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Folk Art Outsider and Self Taught Art

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
Period: 1920s
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Figure of a swimmer
Located in London, GB
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Figure of a swimmer A very unusual early 20th Century American folk-art figure of a lady in a bikini. Carved from a single piece of wood showi...
Category

1920s Vintage Folk Art Outsider and Self Taught Art

Materials

Wood

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Figure of a swimmer
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Figure of a swimmer

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Figure of a swimmer

Early 20th Century English Fairground Panels
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century English fairground panels We share what we love, and we love this matched pair of charming English metal sheet, hand painted fai...
Category

1920s British Vintage Folk Art Outsider and Self Taught Art

Materials

Metal

Early 20th Century English Fairground Panels
Early 20th Century English Fairground Panels

Early 20th Century English Fairground Panels

"The Bird Cane", Unusual Early 20th Century Walking Cane
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century walking cane We are proud to offer a highly unusual walking cane made from aged bamboo. This unique and artistic object has naturally taken the form of a bird. ...
Category

1920s British Vintage Folk Art Outsider and Self Taught Art

Materials

Bamboo

"The Bird Cane", Unusual Early 20th Century Walking Cane
"The Bird Cane", Unusual Early 20th Century Walking Cane

"The Bird Cane", Unusual Early 20th Century Walking Cane

Early 20th Century Self Taught Hand Carved Bird Figure
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century self taught hand carved bird figure We are proud to offer a wonderfully hand carved sculptural self-taught figure of a bird. This ...
Category

1920s British Vintage Folk Art Outsider and Self Taught Art

Materials

Wood

Early 20th Century Self Taught Hand Carved Bird Figure
Early 20th Century Self Taught Hand Carved Bird Figure

Early 20th Century Self Taught Hand Carved Bird Figure

Vintage Southern Folk Art Figure
By Craft and Folk Art Museum
Located in San Francisco, CA
Very kool piece of folk art. I am not exactly sure how old, but from bottom of base I would guess 1st quarter of 20th century. It is all wood and depicts what ...
Category

1920s North American Vintage Folk Art Outsider and Self Taught Art

Materials

Wood

Vintage Southern Folk Art Figure
Vintage Southern Folk Art Figure

Vintage Southern Folk Art Figure

Related Items
Carved Oak Early 20th Century Rabbit Sculpture
Located in Pease pottage, West Sussex
Early 20th Century Characterfully stout, anatomically enigmatic Rabbit. Oak. European, Circa 1920.
Category

Early 20th Century English Folk Art Outsider and Self Taught Art

Materials

Oak

Carved Oak Early 20th Century Rabbit Sculpture
Carved Oak Early 20th Century Rabbit Sculpture

Carved Oak Early 20th Century Rabbit Sculpture

H 6.7 in W 2.76 in D 3.55 in
Early 20th Century Wood and Canvas Painted Produce Sign
Located in Troy, MI
Wooden produce sign found in England, circa 1920s. Wood foundation is covered in strips of canvas which have been hand painted by unknown artist.
Category

Early 20th Century English Folk Art Outsider and Self Taught Art

Materials

Canvas, Wood

Early 20th Century Wood and Canvas Painted Produce Sign
Early 20th Century Wood and Canvas Painted Produce Sign

Early 20th Century Wood and Canvas Painted Produce Sign

H 30.5 in W 96 in D 1 in
Early 20th Century Carved and Painted Wood Whirligig
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Carved and painted wooden soldier whirligig. Early 20th century American. Soldier has a leather hat with wooden brim. Presented on simple custom museum...
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Outsider and Self Taught Art

Materials

Wood

Early 20th Century Carved and Painted Wood Whirligig
Early 20th Century Carved and Painted Wood Whirligig

Early 20th Century Carved and Painted Wood Whirligig

H 16.5 in W 12.5 in D 6 in
Mosaic Panel of the Bicentennial in New York Harbor, 1978
Located in Camden, ME
A large mosaic panel artwork representing the bicentennial celebration in New York harbor on the evening of July 4, 1976. A memorable evening throughout the United States and partic...
Category

1970s American Vintage Folk Art Outsider and Self Taught Art

Materials

Ceramic

Mosaic Panel of the Bicentennial in New York Harbor, 1978
Mosaic Panel of the Bicentennial in New York Harbor, 1978

