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
Nantucket "Double Lollipop" Basket, circa 1900
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique and extremely rare Nantucket "double lollipop" basket, circa 1900, a shallow oval swing handled basket with carved wooden staves, handle and bottom plate, and cane weave. The...
Category
Early 1900s American Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Cane, Wood
Chinese Folk Painted Rooster Tray
Located in Chicago, IL
This lacquered serving tray is crafted with a hand-painted panel salvaged from a vintage Chinese cabinet. Selected for its charming folk art decoration, the found panel is painted wi...
Category
Mid-20th Century Chinese Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Pine
Moorish Heads Vases Collection "Catania", 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
$2,151 Sale Price / set
20% Off
NETO PARA - Vintage Glazed & Incised Pottery Vase - Brazil - Circa 1970's
Located in Chatham, ON
NETO PARA - Vintage studio pottery vase with a mottled copper glaze and incised decoration - signed on the base NETO PARA - Brazil - circa 1970's. The incised decoration covers the ...
Category
Late 20th Century Brazilian Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
$129 Sale Price
30% Off
Vintage Bronze Fire Hydrant Wrench
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage fire hydrant wrench, a solid bronze piece which can still be used as a wrench, however, due to the wonderful sheen and weight makes...
Category
20th Century Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Mid 19th century Swedish painted pine shaped box
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Rustic tine pine work box of large proportions circa 1850.
Shaped and metal bound edges and hinges. Original handles and paint.
Hinges have broken, which could be fixed but presen...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Pine
Staffordshire Pearlware Musicians and Sheep Bocage Group
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Staffordshire Pottery pearlware bocage figure with a musical theme which features a couple seated before a tree, playing musical instruments. Sheep and dogs around them, seated on a ...
Category
1820s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Pottery
Sergio Bustamante Early Lion Papier-mâché Sculpture Hand-painted, 1975
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Sergio Bustamante (20th century, Mexican) life sized paper mache lion from the early years of his Family Workshop Studio in Tlequepaque, Jalisco, Mexi...
Category
Late 20th Century Mexican Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Paper
$2,550 Sale Price
40% Off
Moorish Heads Vases Collection "Sciacca White", Set of 2, 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
$3,461 Sale Price / set
20% Off
19th Century hand painted tine decorative box
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century hand painted tine decorative box circa 1860.
Good quality Swedish tine box, used for storing valuables or foods for secure storage. This example in it's original blue ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Pine, Paint
Herón Martínez Mendoza Barro Negro Three-Handled Vessel with Applied Birds
By Heron Martinez
Located in Minneapolis, MN
Here is a rare and striking vase or vessel by Mexican artist, Herón Martínez Mendoza (1918-1990). This is a handmade piece that, although is considered folk art, has a very modernist...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Clay
19th Century Swedish Antique Rustic Folk Art Wooden Trough/ Serving Bowl
Located in Boden, SE
19th century big rustic Swedish antique wooden tray/ Serving bowl from Boden Norrbotten,Northern Sweden.
A farmers handcrafted tray or serving bowl or centerpiece.
A highly function...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Pine
Antique 1930s Judge Theatre Papier Mâché Head from Paris
Located in London, GB
Antique 1930s judge theatre papier mâché head from Paris
This lot is a rare original 1930s papier mâché French theatre heads. This item was obtain...
Category
1930s French Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Paper
18th Century Rustic Primitive genuine Folk Art Wooden bowl original paint
Located in Boden, SE
An exceptional large rare oval shaped 18th century primitive Swedish carved wooden knot bowl. Shows a dry textured finish showing a stunning aged patina. A truly remarkable piece. Th...
Category
Mid-18th Century European Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Pine
Folk Art Geometric Inlaid Wood Small Hinged Box
Located in West Chester, PA
Hand made geometric inlaid wooden hinged xox with red enameled interior.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
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
$156 Sale Price / item
63% Off
Large Folk Art Sea Shell Encrusted Tissue or Kleenex Box Cover
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A large folk art sea shell encrusted tissue box. This shell-covered box is the perfect way to add coastal design to a space. It is rectangular in sh...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Shell, Fabric, Wood
$440 Sale Price
20% Off
Early 19th Century Rectangular Delft Tile with Rabbit
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Charming delft blue and white tile featuring a running rabbit. We see this piece displayed on a table or shelf and would make a wonderful addition to any collector of these desirabl...
