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
Period: Early 20th Century
Antique Wine Bottle Carrier, France, Early 20th Century
Located in Chappaqua, NY
Antique Wine Bottle Carrier, France, early 20th century. A zinc carrier to hold 6 wine bottles.
Category
Early 20th Century French Folk Art
Materials
Zinc
Antique English Folk Art Toy Horse
Located in London, GB
Utterly charming one of a kind wooden folk art horse. Totally scratch built from glorious elm and oak with leather bridle. Made in England during the early part of the 20th century. ...
Category
Early 20th Century English Folk Art
Materials
Hardwood, Elm, Oak
Early 20th Century Folk Art Votive Ship Model
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century Folk Art Votive Ship Model
An early 20th century Folk Art votive ship model. Scratch built using wood and metal. It sits firmly on a bespoke display stand. We believe this example to be French in origin due to it having red, white, and blue beads wrapped around the base of each mast pole. A votive ship, sometimes called a church ship, is a ship model displayed in a church. As a rule, votive ships are constructed and given as gifts to the church by seamen and ship builders.
Dimensions in inches: H 12 x D 17 x W 6
Origin: France
circa: Early 20th century
Condition: Aged
Completely solid in structure and form, aged surface as shown with a deep natural patina across all areas. The ship is secured to the base. With some loss and obvious age, this item is still very charming.
The House of Antiques...
Category
1920s Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Middle Eastern Women Face Veil Bedouin, Sinai Bedouin Desert Garment
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Middle Eastern Bedouin women face veil, from the Bedouin tribes of the Sinai Desert.
An amazing Niqab, Negev Bedouin veil from Palestine.
Worked on a base of...
Category
1910s Egyptian Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Textile
Early 20th Century Carved Wooden Miniature Pequot Ship's Figurehead Model
Located in Nantucket, MA
Early 20th Century Carved Wooden Miniature Pequot Ship's Figurehead Model, circa 1920s, a wonderful folk art carving of a Pequot-Mohican Indian in the form of a ship's figurehead: this is in fact the figurehead of the Whale Ship...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Pine
Folk Art Figurative Carvings
Located in Hudson, NY
A great set of 13 hand-carved figures each with an individual face depicting a different figure. Varying in size from 6 in to 13 in height. Found an upstate New York.
Category
Early 1900s American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Iron Shooting Target of a Pig
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Unique shooting target made from cut steel and iron in the shape of a pig. The piece is quite rusty and weathered from all it's years in use.
Category
Early 20th Century North American Folk Art
Materials
Steel
Marvelous Antique Carved Wood Locksmith Trade Sign
Located in Hopewell, NJ
A wonderful early 20th century carved mahogany locksmith trade sign in the shape of a large key. Makes an unexpected piece of wall art as a found object with tons of character.
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Hand Carved Occasional Side End Lamp Table, 1905 Liberty's London
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Liberty Hand Carved Side Table. Heavily Carved with Large Poppy Flowers. A very good-looking piece, it's hand-carved from top to bottom with floral detailing.
Category
Early 1900s Italian Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Antique Swedish Folkart Sunnerbo Painting Made to Use as a Pillow
By Sunnerboskolan
Located in Stockholm, SE
Beautiful Swedish Folk Art (commonly known in swedish as bonad) made 1790-1820s. Part of a bigger painting. Likely made by Johannes Nilsson at Sunnerboskolan, Småland. Local painters were often inspired by decorations in churches, where they learned and trained their crafts. The painting on linen is upholstered as a pillow.
The main motif depicts a holy woman serving wine dressed...
Category
Early 1900s Swedish Antique Folk Art
Materials
Paint, Linen, Hemp, Paper, Feathers
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
Materials
Wood
Early 20th Century Toy Noah's Ark, German
Located in Incline Village, NV
Toy Noah’s Arks for children to play with were very popular in the late 19th and early 20th century, and Germany was very prolific in their production. This particular ark is all ori...
Category
Early 20th Century German Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Antique Paper Mache Jack o Lantern Pumpkin Bucket Candy Container Germany
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique paper mache miniature jack-o-lantern shaped candy bucket with painted face and wire handle.
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art
Materials
Paint, Paper
Chippewa Birch Bark, Quills & Sweetgrass Box with Tulip - Canada - Early 20th C.
Located in Chatham, ON
Vintage Chippewa (also known as Ojibwe) birch bark lidded box with porcupine quill decoration and sweetgrass rims fastened with black thread - featuri...
Category
Early 20th Century Canadian Folk Art
Materials
Softwood
Antique Folk Art Ornately Carved Wooden Picture Frame with Birds & Flowers
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This ornately hand-carved picture frame is unsigned, but presumed to have originated from Eastern Europe, and date to approximately 1920 and done in a Folk Art style. The frame is co...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Folk Art
Materials
Softwood
American Folk-Art Steam Ship Encased Diorama
Located in London, GB
American Folk-art Steam Ship Encased Diorama
We share what we love, and we love this turn of the century hand crafted American folk-art encased steam ship model...
