Folk Art
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.
1950s Czech Vintage Folk Art
Ceramic
2010s American Folk Art
Canvas, Paint
1880s Austrian Antique Folk Art
Hardwood, Paint
1990s American Folk Art
Paper
Early 20th Century American Folk Art
Cotton
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Folk Art
Wood, Acrylic
19th Century American Antique Folk Art
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art
Mid-20th Century African Folk Art
Wood
1990s Mexican Folk Art
Enamel
2010s British Folk Art
Paper
2010s British Folk Art
Paper
Early 20th Century American Folk Art
Wood, Paint
Late 20th Century Japanese Folk Art
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Folk Art
Ceramic, Majolica, Clay
1850s Unknown Antique Folk Art
Paper
1970s Vintage Folk Art
Plastic
Early 20th Century Folk Art
Wood
2010s North American Folk Art
Ceramic
20th Century American Folk Art
Steel
Mid-20th Century Central American Folk Art
Other
1960s Japanese Vintage Folk Art
Tin
Mid-19th Century North American Antique Folk Art
Zinc
Mid-19th Century American Antique Folk Art
Wood
1810s Swedish Antique Folk Art
Pine
1850s Italian Antique Folk Art
Fir
20th Century Canadian Folk Art
Wood, Paint
1970s American Vintage Folk Art
Paint
1970s American Vintage Folk Art
Paint
20th Century American Folk Art
Paint