Category
Early 19th Century Dutch Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Delft, Paint
Antique Mid-19th Century Tramp Art Picture Frame Carved Oak
Located in Munich, DE
This large tramp art frame is handcrafted from carved oaksegments. It is in good condition with some minor losses to the edges. It has been photo...
Category
Mid-19th Century German Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Oak
19th Century Swedish Curtlery box / Tray
Located in Boden, SE
A charming early 19th Century two-section Cuterly tray with a handled -divider.
It has a lovely gray original color & stunning patina.
You can use it in your home in many different w...
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Pine
Chippewa Birch Bark, Quills & Sweetgrass Box with Tulip - Canada - Early 20th C.
Located in Chatham, ON
Vintage Chippewa (also known as Ojibwe) birch bark lidded box with porcupine quill decoration and sweetgrass rims fastened with black thread - featuri...
Category
Early 20th Century Canadian Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Softwood
$276 Sale Price
30% Off
Hand Painted Midcentury Resin White Jumper Carousel Horse by C.W. Parker
By Charles Looff Or C.W. Parker
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Perfectly captured in all it’s glory, this vintage C.W. Parker carousel horse is sure to gallop your heart. One look at this radiant mare, and you’ll see why. The animal’s strength a...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
$2,396 Sale Price
20% Off
Large Figurative African Mangbetu Anthropomorphic Vessel / Jar
Located in Studio City, CA
This is a fantastic piece likely made by the Mangetu tribe of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is finely detailed and quite large and hefty. These pieces were originally made...
Category
20th Century Congolese Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Terracotta
Handcrafted Wood Whale Puzzle Sculpture Signed
Located in San Diego, CA
Handcrafted what sculpture made of solid wood. Amazing design an workmanship. Signed and dated.
Category
1990s American Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
$144 Sale Price
20% Off
19th Century Swedish Antique Rustic Folk Art Wooden Bowl dated 1862
Located in Boden, SE
19th century Swedish folk Art wooden bowl dated 1862 Signed LOS
A stunning antique organic wooden bowl with lovely patina
You can see the use of time.
The bowl has ownershipmarking ...
Category
1860s Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Pine
Moorish Heads Vases "Acireale Matte Pink & Gold Leaf" Handmade in Italy, 2019
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
$2,198 Sale Price / item
20% Off
Nantucket basket attributed to the Coffin School, 1900's
Located in Kenilworth, IL
A classic vintage Nantucket berry basket with a turned hardwood base, scored with double incised circles. The base captures 41 curved ash stays woven together with split bamboo, and ...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Bamboo, Hardwood, Ash
Antique Swedish Painted Pine Long Case Clock with Original Clock Mechanism
Located in Kramfors, SE
Long case clock with red original paint from the mid 1800s. The clock is made in painted pine and dated with the year 1847. Originates from Hälsingl...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Pine
Rare Asian camphorwood jewelry box from the 1950s
Located in Cantù, IT
Rare Asian camphorwood jewelry box from the 1950s
Category
20th Century Central Asian Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
Antique Swedish Wooden barrel 1800's Handmade Folk Craft great condition
Located in Forest, BE
Swedish antique pine and birch hand painted wooden barrel. Made to be used as a washing basin. Fine quality of bentwood. It is a true piece from the early 19 century. Beautiful patin...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Birch, Pine
Mexican Tonala Pottery Hand Painted Bird Folk Art
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Mexican Tonala hand painted pottery bird Folk Art.
Flora de la Cruz Acapulco Gro Mexico hand painted bird dove ceramic.
Warm earth tone polych...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Pottery
Vintage Hand-Painted Wooden Jewelry Trinket Box - Folk Art Style
Located in Seattle, WA
This charming vintage wooden jewelry box features hand-painted floral designs in a traditional folk art style. With vibrant, delicate flower...
