-Crafted Folk Art, 20th Century
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Ceremonial Thai headdress usually worn for wedding or religious ceremonies. Hand-crafted in Thailand. Gilt Thai Ceremonial Headdress circa ...
Giltwood
19th Century Wooden Butter Mold with Carved Floral Interior
Located in Lisse, NL
Wonderful antique wooden butter mold with a charming hand-carved floral decoration to the interior. This rustic and highly decorative butter mold was once used for shaping and decor...
Iron
$784Sale Price|42% Off
A Mounted 17th Century Folk Art Brass Bassinoire Cover from France
Located in Buisson, FR
This pierced brass decorative element from France was originally the cover of a bassinoire from the 1600s. A bassinoire is a device where hot coals are inserted into a vented recept...
Brass
18th Century Wooden Cross, Guanajuato, Mexico
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Wooden cross Guanajuato, Mexico Wood, paint 22 x 13 inches, (56 cm x 33 cm) 18th century A wonderful old wooden cross with a painted crucified Christ figure, an angel, possibly Mary Magdelene...
Wood, Paint
Large Cast Bronze Buddha Hand Sculpture, Folk Art, Thai, 1950, Mounted
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Oversized cast bronze Buddhist hand mounted on a black wooden stand and is covered with a great patina. A vintage oversized Thai bronze sculpture...
Bronze
American Copper Spread Winged Eagle Weathervane with Sphere and Arrow, C. 1880
Located in Charleston, SC
American molded copper spread winged eagle weathervane with circular sphere, arrow, and mounted on cast iron squared base. Weathervane has a fine natural verdigris patina in the orig...
Copper, Iron
$1,024Sale Price|20% Off
Folk Art Wooden Flag Sculpture, Painted, USA, Circa 1960s
Located in Charleston, SC
FOLK ART CARVED AND PAINTED WOODEN PATRIOTIC FLAG, single-sided form retaining an old painted surface over gesso. 20th century. Acquired from a folk art collector, where many pieces...
Wood, Paint
Antique Chinese Weaving Stick Shuttle, Early 20th Century
Located in Chicago, IL
This long, wooden carving is an early 20th century Chinese weaving shuttle, once used by skilled artists in Yunnan province to weave textiles of cotton, hemp and silk upon the loom. Known as a stick shuttle, the rustic tool is simply designed with a slender handle and two prongs at either end to hold yarn or thread. Elevated by a custom steel stand, the antique shuttle...
Wood
$1,482Sale Price|50% Off
Italian Antique Forged Iron Coat of Arms, Circa 1550-1650
Located in Buisson, FR
Unique and wonderful folk art coat of arms, Depicting a eagle holding a rabbit, two crosses and two castle's and on the top a grotesque head. This beautiful period piece is made out ...
Iron
Vintage American Hand-Carved Wood Shoe Molds Bookends, Size 6.5, 1930s
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage pair of American wood women shoe form molds mounted as bookends Vintage wooden shoe making mold from the 1930s. A pair of shoe form converted to bookends, these well carved solid wood shoe mould would have been used to make handmade shoes. These molds were traditionally made for each customer and would be used each time they came into the cobbler for a new pair of shoes. They are in good original condition with the patina and metal that shows age. Cobbler molds size 6.5 B model 258 Made from solid wood, I love these moulds because of their individual nature but also they are almost a piece of sculpture. Since the shoe form themselves were used as molds to make shoes, there are pin-pricks and wear present from frequent use in addition to naturally aged patina. They work well as bookends or simply as tabletop sculptures. These elegant women wooden shoes bookends form mold make a great addition to your vintage decor. Vintage hand carved wood cobbler shoe molds...
Wood
Full Size 1950s Model Divers Helmet, Shop Display Piece
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Full Size 1950s Model Divers helmet, shop display piece The Helmet is a Rare Piece of Chandlery Shop Display, the helmet is a full size piece made in...
Brass
Wall Installation of Eleven Antique and Vintage Metal Kitchen Graters
Located in Coral Gables, FL
A wall installation composed of eleven antique and vintage metal kitchen graters and shredders, arranged as a sculptural study of one of the most enduring and continually adapted too...
