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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Style: Folk Art
Moorish Heads Vases Collection "Palermo décor", Set of 2, Handmade in Italy
Located in San Miniato PI, IT
This collection is a work of art that make a statement in modern décor and in the modern cultural art world. It can be used as a vase containing flowers, or as a beautiful centerpiec...
Category
2010s Italian Folk Art
Materials
Gold Leaf
Antique Set of Mexican Papier-Mâché Masks 3
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1960. We offer this antique set of 10 Mexican papier-mâché masks 100% handmade and paited with anilina (natural pigments).
Category
1960s Mexican Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Paper
Folk Art Penguin Whirligig, circa 1930s-40s
Located in Nantucket, MA
Early Vintage Penguin Whirligig from Plymouth, Massachusetts, circa 1930s - 1940s, a hand cut and painted wooden flat silhouette of a large penguin in ...
Category
1930s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Pine
Moorish Heads Vases Collection "Cool Grey", Set of 4 Pieces, Handmade in Italy
Located in San Miniato PI, IT
This collection is a work of art that make a statement in modern décor and in the modern cultural art world. It can be used as a vase containing flowers, or as a beautiful centerpiec...
Category
2010s Italian Folk Art
Materials
Gold Leaf
Colorful Lion Pictorial Turkish Accent Rug
Located in New York, NY
A mid-20th century pictorial double lion pictorial rug.
Measures: 4' x 7'7''.
Category
Mid-20th Century Folk Art
Materials
Wool
Folk Art Model of a Lockheed Constellation Airliner
Located in San Mateo, CA
Large model of a Lockheed Constellation made by Charles Long. The airplane is made of redwood. The propellers are pine. Charles was a captain in...
Category
1950s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Antique American Soldier Whirligig
Located in Nantucket, MA
Carved and painted Pine with rotating sheet iron swords, with black hair, mustache and beard, bicorn hat, blue jacket with tacks for buttons, black boots mounted on a yellow circular...
Category
Early 20th Century North American Folk Art
Materials
Sheet Metal
19th Century Swedish Folk Art Travel Chest / Box with Untouched Original Paint
Located in Boden, SE
19th century Swedish Folk Art chest box from Boden Norrbotten, Northern Sweden.
A very charming Box / chest with untouched Original paint.
Decorated with handwrought iron around th...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art
Materials
Iron
Vintage School Crossing Safety Guard Folk Art Trade Sign
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Original hand painted school safety crossing guard sign. Sheet metal and wood. Great original surface. Has original leaning brace mounted on back, but c...
Category
1950s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Sheet Metal
Hand Crafted and Beautifully Painted Dolls Found in Southern Mexico, 1930's
By G. None
Located in Guadalajra, Jal
Hand Crafted and Beautifully Painted Doll found in Southern Mexico, Early 20th Century.
Origin: Villa de Zaachila, Oaxaca / Southern México.
Category
Early 20th Century Mexican Folk Art
Materials
Leather, Wood
Javanese Solid Teak Storage Box with Engravings Mid-20th Century
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
This teak storage box comes for the Island of Java, Indonesia. Dating to the Mid-20th Century it was crafted from a single block of teak. It features ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Indonesian Folk Art
Materials
Teak
Moorish Heads Vases Collection "Licata", Set of 3 Pieces, Handmade in Italy
Located in San Miniato PI, IT
This collection is a work of art that make a statement in modern décor and in the modern cultural art world. It can be used as a vase containing flowers, or as a beautiful centerpiec...
Category
2010s Italian Folk Art
Materials
Gold Leaf
18th Century Swedish Wooden Bowl with Original Paint
Located in Boden, SE
A genuine 18th Century Swedish Folk Art Wooden bowl with lovely patina & original color from Burtrask Vasterbotten, Northern Sweden .
An antique and unique organic wooden bowl.
W...
Category
Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art
Materials
Pine
19th Century Folk Art Painting of a Young Girl
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Interesting 19th century Folk Art painting of a young girl holding a bible. Oil on canvas with a treed landscape and blue sky. Set in a deep carved giltwood frame with repeating bord...
Category
19th Century European Antique Folk Art
Materials
Canvas, Wood
Six Separate Hand Painted Hot Rod Car Theme Carry Bags or Purse
Located in Ferndale, MI
Six different hot rod auto related canvas tote carry bags. Hand painted here in Detroit. Image on one side only.
Category
2010s American Folk Art
Materials
Canvas
19Thc Marbleized Stone Ware Piggy Bank
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a very early stone ware glazed piggy bank from New England. This is a handmade piggy bank in very good condition.
