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
19th Century Swedish Wrought Iron Candlestick
Located in Mjöhult, SE
Good early 19th century Swedish / Scandinavian folk art wrought iron candlestick. Ca 1800 Sweden.
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art
Materials
Iron
Mid Century Sculptural Hand Carved & Painted Wooden Buddha
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous hand carved & painted 40 inch tall wooden Buddha. Polychrome decorations with Gilt.
Brightly colored and in prayer. Heavy and well executed. In excellent vintage condition ...
Category
1970s Central Asian Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Hardwood, Paint
Maxwell Mays Folk Art Oil on Canvas, Cascade Springs Colorado, 1983
By Maxwell Mays
Located in Morristown, NJ
Maxwell Mays (1918-2009) Painter and Illustrator. Signed and dated 1983, this large scale framed oil on canvas is a charming and detailed depiction of life in Cascade Springs, Colorado on a snowy day.
Maxwell Mays was born in Rhode Island in 1918, and focused his art on celebrating the landscapes of his home state. Known for their birds-eye perspectives and nostalgic style, Mays' prints have appeared multiple times on the cover of Yankee Magazine. His paintings hang in many establishments, including the University of Rhode Island, and are particular favorites of Rhode Island residents. Mays' artwork often depicts scenes from throughout Rhode Island and the surrounding areas of New England but he did produce works depicting communities from across America . Featuring town squares, farm lands, and harbors, Maxwell Mays' prints celebrate the Americana found in small towns.
A graduate of RISD, he began painting seriously while serving in the US Air Force in Brazil during WWII. His first one-man commercial show was at the Ferargil Gallery in New York in 1948. In the ensuing years he became notable for a number of highly successful art shows and magazine covers, and was a highly sought-after speaker and storyteller. As a successful businessman, he was Treasurer of Mays Manufacturing Company, a family business until its sale in the mid-1980s. He was Past President and Director Emeritus of the Providence Art...
Category
1980s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Canvas, Wood, Paint
Modernist Painted Steel and Black Marker Graffitied Sculpture, Metzen/Merisola
By John Metzen
Located in Buffalo, NY
Modernist Abstract painted steel and black marker Graffitied sculpture, by John Metzen/ Michael Merisola, Welded and painted steel, Great color proportion ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Folk Art
Materials
Steel
Antique Miniature Folk Art Yellow Painted Dresser Chest of Drawers 11"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique miniature chest of four drawers, painted in yellow with brown details and red and orange folk art style flowers.
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art
Materials
Hardwood, Paint
W P A Style Terracotta "Bear" Sculpture, Art Deco, Modern
Located in Buffalo, NY
W P A style terracotta "BEAR" sculpture, Art Deco, Modern, charming stylized depiction. Painted, minor chipping (bottom).
Category
1930s Unknown Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Terracotta
19th c. American Folk Tramp Art Crown of Thorns Cross in a Large Scale
Located in Savannah, GA
This late 19th century large scale American Folk "Tramp" Art double sided "Crown of Thorns" cross is made up of thousands of carved and joined pieces, held together with the joinery ...
Category
1890s American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Large Hand Carved Folk Art Sculpture of Man's Head
Located in San Francisco, CA
Fascinating, Large Scale carved wooden sculpture of a bearded man's head, signed by D. Granahan, 1967, has some painted features and a beautiful patina. The sculpture is a compelling...
Category
1960s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Paint
Nest of Three 19th Century Signed Nantucket Lightship Baskets
Located in Nantucket, MA
Nest of three Nantucket lightship baskets, the swing handles, staves and the ears ( which attach the handle to the basket) are all carved from oak. The bottoms are made from pine and each are stenciled with the maker's mark, "R Folger Maker Nantucket Mass." Rowland Folger (1803-1883) is considered one of Nantucket's first makers of lightship baskets. His baskets are very durable and were definitely used as utilitarian.These three baskets were discovered in an attic, where they were living for the last 90 years...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Brass
Large Early 20th Century Belgian Oak Folk Art Eagle Sculpture
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Early 20th century Belgian oak Folk Art eagle sculpture.
Category
1920s Belgian Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Oak
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
Antique Folk Art Reverse Painted and Foil Exhibition Sign in Gilt Frame
Located in Nantucket, MA
Folk Art exhibition sign, reverse painted glass with reserved text backed in gold and silver crinkled foil reading "Exhibition / of / Paintings / on / Glass / By Edgar F. Curtis"
E...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Foil
Large Antique Wooden American Mortar and Pestle
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Large wood antique American mortar and pestle.
