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
Late 19th Century Fiske Foundry Cast Iron Dog
Located in Santa Monica, CA
J.W. Fiske foundry attributed cast iron Whippet dog. Incredible white paint surface with many different layers of white paint.
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Iron
Tonala Folk Art Pottery Oval Platter Signed, Mexico, circa 1960's
By Ken Edwards
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Large Folk Art Tonala Sandstone Pottery Oval Platter with Bird and Flowers Signed J.C. Mex.
Tonala Folk Art pottery plate hand painted with...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Pottery
Antique Hand-Carved Folk Art Picture or Mirror Frame with Beaver & Leaves
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique hand-carved frame is unsigned, but originated from Canada and dates to approximately 1880 and done in the period Folk Art style. The frame is composed of solid walnut an...
Category
Late 19th Century Canadian Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Walnut
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
Vintage Chicken Folk Art Wicker Wood Bamboo Lidded Basket Handwoven Kitchen 1960
Located in Miami, FL
Collectible 1960s kitchen decoration figural Wicker hand-woven lidded Basket. Hen Sitting on nest. Hen is the lid with attached red wood comb and beak and Red Button Eyes the tail is bamboo. The basket itself has a double layer so that the hen has a firm place to sit.
The Basket is in good vintage condition with some marks, dryness, some normal breaks to the wicker.
Measures 11.25 inches high, basket is 9 inches round.
Vintage Chicken Basket...
Category
Mid-20th Century Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Bamboo, Wicker, Plastic
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
Antique Tramp Art Diamond 2 Tier Hinged Wood Jewelry Presentation Box
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Tramp Art Diamond 2 Tier Hinged Wood Jewelry Presentation Box. Item features stunning work and carving, hinged lid with interior mirror, moha...
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
Early Swedish 19th Century Wooden Folk Art Box with Originally Paint
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A Swedish original painted Folk Art box. From the beginning of the 19th century, most likely used to keep writing supplies and office materials.
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Pine
Swedish Craft, Vase, Earthenware, Sweden, 1900
Located in High Point, NC
A yellow-glazed earthenware vase designed and produced in Sweden, c. 1900.
Category
Early 1900s Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Earthenware
Swedish Folk Art Hunting Box Dated 1802 in Oak
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A Swedish oak-wood box from the Gustavian period dated 1802. The richly carved box with scenes of a dog hunting a deer, doves flying and black grouses. Decorated with a pattern of ro...
Category
Early 1800s Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass, Iron
19c Folk Art Country Swedish Adze Carved Rosewood Tripod Table Bowl Decorative
Located in Sherborne, Dorset
Bought from an Antiques shop in Sweden, this charming, richly patinated tripod bowl table is hewn from a solid log of Rosewood - weighing in at 7kg, it's an incredibly extravagant us...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Rosewood, Oak
Vintage Lidded Basket Handmade Bamboo & Handwoven Rattan Nautical Seashell 1980
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Coastal Folk Art lidded round basket handmade Bamboo and handwoven Rattan in blonde and white Plastik Seashell decoration.
Nautical Bohemian ...
Category
1980s American Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Bamboo, Rattan, Cane, Plastic, Wood
World War 2 / WWII Era Wooden Airplane Propeller Folk Art Mantel Clock
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This wooden Folk Art made propeller clock is presumed to have originated in England and fashioned into a mantel clock in North America in circa 1960. T...
Category
Mid-20th Century English Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
Original Acrylic on Wood Painting of Two Cardinals Nesting by A. Rangel Hidalgo
Located in Mexico, DF
Original signed acrylic painting on wood depicting a pair of Cardinals nesting by Alejandro Rangel Hidalgo. The painting was commissioned (and hence the name of the person that did) ...
Category
1960s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Acrylic, Wood
1880s Decorated Salt Glaze Stoneware Jug Stamped 1 MILLER & WOODARD STRASBURG VA
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Nice old decorated salt glaze stoneware jug stamped 1 MILLER & WOODARD STRASBURG VA. There are chips and cracks present, and pictured. "1" gallon capacity mark, cylindrical form with...
Category
1880s American Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Stoneware
Mexican Tonala Hand Painted Colorful Pottery Dove
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Mexican Tonala hand painted pottery dove Folk Art.
Rita Tilleya Yelapa Mexico hand painted ceramic bird dove.
Warm earth tone polychrome color...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
Hand Made Stylized Folk Art Wooden Mannequin
Located in Troy, MI
New, hand-crafted mannequin torso composed of spaced and layered unfinished wood. Created and acquired from an English artist.