Mosaic Panel of the Bicentennial in New York Harbor, 1978

H 50.5 in W 98.5 in D 3.5 in
Folk Art Gate in form of a Face
Located in Darnestown, MD
One of a kind iron gate in the shape of an elongated face. It would be functional as a gate but would also be terrific hung indoors as a piece of outsider art. The movable earrings...
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Outsider and Self Taught Art

Materials

Iron

Folk Art Gate in form of a Face
Folk Art Gate in form of a Face

Folk Art Gate in form of a Face

H 62 in D 24 in
American Folk Art Cowboy and Horse Whirligig
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Tall one of a kind cowboy and horse spinning whirligig American Folk Art piece. Most likely from a larger folk art environment. Sheet steel constructi...
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art Outsider and Self Taught Art

Materials

Iron, Sheet Metal

American Folk Art Cowboy and Horse Whirligig
American Folk Art Cowboy and Horse Whirligig

American Folk Art Cowboy and Horse Whirligig

H 76 in W 24 in D 24 in
Vintage Mexican Religious Folk Art Ex-voto Retablo Arcangel San Miguel
Located in Forney, TX
A framed vintage oil on tin ex-voto retablo Arcangel San Miguel, Spanish Colonial Mexican religious folk art. Primitive hand-painted tin panel, marked Guanajuato, Mexico, dated 19??, offered to Arcangel San Miguel (Archangel Michael), with hand-written inscription in lower margin. Professionally framed and matted. An ex-voto is a votive offering to a saint or a divinity, given in fulfillment of a vow (hence the Latin term, short for ex voto suscepto, "from the vow made") or in gratitude or devotion. Usually praying for a family member or close friend, with pictorial depicting that persons situation. The term ex-voto is usually restricted to Christian examples. Ex-votos are placed in a church or chapel where the worshiper seeks grace or wishes to give thanks. The destinations of pilgrimages often include shrines with the walls decorated with ex-votos. Ex-votos can take a wide variety of forms. They are not only intended for the helping figure, but also as a testimony to later visitors of the received help. As such they may include texts explaining a miracle attributed to the helper, or symbols such as a painted or modeled reproduction of a miraculously healed body part, or a directly related item such as a crutch given by a person formerly lame. There are places where a very old tradition of depositing ex-votos existed, such as Abydos in ancient Egypt. Ex-voto paintings, especially in the Latin world, there is a tradition of votive paintings, typically depicting a dangerous incident which the offeror survived. The votive paintings of Mexico...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art Outsider and Self Taught Art

Materials

Tin

Vintage Mexican Religious Folk Art Ex-voto Retablo Arcangel San Miguel
Vintage Mexican Religious Folk Art Ex-voto Retablo Arcangel San Miguel

Vintage Mexican Religious Folk Art Ex-voto Retablo Arcangel San Miguel

H 17 in W 17.5 in D 1 in
American Sampler Under Glass with the Original Gilt Birdseye Maple Frame, C 1830
Located in Hollywood, SC
American sampler under glass with the original gilt Birdseye maple frame, Early 19th Century. Alphabet and Numerals. Signed by maker Maria Nuttall Age 7.
Category

1830s American Antique Folk Art Outsider and Self Taught Art

Materials

Linen, Glass, Birdseye Maple, Giltwood

American Sampler Under Glass with the Original Gilt Birdseye Maple Frame, C 1830
American Sampler Under Glass with the Original Gilt Birdseye Maple Frame, C 1830

American Sampler Under Glass with the Original Gilt Birdseye Maple Frame, C 1830

H 23.25 in W 17.25 in D 1.25 in
Early 20th C Large Black Forest Carving with Bird and Nest
Located in Troy, MI
Circa 1920s large hand carved Black Forest piece with an intricately rendered bird and nest. This is just under 16” tall and is 9” wide. Very good antiq...
Category

Early 20th Century German Folk Art Outsider and Self Taught Art

Materials

Wood

Early 20th C Large Black Forest Carving with Bird and Nest
Early 20th C Large Black Forest Carving with Bird and Nest

Early 20th C Large Black Forest Carving with Bird and Nest

H 15.75 in W 9 in D 6 in
Impressions by Alice Dried Framed Hydrangea Poppy Flower Botanical Art
Located in Dayton, OH
Pair of dried and pressed flowers in matching light wood frames, signed by Alice with ‘Impressions by Alice’ stickers on the back. One a poppy flower, the other hydrangea. Size: 11".
Category

