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.
Vintage Dutch Delfts Blauw Volendam Fisherman Blue & White Wall Charger, Holland
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
A wonderfully expressive vintage Dutch Delfts Blauw blue and white ceramic wall charger, handmade in Holland and decorated with a striking portrait of a traditional Volendam fisherma...
Ceramic
Pair of 18th-Century Faience Narrow-Neck Jugs with Lids
Located in ALHAURÍN EL GRANDE, Malaga
Pair of small narrow-neck jugs (Enghalskrüge), 18th century, faience, with fitted lids. Pear-shaped bodies on spreading feet, each with a handle and a metal-mounted cover with a thum...
Faience
$320Sale Price|20% Off
French faience charger, 19th century
By France"
Located in DELFT, NL
19th century rustic charger in French faience with geometric decoration. Amazing piece to decorate a landhouse style kitchen.
Earthenware, Delft, Faience
$280Sale Price|20% Off
Small Italian Faience Dish Of a Lady, Circa 1920's
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
1920's Faience Dish Of a Lady, Italy Charming Italian dishes of a a figurative woman representative of the 1920's era in Florence, Italy. This would...
Faience
Christmas Elf with Beer Barrel Money Bank
Located in Copenhagen, K
Fantastic elf or "Nisse" as it is called in Danish, with a beer barrel. The "Nisse" used to live in every farmhouse and you had to threat him nicely and ma...
Earthenware
German Faience Beer Stein, Very Rare 2½ Litres, Painted Lid
Located in ALHAURÍN EL GRANDE, Malaga
German beer stein (Humpen), faience, capacity 2½ litres. Cylindrical white body with two groups of blue horizontal lines. The handle is glazed to match. Pewter lid with a scalloped r...
Faience
18th Century Dutch Delft Tile Painting of a Cat with Mouse
Located in Stamford, CT
18th Dutch century tile painting of a cat with holding a mouse in it's mouth. Depicted right after the catch, with paw lifted showing exposed claws. The yellow and manganese striped ...
Ceramic
Exceptional Bristol Delft Landscape Charger
Located in Greenwich, CT
Very good 18th Century English, probably Bristol, charger depicting a church, cottage and wooded landscape with flocks of birds overhead.
Earthenware
$220
H 2.75 in W 2.88 in D 1 in
Cheerful Santa Gnome or Elf Riding atop a delightful Pink Pig Germany 1920s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A charming early 20th-century German Christmas figurine Candlestick depicting a cheerful Santa gnome or elf riding atop a delightful pink pig. Beautifully crafted in bisque porcelain, the whimsical figure captures the playful character and nostalgic charm of traditional German Christmas decorations. Dating to the early 20th century, the piece is unmarked and is attributed to Hertwig & Co., Katzhütte, Germany, a well-known manufacturer of porcelain figures and holiday collectibles. The softly colored porcelain, charming expression, and unusual pig-riding motif make this a particularly delightful addition to a collection of antique Christmas decorations...
Porcelain
Pair of Antique 18th Century Dutch Delft Faience Floral Plates
Located in Pearland, TX
A gorgeous pair of antique 18th-Century Dutch Delft faience flower garden plates. These lovely plates have a hand painted floral and foliate design in cobalt blue and white with yell...
Delft
Pair of 18th Century Dutch Delft Faience Floral Plates
Located in Pearland, TX
A gorgeous pair of antique 18th-Century Dutch Delft faience flower garden plates. These lovely plates have a hand painted floral and foliate design in vibrant cobalt blue and white. ...
Faience
$6,250 / set
H 7.5 in W 7.13 in D 3.07 in
Mechanical Bank Speaking Dog By The Shepard Co Ca 1885; with Original Wooden Box
By Shepard Hardware Company
Located in Incline Village, NV
Manufactured in 1884 by the Shepard Hardware Company in Buffalo, New York, this cast iron mechanical bank measures 7 1/8" long and is in excellent all original condition and paint, especially considering that the Shepard Company did not use a primer rendering their surface more vulnerable than say, the Steven's Company. There is no touch up or repaint, and no restoration of any kind. Colors of bright red on the dress, flesh tones, tan colored dog, and maroon base are all very bright and crisp. The bank is accompanied by the original wooden box in which it was originally shipped; a very special find and charming piece of Americana. Rare to find the original box. The bank and box came directly from an estate and the original owner, and I have owned it since then for over 35 years. The theme of the bank depicts a young Victorian girl playing with her golden retriever. It is one of only four antique mechanical banks...
Iron
$695
H 5 in W 11.25 in D 7.75 in
Early 20th Century French Henriot Quimper Hand Painted Faience Jardiniere
Located in Dallas, TX
Add a touch of traditional Breton charm to a table, buffet, or console with this colorful antique faience jardiniere. Crafted in Quimper, Brittany, France, circa 1925, the oval ceram...
Ceramic, Faience
Two Cheerful Santa Gnome or Elf Christmas Decoration Sweden 1970s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A charming pair of Swedish Christmas figurines from the 1970s, beautifully crafted in bisque porcelain. These whimsical figures capture the nostalgic...
Porcelain
Set of 8 Antique Christmas Putz Houses, , Christmas Decorations
By Leo Putz
Located in Buffalo, NY
8 Antique Christmas Putz Houses Here we have from the local estate of the original owner a VERY Rare group of 8 Large Putz Houses in their original b...
