Folk 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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Item Ships From: USA
Style: Folk Art
Vtg Hand Stitched Quilt Geometric Folk Art Tulips King Queen Blanket Bedspread
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage hand stitched king sized quilt featuring gray-green, mauve and white floral cotton in blocks framing quartets of tulips on the front, a navy bl...
Category
Mid-20th Century Folk Art
Materials
Cotton
Wonderful Folk aRT / outsider art Oil on Board painting by Charles Moore
Located in Buffalo, NY
Wonderful Folk aRT / outsider art Oil on Board painting by Charles Moore ."Tattoo Legs" .Western nEW yORK aRTIST,,
Category
2010s American Folk Art
Materials
Paint
Unusual Folk Art, Bespoke Billiard Themed Floor Lamp, 8-Ball, Modernist
Located in Buffalo, NY
Unusual Folk Art, Bespoke Billiard Themed floor lamp.. 8-ball. Modernist, que sticks, Hand crafted, Shade measuring 16" in diameter.
Category
1940s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Brass
Folk Art Hand Painted Wooden Trade Sign
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique Folk Art hand painted double-sided wooden trade sign dating from the early 20th Century... 1920s? 1930s? A wonderful whimsical sign most likely...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Pine
Holstein Milk Painted Metal Trade Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This folky original painted hand made Holsteins Milk metal farm trade sign has the original chain for hanging.It has spots that has paint loss and mino...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Vintage Mexican Tonala Pottery Hand Painted Bird
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Mexican Tonala hand painted pottery bird Folk Art.
Flora de la Cruz Acapulco Gro Mexico hand painted bird dove ceramic.
Warm earth tone polych...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic, Pottery
Vintage Carnival or Casino Neptune's Trident Lighted Trade Sign Americana
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Unique lighted Neptune's trident carnival ride or casino trade sign. Really nice graphic piece. Original layers of golden yellow and red park paint. Provides a nice amount of warm li...
Category
1930s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Peter Arvidson Post Modern Modernist American Painter 'the Lovers" 1993, Oil
Located in Buffalo, NY
An original oil on canvas painting by listed Contemporary artist Peter Arvidson.
The thick imposto and color choices create a whimsical but striking ...
Category
1990s American Folk Art
Materials
Canvas, Paint
Boston Terrier Heavy Cast Iron Doorstop
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sweet faced Boston Terrier cast iron doorstop. This doorstop is very heavy with great patina. The Boston Terrier hasa very soft look due to the wear.
Category
20th Century North American Folk Art
Materials
Iron
Monumental 80" Figurative Hand Carved Sculpture by Robert Brady
By Robert Brady 2
Located in Buffalo, NY
Robert Brady was born and raised in Reno, Nevada. Upon graduation from high school he attended the California College of The Arts in Oakland, Ca. receiving his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1969. Later he attended University of California, Davis, receiving a Masters of Fine art in 1975. Recently retired Emeritus, he served as Professor of Art from 1975-2013 at California State University, Sacramento.
Trained as a potter, Brady’s interest quickly steered toward a path of ceramic object making and sculpture, ultimately gaining national and international recognition. Approximately 24 years later, Brady, fortuitously discovered the beauty and merits of wood as a sculptural medium. Since then, Robert has produced work in both clay and wood, with an emphasis on wood. Mixed media, bronzes, works on paper and functional pottery are also part of his output.
Brady has had over 50 solo exhibits and participated in many group exhibitions throughout the United States, and Europe, both in private galleries and public Museums. His works can be found in permanent collections in galleries and museums such as The Smithsonian (Renwick), The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Arkansas Art Center, Little Rock, and the Stedelijik Museum in Amsterdam, Holland, as well as others. Lastly, his work is found in private collections too numerous to mention.
He has received three National Endowment Individual Artist...
Category
1990s American Folk Art
Materials
Wood
O'Henry Fred Johnson Salem Witch Trials Sideshow Spider Girl Banner
Located in Santa Monica, CA
O'Henry Tent and Awning sideshow banner with original shipping tag. Unusual subject matter and fantastic story from the Salem witch trails to Spider Girl. ...
Category
1940s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Canvas
Mid 19th Century Sailor's Elaborate Woolie
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique Sailor's elaborate woolwork, circa 1855, with a photograph of the sailor held in a woolwork frame set on the British flag on a cruciform reserve; with the "Honi Soit Qui Mal ...
Category
1850s English Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wool
Vintage Folk Art Cabin in Winter Snow Landscape Long Format Painting
Located in Seguin, TX
Antique circa 1915 oil on wood board folk art winter forest cabin scene painting, wood is from an old tobacco crate. Unsigned. Unframed, edge wear.
