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
Artisan abstract nail art, Netherlands 1950s
Located in ECHT, NL
Abstract artisan folk art wall hanging. It is made of wood with nails hammered into it in a rectangular grid. The nails are hammered in at differ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Dutch Folk Art
Materials
Metal
19th Century Faux Grain Painted Chest
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th Century Faux Grain Painted Chest, second half 19th Century, a diminutive six board chest with excellent quality original vinegar grain painted finish in a faux yellow pine patte...
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Pine
19th Century German Folk Art Bird Cage
Located in Hastings, GB
A charming late 19th century hand crafted primitive folk art bird cage, in the manner of a chateau, painstakingly detailed with hand painted r...
Category
1890s German Antique Folk Art
Materials
Iron
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 Crèche 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
Vintage Fante People Asafo Flag in Yellow Cotton Appliqué Patterns, Ghana, 1980s
Located in Copenhagen K, DK
Ghana, 1980's
Asafo flag in cotton applique patterns. Fante People.
Asafo Flags are created by the Fante people of Ghana. The flags are visual representations of military organisat...
Category
1980s Ghanaian Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Cotton
Painted Guatemalan Patrón Face Mask
Located in Chicago, IL
This colorfully painted and expertly carved mask was once used in one of the oldest Guatemalan dance performances, the Baile del Patzcar. Still practiced today, this dance evolved fr...
Category
20th Century Guatemalan Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Paint
3 Hand Made Folk Art Treen Items
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
3 Hand Made Folk Art Treen Items
A Bowl in fruit wood carved with a duck’s Head and Tail
A carved Letter opener from Kenya
And a Carved scoop with IPB. Carved in the handle
The s...
Category
Early 1900s Antique Folk Art
Materials
Fruitwood
19th century Hand Carved Drinking Mug or Tankard
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
19th century Hand Carved Drinking Mug or Stein
Beautifully turned with a pinned hinged lid, the mug has been turned from Yew wood, all in good condition holds about 1/2 pint, it is...
Category
19th Century Antique Folk Art
Materials
Yew
Benin-Style Bronze Figural Pipe Mouthpiece
Located in Chicago, IL
World-renowned for high-quality lost wax casting, the city of Benin in West Africa has been a leading producer of fine cast brass and bronze sculptures since as early as the 16th cen...
Category
Late 19th Century Nigerian Antique Folk Art
Materials
Bronze
Four Meissen Porcelain Plaques Depicting the Four Seasons
Located in London, GB
This delicately detailed set of four allegorical porcelain plaques portrays family scenes within the theme of the four seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.
Spring can be ide...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Sailor's Woolie of the American Protected Cruiser "USS Chicago", circa 1885
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique Sailor's Woolie of the American Protected Cruiser "USS Chicago", circa 1885, a sailor's hand crafted folk art woolwork picture of a bark-rigged auxiliary steam sailor with in...
Category
1880s American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wool
An early 20th century Canadian folk art maple wood carved Inuit figure group
Located in Central England, GB
This superb rare figure group is a piece of Canadian folk art. It is beautifully hand carved in Canadian yellow maple wood, a heavy, dense timber. It depicts two young indigenous pe...
Category
Mid-20th Century Canadian Folk Art
Materials
Maple
3 Hand Made Sycamore Treen Pots 1 with Miniatures
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
3 Hand Made Sycamore Treen Pots 1 with Miniatures
The first pot is a powder pot with an internal mirror
No2 is a salve pot lovely piece
And the smallest contains a tiny carafe and...
Category
19th Century Antique Folk Art
Materials
Sycamore
Large 20th C. Americana Folk Art Carousel with Painted Farm Animals
Located in Morristown, NJ
20th c., Large Folk Art carousel with animals on a rotating base.Made of wood and canvas construction, with leather and other accent materials unsigned. The animals depicted are a ho...
Category
1940s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Canvas, Wood, Paint
4 Folk Art Hand Made Treen Items
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
4 Folk Art Hand Made Treen Items
A small turned and banded stand, a fruitwood bowl, a walnut bowl, and a small lidded jar with 2 small nibbles around the top edge
The stand is 4” in...
