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Folk Art Decorative Objects

FOLK ART STYLE

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.

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Style: Folk Art
Swedish 'Timplåda' Wooden Box, dated 1824
Located in Farsta, SE
Swedish 'Timplåda' Wooden Box, dated 1824 A 'timplåda' is a traditional Swedish wooden box, handcrafted with care. Popular during the 18th and 19th centuries, these boxes were used ...
Category

1820s Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Birch

Brass Mortar and Pestle
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A vintage Mortar and Pestle of brass. The piece is quite patinated, but could easily be brought to a full gleaming shine. Mortars and pestles ahve been around for many years = to c...
Category

19th Century European Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Two Swedish Cobalt Blue Candy Bowls, 19th Century
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Two cobalt blue candy bowls, 19th century, Sweden.
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass

"Wallace" Skating at the Park, Fine Craft Painted Rabbit, Canada, Circa 1997
Located in Chatham, ON
"Wallace" Skating at the Park - Fine craft raw wood sculpture with a painted finish highlighted with India ink - made from a solid pine branch with...
Category

Late 20th Century Canadian Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Softwood, Paint

Spanish Folk Hand-Painted Ice Bucket or Wine Champagne Cooler
Located in Barcelona, ES
Spanish Folk Hand-Painted Ice Bucket Kitchen Pot Cauldron in Cast Iron Popular cast iron cauldron with hand-painted details. From Galicia at the nor...
Category

Early 20th Century Spanish Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Iron

Whaler Made Bone and Ebonized Wood Round Lidded Box, circa 1850
Located in Stamford, CT
Whaler made antique bone and ebonized wood round box, circa 1850. With pierced bone medallion and delicately carved bone spiral decorative supports on the...
Category

Mid-19th Century American Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Bone, Wood

Fiberglass Crocodile in White Paint Surface
Located in New York, NY
Modern "Folk Art" crocodile made of cast fiberglass, in distressed white paint surface. Large scale makes this an impressive decorative item, probably circa 1960s. This item is built...
Category

1960s American Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects

Rustic Large Folk Art Handled Natural Organic Wood Carved Bowl, 1800s
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderful bowl with beautiful natural wood grain and glowing colorful patina acquired with age. This piece has a very organic, wabi-sabi feel to it. From a collection of older w...
Category

Mid-19th Century Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

Colorful Semi Precious Stone Rectangular Jewelry or Trinket Box with Lid
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A beautiful colorful decorative box with a lid created from Carrara marble and inlaid with a variety of semi-precious stones. The sides are inlaid with a variety of stones in abstrac...
Category

20th Century Indian Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Stone, Jade, Carrara Marble

Greenlandica, Ortôrak, large sculpture of a lying seal made of soapstone.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Greenlandica, Ortôrak, large sculpture of a lying seal made of soapstone. In good condition with signs of use. Signed and dated 82. Dimensions: Length 30.0 x Hight 10.0 cm x depth 10...
Category

1980s Greenlandic Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Soapstone

Rare Genuine Antique Swedish Large Root Bowl
Located in Kramfors, SE
Rare genuine root bowl from northern Sweden made during the first few years of the 19th century, around 1810 to 1820. The bowl is in untouched condition with an attractive patina. Th...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Pine

Monumental Antique Architectural Wood Carving Perched Eagle Bird
Located in Forney, TX
I think it's safe to say you have never seen a bird this big before! A rare, nearly 8ft tall, one-of-a-kind antique architectural hand carved wood sculptural element, in the form ...
Category

Early 20th Century Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

Vintage Three Feathers Whiskey Oversized Store Display Advertising Glass Bottle
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Oversized store display/advertising bottle for Three Feathers Whiskey (ca. 1940s, USA). Composed of amber glass with dual labels and original wooden stopper. Specks present to the gl...
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Glass, Wood, Paper

Hand Made Dovetailed Pyrography and Inlaid Lid Keepsake Box with Photo Album
Located in Ferndale, MI
Beautifully made keepsake box. Hinged lid and spine are intricately inlaid with mother of pearl, exotic wood, beads. Backside has pyrographic image burned in. All nicely joined with dovetail detail. Not sure on country of origin. Backside image does show local dress for the area. Vintage photo album...
Category

Mid-20th Century Finnish Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Pair of Inuit Children on a Sledge Made of Soapstone
Located in København, Copenhagen
A pair of Inuit children on a sledge made of soapstone. Approximately: 1970/1980s. In good condition, signs of use. Sticker. Dimensions: L 8.0 x D 4.0 x H 8.5 cm.
Category

