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.
Late 20th Century Brazilian Folk Art Decorative Objects
Ceramic
1950s American Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Metal
Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art Decorative Objects
Brass
Early 20th Century Unknown Folk Art Decorative Objects
Softwood
Mid-20th Century European Folk Art Decorative Objects
Metal
Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art Decorative Objects
Ceramic
20th Century American Folk Art Decorative Objects
Shell, Clay
Early 20th Century African Folk Art Decorative Objects
Bronze
19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Oak
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Wood, Cane, Rattan
2010s Mexican Folk Art Decorative Objects
Palmwood
1980s Chinese Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Metal
1890s German Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Wood
1940s American Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Wood
1930s Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Wood
1950s American Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Hardwood
Mid-20th Century Moroccan Folk Art Decorative Objects
Limestone, Marble, Sandstone
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Pine, Paint
1910s Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Pine
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Wood
2010s Mexican Folk Art Decorative Objects
Ceramic
Mid-20th Century French Folk Art Decorative Objects
Concrete
1830s Chinese Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Wood
20th Century Swedish Folk Art Decorative Objects
Wood
20th Century American Folk Art Decorative Objects
Wood
20th Century American Folk Art Decorative Objects
Steel
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Pine
20th Century Brazilian Folk Art Decorative Objects
Crystal
Early 2000s Australian Folk Art Decorative Objects
Wood
Mid-20th Century African Folk Art Decorative Objects
Natural Fiber
Early 18th Century Italian Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Majolica
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Birch, Pine
Mid-20th Century Folk Art Decorative Objects
Blown Glass, Art Glass
1940s American Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Wood
Mid-20th Century Asian Folk Art Decorative Objects
Bamboo, Wicker
Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art Decorative Objects
Pottery
Late 19th Century Finnish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Metal
1890s Austrian Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Wood
1960s Japanese Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Bamboo, Wicker, Rattan
1970s American Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Metal
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Birch, Pine
1950s French Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Steel
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Decorative Objects
Metal
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Metal
1960s Italian Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Pottery, Paint
Late 19th Century Indian Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Brass
19th Century British Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Wood
1970s Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Ceramic
1980s American Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Metal
18th Century Mexican Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Wood, Paint
Late 20th Century American Folk Art Decorative Objects
Wood
Early 20th Century Chinese Folk Art Decorative Objects
Soapstone
Late 19th Century English Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Wood
Late 20th Century Canadian Folk Art Decorative Objects
Driftwood
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Birch
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Art Glass
19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Pine
Mid-20th Century Greenlandic Folk Art Decorative Objects
Soapstone
20th Century Thai Folk Art Decorative Objects
Giltwood
19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Wood