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Paint
Folk Art Painted Chicken Drinks Table by Ira Yeager
By Ira Yeager
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Rustic and charming folk art painted side table or drink table by artist Ira Yeager (American 1938-2022). The table features an oil on board painting depicting a white French chicken or rooster with a 19th century date 1840 and signed with his initials. Ira loved painting 18th-19th century French...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Wood
19th C Checkerboard Game Board
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th C original painted checkerboard game board.
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Monumental Mexican Carved Polychrome Mermaid Dance Mask, Folk Art Sculpture
Located in Forney, TX
A magnificent life-size Mexican folk art hand carved and painted wood body dance mask, in the form of a mermaid, dating to the early 20th century, most likely originating in Guerrero, Mexico.
Featuring a large nude female form, exquisitely detailed throughout, including intricately painted eyes, sculpted wavy hair and rich polychrome decorated scaled tail mounted with fish figure, having cutout for wearing around waist, moderately hollowed body reduces overall weight, and arms jointed at the shoulder allowing the arms to rotate and freely move when worn.
Retaining later looped wires for hanging from the ceiling or wall. Great original antique / vintage condition with expected heavily distressed patina and chippy paint finish losses. All wear consistent with age and indicative of use.
Provenance / Acquisition:
From the collection of Mrs. Bettye Wellons, Austin, Texas.
Acquired from highly reputable auction house Austin Auction Gallery, established in 1983, Austin, Texas. 2022 Texas Mansion Carved Antiques & Decor catalog.
Overall dimensions: (approx)
Raised on arms angled back with back head up...
Category
Early 20th Century Mexican Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Gesso, Paint
Manuel Sandoval Valez Latin American Figurative Ceramic Sculpture of a Newsboy
Located in Miami, FL
Manuel Sandoval Valez Latin American figurative Ceramic sculpture of a newsboy
Offered for sale is a folk art-style terracotta ceramic sculpture of a newsboy by Manuel Sandoval Va...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Peruvian Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic, Terracotta
Fantastic 19th Century American Pair of Folk Art Still Life Paintings
Located in Wiscasset, ME
Each panel measures approximately 18" x 18". Very rare to see a pair of this quality. They have a great folk art appeal with watermelons, peaches, grapes, etc. Dating to the first ha...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Carved Wood Chain
Located in Chicago, IL
Don't let your eyes fool you, you're not looking at a boring iron chain. This is a stunning early 20th century American Folk Art fourteen foot long wooden chain...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Wood
18th or 19th Century French Ship Chandler's Trade Sign
Located in Nantucket, MA
18th or 19th century French ship chandler's trade sign, circa 1800, an oval pine double sided sign built with large dove-tails, advertising Cooperage and...
Category
1790s French Antique Folk Art
Materials
Pine
19th Century Sailor's Woolwork of Frigate with Signal Flags
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th Century Sailor's woolwork of a British Frigate at Anchor, circa 1880, adorned with an array of British ensigns and a full rig of signal flags strung along the stays. The hull has the unusual touch of having glass beads mounted in each gunport, and a metaliic gilt thread highlighting the strakes above and below the two rows of gunports, and on the sterncastle. Mercantile silk threads were used for the flag halyards. The ship is moored off a lighthouse at the foot of a large green haystack headland. The woolwork is mounted in its original Victorian carved, ebonized and parcel gilt oak frame...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wool
Collection of 19th Century Spatter Ware / Soft Paste Pitchers, 3
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Collection of three 19th century spatter ware water pitchers in pristine condition. The shorter of the three is really quite unusual and is more of a desi...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Pottery
19th C Original Painted Checkerboard Game Board
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th C original painted checkerboard game board. Board has great Grungy paint. Great Pitina.
Category
20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Antique German Folk Art Spun Cotton Wool Santa Claus Ornament Doll Figurine
Located in Dayton, OH
Large antique German spun cotton wool Santa Claus Christmas ornament doll with hand painted composition face.
Measure: 9".
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic, Wool, Cotton
British Sailor's Woolwork with Unusual Border and a Fine Chain Stitch
Located in Downingtown, PA
British sailor's woolwork with unusual border,
Chain stitch,
Circa 1875
The unusually designed charming sailor's woolie depicts a starboard side view of a British two-masted sh...
Category
1860s English Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wool
Hand Painted Early Americana Folk Art Wall Mount Game Wheel
Located in Wallkill, NY
What a great addition this would make to your home
Folk Art game wheel, measuring
31 in x 34.5 in height x 5 in deep.
