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.
$175Sale Price|20% Off
Handmade Uredale Glass Paperweight, Pebble Shape with Star Design, UK
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...
Glass
South German Blue Glass Decanter Set, Schneemanndl, c. 1850
Located in ALHAURÍN EL GRANDE, Malaga
South German Turquoise Glass Decanter and Two Glasses, Schneemanndl Decoration, circa 1850 Turquoise-blue glass decanter with two matching stemmed glasses, South Germany, circa 1850...
Enamel
South German Blue Glass Wine Jug and Two Glasses, Schneemanndl, circa 1860
Located in ALHAURÍN EL GRANDE, Malaga
Turquoise-blue glass wine jug with two matching stemmed glasses. White enamel decoration in the South German Schneemanndl technique. The jug shows a boy in 18th-century dress standin...
Enamel
South German Glass Beer Stein with Comic Erotica Verse Lid, c. 1860
Located in ALHAURÍN EL GRANDE, Malaga
South German beer stein (Humpen), circa 1860. Clear glass with a pewter lid. The body is moulded with rows of oval printies and an applied glass handle. The lid has an openwork thumb...
Tin
South German Glass Beer Stein, Waiderose Lid, c. 1860
Located in ALHAURÍN EL GRANDE, Malaga
South German beer stein (Humpen), circa 1860. Clear glass with a pewter lid. The body is vertically fluted, with an applied glass handle. The lid has a shell-form thumbpiece and a ci...
Tin
Pair of 19th-Century Glass Beer Steins with Portrait Lids
Located in ALHAURÍN EL GRANDE, Malaga
Pair of German beer steins (Humpen), 19th century. Clear glass with pewter lids. Each lid has a shell-form thumbpiece and a circular porcelain plaque. One plaque shows a bearded man ...
Tin
South German Cut Glass Beer Stein with Painted Lid, c. 1860 with erotica motif
Located in ALHAURÍN EL GRANDE, Malaga
South German beer stein (Humpen), circa 1860. Clear glass with a pewter lid. The body is cut with a band of circular printies above vertical fluting. An applied glass handle rises to...
Tin
Three South German Enamel Spirit Bottles, c. 1750
Located in ALHAURÍN EL GRANDE, Malaga
Three South German spirit bottles, circa 1750, clear glass with enamel painting. Each flask is of flattened rectangular form. The large bottle shows a woman in a blue bodice and whit...
Enamel
Hand Painted Antique Germany Beer Glass City View Munich, 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A gorgeous character Munich beer drinking glass. It has been made in Germany, circa 1900s. Absolutely gorgeous piece hand painted and still in great condition, without damage. Shows ...
Glass
$140Sale Price|28% Off
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.
Art Glass
$1,440Sale Price|34% Off
Danish 19th Century Cobalt Blue Glass Hip Flask By Holmegaard
By Holmegaard
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Danish 19th century cobalt blue glass hip flask by Holmegaard The flask is "tear-drop" shaped and has the most amazing deep and vibrantly blue colo...
Art Glass
$1,260 / set
H 10.75 in Dm 4 in
fferrone Contemporary Czech Glass Margot Decanter and Four Dearborn Wine Glasses
Located in Chicago, IL
Margot Decanter and four Dearborn wine glasses Entirely hand-formed without the use of molds, the contemporary minimal Margot Decanter is an ideal companion to any evening spent e...
Glass
$1,765 / set
H 9.45 in Dm 3.94 in
Bubble Glass Juice Jug and Drinking Glasses Set by Driburg Krystal, 1970s
By Nanny Still, RAAK
Located in Nürnberg, Bayern
Very rarely with four drinking glasses. Driburg Krystal from Germany they can been seen on display in the Driburg museum. Very good condition. There is a small blemish on the ju...
Copper
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
$180
H 8.5 in W 5.25 in D 4 in
Character Stein of the Nuremberg Tower, City Wall Tower Lidded Beer Stein, 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A gorgeous beer stein, made in Germany by the famous Gerz Company. This beer stein has been made in Germany, circa 1960s. Absolutely gorgeous piece still in great condition, without ...
Pewter
$180
H 8.5 in W 5.25 in D 4 in
Character Stein of the Nuremberg Tower, City Wall Tower Lidded Beer Stein, 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A gorgeous beer stein, made in Germany by the famous Gerz Company. This beer stein has been made in Germany, circa 1960s. Absolutely gorgeous piece still in great condition, without ...