Early 19th c. Americana turned wood footed mortar and pestle.
American, late 19th century wooden mortar and pestle...
Category
Early 20th Century Moroccan Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Early 20th Century Southern American Folk Art Painting
Located in Chicago, IL
A captivating and intriguing early 20th century Southern American folk art panel, found in Mississippi, depicting a figure with what appears to be African tribal headgear, and wearing a white collared shirt with black suit jacket. The line work and attention to detail is extraordinary and mysterious, with the artist choosing to incorporate a natural knot in the board to form the mouth of the figure, and the left half of the drawing showing shading, but seemingly left unfinished. The frame is not terribly old, and is constructed from splatter-painted boards...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Paint
1948 Duke University Kappa Sig Sigma Signed Fraternity Pledge Hazing Paddle
Located in Dayton, OH
Mid 20th century Kappa Sigma fraternity wooden pledge hazing paddle, fully painted on the front in burgundy, green and white, with applied fraternity logo, taped handle and surname of original owner, (Jack) Gibson. Reverse is signed with the names of pledges.
Made at Duke University...
Category
1940s Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Hardwood, Paint
20th C, Hand Crafted Tall Copper Electrified Lighthouse Table Lamp
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Amazing craftsmanship in this one of a kind piece hand crafted from copper. Hammered repousse in and around the entire lighthouse. Tall 33 inches by 14 diameter with an 11 inch balcony. Entirely lights up, Tower with a large dome light...
Category
1940s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Copper
Rustic Folk Art Hand Painted Gas Station Sign
Located in Oakland, CA
Vintage handcrafted gas station signage on board. The sign dates to pre 1975 when leaded gasoline was phased out. The state states “No Lead 99.9”, painted in yellow paint on a black ...
Category
1960s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Scrap Wood, Paint
Original Wood Carved SHOW Majorette Letterpress Triangle Poster Company
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Large hand carved circus or carnival SHOW letterpress with wonderful and graphic carved majorette. This wood cut was made by the Triangle Poster Compan...
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Green painted Southern Yellow Pine 19th century carriage strong box forged iron
Located in Mobile, AL
Green folk painted Southern yellow pine carriage trunk or strong box. The size is just about perfect for liquor bottles, too. Dovetail construction with hand forged clasp and hinges. The original finish was likely brown and it looks like it got it's first coat...
Category
1840s American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wood
19th Century Gold Giltwood Carved Letters William Trade Sign
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Classic 19th century American wood trade sign with chunky hand carved and gold painted letters. Ready to display.
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Large Folk Art Pocket Knife Store Display
Located in Brooklyn, NY
One of a kind large scale pocket knife (24" L), likely used as a store display / sign composed of a painted and carved walnut handle / bolster wi...
Category
1970s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Walnut, Poplar
Antique Folk Art Stitched Tulip Flower Baskets Applique Quilt Blanket
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage hand stitched white bedspread / blanket / coverlet / quilt with applique pink and purple tulips in embroidered baskets and loose tulips along t...
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art
Materials
Cotton
19th C. Silk Embroidered and Hand Painted Seascape by Thomas Willis
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th century silk embroidered and hand painted oil on canvas seascape by Thomas Willis (1850 - 1925), depicting the schooner-rigged racing yacht MARION W...
Category
1880s American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Canvas, Silk
19th Century Seascape with Lighthouse
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th Century seascape with lighthouse, circa 1890, an oil on canvas view of a white-washed lighthouse tower on a small offshore rocky ledge, most...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Canvas
Charming Folk Art Copper Weathervane with Dog
Located in Atlanta, GA
20th Century American Folk Art Weathervane artisan made from copper with an adorable dog perched atop the arrow. Amazing facial details and a natural aged patina bring all the charm ...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Copper, Iron
Americana Folk-Art Carved and Paint Decorated Wood Carousel Horse
Located in New York, NY
Americana Folk-Art carved and paint decorated wood childs carousel horse:
Mounted on metal pole base
Measures: 13" x 43" x 62".
Category
19th Century Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wood
19th C Dutch Fabric Dolls- Man & Women
Located in Los Angeles, CA
These amazing 19th c fabric dolls are in amazing condition. These Dutch dolls have the original wood shoes /clogs. These dolls are so wonderful and undisturbed clothing.