Metal
Large Antique English Trench Art Table Cannon
Located in Forney, TX
Antique English Trench Art mixed metal miniature howitzer - signal style table cannon. Hand-crafted, assembled in the early 20th century, fashioned in par...
Brass, Bronze, Copper
Antique Silver Ring Necklace, Miao Minority, Early 20th Century
Located in Chicago, IL
This intricate silver necklace was once a part of the elaborate attire of a Miao women in southwest China, an ethnic minority with rich traditions of textile art and silverwork. In t...
Silver
Antique Silver Coil Necklace, Miao Minority, Early 20th Century
Located in Chicago, IL
This intricate silver necklace was once a part of the elaborate attire of a Miao women in southwest China, an ethnic minority with rich traditions of textile art and silverwork. In t...
Silver
$700Sale Price|20% Off
20Thc Original Painted Lighthouse Iron Bank -Hubley
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This original cream painted light house bank is stamp " Light of The World " on the front face of the bank.This is a published "Hubley " bank in the book of Hubley banks & doorstops....
Iron
Indonesian Painted Buffalo, Cow Bell Decorative Folk Art Sculpture, wall art
Located in London, GB
Antique Indonesian Buffalo Racing Cowbell Painted Wood with Rope Handle Discover this antique Indonesian buffalo racing cowbell, traditionally strapped around the necks of water bu...
Wood
Indonesian Painted Buffalo, Cow Bell Decorative Folk Art Sculpture, wall art
Located in London, GB
Antique Indonesian Buffalo Racing Cowbell Painted Wood with Rope Handle Discover this antique Indonesian buffalo racing cowbell, traditionally strapped around the necks of water bu...
Wood
Antique Architectural Parcel Gilt Wrought Iron Sculpture
Located in Forney, TX
A one-of-a-kind antique wrought iron sculpture, comprising 18th and 19th century architectural elements, in a rustic parcel gilt finish, including door lock, latch, and skeleton key,...
Bronze, Wrought Iron
Pair of brass and metal figurines with wooden base depicting Knights
By Mice di rugiano domenico e c. s.n.c.
Located in Cantù, IT
Pair of Brass and Metal Figurines with Wooden Base Depicting Medieval Knights, 20th century
Metal
Mounted Submarine Toilet Humor Sculpture
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
There’s trench art, and then there’s toilet humor - this is a little bit of both! Creative & fun sculpture composed of a copper toilet float, mounted on ...
Metal, Copper
Vintage Child Shoe Forms by Melissa Levinson, Iron Base, 1900-1909
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of three wooden child size shoe forms mounted on an iron base.
Iron
Vintage Marble Flagpole Finial on Steel and Lucite Base, Denmark
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Early 20th Century Danish vintage marble flagpole finial on steel and lucite base. Desk accessory or decorative object/sculpture.
Marble, Chrome
Rare antique Whistle Soda cast iron advertising shaped display
Located in Stamford, CT
Rare cast iron antique Whistle Soda advertising piece. This figurative shaped hand has a screw off thumb that was made to hold an hourglass shaped bot...
Iron
$1,596Sale Price|20% Off
Jon Michael Route Original Bronze Titled Two Georgia Songbirds
Located in Oakwood, GA
Original By Artist Jon Michael Route Titled "Two Georgia Songbirds" Hot Patina and Laquer Finish Copper, Pewter, & Brass Signature on lower right Comes with easy to mount hardware. F...
Brass, Copper, Pewter
$950 / item
Antique Wooden Bocce Ball Collection Mounted
Located in Stamford, CT
A collection of 5 antique wooden Bocce balls all mounted on custom made steel stands. Dense heavy wood. Beautiful untouched surfaces. Very organic and primitive looking. The Balls th...
Wood, Hardwood
One Pair of Charming Wooden Shoe Moulds Mounted as Bookends Great Character.
Located in Buchanan, MI
One pair of charming wooden shoe moulds mounted as bookends, comes with four leather bound books. Feel free to call with further questions. Would look great in a private library
Steel