Paper
"Organ Bank" with Cat and Dog, circa 1882, American
By Kyser & Rex Co.
Located in Incline Village, NV
This American cast iron bank known as "Organ Bank" (Cat and Dog), was manufactured by Kyser & Rex Company, Frankford, Pennsylvania in 1882. It conforms ...
Iron
Great 18th Century Polychrome French Faience Platter
Located in Richmond, VA
18th century polychrome French faience molded platter with scenes of gentry figures
Faience
Set of Ten French Creil Faience Plates, circa 1830
Located in Charlottesville, VA
A wonderful rare set of 10 French Creil Faience Decorative plates Circa 1830, having lively depictions of various traditional French sayings and expressions or rhymes and riddles usu...
Faience
18th Century French Faience Nevers Dog Plate
By Nevers
Located in Pearland, TX
A superb antique 18th-Century French provincial faience Nevers plate. This lovely plate has scalloped edges and is decorated with a hand painted charming dog holding a basket in a ga...
Faience
18th Century Dutch Delft Blue and White Charger
By Delft
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
A fine Dutch Delft blue and white charger decorated in cobalt oxide on a tin-glazed earthenware body. The centre is painted with a stylised floral rosette surrounded by four symmetri...
Faience
18th Century, Rare Dutch Delft Charger
By Delft
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
A fine 18th c Dutch Polychrome painted delft charger, decorated with vibrantly colored stylized tulips and flowers. The sloped rim is painted with flowers and patterns. The center of...
Faience
Antique Germany Lidded Beer Stein glazed Ceramic, 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A gorgeous beer stein, made in Germany. This beer stein has been made in Germany, circa 1900s. Absolutely gorgeous piece still in great condition, without damage. Lid works properly....
Pewter
$324
H 1.19 in Dm 8.67 in
Antique Dutch Delft - Blue and White 'Chinoiserie' Floral Delft Plate, ca 1800.
By Delft
Located in DELFT, NL
Dutch tin-glazed earthenware plate, unmarked, decorated in underglaze blue with a Chinoiserie motif. of flowering plants, shrubs, and trees. The border with a floral garland and ochr...
Earthenware, Delft, Faience
Large Ceramic Pitcher Green and White by Royal Delft England
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Stunning Delft green and white pitcher in very good condition. This is a beautiful and hard to find large water pitcher. The painting depicts a...
Ceramic
Polychrome Delft Deep Dish
Located in Greenwich, CT
Fine 18th century Dutch delft charger/deep dish featuring two ducks in a pond with foliate decorated border, in manganese, yellow, blue and green glaze...
Delft
Large 19th Century Blue And White Delft Floor Lamp
Located in Copenhagen, K
Large 19th Century Blue And White Delft Floor Lamp Delft floor lamp on wooden base. Probably converted from a candelabra into floor lamp.
Delft, Wood
Unusually Large Antique Blue and White Dutch Delft Charger
Located in Katonah, NY
Provenance: The collection of Katherine Mellon. An unusually large blue and white Dutch delft charger. The fluted well showing a country village scene encircled by a wide lobed bo...
Delft
Early 19th Century Spanish Majolica or Talavera Deep Bowl
Located in Greenwich, CT
Beautiful large-scale early 19th century (or earlier) Spanish majolica tin glazed earthenware bowl depicting a horse in a wooded landscape, the borders decorated with zig zags of gre...
Earthenware
Danish 18th Century Love Gift
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Late 18th century red glazed earthenware bowl in the shape of a heart.
Earthenware
18th Century Dutch Delft Vase
Located in Greenwich, CT
Good 18th Century Dutch delft balustrade form vase with floral decoration
Earthenware
Early Dutch Delft Charger with Basket of Fruit Painted Manganese and Yellow
Located in Katonah, NY
An early delft charger made at the beginning of the 18th century, circa 1700-1720, probably Frisian (North Netherlands), with a basket of fruit painted in ...
Delft
Antique Country French, Pottery Faience Confit Pot Vase
Located in Wilton, CT
Large antique French confit pot in warm yellow glaze, circa late 19th or early 20th century. 14 1/4" high, 13" across handles, 12" diameter. Excellent condition with drill hole in ba...
Sold
H 8.5 in W 5.75 in D 3.25 in
Antique English Delft Wall Pockets Painted with Birds Made circa 1760
Located in Katonah, NY
When needing to decorate the space on either side of a mirror or painting many decorators choose brackets, or plates, using a pair of wall pockets is unexpected. Wall pockets will lo...
Faience, Delft
A Pair of Small Dutch Delft Blue and White Covered Jars
Located in Katonah, NY
A pair of covered jars with a garden scene painted in cobalt blue showing lush flowers, fruit trees, and a garden fence. The metal tops later.
Delft
Antiue Delft Pierced Strawberry Dish and Underplate
Located in Katonah, NY
A Delft dish and underplate with an lobed edge. Painted allover with a rare polychrome geometric design in green, blue and iron red.
Delft
A Pair of Antique Blue and White Dutch Delft Chargers
Located in Katonah, NY
A pair of early 19th century Dutch Delft Blue and White chargers with large boldly painted flowers, a floral border, and a yellow painted edge.
Delft, Pottery