1970s Canadian Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Soapstone

German Carved Wooden Figure of Shepherdess with a Sheep
Located in Barntrup, DE
Beautiful hand carved wooden figurine of an adorable girl - shepherdess with a sheep. Dimensions: Height 35.5 cm / in, width 13 cm / in, ...
Category

1930s German Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

Found and Salvaged Steel Structure on a Steel & Wooden Circular Base
Located in Chicago, IL
Jim Rose, known primarily for his steel furniture, was an avid collector and scoured salvage yards for unique and interesting items. Here, a collection of spare parts come together ...
Category

2010s American Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Metal, Steel

Swedish Craft, Bowl, Wood, Sweden, 19th Century
Located in High Point, NC
A wood bowl produced in Sweden, 19th Century.
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

Swedish Craft, Bowl, Wood, Sweden, 19th century
Located in High Point, NC
A red-painted wood bowl designed and produced in Sweden, 19th century.
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

Round Hand Carved Swedish Rootwood Bowl
Located in Houston, TX
Round hand carved Swedish root wood bowl, dating to 19th century. Retains remnants of early paint, markings and beautiful burled root grain. Note: Regional differences in humidity a...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

Antique Swedish genuine Birch bark container
Located in Boden, SE
The antique birch bark container was traditionally used as a storage vessel for food, dried herbs, or other valuable items. Its durable and waterproof properties made it ideal for pr...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Birch

Swedish MCM Wall Charger by Carl Harry Stalhane for Rorstrand
Located in Redding, CT
Swedish MCM wall charger by Carl Harry Stalhane for Rorstrand . Gorgeous colorful piece of Swedish folk art pottery . It can also be hung as this charger and has a copper wire loop a...
Category

1960s Swedish Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

Signed 19th Century Nantucket Lightship Basket by Rowland Folger
Located in Nantucket, MA
7 ½” open round Nantucket lightship basket with brass ears , “R Folger Maker Nantucket, Mass” is stenciled on the interior bottom, circa 1875 Rowland Folger (1803-1883).
Category

Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

19th Century Nest of Three Nantucket Lightship Baskets
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th Century Nest of Three Nantucket Lightship Baskets, circa 1880, a graduated set of three round, open baskets having cane weave on rattan staves, a carved swing handle with an elongated ovoid lozenge end connected to tin ears that extend down inside the weave for about a quarter length of a stave, and hardwood bottom plate, likely maple, that is slightly convex and scribed with three concentric rings, The baskets are not signed but are clearly all made by the same hand. The style of the handle with a lozenge end is very similar to that carved by Charles Ray, Capt. Thomas James, William Appleton and circle aboard the South Shoals Lightship, and continued in a more exaggerated manner ashore by A.D. Williams, Ferdinand Sylvaro and especially Mitchy Ray. The handle here has a more slender and elegant profile more akin to the work of Capt. James, suggesting that this nest was likely made by a sailor serving aboard the lightship during James' tenure. All three baskets remain in very good, strong condition, and enjoy a deep patina nicely darkened with age. Unlike most nests which really seem to be more of an assemblage gathered together after the fact, these three baskets nest together nicely with a uniform gradation in size, a feature exemplified by the perfect graduated profile of their handles. This nest was in the personal collection of noted Nantucket folk art...
Category

1870s American Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Cane, Rattan, Maple

19th Century Swedish Folk Art Root Wood Bowl
Located in Bozeman, MT
Delightful 19th century Swedish folk art root wood bowl, signed JH AKRA LTS and dated 1885.
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

Vintage Handcrafted and Carved Wood Box House Motif, Trinket Box, Keepsake Box
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage handmade beautifully carved wooden trinket box, jewelry box or keepsake box. Depicting a village scene with Houses & Palm Trees. Folk Art ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Peruvian Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood, Walnut

Art Glass Rooster Set, circa 1970s
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful handmade art glass rooster family sculpture set (4), circa 1970s. Four (4) roosters in set, blown glass, hand-crafted. Art glass colors i...
Category

1970s American Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Art Glass

Art Glass Rooster Set, circa 1970s
Art Glass Rooster Set, circa 1970s
$220 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Moorish Head Matt Vases Collection "Vittoria", Set of 3, Handmade in Italy
Located in San Miniato PI, IT
This collection is a work of art that make a statement in modern décor and in the modern cultural art world. It can be used as a vase containing flowers, or as a beautiful centerpiec...
Category

