Folk Art 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.
1950s American Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Hardwood
1950s Italian Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Gesso
1950s English Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Ceramic
1950s British Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Paper
1950s Portuguese Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Pottery
1950s English Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Wire
1950s English Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Wire
1950s German Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Metal, Brass
1950s American Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Wood
1950s American Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Wood
1950s Indian Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Bronze
1950s Greenlandic Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Soapstone
1950s Spanish Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Terracotta
1950s French Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Wood
1950s American Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Iron
1950s American Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Bone, Plaster
1950s Finnish Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Folk Art Sculptures
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Uzbek Folk Art Sculptures
Cotton, Linen, Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Uzbek Folk Art Sculptures
Linen, Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Uzbek Folk Art Sculptures
Cotton, Linen, Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Uzbek Folk Art Sculptures
Linen, Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Uzbek Folk Art Sculptures
Cotton, Linen, Silk
1960s German Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Brass
20th Century Mexican Folk Art Sculptures
Ceramic, Paint, Clay
21st Century and Contemporary Uzbek Folk Art Sculptures
Cotton, Linen, Silk
1920s German Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Earthenware
1920s German Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Earthenware
21st Century and Contemporary Uzbek Folk Art Sculptures
Cotton, Linen, Silk
1950s German Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Ceramic
1950s French Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Wood, Paper
1950s Austrian Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Metal, Bronze
1950s Greenlandic Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Soapstone
1950s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Metal
1950s Italian Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Acrylic, Wood
1950s Togolese Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Wood
1950s German Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Metal
1950s American Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Bone, Plaster
1950s Chinese Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Multi-gemstone, Metal
1950s British Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Paper
1950s British Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Metal