Category
1870s American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Pottery
Roulette Wheel, circa 1900
Located in London, GB
French Roulette Wheel Board Game circa 1900
For sale in this LOT is one of the most unique and highly decorative antique primitive French handmade rou...
Category
Early 20th Century French Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Lamb Sheep Turkish Anatolian Rug
Located in New York, NY
A highly decorative mid-20th century Turkish rug with lambs and sheep luring on a rose color field.
Measures: 3'5'' x 6'3'' circa 1940.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Wool
Papago Indian Baskets, Collection 3
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Indian baskets in fine condition. Selling as a collection.
Small Papago measures - 3 inches in diameter by 4 inches tall
large papago measures - 10 ...
Category
1930s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Willow
Not Disturbing, Assemblage with Old Drill and Ceramic Figurine
By Rick Farrell
Located in Chicago, IL
A found object is a natural or man-made item, or fragment of an item that is found by an artist and kept because of some intinsic interest the artist sees in it. Beginning with Picasso, who incorporated newspapers and matchboxes into his cubist collages and constructions, this idea has been carried forward. It was popular with the Dada and Surrealist movements and with such great artists as Damien Hurst and Henry Moore. Here, artist Rick Farrell...
Category
2010s North American Folk Art
Materials
Metal, Wire
Large Mexican Folk Art Pottery Sculpture of a Female Depicting Life & Death
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This large and striking Folk Art pottery sculpture is unsigned, but believed to have been done in Mexico or South America in a contemporary Folk Art style. The sculpture is a study of a young woman of color wearing a brightly printed dress and accessorized with large deep red rose earrings...
Category
Late 20th Century Mexican Folk Art
Materials
Pottery
Vintage Nautical Table Lamp with Patinated Brass Boat Propeller Base
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Impressive nautical table lamp composed of a nylon rope wrapped stem anchored by a vintage boat propeller, (circa 1970s, USA). Accents and prope...
Category
1970s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Brass
Original Signed Folk Art Painting by Robyn “The Beaver” Beverland
By Robyn Beverland
Located in Atlanta, GA
Unique original signed Folk Art painting by Robyn “The Beaver” Beverland. Signed and dated 1992. Measures: 22" x 12". Artist bio: Robyn “The Beaver” Beverland found great joy in many things but what he most loved was painting. Robyn painted his Folk Art pictures...
Category
1990s American Folk Art
Materials
Plywood
Iconic Pair of Sicilian Ceramic Heads from Caltagirone
Located in Budapest, HU
Fascinating traditional handmade ceramic planters from private collection.
Category
20th Century Sicilian Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
Vintage Turned Wood Lamp Made of Mahogany, Maple and Walnut
Located in Nantucket, MA
Large turned wood lamp of urn-form made by gluing pieces of various types of wood together then lathe turning the block to reveal patterns of co...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Mahogany, Maple, Walnut
19th Century Swedish Folk Art Travel Writing Chest / Box with Original Paint
Located in Boden, SE
19th Century Swedish folk art travelling writing chest / box with original marble paint from Lulea Norrbotten,
Northern Sweden.
A charming Swedish Folk Art Chest with untouched or...
Category
Early 19th Century European Antique Folk Art
Materials
Pine
3x3.8 Ft Hand-Made Anatolian Kilim Rug with Colorful Poms, Great for Kids Room
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This lively handwoven rug was produced by Kurdish villagers in Central Turkey for daily use in third quarter of the 20th century. These splendid vintage weavings were used in various ways such as wall-hangings, bedding covers...
Category
1970s Turkish Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Wool
Early 20th Century Porcelain Maneki Neko, Japan
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Early 20th century porcelain Maneki Neko, Japan
This porcelain Maneki Neko, the good fortune beckoning cat, is a molded seated form with the right raised ...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Folk Art
Materials
Porcelain
19th Century Swedish Folk Art Wooden Candelabra with Untouched Original Paint
Located in Boden, SE
19th Century Swedish wooden candelabra from
Unusual and fantastically nice wooden calendabra with untouched original paint.
The dimension of the c...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art
Materials
Pine
Early 19th Century Swedish Folk Art Travel box / Chest with Original Paint
Located in Boden, SE
Early 19th century Swedish Folk Art travel box from Skelleftea Vasterbotten, Northern Sweden.
Beautiful untouched original paint.
Decorated with hand wrought iron around the box an...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art
Materials
Pine
Moorish Head Matt Vases Collection "Monreale", Set of 3, Handmade in Italy
Located in San Miniato PI, IT
This collection is a work of art that make a statement in modern décor and in the modern cultural art world. It can be used as a vase containing flowers, or as a beautiful centerpiec...