Category
2010s English Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
Moroccan Berber Tuareg Metal Tribal Flask Overlay
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Great decorative Moroccan Berber Tuareg metal brass powder flask. African decorative brass with front richly decorated with Moorish embossed brass ocverlay. Moroccan tribal powder fl...
Category
20th Century Moroccan Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Early 19th Century Scandinavian Folk Art Mangle Board
Located in Greenwich, CT
Charming early 19th Century Swedish folk art mangle board having a stylized horse handle, the body with geometric carving and traces of original polychrom...
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
Vintage Leopoldo de Mexico Aztec Mayan Red Clay pottery folk art Vase
Located in Seattle, WA
This Vintage Aztec Mayan Red Clay pottery is signed and confirmed as Leopolde de Mexico. It is a Folk art Vase or Jug. Vintage Condition as pictured. Listing is for described item on...
Category
1970s Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Clay
19th Century Swedish Painted Child Size Vanity Mirror
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A second half of the 19th century Scandinavian vanity mirror for kids. This Little hand painted in "Faux bois" technique mirror has a little...
Category
1860s Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Mirror, Pine
Found and Salvaged Steel Structure on a Wooden Base
By Jim Rose
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
Large Swedish Antique Folk Art Hand Made Pine Flour Box
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique Swedish flour box made by hand in solid pine. The box is from northern Sweden and made around the mid 19th century, 1840 to 1850. The box is in untouched original condition w...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Pine
Vintage Cotton Elephant Covered in Indian Textiles
By Harrods
Located in Houston, TX
Vintage cotton elephant, covered in Indian textiles, retailed in the 1950s by Harrods. Interior frame composed of wire and straw. Textiles originally s...
Category
1950s English Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Wire
Hand Carved Folk Art Wooden Duck
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Folk Art hand carved wooden duck - a wonderful piece! One of our favorite pieces, the life size shape and graceful angle of the neck give the p...
Category
20th Century Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
Vintage Carved Wooden Door Panels
Located in Napa, CA
Beautifully carved Pakistani wood doors from the 17th Century. Doorway consists of 3 panels.
Category
17th Century Pakistani Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
Moorish Heads Vases Collection "Licata", Set of 3 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
Moorish Heads Vases Collection "Palermo 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
Pair of Oversized Zinc Garden Frogs
Located in Branford, CT
Pair of oversized zinc garden frogs. Likely mid 20th century.
H 10-1/2" W 11" D 10" each frog.
Condition: Very good condition. One partial toe missing on one frog. Age-appropriate...
Category
1960s American Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
After Jean Louis Grégoire Spelter Figure "Boy Playing Pipe"
Located in Los Angeles, CA
After Jean Louis Grégoire (France, 1840-1890) A Charming French 19th-20th Century Patinated Spelter Figure of "The Animal Charmer", depicting a sta...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble, Spelter
Vintage Brazilian Hand-Carved Ironwood Sculpture of Whale and a Shark
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Brazilian hand carved Ironwood sculpture of a whale and a shark.
Hand carved Brazilian sculpture hand crafted in amazing detail from one of...
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
Cast Iron Enameled Chicken Figurine, Decor or Doorstop, Vintage, England.
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Cast iron enameled chicken figurine can be used as a doorstop or as a decor piece. The piece is highly detailed with individual tail and wings feathers and head structure molded separately. The body of the chicken is painted with black and grey enamel in splatter ware...
Category
Late 20th Century English Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Iron
Large Wild West Cowboy and Horse Sculpture
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Gilt brass sculpture on stand, depicting a celebrating cowboy on a wild horse with great patina.
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Early Leo Sewell Assembledge, Sculpture, Seated Male Figure
By Leo Sewell
Located in Buffalo, NY
Early Leo Sewell Assembledge. Sculpture, seated male figure, signed and dated, 1977. A charming array of whimsical found objects, Italian chair incl...
Category
1970s American Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
Folk Art Carved and Painted Owl Decoy, USA, 1900's
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Folk Art carved and painted owl decoy, USA 1900's
A decorative barn owl carving decoy
Original paint with even wear.
Mounted over a new iron stand.
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
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
19th Century Iron Indian Weathervane with Stand
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fantastic and rare original painted surface iron Indian weather vane, worn painted surface. Great original Directional's in iron and attached. This Indian weather vane was found in t...
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Iron
Vintage Virginia MetalCrafters Alloy / Gold Vintage Sea Grape Bowl
Located in Doraville, GA
Vintage gold anodized aluminum alloy bowl in the shape of a Sea Grape leaf. The leaf designs were designed by well known sculptor Oskar Hansen for Virginia MetalCrafters in Waynesbor...