Pewter
Set of 6 Blown Cobalt Blue and Clear Water or Wine Glasses Mexico
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Set of 6 cobalt blue and clear water or wine glasses was hand-blown by Mexican glass artists in organic modern style. Abstract cobalt glass forms swir...
Art Glass, Glass
Crystal Decanter German
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful and substantial red raspberry dark pink cut-to-clear crystal wine or liquor decanter with stopper, in the style of luxury maker Val St. Lambert, circa mid to late-20th ce...
Crystal
$440
H 10 in W 5 in D 4 in
V&B Villeroy and Boch Mettlach 1 Liter Beer Stein Lidded Antique Germany 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This beautiful beer stein has been made in Germany circa 1900s by the well known manufacturer Villeroy & Boch. Absolutely gorgeous piece and still in great condition. Lid works properly. A nice addition to any collection. The Villeroy & Boch ceramic company was founded in 1836 in Mettlach, Germany and is internationally known for their production of table wares. Marked at the Base with Logo and Number. It is a 1 Liter...
Pewter
Large Murano Glass Paperweight with Internal Bubbles and Swirls
Located in Rochester, NY
Vintage colorful Italian glass paperweight.
Glass, Art Glass, Murano Glass
Vintage Ceramic Beer Stein Lidded with Pewter Lid by Gerz, 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A finely crafted vintage beer stein by Gerz Ceramic, Germany, dating to the 1960s or earlier. This elegant half-liter stein exemplifies traditional German craftsmanship, featuring a ...
Pewter
$220
H 5.75 in W 3.38 in D 2.5 in
Antique Germany Lidded Character Beer Stein Munich Child, E. Bohne Germany 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A gorgeous Character Beer Stein - Munich Child. This character beer stein has been made in Germany circa 1900s by E. Bohne, Thuringia Germany. Absolutely gorgeous piece hand painted ...
Pewter
Pair of Antique 19th Century Bohemian Green Cut Glass Vases
Located in London, GB
Pair of antique 19th century bohemian green cut glass vases Bohemian, circa 1870 Dimensions: Height 23cm, diameter 13cm Cut from uranium glas...
Cut Glass
Set of Two Mackenzie- Childs Flower Market Hand-Painted Goblets Glasses
Located in New Orleans, LA
Make any occasion more special by setting the table with this pair of Mackenzie-Child's flower garden goblets. These glasses are perfect for serving chilled water, wine or summer dri...
Glass, Paint
Set of Two Mackenzie- Childs Flower Market Hand-Painted Champagne Glasses
Located in New Orleans, LA
Make any occasion more special by setting the table with this pair of Mackenzie-Child's flower garden water goblets. These glasses are perfect for serving chilled water, wine or summ...
Glass, Paint
19th Century Swirled Glass Vase, Likely Zanesville Ohio
Located in Doylestown, PA
A lovely swirled amber glass vase, mid 19th century, likely by the Zanesville Glass Company, normal wear with bubbles and a pontil scar in the base.
Blown Glass
Antique Green Glass Apothecary Bottle, English 18th Century
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful piece of glass Beautiful colour of green Traces of the original label " Tinct. Opii " Tiny bruise to top edge. Shown in the last image
Glass
Antique Ape and Gnome Germany Lidded Glass Beer Stein, 1890s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A gorgeous beer stein, made in Germany. This beer stein has been made in Germany, circa 1890s. Absolutely gorgeous piece still in great condition, without damage. Lid works properly....
Pewter
Set of Three Decorative Glasses with Hummingbird and Floral Motif
Located in Plainview, NY
A stylish and decorative set of three glasses. Each glass has been permanently sand blast etched with the Hummingbird and flourish designs in a very spring like color tones including...
Glass
Hand Blown His and Hers Stemmed Wine Glasses
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Handblown his and hers stemmed wine glasses- Artfully designed. Perfect for the perfect couple A phenomenal Wedding Gift from the Curated Giver.
Art Glass
Stiegel Decanter, Pennsylvania, 18th Century
Located in Doylestown, PA
A sweet little enamel decorated decanter or scent bottle attributed to the Baron Stiegel glassworks, circa 1790 with pewter threaded top (cap missing) and a Pontil scar on base.
Glass
Large Glass Candy Jar
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
This is an exceptional glass candy or apothecary jar or canister. It has a nice blue/gray tint to the glass which shows minor imperfections to the rims of...
Glass