Category
1970s Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
Brass Sculpture of Tree with Bird's Nest by C. Jeré
By Curtis Jeré
Located in Dorchester, MA
This whimsical brass tree was handcrafted in the 1970s by the artisans at C. Jeré. It features a slender trunk with bark details, delicate articulated leaves, and a bird's nest that ...
Category
1970s American Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Antique English Iron Clock Dial Face, Country Garden, Fully Working
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A lovely antique iron English clock dial circa 1840 in its original enamel, charmingly decorated and English country garden flowers. With ancient craquelure, marks of a long life and...
Category
19th Century British Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Iron
Vintage Large Brass Duck "Decoy" Decorative Sculpture
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Large Brass Duck "Decoy" Decorative Sculpture.
Handcrafted decorative vintage collectible brass duck shape sculpture.
Beautiful handcrafted large ca...
Category
Mid-20th Century European Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass, Copper
Mid 19th century Swedish folk art painted box
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 19th century swedish folk art painted box circa 1865.
Good quality swedish pine metal bound box. Decorated with original ragwork paint and blue painted strap work. Hand painte...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
Early Swedish 19th Century Blue Glass Candy Bowl or Yoghurt Dish
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Early Swedish 19th Century blue glass candy bowl or dish.
This type of glass bowl was typically used for yoghurt and other dairy products.
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Art Glass
$140 Sale Price
28% Off
Uredale Glass Paperwight Pebble Shape Star Decoration, North Yorkshire 20th C
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is an unusual hand-made Art-Glass paperweight from Uredale Glass, Masham, North Yorkshire, England which we date to the late 20th century.
The paperweight is hand made in the...
Category
Late 20th Century English Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Glass
Genuine Unusual Antique Northern Swedish Faux Paint Long Case Clock
Located in Kramfors, SE
Genuine long case clock from Sweden made during the first years of the 19th century, around 1810. The clock is unusual and genuine, from the village ...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Pine
19th Century Tobacconist’s Trade Sign
Located in Greenwich, CT
English carved and polychrome decorated wood tobacconist’s trade sign in the form of a “Turk” wearing a distinctive headdress and dressed in a long robe, this advertising figure rela...
Category
19th Century British Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
Vintage Folk Art Set of 3 Carved Sitting Cat Sculptures
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage set of Folk Art sitting cat figurines was hand-carved from solid pieces of wood. The cats have elongated, minimal features, accentuated with hand-painted details on the face...
Category
20th Century Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
Davis Hall Nantucket South Shoal Lightship Hand Woven Basket, circa 1870s
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderful and quite rare and hard to find nantucket lightship basket by Davis Hall, (1828-1906). Hall's baskets are prized by collectors of lightship baskets worldwide. This basket is made with his traditional swing handle and rounded lollipop connecting two ends. Hall cultivated his basket-making skill on the South shoal lightship after the American Civil War...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood, Cane, Rattan
Pair of Vintage Bird Form Lidded Baskets - Finely Woven - Late 20th Century
Located in Chatham, ON
Vintage - finely woven - pair of bird form lidded baskets - articulated feathers, beaks and eyes - possibly Indonesian - mid/late 20th century.
Ex...
Category
Late 20th Century Asian Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Wicker
$262 Sale Price / set
30% Off
Very Large Wall Basket, Straw and Leather, African Folk Art 1970
Located in ROUEN, FR
Large African wall-hanging basket, Circa 1970.
This large decorative basket comes from Africa, purchased by one of my clients during a trip to Ethiopia in the 70s. It is made of han...
Category
Mid-20th Century Ethiopian Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Leather, Straw
Vintage Round Scalloped Capiz Photo Frame - India
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A round vintage scalloped capiz photo frame. This piece will be a great addition to a bedside table, bookshelf, or side table. The frame is created from pearlized capiz which is arra...
