Folk Art Painted Furniture
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
Swedish antique Folk Art ladder with gray original paint
Located in Boden, SE
Handsome late 19th century Swedish country folding ladder. The ladder has beautiful gray original paint. Featuring a handcrafted design with five rungs or steps .Useful both insid...
Category
Early 20th Century Swedish Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Pine
American Folk Art Painted Tramp Art Shaving Mirror and Base
Located in Downingtown, PA
American Painted Tramp Art Shaving Mirror and Base,
Circa 1920
The American Tramp Art Shaving Mirror and base is painted in muted greens, yellow and red. The top and bottom with di...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
18th Century Original Red Painted Hutch Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fantastic all original red painted lift top table with shoe feet and early rose head nails. All original hardware and construction. Take notice to the very narrow seat base. Such a great sweet size. This fantastic folky shaped table is strong and sturdy.This original scrub top table...
Category
18th Century American Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
19th C Lancaster County Original Painted Small Bin
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This amazing all original paint decorated or grain painted over mustard painted base is dovetailed construction & square nails as well. The lid comes off and has a brass shaker...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Pine
Vintage Mexican full size papier mache 1980s armchair chair, folk art postmodern
Located in Hastings, GB
A unique, full size paper mache 1980s armchair, signed G.Dell, Mexico. Charmingly naive paintwork.
An amazing combination of Memphis Milano and circus big top pattern and colour: buy...
Category
Late 20th Century Mexican Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood, Paint, Paper
19th Century Swedish Travelling Writing Desk Originalpaint
Located in Boden, SE
19th century writing desk from Lulea Norrbotten, North of Sweden.
Untouched original painting with beautiful floralpainting & initials. Dated 1817.
This is a weddingift.
No lock o...
Category
1810s Swedish Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Pine
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Box
Located in Chicago, IL
A fascinating and truly unique early 20th century American Folk Art box with the most wonderful Greek temple design with eight blue painted Doric columns around the perimeter and wit...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
Norwegian Folk Art Stump Chair with decoration, Norway 1850’s
Located in Valby, 84
A rare and evocative example of 19th-century Norwegian Folk Art, this stump chair from the 1850s features its original hand-painted decoration, making it a deeply personal and histor...
Category
1850s Norwegian Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood, Paint
Early Swedish Folk Art Cabinet, Sweden 1790’s
Located in Valby, 84
Step back in time with this exceptional Swedish Folk Art Cabinet from the late 18th century. Crafted circa 1790, this piece showcases the exquisite craftsmanship and rich cultural he...
Category
1790s Swedish Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Iron
Schoharie County NY Painted Blanket Chest
Located in Sharon, CT
Untouched original surface. Colorful floral vignettes on a 'buttermilk
clay' painted surface. Retains original hardware.
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood, Paint
18th Century Folk Art Shelf With Heart And Pineapple Carvings
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Beautiful folk art "Love" Shelf. An old tradition where the man had to make a gift for the fiancee, mostly the items were made in wood with birds or hearts and painted nicely.
Category
Late 18th Century Danish Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
19-Drawer Hand Stenciled Apothecary
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Functional general store herb and spice apothecary drawers found in New Hampshire. All dovetailed and hand stenciled drawers with handwritten notes on the inside for measurements and pricing. Each drawer has a hand stenciled painted banner...
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
Swedish Folk Art Floor Candelabra, Sweden 1890’s
Located in Valby, 84
Add a touch of rustic charm and historical elegance to your space with this exquisite Swedish Folk Art floor candelabra from the 1890s. This piece is a stunning example of traditiona...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood, Paint
Hand-Hammered Raj Black Metal Jug
By Rajhastani
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Raj large hand-hammered and hand-painted metal vessel, originally used to collect waters of the three sacred rivers, the Ganges and Yamuna Sarasvati.
This large jug is much more than...
Category
Mid-20th Century Indian Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Metal
18th Century Original Red Painted Trestle Table from New England
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This very folky and all original red painted and wood pegged 18thc trestle table with a worn painted plank top.The base contains rose head nails and early peg base.The shoe feet. are...
Category
18th Century American Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Pine
Grain Painted Blanket Chest American
Located in Hudson, NY
Painted blanket chest with bracketed feet and beautiful saw tooth apron. Top with molded edge and stepped cleats. An absolute delight, this festive 18th century jewel...
Category
Late 18th Century American Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Pine, Paint
Swedish Folk Art Floral Bouquet In Urn Vase Hand Painted Teak Tray
Located in New York, NY
Wonderful Swedish folk art circular teak tray with hand painted floral bouquet in urn motif on top side. Natural ribbon teak on underside.
Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Teak, Paint
Late 19th Century Swedish Stump Chair in Solid Pine
Located in Kramfors, SE
Swedish stump chair manufactured from a hollowed tree trunk. The chair is primitive and has never been painted. The two bands going around the seat...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Pine
Swedish Folk Art Midcentury Hand Carved Wall Cabinet
Located in New York, NY
Swedish mid-20th century Folk Art wall cabinet of carved pine, painted in “mahogany” red. The motif depict a man in a horse pulled carriage, various animals including a snake, crayfi...
Category
Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood, Paint
Antique Mid-Atlantic States Folky Slide Lid Candle Box with an Original Red Wash
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique American candle box.
In pine or fir with its original red paint.
A rectangular candle or table box having a slide lid with carved sides & a thumb slot.