Category
2010s Italian Folk Art
Materials
Gold Leaf
Moorish Heads Vases Collection "Catania Green", Set of 3, Handmade in Italy
Located in San Miniato PI, IT
This collection is a work of art that make a statement in modern décor and in the modern cultural art world. It can be used as a vase containing flowers, or as a beautiful centerpiec...
Category
2010s Italian Folk Art
Materials
Gold Leaf
Original Old Painted Storage Basket, Hand Decorated
Located in Albignasego, IT
Original old painted alpine storage basket, hand decorated
Measures: Height 48 cm – Base diameter 39 cm – Top diameter 50 cm
Hand painted antique Tyrolean wooden tub. Entirely painted in a beautiful teal blue, on the edge it is decorated with a motif of red triangles while on the central bands are painted scenes of a wedding.
This accessory can have various uses, and given its medium size it can adapt to many environments. It can be used as an original blanket or magazine holder for the living room, or as a large vase filled with dried flowers, or as a pure decorative element, enhancing a corner of the house. Another idea could be to apply a removable cover in antique wood, thus transforming it into an entrance or living room table, or into a colorful bedside table...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Folk Art
Materials
Fir
Moorish Head Matt Vases Collection "Vittoria", Set of 3, Handmade in Italy
Located in San Miniato PI, IT
This collection is a work of art that make a statement in modern décor and in the modern cultural art world. It can be used as a vase containing flowers, or as a beautiful centerpiec...
Category
2010s Italian Folk Art
Materials
Gold Leaf
Vintage Headhunter Brass and Trade Bead Necklace, Nagaland
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Vintage headhunter brass and trade bead necklace, Nagaland
Trade beads with a brass medallion of a hunter's head shaped like a fish as the centerp...
Category
20th Century Indian Folk Art
Materials
Tin
19th Century Masonic Table with Leather Bible Compartment Flip Lid Compass Legs
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Rare and fabulous 19th century faux book with compass legs as legs. Mustard paint on the legs with Gilt on the pages of the leather bound book. Looks to be original tassle.. Possibly...
Category
1860s American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Leather, Hardwood, Paint
19th Century Decorated Stoneware Blue Decorated Crock
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fine double handled blue decorated stone ware crock is in good condition with minor chip on interior. There is an embossed three above the hand painted and decorated flowers on ...
Category
1850s American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Pottery
Old Florida Antique Bronze and Copper Palm Tree Sculpture
Located in San Francisco, CA
Incredibly detailed one of a kind Palm Tree sculpture. It is made from bronze and copper. Magnificent patina. It stands 34 inches high. The base is 9 inches wide and the trunk of tree measures 2 1/2 inches wide. In over 40 years of buying and collecting we have never seen another one. Most palm tree sculptures don't do justice to the actual palm tree. This captures the sway and curves of tree and the rungs. This came out of a 110 year old house in central Florida that still had no air condition. Could be considered a piece of Florida folk art.
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Bronze, Copper
Moorish Heads Vases Collection "Sciacca White", Set of 2, Handmade in Italy
Located in San Miniato PI, IT
This collection is a work of art that make a statement in modern décor and in the modern cultural art world. It can be used as a vase containing flowers, or as a beautiful centerpiec...
Category
2010s Italian Folk Art
Materials
Gold Leaf
"Cat With A Bow Seated" Still Bank, American, circa 1970
Located in Incline Village, NV
"Cat With A Bow Seated" cast iron still bank is a re-issue of a bank by the same name and same casting made in the early 1900s by the Grey Iron C...
Category
1970s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Iron
Early 20th Century Folk Art Carved Wood Deer Sculpture
Located in Chicago, IL
A stoic yet charming early 20th century Folk Art carved wood deer sculpture, nearly life size, with a wonderful dry weathered finish, and mounted on a custom steel mount. Perfect dis...
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art
Materials
Wood
18th Century French or Italian Santo Nativity Figure
Located in Nantucket, MA
18th century French or Italian Santo Nativity figure, a hand carved and painted fruitwood figure for a Christmas Creche or Krippe. Excellent and delicate details to the head and hands. The half figure stands on a dowel set into platform base, dressed in original fine linen robe...
Category
18th Century Italian Antique Folk Art
Materials
Linen, Fruitwood
19th Century Folk Art Carved Polychrome Scotsman Carousel Kilt Figure
Located in New York, NY
19th century Scotsman (Highlander) Carousel large carved and painted standing figure wearing kilt with plume hat on large round base.