Category
1920s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Vintage Brazilian Hand-Carved Ironwood Sculpture of Whale and a Shark
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Brazilian hand carved Ironwood sculpture of a whale and a shark.
Hand carved Brazilian sculpture hand crafted in amazing detail from one of...
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Folk Art
Materials
Wood
19Thc Velvet One Patch Doll Quilt Mounted in a Plexy Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fine and folky velvet 19thc doll quilt was found in Lancaster County,Pennsylvania and is in fine condition.Thats why we mounted in a plexus box instead of just framing it.Its ve...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Velvet
Folk Art Tropical Painting on Canvas
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Charming acrylic painting on canvas of a group of colorful figures in a tropical setting executed in a naive style. Signed Osnel in the lower right and presented in the original wood...
Category
20th Century Caribbean Folk Art
Materials
Paint
Large Tramp Art Hinge Lid Box
Located in Mt Kisco, NY
A handcrafted Tramp Art box or small chest. A detailed design on four tapered feet. The interior is lined with white quilted fabric and the lid is fitted with a large finial. The bot...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Folk Art Brigantine Weathervane by Frank Adams, Martha's Vineyard, circa 1930s
Located in Nantucket, MA
Folk Art Brigantine Weathervane by Frank Adams (1871 - 1944), West Tisbury, Martha's Vineyard, circa 1930s, a hand built weathervane of a brigantine with square-rigged foremast and fore-and-aft-rigged mainmast, with wooden hull, characteristic cut sheet metal sails with folded fore-edges, and wire rigging.
The weathervane is in original nicely weathered paint and condition.
Frank Adams was a folk artist on the Vineyard best known for his duck decoys, but also for these weathervanes, ship models, miniature decoys...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Folk Art Hand-Made Iron Rooster
Located in Chicago, IL
A mischievous 20th century American folk art rooster sculpture with a wonderful disposition, and beautiful rusted finish. Perfect indoors or out!
Category
20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Iron
Post Social Folk Art Student Work from West Balkan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Post social student work. Farm house full of hand made animals and all is hand made.
Category
1960s Balkan Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Plaster, Plywood
Antique Gnome Sculpture "Digging For Gold" Original Paint
Located in South Burlington, VT
Digging For Gold- Rare Form
Gardener's Best Friend - As American as Apple Pie
An American garden friendly elf or gnome- hand cast double sided form and hand painted. Imagine this fellow going about his business digging in your garden - perhaps burying gold treasure...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Iron
Early 20th Century German Deer Target
Located in Chicago, IL
A unique and chic early 20th century German iron hunting target in the shape of a grazing deer, and with a fantastic pitted painted finish. Perfect for ...
Category
Early 20th Century German Folk Art
Materials
Iron
20th C Original Painted Bank
Located in Los Angeles, CA
20th C original painted bank from Mexico. The bank is more Gray than the photos.
Category
20th Century Mexican Folk Art
Materials
Pottery
Large Carved Wood 'Man & Woman' Figural African Folk Sculpture
Located in Glendale, CA
Large carved wood 'Man & Woman' figural African Folk sculpture. An expressive pair of human figures exquisitely handcrafted from richly colored wood and mounted independently on a me...
Category
20th Century African Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Rare Amish Bars Doll Quilt
By Amish Quilts
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1920-1930 s bars doll quilt with corner blocks in very good condition.Machine quilted pieced & quilted.Published on page 30 in "Amish Doll Quilts " by...
Category
1930s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Cotton
Antique Gold Leaf Black Sign "Gebhardt Park "
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique gold leaf sign Gebhardt Park. Framed in original wood frame.
Category
Early 1900s North American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Antique Welsh Folk Art Pilgrim Man Cloth Doll Formal Wool Suit Wales
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Welsh costume cloth doll of a man in a brown formal tux style suit, reminiscent of 17th century Pilgrims, with delicately painted face and wool clot...
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art
Materials
Fabric
Rustic Large Folk Art Handled Natural Organic Wood Carved Bowl, 1800s
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderful bowl with beautiful natural wood grain and glowing colorful patina acquired with age. This piece has a very organic, wabi-sabi feel to it.
From a collection of older w...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wood
American Copper Spread Winged Eagle Weathervane with Sphere and Arrow, C. 1880
Located in Hollywood, SC
American molded copper spread winged eagle weathervane with circular sphere, arrow, and mounted on cast iron squared base. Weathervane has a fine natural verdigris patina in the orig...
Category
1880s American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Copper, Iron
Massive Antique Folk Art Candle Driven Tiered Windmill Form "Carousel"
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Classic Folk Art Candle-Powered Carousel in the form of a Tiered and Steepled Gazebo. Carved and painted wood in green and off-white with gilt details, Multiple tiers with a center s...