Category
Early 1900s Antique Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Seascape with Ship Racing a Barkentine, by C.A.S. Orne, 1920
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique Seascape with square-rigged ship racing a Barkentine, by C.A.S. Orne, 1920, a watercolor on paper stormy seascape with two square-riggers running before the wind, with choppy...
Category
1920s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Paper
Early 20th Century Hand Painted Duck Decoy Antique German
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Found in Germany at an estate sale, this hand carved and hand painted duck decoy is perfect for the collector. Well used by a previous hunter t...
Category
1910s German Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Paint, Wood
Rare Antique Early American Carnival Coin Toss Game Table
Located in Forney, TX
A scarce American carnival coin toss game. The rare and unusual antique hand carved and painted solid wood amusement park / county fair / mid-way gaming tabl...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Paint
Set of (7) Child's Lithographed Alphabet Nesting Blocks, American, Circa 1910
Located in Incline Village, NV
This is a larger set of colorful early 1900's lithographed blocks (seven blocks versus 5 blocks). Considered an early learning device, these turn of the century alphabet blocks...
Category
1910s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Paper
c 1920 Brass Star of David Chandelier from Chicago Synagogue
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Historical and significant brass electrified Star of David from the last grand Chicago synagogue, Agudas Achim. Beautiful when lit. Hard to believe these were hung as chandeliers in ...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Brass
1900s Scandinavian Wooden Horse
Located in High Point, NC
Like a mysterious inhabitant of a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, this wooden quadruped crafted in Scandinavia circa 1900 exudes a gentle melancholy of the North. The whitenes...
Category
Early 1900s Scandinavian Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Swedish Folk Art Handcrafted Round Serving Tray
Located in Stockholm, SE
Swedish Folk Art handcrafted large round serving, made of woven roots. Insignificant wear. Beautiful tray made by Same. From 1900th.
Category
Early 1900s Swedish Antique Folk Art
Materials
Twig
Oil on Board Characters on a Boat a Very Unusual Subject
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Oil on Board Characters on a Boat
A very unusual subject with several strange colourful characters at sea under a white flag
The painting is in good condition and nicely framed...
Category
Early 1900s Antique Folk Art
Materials
Paint
Early 20th C Large Black Forest Carving with Bird and Nest
Located in Troy, MI
Circa 1920s large hand carved Black Forest piece with an intricately rendered bird and nest. This is just under 16” tall and is 9” wide. Very good antiq...
Category
Early 20th Century German Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Vintage Painted Wood Folk Art Showroom Trade Sign
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
American Folk Art trade sign with hand-carved "Showroom" letters and an arrow. The letters and backboard are in original paint, egg-white and petroleum green. The sign has recently b...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Pine
Early 20th Century Hand Painted Duck Decoy Antique German
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Found in Germany at an estate sale, this hand carved and hand painted duck decoy is perfect for the collector. Well used by a previous hunter t...
Category
1910s German Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century Mexican Alms Box
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this early 20th century Mexican Alms box.
Category
Early 20th Century Mexican Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Early 20th Century American Double Sided Whirligig Figure
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century American double sided whirligig figure
A brilliant example of early 20th century American Folk Art. In the form of a hand carved wooden double sided whirligig f...
Category
Early 1900s American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Pine
Whimsical Folk Art Carving
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Whimsical Folk Art carving of a man peering out the window with an exposed bottom. Signed "Clyde".
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art
Materials
Wood
American Folk-Art Finial with Dove
Located in Doylestown, PA
An American folk-art tin rooftop finial with a dove on top, circa 1900 or earlier, rusted finish.
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Tin
Early 20th Century Pharmacy Sign 'DRUGS' Painted on a Single Board
Located in Nantucket, MA
American folk art trade sign from an apothecary or pharmacy with the word 'DRUGS' in black paint with white shadow lines on an orange ground. Painted on a single pine plank with notc...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Pine, Paint
Large Antique English Trench Art Table Cannon
Located in Forney, TX
Antique English Trench Art mixed metal miniature howitzer - signal style table cannon. Hand-crafted, assembled in the early 20th century, fashioned in par...
Category
Early 20th Century European Folk Art
Materials
Brass, Bronze, Copper
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
Cigars Store / Trade Folk Art Wooden Carved Sign. c 1900
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
American Folk art wooden "CIGARS" sign from the 1920's.
Great old Store Trade sign. Wood cut to cigar shape. Lettered in Gold Paint.
In good conditions, it was a in doors sign. Perfect for any cigar smoker.
Cigars History:
A cigar is basically dried tobacco leaves that are rolled and wrapped by other tobacco leaves in order to give you a full tobacco smoking experience.
Cigars are becoming more popular all around the world recently because they are exposed to a pop culture where a lot of famous people like Michael Jordan and Arnold Schwarzenegger smoke them.
In order to understand why cigars have become very well-known, we need to take a good look at their history and where they came from. That way, we can truly understand this pop phenomenon. Here is a brief history of cigars.