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Vintage ANRI Folk Art Hand Carved & Painted Sculpture "The Lumberjack" by Duquet
By ANRI
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This vintage folk art hand carved and polychrome painted sculpture is signed with the maker's label of the ANRI group of cavers from Italy and done in circa 1960. This carving was bought from a private estate with another one of one entitled "Old Habitant", which has the identical script on the front and back, but posted separately. These carvings were done by the master carvers of the ANRI factory who worked from a model, usually unique to them, but this one shows it is an example of a work done by the Master Quebec wood...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Folk Art
Materials
Softwood
19th Century Swedish Folk Art Wooden Box with Untouched Original Paint
Located in Boden, SE
19th century Swedish wooden box from Umeå västerbotten,Northern Sweden
An beautiful untouched original painted box with beautiful colors dated 1825...
Category
1820s Swedish Antique Folk Art
Materials
Pine
Fantastic Diminutive 19thc Rare Eagle Full Body Weather Vane on Stand
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This amazing small-scale rare 19th century eagle weather vane sits on top of the unusual arrow in a verdigris copper patina. The nose is in zinc and so is the tip of the arrow. This ...
Category
1880s American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Copper
Carved Vintage Canister with Cannibals, Brain Eaters
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A hand carved wooden canister or jar with occult - ritualistic motifs. The lid/front depicts a couple of persons eatings the brain of a cross sected/ha...
Category
1970s Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Hardwood
19th Century Swedish Folk Art Wooden Bowl Signed BAS, 1845
Located in Boden, SE
19th century Swedish wooden bowl signed BAS 1845 from Northern Sweden.
A genuine 19th century Swedish Folk Art Wooden bowl with lovely patina.
An antique and unique organic wooden bowl...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art
Materials
Pine
American Carved Wood & Painted Ship Officer on Watch with Ship Lantern, C. 1890
Located in Hollywood, SC
American Folk Art carved wood and painted ship officer on watch standing on a two tiered squared plinth with a brass and galvanized ship lantern hanging from wrist. Late 19th Century.
Category
1890s American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Paint
WWI Trench Art Miniature Hand-Carved Ball in Cage Whimsy
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Circa 1910 trench art whimsy figure composed of a ball in cage, all whittled form one piece of wood. Figurines, like this example, were sculpted by soldiers during the war. Good age ...
Category
1910s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Charming Bow Front Carved Painted Cupboard
Located in Chillerton, 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
Materials
Paint
African Ethiopian Tribal Folk Art Painting 20th Century Battle Scene on Canvas
Located in Milan, IT
African Ethiopian painting imported to Italy by a diplomat during the Italian occupation of Ethiopia, in the late 1930s. This tribal folk art painting depicts a battle scene and the canvas is mounted on a parallelogram-shaped frame.
It is a large battle painting...
Category
Mid-20th Century Ethiopian Folk Art
Materials
Canvas
Hand Hewn African Ethiopian Large Wooden Bowl with Handle
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Hand hewn and hand carved African Ethiopian wooden bowl with handle.
Original large vintage Ethiopian tribal wood bowl hand carved bowl from a ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Ethiopian Folk Art
Materials
Hardwood
Pair of Blacksmith Made Gothic Wrought Iron Candle Sticks
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
A pair of Blacksmith Made Gothic wrought iron candle sticks
This is a very unusual pair of Gothic wrought iron candle sticks or vases, ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Folk Art
Materials
Iron
Tall Woven Natural Fiber Basket
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A tall woven basket made from natural fibers. A fabulous way to store miscellaneous items such as remotes or other pieces that need to be tucked away.
Dimensions:
9.5" Diameter ...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Natural Fiber
Original Card Map Poster, Pickfords Depositories
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Original Card Map Poster, Pickfords Depositories
This is a good original advertising sign, showing the locations of Pickfords Depositories
The Sign is C...
Category
Mid-20th Century Folk Art
Materials
Paper
Beaded Ndebele Fertility Doll
Located in Chicago, IL
A rare imported commodity, glass beads have been a symbol of wealth and importance in south African cultures for centuries, and were exclusively distributed by the region's oba (king). As beads become gradually more accessible throughout the 19th century, they began to displace the organic materials used in traditional art and attire.
This colorful example of African beadwork is a fertility doll...
Category
20th Century South African Folk Art
Materials
Cotton, Wood
Charming Pair of Vintage Metal Carnival Ladies
Located in Hopewell, NJ
A matching pair of silver metal female figures in a striking pose with hair caught in the wind. Probably carnival art. Makes unexpectedly charming wall art with a folk art feel. They...
Category
1930s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Metal
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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