Category
19th Century Antique Folk Art
Materials
Fruitwood
Nepalese Sandalwood Buddha Tree, 20th Century
Located in Islamabad, PK
The sculpture, expertly carved from fragrant Nepalese sandalwood, stands as a testament to the rich tradition of wood carving in Nepal. The medium itself adds a sensory dimension to ...
Category
20th Century Nepalese Folk Art
Materials
Sandalwood
Early 20th Century German Children's Sledge
Located in Dusseldorf, DE
Decorative children's sledge or ice sledge from around 1900.
Made of painted wood and wrought iron.
For 3-4 children. Could be steered with the rear bar and pulled by a pony, billy...
Category
Early 20th Century German Folk Art
Materials
Wrought Iron
J. Gruber - Portrait of a Bavarian Folksy Man with Beer Mug, Oil on Wood
Located in Berghuelen, DE
J. Gruber - Portrait of a Bavarian Folksy Man with Beer Mug, Oil on Wood
A colorful oil painting depicting a beer drinking folksy Bavarian man in his sunday robe. Painted on wood with pastel colors around 1950s. Framed with wooden carved and gilded frame in Baroque style. Painted by J. Gruber. Signed in the lower left corner.
Alpine oil...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Original Vintage Hand-Carved Relief Panel Fragment depicting a Bird
Located in Leesburg, VA
Original Vintage Hand-Carved Relief Panel Fragment depicting a Bird
Anonymous
Southern Asia, probably India; first-half of the 20th century
Wood
Approximate size: 7.8 x 2.6 x 9.2 i...
Category
Early 20th Century Indian Folk Art
Materials
Wood
American American Painted Cast Iron "Old Salt" Maine Fisherman Doorstop
Located in Downingtown, PA
American Painted Cast Iron "Old Salt" Maine Fisherman Doorstop or Bookend,
Hubley Manufacturing Company,
The 1920s.
The two larger figures depict an old salt fisherman standing ...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Iron
Hand Painted Wooden House with Storage - in an American Folk Art Style
Located in Morristown, NJ
A charming handmade storage piece in the form of a house with a chimney. Executed in the American Folk Art style, this is a charming piece that is both decorative and practical. The ...
Category
Late 20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Wood Carved American Folk Art Muscle Car
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Hand carved Folk Art American Muscle car. Wood carved with original paint surface.
Category
1950s Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Mounted Late 19th Century American Appliqué Textile
Located in Chicago, IL
Transport yourself to the late 19th century with this exquisite American appliqué textile, a testament to traditional craftsmanship. At its heart, a ...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Cotton, Linen
19th Century French Folk Art Horse on Wheels
Located in Hastings, GB
Charming French Folk Art Horse, mounted on naïve wooden wheels with a padded fringed leather saddle and dating to the mid-19thCentury. Superb detailing, this is a well-loved, well us...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Folk Art
Materials
Leather, Wood
19th Century Sailor's Woolie with an Auxiliary Ship and Schooner, circa 1880
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th Century Sailor's Folk Art Woolie with an Auxiliary Ship and Schooner, circa 1880, a sailor's folk art hand stitched wool yarn picture of a British Ship-Rigged Steam Sailor with ...
Category
1880s English Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wool
19th Century Sailor's Folk Art Woolie of a Square-Rigged Ship, circa 1850
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th Century Sailor's Folk Art Woolie of a Square-Rigged Ship, circa 1850, a sailor's folk art hand stitched wool yarn picture of a British single decker Ship of the Line, flying the...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wool
Swedish Painter Hanna Bundin 1950s
Located in Oxford, GB
This Swedish painting by a recognised artist Hanna Bundin still life / modernist.
About the Artist
Hanna Brundin (1914- 2000) was a Swedish artist .
B...
Category
1950s Swedish Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Collection of 5 Antique Wrought Iron Eel Forks
Located in Søborg, DK
A collection of 5 wrought iron eel forks from the 18th century.
Extremely decorative and each one unique.
Each one is a work of art.
Sizes vary from 37 cm to 42 cm.
Would look am...