Category
1960s American Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Aluminum
Antique Folk Art Box with Carved and Painted Cottage Scenes
Located in Atlanta, GA
Incredible Folk Art hand-carved and painted box with a charming cottage with tiled roof on the hinged lid. Three sides feature scenes of trees behind white fences and the box is rais...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Velvet, Wood, Paint
Open Round Nantucket Lightship Basket by Sherwin Boyer
By Sherwin P. Boyer 1
Located in Nantucket, MA
With a dark rich patina. Made with oak staves, handle
and a mahogany base. In excellent condition.
Attributed to Sherwin Porter Boyer (1907-1964).
Measures: 6”.
Category
Mid-20th Century North American Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
19th Century Original Grey Painted Large Candle Box from New England
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fantastic 19th century original grey painted handmade large scale candle box from New England .This wonderful slide top box has such great personality and great construction. It is e...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Pine
Pair of Carved and Painted Horn Birds
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Pair of Chinese vintage carved and painted horn eagles or hawks with an alluring, stylized interpretation of these majestic birds of prey.
Category
20th Century Chinese Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Horn
18th Century Swedish Stone Mortar
Located in Allerum, SE
Decorative 18th century Swedish mortar in solid stone, circa 1790 Sweden.
Category
Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Stone
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
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
Carved Hand Chair after Pedro Friedeberg
Located in NYC, NY
A unique, hand-carved wood chair in the shape of a cupped hand with detailing down to the wrinkles and fingernails. The base whimsically detailed as a shirt cuff with buttons. Solid....
Category
1950s French Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
Antique Folk Art Ornately Carved Wooden Picture Frame with Birds & Flowers
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This ornately hand-carved picture frame is unsigned, but presumed to have originated from Eastern Europe, and date to approximately 1920 and done in a Folk Art style. The frame is co...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Softwood
Vintage Carved Wood Pinocchio Sculpture
Located in Houston, TX
Vintage carved wood Pinocchio sculpture.
Charming vintage carved wood Pinocchio sculpture. This interesting bust of Pinocchio is well made with a m...
Category
20th Century Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Birch
Mezcal Demijohn From Southern Oaxaca, Circa 1930´s
Located in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
Orange-tinted mezcal demijohn from southern Oaxaca, Circa 1930´s.
Category
1930s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Blown Glass
Large Modern Owl Sculpture on Hanging Perch by Sergio Bustamante
Located in Pasadena, CA
Perched on a thin crossbar, this owl sculpture made by Sergio Bustamande stares at the viewer with painted eyes, their spiraling, hypnotic contours. The green and gold of its gaze su...
Category
1970s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal, Brass, Copper
Greenlandica, Five Figures, Polar Bear, Seal and Three Inuits, Mid-20th Century
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Greenlandica, five figures. Polar bear, seal and three Inuits.
Four figurines in soapstone and a ceramic piggy bank (polar bear).
Mid-20th century.
I...
Category
Mid-20th Century Greenlandic Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Soapstone
Antique Wood Balinese Scarecrow
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large antique wooden scare crow used in a rice field from Bali. Arms swing. A great character and piece of folk art! On custom iron base
Category
20th Century Indonesian Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Iron
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
Sea Green Lunar Wave Vase
By LAKE BELL
Located in Sherman Oaks, CA
With a nod to the spontaneity and privileged imperfection that is the human condition, all of my pieces imbue an energy of function and whimsy.
The Lunar Wave Vase is a coil built d...
Category
2010s American Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Stoneware
Set of Vintage Shoe Forms Mounted on Iron Base
By Melissa Levinson
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of three wooden child size shoe forms mounted on an iron base.
Category
Early 1900s North American Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Iron
Folk Art Stoneware Jar with Cobalt Blue Floral Motif from Westerwald, Germany
Located in Grythyttan, SE
Crafted in the traditional style of gray pottery adorned with cobalt blue floral motif, this salt-glazed stoneware jar hails from the Westerwald r...
Category
1970s German Vintage Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Stoneware
Ceramic Inkwell, Late 19th Century, Sweden
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Fantastic ceramic inkwell, with what seems to be a pottery oven in the midst of two naivistic lions. You lift of the top lid to place pens and lift up the two lions heads for ink. Co...
Category
1870s Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
Rare Swedish Antique Blue Folk Art Box
Located in Kramfors, SE
Rare antique blue box in folk art from Sweden made during the mid 1800s. The box is an attractive size and can be used for anything from storing doc...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Objects
Materials
Pine
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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