Origin of Cigars
The exact origin of cigars is not entirely known but historians believe that cigars were first invented by the ancient Mayans.
The ancient Mayans would collect tobacco leaves and wrap them up in a plantain leave in order to smoke it. An ancient Mayan pot...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Wood
2 Antique Childhood Dolls in Plexiglass Shadow Boxes
Located in Miami, FL
2 Antique childhood dolls in Plexiglass shadow boxes
Offered for sale is a set of two early 20th century antiques childhood dolls that have been mounted in custom matching plexigl...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Fabric, Plexiglass
Early 20th C. Copper Rooster on Iron Base
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Early 20th century copper rooster that was originally part of a working weathervane. The rooster was mounted on an iron base and it is a perfect accent ...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Copper, Iron
1920s Bulbous Folk Art Painted Spanish Lamp and Shade
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
1920s Bulbous Folk Art painted Spanish lamp and shade
This an attractive painted lamp, the lamp has a hand carved bulbous Fair Ground Twisted column which is painted in Gold, Green and Red, the paint has now aged in colour and developed a charming aged finish, the lamp has its own oversized lamp...
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Antique Big Size Mexican Wood Tray
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
A wonderful Antique big size Mexican hand carved wood t with wonderful patina.
Category
Early 20th Century North American Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Unusual Folk aRT "CARTOON" hand painted child's high chair /tray
Located in Buffalo, NY
Unusual Folk aRT "CARTOON" hand painted child's high chair /tray,, Charming little item.. Retains original paint ,,surface,,, Minor veneer missing ( back side). see photo,,Very usabl...
Category
1920s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Set of Two Moroccan Antique Tribal Powder Case Flasks
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Antique Moroccan Decorative Bottle. Destined to be a conversation piece no matter where you place it, this is another of those rare items you'll only find at Mosaik.
Moroccan Antique...
Category
1920s Moroccan Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Brass, Tin
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
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
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
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
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
Early 20th Century English Folk Art Puppet Figure
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century English folk art puppet figure
We share what we love, and we love this early 20th century articulated folk art puppet figure. Made from hand carved pin, The base (handle) moves up and down to animate the puppets head. Arms are moved with the sticks. Original linen clothes...
Category
1920s European Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Pine
Antique Primitive Rustic Wooden Octagonal Sledge Hammer Carpenter Mallet
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique primitive / rustic hand crafted heavy wooden mallet with octagonal shaped head and rounded handle. Measures: 14".
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art
Materials
Hardwood
Wooden Decoy Duck on Stand, circa 1910
Located in Hastings, GB
Beautiful early 20th century French decoy duck. Hand carved in wood and hand painted, the decoy has a movable head that can be turned left or right, it is a...
Category
1910s French Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Iron
Early 20th Century Folk Art Huntsman Figure
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century folk art huntsman figure.
A charming handcrafted folk-art figure of a huntsman. Constructed from pine, lead and leather this figure stands holding a metal riffle in his articulated lead hands. With faded and worn paint and stood on an old ceiling...
Category
Early 1900s British Antique Folk Art
Materials
Pine
Folk Art Scratch Built Boat, Early 20th C
Located in London, GB
Scandinavian folk art boat of 2 rigged masts - completely scratch built from pine and teak wood. Original paint finish. Handmade and dating from the earl...
Category
Early 20th Century Scandinavian Folk Art
Materials
Steel
Early 20th Century Hand Painted Duck Decoy Antique, German
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Found in Germany at an estate sale, this hand carved and hand painted duck decoy is perfect for the collector. Well used by a previous hunter t...
Category
Early 20th Century German Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Paint
Set of Eight Folk Art Carnival Punks / Knockdown Dolls
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Folk Art carnival punks / knockdown dolls composed of canvas forms lined with cotton fur supported by carved wood bases for added stability / weight, c...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Canvas, Cotton, Wood
Ink Pads for Fabrics, India, Early 20th Century
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Stamp composed of a set of small welded copper plates forming a bird motif. These stamps were to be printed on the drapery.
Indian work, circa 1900.
Category
Early 20th Century Indian Folk Art
Materials
Copper, Iron
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
Early 20th Century Scratch Built Church Model
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century scratch built Church model
We share what we love, and we love this scratch-built pine model of a church. Hand carved detail with gla...
Category
Early 1900s British Antique Folk Art
Materials
Pine
Vintage Wood Giraffe Sculpture, c. 1930-1950
Located in Kastrup, DK
A charming vintage wooden giraffe. Hand-carved from hardwood (tropical wood) with brown and black painted surface.
From Africa, c. 50-100 years...
Category
Early 20th Century African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Nautical Folk Art Hand Carved Wooden Whimsy
Located in Brooklyn, NY
American whimsy with traditional 'ball in cage' decoration, all carved and whittled from one continuous piece of wood, circa early 20th century. The bottom tip suggests that this pie...
Category
1910s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Wood
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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