2010s Italian Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Gold Leaf

Pair of American Folk Art Carved Wood Picture Frames, circa 1900
Located in San Francisco, CA
A pair of hand carved pine Folk Art style wall hanging picture frames. Wonderfully detailed naturalistic tree branch design. American, late 19t...
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Pine

Moorish Heads Vases Collection "Cool Gray", Set of 2 Pieces, Handmade in Italy
Located in San Miniato PI, IT
This collection is a work of art that make a statement in modern décor and in the modern cultural art world. It can be used as a vase containing flowers, or as a beautiful centerpiec...
Category

2010s Italian Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Gold Leaf

Swedish Craft, Bowl, Wood, Sweden, 19th Century
Located in High Point, NC
A wood bowl produced in Sweden, 19th century.
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

Mid-Century Modern Abstract Statue of a Woman
Located in Redding, CT
Mid-Century Modern abstract statue of a woman. Finely sculpted figure of a woman with her arms wrapped around herself in a sitting position. The scul...
Category

1950s Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Cement

Moorish Head Matt Vases Collection "Monreale", Set of 3, Handmade in Italy
Located in San Miniato PI, IT
This collection is a work of art that make a statement in modern décor and in the modern cultural art world. It can be used as a vase containing flowers, or as a beautiful centerpiec...
Category

2010s Italian Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Gold Leaf

Moorish Heads Vases "Agrigento Bordeaux", Handmade in Italy, 2019, Unique Design
Located in San Miniato PI, IT
This collection is a work of art that make a statement in modern décor and in the modern cultural art world. It can be used as a vase containing flowers, or as a beautiful centerpiec...
Category

2010s Italian Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Gold Leaf

Swedish Hand-Krafted Turned 19th Century Wooden Folk Art Wooden Bowl in Pine
Located in Örebro, SE
This is a beautiful Swedish hand-carfted 19th century wooden bowl in Wabi Sabi style. It comes made in pine with lovely patina reflecting its...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Pine

Moorish Heads Vases "Catania Dark Green", Handmade in Italy, 2019, Unique Design
Located in San Miniato PI, IT
This collection is a work of art that make a statement in modern décor and in the modern cultural art world. It can be used as a vase containing flowers, or as a beautiful centerpiec...
Category

2010s Italian Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Gold Leaf

Pair of German Hand Carved Wood Figurative Sculptures of Two Boys Musicians
Located in Barntrup, DE
An adorable pair of hand-carved wooden figurines of two boys playing the whistle, Germany, the first half of the 20th century. Dimensions: Height 38 cm / 14.96 in, width circa 12 cm ...
Category

1930s German Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

Scandinavian 18th Century Folk Art Hat Or Wick Box
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Large Danish wooden hat or wig box of wood with original painting.
Category

Mid-18th Century Danish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

Moorish Heads Vases "Catania Dark Gray", Handmade in Italy, 2019, Unique Design
Located in San Miniato PI, IT
This collection is a work of art that make a statement in modern décor and in the modern cultural art world. It can be used as a vase containing flowers, or as a beautiful centerpiec...
Category

2010s Italian Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Gold Leaf

Folk Art Hand Painted Trinket Box in the Style of Peter Hunt Circa 1940s
Located in Peabody, MA
Primitive hand decorated trinket box in the style of the noted Provincetown folk artist Peter Hunt, ca. 1940s. Humorous interior label indicates it is "four of four of a kind" and ...
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood, Paint

Early 19th Century Italian Carved Lion Figure
Located in London, GB
Early 19th century carved lion figure An early 19th century hand carved Italian or Spanish representation of a seated lion figure. Anthropomorphism features which are typical of this period. Polychrome paint still visible across its surface with aged repairs and wear as expected, the gesso is visible in sections. Visible ribcage typical of the regions, the possibility this figure could have been part of a larger carved piece of décor furnishing or architecture display...
Category

1820s Italian Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Gesso, Pine, Paint

Small Ceramic Blue and White Marbled Pinch Pot Vase
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A beautiful small ceramic pinch pot vase. Created from clay, this fun piece will be fantastic used in a grouping of other vases and filled with your ...
Category

20th Century American Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

19th Century Hand Carved German Apothecary Shop Display Figure
Located in London, GB
19th century hand carved apothecary shop display figure. A rare hand carved 19th century apothecary shop display figure. Of German origin this figure would likely have sat either on...
Category

1880s German Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Oak

Decorative Wood Carved Tramp Art Keepsake Box or Sailors Valentine with Heart
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A superb Folk Art sailors valentine Tramp Art keepsake box. Wide in form, this beautiful Primitive wood carved box features the letters S and M with a heart between on both sides. Tw...
Category