Round nail...
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
Folk Art Painted Document Box 19th Century American
Located in Hudson, NY
A spectacular and fine, painted and stenciled, pine documentbox. The original blue paint having turned a dark green over time with the varnished finish, typical of Boston pieces. Yo...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Brass
19th Century Original Painted Wall Board Food Plate Folk Art Bavarian German
Located in Epfach, DE
19th Century original painted wall board food plate folk art Bavarian German
The typical bavarian plate is labeled with M.L.B. 1882.
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
Indian Folk Art Painted Cupboard
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Indian folk art painted cupboard
This is an unusual piece, the cupboard stands on a small plinth, it is painted in the detailed Indian Folk Art Style ...
Category
Early 1900s Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Paint
Pair of Faux Marble Columns, circa 1880
Located in London, GB
Pair of faux marble columns, circa 1880.
This lot is an exceptionally rare original pair of faux marble effect columns dated 1880. These...
Category
1880s Italian Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
Early 20th Century Folk Art "American Eagle" Silhouette Decorative Box
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Folk art decorative box with eagle motif in attractive red paint (ca. 1910-1920, USA). The hinged top opens to reveal a divided storage compartment, per...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood, Paint
Early 19th Century Grain Painted Firkin
Located in Nantucket, MA
Early 19th Century Grain Painted Firkin, possibly late 18th Century, a hand crafted firkin or bucket, having a round lid above a barrel-stave built vessel held by wooden hoops, on so...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Pine
Victorian Folk Art House Table or Wall Art
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa late 1800s, wood, and glass, American, possibly New York. Charming beyond belief, this polychrome Folk Art House was originally made to feature a ...
Category
1890s American Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
1920’s French Whimsical Monumental Balloon Wall Hangings - a Pair
Located in Charleston, SC
One of a kind!!! These are so fun, I can’t stand it! A pair of early 20th century French Whimsical Monumental Balloon Wall Hangings. The balloons look like lolly pops...
Category
Early 20th Century French Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood, Paint
American Odd Fellows Lodge Wood Red Counter Folk Art Grain Painted Gavel
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Great 19th century American Folk Art counter with original grain painted surface. Fantastic Gavel painted design. Open back. Very solid and sturdy counter.
Gavel counter dimensio...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
Hand Painted Feline Motif Upholstered Leopard Print Wood Chair in Green & Orange
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A whimsical hand painted wooden chair with upholstered leopard print cushion. The back of this piece is wood, with a stylized carved design in or...
Category
20th Century Portuguese Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Wood, Paint
Hand Painted Indian Folk Art Stand or Low Table
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Hand Painted Indian Folk Art Stand or Low Table
A Lovely Decorative piece painted in an orange pallet with Flowers
This little metal table is very stable ...
Category
19th Century Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Tin
19th Century Faux Grain Painted Chest
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th Century Faux Grain Painted Chest, second half 19th Century, a diminutive six board chest with excellent quality original vinegar grain painted finish in a faux yellow pine patte...
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Pine
American Odd Fellows Lodge Black Wood Counter Folk Art Grain Painted Hourglass
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Great 19th century American folk art counter with original grain painted surface. Fantastic Hourflassl painted design. Open back. Very solid and sturdy counter. Please note the red c...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
Late 19th Century Wood and Leather Seat Railroad Station Bench
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Great looking late 19th century railroad station bench found in the mid-west. Original grey paint on wood surface and very nicely aged leather s...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Leather, Wood
Victorian Mahogany Sign Painted Chest of Drawers, Fisher Gentleman’s Outfitter
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Victorian mahogany sign painted chest of drawers, fisher gentleman’s outfitter shop display
This is a real Gem, the chest of drawers i...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Paint
19th Century Folk Art Long Wooden 7 Peg Coat Rack
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
19th Century folk art long wooden 7 peg coat rack.
Plain and simple, a Folk Art hand sculptured rack with Blacksmith made iron pegs on a 61” long rail...
Category
19th Century Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Iron
Victorian Folk Art House Table or Wall Art
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa late 1800s, wood, and glass, American, possibly New York. Charming beyond belief, this polychrome Folk Art House was originally made to feature a ...
Category
1890s American Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
Victorian Folk Art House Table or Wall Art
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa late 1800s, wood, and glass, American, possibly New York. Charming beyond belief, this polychrome Folk Art House was originally made to feature a ...
Category
1890s American Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Wood
Painted 19th century Folk Art Child's Chair
Located in Troy, NY
Adorable, unusual small chair, with one armrest, containing a small compartment. The original paint beautifully worn and faded (minor retouching and over paint on the bottom stretche...
Category
19th Century Scandinavian Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Pine
Charming Bow Front Carved Painted Cupboard
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Charming bow front carved painted cupboard
A unique hand painted piece, the cupboard has bow fronted shape with a 2 door cupboard
The door fronts and the sides of the cabinet ha...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Paint
19th C Folk Art Barge Wear, Toleware Log Box
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
19th C folk art barge wear, Toleware log box
Delightfully decorated with flowers, this toleware box is rectangular with chamfered corners and decorated...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Folk Art Painted Furniture
Materials
Tin
Folk Art painted furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique folk art painted furniture for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 19th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage painted furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets, folk art and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art painted furniture made in a specific country, there are North America, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. 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 painted furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $295 and tops out at $29,405 while the average work can sell for $1,923.