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Fabric
19th Century Watercolor Seascape with Shipwreck
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique seascape with shipwreck on a rocky shore, mid-19th century, a watercolor on paper seascape with a shipwrecked brig on the rocks, with another squall rolling in on horizon, un...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Paper
Set of Four 20th Century Folk Art Carved Decoys in Custom Wall Mounts
Located in Chicago, IL
A spirited and playful set of four 20th century American Folk Art wood decoys each with hand carved bodies and heads supported by natural contorted branch necks that add instant indi...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Antique Ghanian Ashanti Style Stool with Leopard Carved, Africa
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Carved Antique African Leopard Ashanti Style Stool.
Early 20th Century Ghanaian Ashanti style leopard stool.
Animal leopard stool hand-carved wood from ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Ghanaian Folk Art
Materials
Wood
19th C Original Painted Game Board
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th C original painted game board. Nice original Salmon and black paint.
Category
19th Century North American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wood
19th Century Patriotic Shield Painting Featuring John Adams
Located in Wiscasset, ME
Folk art patriotic shield painting of John Adams, dating to around 1876 and of a large size measuring 41" x 34.5". It is an oil on canvas laid down to boards. There is writing on the back of the boards, but I cannot make out what it says. There is another similar piece to this that features another signer of the constitution in the Smithsonian collection. This piece came from a collection in Portsmouth...
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Paint
Vintage US Map American Flag Wall Art
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful and original wall art in the shape of the US depicting the American Flag along with all it states. This piece of Americana dates from the 1990s and the artist is unknown. T...
Category
1990s American Folk Art
Materials
Canvas
English 19th Century Trinity House Burl Walnut Writing Box Ship and Cube Inlay
Located in Wells, ME
English 19th century burl walnut writing box of unusual interior conformation. The exterior of the box is inlaid with a transitional English ship, having both sail and steam capabilities , sailing on the open seas. She is made of ebony, boxwood and sails on a sycamore sea. The front panel is inlaid in perspective cube made of boxwood, satinwood, sycamore and ebony enclosed with delicate stringing. the end panels are of lively walnut and the back panel is in flame mahogany; all are enclosed by delicate stringing.. The interior has a mahogany writing panel which hinges down to write upon; the interior of that space retains its original red paper lining. The space in the bottom of the box has wells for oddments and ink; two of the compartments have bottoms which slide to the center and reveal hidden spaces beneath them. Complete with lock and key (key replaced). Circa 1870.
Trinity House boxes...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Folk Art
Materials
Walnut
Hand Carved & Hand Painted Rooster Sculpture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hand carved & hand painted rooster sculpture. Very folky rooster.
Category
20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Pair of Magnificent Antique French Carved Wood Panels Depicting the Four Seasons
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An Extraordinary Pair of early 20th century carved wood Panels depicting the Four Seasons. Tall narrow unpainted panels with high relief carved decoration with motifs of the Four Sea...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Mexican Day of the Dead Ceramic Collection
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is a wonderful Folk Art collection of Mexican traditional Day-of-the-Dead ceramic figures. Although unsigned these figures are in the style of the Aguilar Family of Oaxacan pott...
Category
Late 20th Century Mexican Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic, Paint
Vintage Villa Alantis Carved Wood & Metal Red Serpent Dragon Ad Sign
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage folk art carved wood advertising sign with white metal lettering for Villa-Atlantis, featuring a slightly curved form tipped with the heads of...
Category
Mid-20th Century Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Monumental Jesus and Virgin Mary Folk Art Sculptures from the Jesuit Center
Located in Hamburg, PA
A religious pair of monumental wooden sculptures depicting Jesus and Mary from the Berks County Pennsylvania Jesuit Center. This dynamic ha...
Category
20th Century Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Paint
Antique Spanish Polychrome Ceramic Charger with a Bull Decoration
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Circa 1800 Spanish Majolica Faience centerpiece bowl or charger.
This charming collectible antique painted ceramic dish is decorated with a large rear facing bull and with polychrom...
Category
Early 19th Century Spanish Antique Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
20thc Hand Carved Wood Mermaid Statue
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This hand carved wood sculpture of a mermaid is in fine condition.It is hand carved and unsigned.So fantastic the surface and carving.
Category
1940s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Wood
18th Century Wooden Cross, Guanajuato, Mexico
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Wooden cross
Guanajuato, Mexico
Wood, paint
22 x 13 inches, (56 cm x 33 cm)
18th century
A wonderful old wooden cross with a painted crucified Christ figure, an angel, possibly Mary Magdelene...