19th Century English Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Metal

Large Ceramic Sculpture, Albert Thiry, Vallauris c. 1990
Located in St Ouen, FR
Very large female figure executed in grogged clay and decorated with slips. Albert Thiry and his wife Pyot founded their workshop in Vallauris in 1961. Their creation is distinguish...
Category

1990s French Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

Barbed Wire Collection / Display Mounted on a Oklahoma Shaped Plaque
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Barbed Wire Collection / Display Mounted on a Oklahoma Shaped Plaque.
Category

20th Century American Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Steel

Norwegian Wood Black Golden Painted Candlesticks, 1980s
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Set of vintage Norwegian wooden candle sticks with black and gold paint in intricate organic patterns. Beautiful vintage condition. Norway, 1970s.
Category

20th Century Norwegian Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Folk Art Treenware Vase or Urn of Inlay Wood
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A wonderfully hand-crafted greenware vase or urn - the inlay and marquetry is wonderfully intricate and detailed. With a little glass insert, a small tumbler...
Category

20th Century Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

Large Vintage Majolica Pottery Teapot Purple Grape Bunches
Located in Charleston, SC
Majolica Teapot has crazed ceramic background, berry / grapes with vines. The design surrounds the spout. Vines continue around the handle. Hand-paint...
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Majolica

Moorish Heads Vases Collection "Cool Grey", Set of 4 Pieces, Handmade in Italy
Located in San Miniato PI, IT
This collection is a work of art that make a statement in modern décor and in the modern cultural art world. It can be used as a vase containing flowers, or as a beautiful centerpiec...
Category

2010s Italian Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Gold Leaf

Mexican Ceramic Jug Vase Fishes 1994 Dolores Porras Folk Art Decorative Vessel
Located in Queretaro, Queretaro
Dolores Porras Enríquez is widely known throughout Mexico and the world for being the creator of a technique rooted in the land of Oaxaca: pottery in natural color, glazed and decora...
Category

1990s Mexican Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Enamel

Staffordshire Prattware Long Case Clock Model
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Staffordshire Pottery Prattware model which features a long case clock with floral decoration to the front, stood directly on the ground, no base. Flatback, decorated only to the fro...
Category

1820s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Pottery

"Man with Cup" by Allan Winkler
Located in Chicago, IL
Although this whimsical sculpture by Allan Winkler has the look of outsider art, this ceramic work stems from the art school-trained artist’s interest in...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Ceramic

Mid 19th century painted Swedish water carrier
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 19th century painted Swedish water carrier circa 1860. Although we have seen many of these on our travels this one without doubt is the best.  In original blue/green paint, clea...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Pine, Paint

Fantastic Original Painted and Carved 19th Century Indian Plaque
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This wonderful original old surface plaque has a great old patina and a hand-carved and painted Indian chief. The Indian is in full original clothes with the feathers in his head. Wi...
Category

19th Century American Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Pine

Outsider Art Wood & Wire Sculpture, 20th C.
Located in Astoria, NY
Outsider Art Painted Wood and Wire Sculpture, 20th century, apparently unsigned. 15.5" H x 8.5" W x 8" D. Provenance: From a New York City Collection.
Category

20th Century American Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Wire

Three Swedish Carved and Painted Wooden Bowls, 19th Century
Located in New York, NY
A set of three Swedish freeform carved and painted bowls, 19th century, some with owners initials and dates. Original surfaces. Have not been waxed an...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

Large Antique Swedish Folk Art Wooden Bowl
Located in Kramfors, SE
Unusually large wooden bowl in untouched original condition. The bowl is made from birch root and because of that organically shaped. Original hinges in handwrought iron. The red pai...
Category

18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Birch

Swedish Folk Art, Large Vessel, Pine, Sweden, 19th Century
Located in High Point, NC
A pine, large vessel or container produced in Sweden, 19th century.   
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Pine

Swedish Craft, Bowl, Wood, Sweden, 19th Century
Located in High Point, NC
A red-painted wood bowl produced in Sweden, 19th Century
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

Folk Art decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique folk art decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage decorative objects created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, folk art, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art decorative objects made in a specific country, there are Europe, North America, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original decorative objects, popular names associated with this style include Mosche Bianche, Jim Rose, Berber Tribes of Morocco, and Tonala Pottery. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for decorative objects differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $38 and tops out at $225,000 while the average work can sell for $1,105.

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