Folk Art Pottery
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.
19th Century French Antique Folk Art Pottery
Terracotta
Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art Pottery
Pottery
19th Century Unknown Antique Folk Art Pottery
Earthenware
Early 1900s Swedish Antique Folk Art Pottery
Stoneware
1840s English Antique Folk Art Pottery
Paint, Delft, Faience
1980s American Vintage Folk Art Pottery
Clay
1790s English Antique Folk Art Pottery
Pottery
Early 19th Century English Antique Folk Art Pottery
Pearlware, Pottery
1870s English Antique Folk Art Pottery
Pottery
Early 19th Century English Antique Folk Art Pottery
Pottery
Early 19th Century French Antique Folk Art Pottery
Ceramic, Pottery
Early 1900s German Antique Folk Art Pottery
Pewter
1960s American Vintage Folk Art Pottery
Pottery
Early 19th Century Antique Folk Art Pottery
Pearlware, Pottery
Early 19th Century English Antique Folk Art Pottery
Creamware, Pottery
1990s American Folk Art Pottery
Pottery
1990s American Folk Art Pottery
Pottery
Early 19th Century English Antique Folk Art Pottery
Pearlware, Pottery
1910s German Vintage Folk Art Pottery
Pewter
1990s American Folk Art Pottery
Pottery
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Pottery
Pottery
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Pottery
Pottery
1970s American Vintage Folk Art Pottery
Pottery
1980s American Vintage Folk Art Pottery
Pottery
1990s American Folk Art Pottery
Pottery
Late 19th Century European Antique Folk Art Pottery
Pottery
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Pottery
1940s Italian Vintage Folk Art Pottery
Terracotta
Late 19th Century French Antique Folk Art Pottery
Majolica
1860s English Antique Folk Art Pottery
Pottery, Paint
1960s French Vintage Folk Art Pottery
Earthenware
19th Century European Antique Folk Art Pottery
Terracotta
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Folk Art Pottery
Majolica, Pottery
1960s French Vintage Folk Art Pottery
Earthenware
Mid-20th Century German Folk Art Pottery
Pottery