Category
18th Century Mexican Antique Folk Art
Materials
Paint, Wood
Fine Early 19th Century Swedish Folk Art Turned Bowl
Located in Mjöhult, SE
Fantastic early 19th century Swedish / Scandinavian finely turned wooden folk art bowl in it's original finish, signed B E D 1817. Sweden.
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Mexican Hand Painted Colorful Tonala Pottery Ducks Set of Three
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Mexican Tonala hand painted pottery birds Folk Art with brass decoration in the style of Sergio Bustamante.
Vintage Mexican ceramic and brass hand painted Tonala pottery duc...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art
Materials
Brass
19Thc Mini Postage Stamp Chain Mounted Crib Quilt
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fine tiny pieced 19thc postage stamp chain crib quilt on indigo blue calico ground and pink calico blocks with white calico blocks is in fine condition.This Pennsylvania beauty is a real gem for a quilt collector or folk art collection. It is sew on...
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Cotton
Giant Wood Early 20th Century Hand Painted Americana Barber Shop Sign
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Large and chunky Americana! Fantastic and original Barber Shop trade sign in the shape of a barber pole. Great statement piece. Layers of super graphic red and white original paint. ...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Wood
19th C Tin Wrapped Wooden Spice Containers, 10 Pieces
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th C Tin Wrapped Wooden Spice Containers.
Stamped: PATENT PACKAGE CO. NEWARK, NEW JERSEY. PAT'D AUG. 31, 1858. Lightweight hardwood construction. Ra...
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Bentwood
Vintage Studio Pottery Unglazed Cream Ceramic Pitcher
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A pretty piece of studio pottery. Unglazed and unpainted, this pitcher is created from clay and has no signature. It would be a beautiful piece for display on a shelf or table.
Dim...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
Handmade Folk Art Inlay Game Board
Located in Los Angeles, CA
handmade Folk Art inlay game board - a wonderful board for chess or checkers.
A compliment for many interiors as a display or decorative piece, i.e. Ralph Lauren or the game aficion...
Category
20th Century Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Antique Victorian P. Hackett Americana Watercolor Painting School Boy with Horn
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Victorian Americana watercolor portrait of a young boy dressed in blue and holding a horn. Signed P. Hackett on the back of the frame.
Category
19th Century Antique Folk Art
Materials
Paint, Paper
Antique German Paper Mache Bobble Head Mule Donkey Pull Cart Toy
Located in Dayton, OH
Rare antique German paper mache composition bobble head mule / donkey / horse pull toy figure standing with a small feed manger on a platform rollin...
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art
Materials
Hardwood, Paper
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
18th Century Swedish Folk Art Root Wood Bowl
Located in Mjöhult, SE
Fine organic late 18th century Swedish / Scandinavian folk art root wood bowl in it's original finish, great patination and an skilfully executed brass repair. Ca 1790.
Category
18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wood
19th Century Antique Ships Chandler Shop Advertising Sign
Located in Peabody, MA
A relic from Boston’s mercantile history and the seafaring trade. This 19th century shop sign displays a fairly detailed replica of a navigator’s octant (or sextant) and the proprietor’s name and street number...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Very Early Nantucket Lightship Basket, circa 1860
Located in Nantucket, MA
Very Early Nantucket lightship basket, circa 1860, an oval open basket with wide splint staves, split wood rim, cane weave, solid birch bottom plate, and sha...
Category
1860s American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Cane, Wood
Early 20th Century French Butcher's Shop Sign
Located in Chicago, IL
A playful early 20th century French painted steel butcher's shop sign in the shape of a pig, and mounted on a custom steel table-top mount. The sign...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Folk Art
Materials
Steel
779 Japanese Signed Bronze Nio Mask
Located in New York, NY
Guardian to the Buddhist Temple
Superb quality and casting feature a rich dark brown patina.
Meiji Period (1868-1912) – Ca. 1890
Measures: H 10.25” x W 6.25” x D 3”
Deale...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Folk Art
Materials
Bronze
Mexican Vintage Tonala Pottery Hand Painted Green Duck
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Mexican ceramic duck form Tonala Pottery.
Beautiful vintage Mexican hand made and hand painted TONALA Art pottery.
Vintage Collectible Mexican Tonala hand painted pottery bird Folk Art.
El Palomar...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic, Pottery
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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