Folk Art Decorative Objects
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.
17th Century French Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Stone
1820s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Pottery
1840s American Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Pine
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Decorative Objects
Wood, Paint
19th Century Indian Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Wood, Paint
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Decorative Objects
Wood, Walnut
Early 1900s American Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Pine
Mid-20th Century North American Folk Art Decorative Objects
Paint
1980s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Enamel
19th Century Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Hardwood
Early 20th Century German Folk Art Decorative Objects
Stoneware
20th Century American Folk Art Decorative Objects
Ceramic, Clay
19th Century French Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Brass
19th Century Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Wood
Early 1900s Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Twig
Early 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Softwood, Paint
Early 20th Century English Folk Art Decorative Objects
Iron, Bronze
20th Century Mexican Folk Art Decorative Objects
Wicker
1940s Unknown Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Terracotta
1950s Indian Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Bronze
1930s Unknown Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Terracotta
Late 20th Century Portuguese Folk Art Decorative Objects
Metal, Iron
1960s Greenlandic Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Soapstone
Early 1900s Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Wood
Early 20th Century Moroccan Folk Art Decorative Objects
Brass
19th Century Italian Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Walnut
1820s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Pottery
19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Wood
20th Century Folk Art Decorative Objects
Acrylic
1820s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
20th Century North American Folk Art Decorative Objects
Pottery
Mid-20th Century European Folk Art Decorative Objects
Brass
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Decorative Objects
Wood
Mid-20th Century Moroccan Folk Art Decorative Objects
Bone, Fruitwood
1950s Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Terracotta
Late 20th Century Mexican Folk Art Decorative Objects
Wood, Paper
20th Century American Folk Art Decorative Objects
Ceramic, Paint
20th Century South African Folk Art Decorative Objects
Cotton, Wood
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Pine, Paint
20th Century Greenlandic Folk Art Decorative Objects
Soapstone
Mid-20th Century Polish Folk Art Decorative Objects
Willow
1910s Cameroonian Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Bone, Wood
Early 20th Century Dutch Folk Art Decorative Objects
Metal
20th Century Indian Folk Art Decorative Objects
Metal, Silver
Late 20th Century American Folk Art Decorative Objects
Beech, Hardwood, Fruitwood
Late 20th Century American Folk Art Decorative Objects
Earthenware
1880s American Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Copper, Iron
1950s Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Cement
Mid-20th Century Italian Folk Art Decorative Objects
Softwood
19th Century British Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Oak
20th Century American Folk Art Decorative Objects
Ceramic
1970s Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Wood
Early 2000s Australian Folk Art Decorative Objects
Wood
Mid-20th Century Asian Folk Art Decorative Objects
Hardwood
1970s American Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Wood
Early 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Brass
Early 1900s French Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Wood, Paper
Early 20th Century Indian Folk Art Decorative Objects
Brass