Late 20th Century Folk Art Outsider and Self Taught Art

Materials

Organic Material

Impressions by Alice Dried Framed Hydrangea Poppy Flower Botanical Art
Impressions by Alice Dried Framed Hydrangea Poppy Flower Botanical Art

Impressions by Alice Dried Framed Hydrangea Poppy Flower Botanical Art

H 11.125 in W 0.75 in D 11.125 in
Vintage Hand Carved Folk Art Walking Cane with Red Bird
Located in Seguin, TX
Vintage circa 1940s hand carved Folk Art cane by Fritz Rummler (1888-1983) Fredericksburg Texas. Branch of a tree carved into a bird with his feet...
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art Outsider and Self Taught Art

Materials

Wood

Vintage Hand Carved Folk Art Walking Cane with Red Bird
Vintage Hand Carved Folk Art Walking Cane with Red Bird

Vintage Hand Carved Folk Art Walking Cane with Red Bird

H 33 in W 9.5 in D 2 in
Mid 20th Century Folk Art Cowboy Rodeo Whirligig
Located in Nantucket, MA
Mid 20th century Folk Art cowboy Rodeo Whirligig, circa 1940s to 50s, comprising four carved and painted cowboys mounted on horseback riding in a circle a...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Outsider and Self Taught Art

Materials

Copper

Mid 20th Century Folk Art Cowboy Rodeo Whirligig
Mid 20th Century Folk Art Cowboy Rodeo Whirligig

Mid 20th Century Folk Art Cowboy Rodeo Whirligig

H 23.5 in W 24.5 in D 24 in
Previously Available Items
Early 20th century tramp art cabinet
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century tramp art cabinet An unusual example of an early 20th century tramp art cabinet, with static decorative clock face at the crown. Typical notched work across all the surfaces. The key and lock are still present with this highly decorative piece of tramp art furniture...
Category

1920s French Vintage Folk Art Outsider and Self Taught Art

Materials

Pine

Early 20th century tramp art cabinet
Early 20th century tramp art cabinet

Early 20th century tramp art cabinet

H 22 in W 13 in D 8 in
Early 20th Century English Folk Art Bird Cage
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century Folk Art bird cage We share what we love, and we love this charming early 20th century folk-art hand-crafted birdcage. Scratch built from found objects, with n...
Category

1920s British Vintage Folk Art Outsider and Self Taught Art

Materials

Pine

Early 20th Century English Folk Art Bird Cage
Early 20th Century English Folk Art Bird Cage

Early 20th Century English Folk Art Bird Cage

H 24 in W 22 in D 11 in
Early 20th Century American Folk-Art Figure
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century American folk-art figure We share what we love, and we love this early 20th century hand carved American folk-art figure. Perfect naïve form with just the righ...
Category

1920s American Vintage Folk Art Outsider and Self Taught Art

Materials

Wood

Early 20th Century American Folk-Art Figure
Early 20th Century American Folk-Art Figure

Early 20th Century American Folk-Art Figure

H 12 in W 5 in D 3.5 in
Vintage Petite Bent-Willow Chair
Located in Houston, TX
Vintage petite bent-willow chair, circa 1910s-1930s. Small Folk Art chair made from bent willow featuring original red velvet upholstered seat (seat can be reupholstered for a nominal cost). Perfect size for a small child, large doll...
Category

1920s American Vintage Folk Art Outsider and Self Taught Art

Materials

Bentwood

Vintage Petite Bent-Willow Chair
Vintage Petite Bent-Willow Chair

Vintage Petite Bent-Willow Chair

H 19.75 in W 14.75 in D 12.5 in
Rare Oversized Decoupage Cigar Band Bottle
Located in London, GB
Rare oversized decoupage cigar band bottle We are proud to offer a unique oversized example of an English folk-art decoupage carboy bottle covered in early 20th century cigar bands ...
Category

1920s British Vintage Folk Art Outsider and Self Taught Art

Materials

Blown Glass, Paper

Rare Oversized Decoupage Cigar Band Bottle
Rare Oversized Decoupage Cigar Band Bottle