Category
19th Century Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Folk Art Terracotta Cat Egg Cup or Votive
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Unique and delicate - a terracotta ceramic cat acquired in Paris France.
the piece is a compliment to many settings and would work well in a Childs space, or someone who is very fond of felines.
The body has a bell inside (this I believe is to remind the owner that the person that gave it them Is always thinking of them... purchased for a special person, for sure. Could be used as an egg cup, for a votive or small office supplies...
Category
20th Century French Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic, Terracotta
19th Century Hand Blown Canister Jars with Tin Lids Jars, Collection of Three
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This collection of three hand blown jars all have the original tin lids. The condition is very good.
It is very hard to find these storage canisters...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Tin
Moroccan Vintage Leather Handcrafted African Tuareg Bag with Fringes Wall Art
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage African Moroccan leather handcrafted Tuareg bag with fringes. Wall decorative Art.
Collectible vintage Real work of art hand made by the Berber trib...
Category
Mid-20th Century Moroccan Folk Art
Materials
Leather
Original Painted Game Board, Signed and Dated
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Original painted game board - signed and Dated 1935.
Category
20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Wool, Paint
1950s "Prince Buddah" Circus Sideshow Banner
Located in Chicago, IL
1950s "Prince Buddah" circus sideshow banner.
Category
1950s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Iron
Dated 1883 Masonic Flag Holder in Iron
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Masonic cast iron original black painted masonic flag holder with footed ball and claw feet. The condition is very good and strong.
Category
1880s American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Iron
Elmer Crowell Quarter Sized Canada Goose Decoy, circa 1930s
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique Quarter Sized Canada Goose Decoy, by J.Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, MA (1862 - 1952), circa 1928 - 1943, a hand carved and painted diminutive Can...
Category
1930s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Cedar
19th C Bronze German Sheppard Doorstop
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th C bronze German sheppard doorstop. Great condition.
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Bronze
Vintage North African Art Wall Sconce Parchment
Located in North Hollywood, CA
African Tribal Art parchment wall shade sconce featuring a large triangle hide form stitched on iron and hand painted surface.
These Moroccan Art pieces could be used as wall lamp s...
Category
20th Century Moroccan Folk Art
Materials
Iron
Large Antique East African Carved Wood & Bronze Antelope Deer Folk Art Sculpture
Located in Forney, TX
A large, rare, and most impressive antique hand carved and painted wood and metal stylized antelope African folk art sculpture with beautifully aged distressed patina.
Handmade in East Africa, dating to around the late 19th / early 20th century, possibly earlier, this scarce, one-of-a-kind, museum quality work, features a richly detailed patinated bronze head and tail with etched textural elements, tall ears and faux ringed...
Category
Late 19th Century African Antique Folk Art
Materials
Bronze
Shell Encrusted Lucky Elephant Statue in Brown Black and White, 1930s
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A large tall lucky sea shell encrusted elephant statue or figurine. Covered in shells, this elephant stands with its trunk up pointed toward the sky. In Southeast Asia, elephants wit...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Shell, Wood
Small Ceramic Blue and White Marbled Pinch Pot Vase
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A beautiful small ceramic pinch pot vase. Created from clay, this fun piece will be fantastic used in a grouping of other vases and filled with your ...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
Original Wood Carved Carnival Midway Poster Letterpress
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Set of three original hand-carved letterpress made by the Neal Walters Poster Company. Fantastic carnival midway scene. Games, carnival rides and acrobats. Carved with incredible detail, please see photos. The colors are the original ink used during the three color posted printing process. Circus and...
Category
1930s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Paint
20th C. Hand Carved Egyptian Revival Folk Art Bali Cat Sculpture Statue
Located in Dayton, OH
20th century hand carved folk art wooden cat form sculpture or statue. Features a knockdown design with elegant form. Features pointy claws, curled tale an...
Category
20th Century Folk Art
Materials
Hardwood, Paint
20th C. South Indian Life Sized Carved Peacock Sculpture Statue Folk Art
Located in Dayton, OH
20th century South Indian carved and painted peacock statue. A Folk Art sculpture hand carved on a plinth base. Features bright colors of yellow, green,...
Category
20th Century Folk Art
Materials
Hardwood, Paint
Folk Art folk art for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique folk 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 folk 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 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 folk art, popular names associated with this style include Berber Tribes of Morocco, Mosche Bianche, Jim Rose, and Nils Olsson. 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 folk art differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $35 and tops out at $49,500 while the average work can sell for $1,387.
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