Category
20th Century Indian Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Shell
$200 Sale Price
20% Off
Moorish Heads Vases Collection "Acireale", 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
$4,303 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Antique Hand Sculpted Stone Head Sculpture on Formfit Hand Carved Wooden Base
Located in Miami, FL
Antique hand-sculpted stone head sculpture presented on a hand carved wooden stand.
Head measures: Length 5 inches x 4 inches depth x 8 inches hig...
Category
1940s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Stone
$658 Sale Price
30% Off
Figurative Hand Carved Wood Sculpture - Juneau, Alaska 1984
Located in Soquel, CA
Figurative Hand Carved Wood Sculpture - Juneau, Alaska 1984
Hand carved wooden sculpture, presented on a dark wooden base. The sculpture is somewhat figural, but rather abstract. Th...
Category
1980s American Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
Early 20th Century Chinese Betrothal or Wedding Basket with Peony and Bird motif
Located in Grythyttan, SE
This early 20th-century bentwood bamboo/rattan/wicker Chinese wedding basket with polychrome paint is marvelously beautiful. The basket It has very beautiful and intricate weaving de...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Bamboo, Wicker
Antique English Pottery Horse with Sponged Decoration Circa 1800
Located in Katonah, NY
This pottery figure of a horse is sponge decorated in shades of pink and brown.
It was made at St. Anthony’s Pottery, located in Newcastle Upon Tyne, England, between 1800 and 1810.
...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Pottery
Antique Large Swedish Stone Mortar, circa 1800
By Skultuna
Located in Hillringsberg, SE
This large and heavy mortar made in stone are perfect for display and interior. Made in Sweden ca 1800s. This unique piece has its origin in the middle of Sweden and its was made wit...
Category
Early 1800s Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Stone
Gilt Ceremonial Thai Head dress
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Ceremonial Thai headdress usually worn for wedding or religious ceremonies.
Hand-crafted in Thailand.
Gilt Thai Ceremonial Headdress circa ...
Category
20th Century Thai Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Giltwood
Antique Native American Sweet Grass Basket with Lid in Pink and Green
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A six-sided woven sweet grass decorative basket in brown, with bright green and pink decorative design. This basket is created from tightly woven sweet grass. Sweet Grass holds deep ...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Natural Fiber
$200 Sale Price
20% Off
Alzata in Maiolica Italiana dipinta con Madonna con Bambino Ocra e Celeste 1700
Located in Milano, MI
Alzata in Maiolica italiana dipinta in policromia agli inizi 1700 con piano perfettamente piatto con bordo rialzato decorato con l’assunzione della Madonna Incoronata raffigurata co...
Category
Early 18th Century Italian Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Majolica
Massive Vintage Cotton Elephant Covered in Indian Textiles
By Harrods, Liberty & Co.
Located in Houston, TX
Massive vintage cotton elephant, covered in Indian textiles, retailed in the 1950s by Harrods. Exterior decorated in embroidered designs, tassels, tiny mirrors...
Category
1950s English Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Wire
Hand Carved Gilded Torso Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
Large scale hand carved and gilded torso sculpture made from a tree branch,
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
Swedish Craft, Bowl, Wood, Sweden, 19th Century
Located in High Point, NC
A wooden bowl produced in Sweden, 19th Century.
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
Antique 1920's Folk Art Picture Frame Beach Souvenirs Photos Shells Sand Card
Located in Munich, DE
This highly unusual picture frame was handcrafted in 1920 ca, probably as a souvenir of a nice sea side summer holiday.. It is made out of cardboard and sand and decorated with a var...
Category
1920s French Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Shell, Paper
Swedish 18th Century Yellow Folk Art Painted Wooden Box
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A painted turn of the 18th-19th Century Swedish Folk Art wood box, with original yellow paint on the exterior. The original ochre yellow color has be...
Category
1790s Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
19th Century Swedish Folk Art Woven basket genuine rustic
Located in Boden, SE
A fantastic 19th Century Swedish Folk Art root Basket made of woven twigs & birch bark. It comes from an old farmhouse in Luleå Norrbotten Northern Sweden. The basket is not jus...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Twig, Birch
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.