Rare Oversized Decoupage Cigar Band Bottle

H 21 in W 14 in D 14 in
Early 20th Century Folk Art Aunt Sally Carnival Figure
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century Folk Art Aunt Sally carnival figure We are proud to offer a unique early 20th century Folk Art scratch built English Carnival Aunt Sally Figure, life-size constru...
Category

1920s British Vintage Folk Art Outsider and Self Taught Art

Materials

Wood

Early 20th Century Folk Art Aunt Sally Carnival Figure
Early 20th Century Folk Art Aunt Sally Carnival Figure

Early 20th Century Folk Art Aunt Sally Carnival Figure

H 56 in W 17 in D 12 in
German Erzgebirge Folk Art Hand Carved Guardian Miner Figure, circa 1920
Located in London, GB
This lot is a very rare hand carved Folk Art German Erzgebirge guardian miner figure dated circa 1920. This figure with its brass lantern would have originally had a small candle placed on it and sat in the window to guide the miners of the Ore mountains home at Christmas...
Category

1920s German Vintage Folk Art Outsider and Self Taught Art

Materials

Wood

German Erzgebirge Folk Art Hand Carved Guardian Miner Figure, circa 1920
German Erzgebirge Folk Art Hand Carved Guardian Miner Figure, circa 1920

German Erzgebirge Folk Art Hand Carved Guardian Miner Figure, circa 1920

H 21 in W 4.2 in D 5 in
Rare English Folk Art Papier Mâché Decoy Goose
Located in London, GB
Rare papier mâché decoy goose We are proud to offer an early 20th century English Folk Art one-off working goose decoy. Made from papier mâché and c...
Category

1920s British Vintage Folk Art Outsider and Self Taught Art

Materials

Paper

Rare English Folk Art Papier Mâché Decoy Goose
Rare English Folk Art Papier Mâché Decoy Goose

Rare English Folk Art Papier Mâché Decoy Goose

H 9 in W 20 in D 10 in
Early 20th Century Folk Art Lead Village
Located in London, GB
A Unique collection of 20 individually handcrafted folk-art homes and shops, which make up an amazing lead village scene. Handcrafted from lead, wood and cold painted with some wonde...
Category

1920s British Vintage Folk Art Outsider and Self Taught Art

Materials

Lead

Early 20th Century Folk Art Lead Village
Early 20th Century Folk Art Lead Village

Early 20th Century Folk Art Lead Village

H 7.5 in W 6 in D 4 in
Early 20th Century German Folk Art Shop Display Harp
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century Folk Art shop display harp We are proud to offer a unique early 20th century folk art shop display harp. This item was recently sourced from Germany earlier this ...
Category

1920s German Vintage Folk Art Outsider and Self Taught Art

Materials

Wood

Early 20th Century German Folk Art Shop Display Harp
Early 20th Century German Folk Art Shop Display Harp

Early 20th Century German Folk Art Shop Display Harp

H 21 in W 19 in D 3.5 in
Early 20th Century Original Retablo Box
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century original retablo We are proud to offer an original early 20th century retablo box filled with a colorful scene of village and farm life. Retablos are a sophisticated Peruvian Folk Art in the form of portable boxes...
Category

1920s Puerto Rican Vintage Folk Art Outsider and Self Taught Art

Materials

Wood

Early 20th Century Original Retablo Box
Early 20th Century Original Retablo Box

Early 20th Century Original Retablo Box

H 12 in Dm 3.5 in L 12 in
Rustic Folk Art Pig
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rustic American Folk Art pig made with wood. The ear is made of leather. The legs are reinforced with tin. It can stand on it's own or be hung by a chain as depicted in photos. A per...
Category

1920s American Vintage Folk Art Outsider and Self Taught Art

Materials

Tin

Rustic Folk Art Pig
Rustic Folk Art Pig

Rustic Folk Art Pig

H 18 in W 33 in D 7 in

Folk Art outsider and self taught art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique folk art outsider and self taught art 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 outsider and self taught art created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include folk art, decorative objects, wall decorations and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art outsider and self taught art made in a specific country, there are North America, United States, and Europe pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original outsider and self taught art, popular names associated with this style include Captain George Grant, Gadu, Linvel Barker, and Peter Hunt. 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 outsider and self taught art differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $150 and tops out at $45,000 while the average work can sell for $1,400.

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