Category
18th Century Danish Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wrought Iron
20th Century Folk Art Original Painting
Located in New York, NY
Striking acrylic painting depicting New England town. A haunting figure appears in the corner. A unique, and unusual scene.
Signed by artist.
Category
1960s North American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Acrylic
Large Celtic Norse Nordic Scandanavian Viking Wood Carved Folk Art Pagan Totem
Located in Studio City, CA
A large, heavy, intricately carved, rather engaging wood folk art pagan totem figure of a woman carrying a three-headed fish with the God of Wind (North wind or perhaps an Anemoi) sy...
Category
Early 20th Century Scandinavian Folk Art
Materials
Wood
19th Century Sailor's Woolie of Frigate, circa 1840
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th Century Sailor's Woolie of a Frigate, circa 1840, a British sailor's hand crafted woolwork depicting a British single decker frigate under full sail, flying ensign of the red fl...
Category
1840s English Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wool
Found and Salvaged Steel Structure on a Wooden Base
By Jim Rose
Located in Chicago, IL
Jim Rose, known primarily for his steel furniture, was an avid collector and scoured salvage yards for unique and interesting items. Here, a collection of spare parts come together ...
Category
2010s American Folk Art
Materials
Metal, Steel
Modernist Mid Century American Folk Art Hooked Rug of a Cat dated 1963
Located in San Francisco, CA
Perfectly charming Folk Art small wool rug or wall hanging of a modernist style cat.
There is some minor staining, and a few lose loops and minor repair on edges.
Signed and dated '6...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Wool
Collection of 5 Antique Wrought Iron Eel Forks
Located in Søborg, DK
A collection of 5 wrought iron eel forks from the 18th century.
Extremely decorative and each one unique.
Each one is a work of art.
Sizes vary from 38 cm to 50 cm.
Would look am...
Category
18th Century Danish Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wrought Iron
Collection of 5 Antique Wrought Iron Eel Forks
Located in Søborg, DK
A collection of 5 wrought iron eel forks from the 18th century.
Extremely decorative and each one unique.
Each one is a work of art.
Sizes vary from 52 cm to 37 cm.
Would look am...
Category
18th Century Danish Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wrought Iron
19th Century Apothecary Mortar & Pestle Countertop Trade Sign or Sale Stimulator
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Apothecary trade sign or sale stimulator in the form of a mortar and pestle in gilt wood. The mortar of cylindrical waisted form with a central half round band and stepped rings at t...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Early 20th Century Hand Painted Duck Decoy Antique, USA owned by Bob Tillbutt
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 the paint has faded through time althoug...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Paint
Antique Danish Mangle Board Wedding Love Gift Painted Wood with Horse Handle
Located in Aarhus C, DK
Antique Danish mangle board (clothing and bedding press) from ca. 1800 to 1850.
It is made from oak wood which is hand carved with a rich decoration with geometric blossoms and lots...
Category
Early 19th Century Scandinavian Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Swedish Folk Art Floral Bouquet In Urn Vase Hand Painted Teak Tray
Located in New York, NY
Wonderful Swedish folk art circular teak tray with hand painted floral bouquet in urn motif on top side. Natural ribbon teak on underside.
Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Folk Art
Materials
Teak, Paint
Mid Century Large Motorized Hand Made Chris Craft Cabin Cruiser C1955
By Chris Craft Boats
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous and large cabin cruiser boat model with an untested motor and batteries. 41.5 inches long and sitting on a brand new custom made stand with a nautical theme. In very good vi...
Category
1950s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Folk Art Sculpture of a Man
Located in Hudson, NY
Folk Art Sculpture of a Man
Unsigned. This piece was found in the Catskill Mountains, NY.
He came from the estate of an important NYC modernist dealer.
H...
Category
Mid-20th Century Folk Art
Materials
Hardwood
Wood Carving Penis Figurine Wabi Sabi Object Vintage Asia 1950s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Adorable unique wood carved figurine statue. we don't know anything about the item, but believe it was made in Japan in the 1960s. Ideal decoratio...
Category
1950s Japanese Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Signed Original "Raggedy Ann" Watercolor c. 1928
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Don't miss out on a truly unique, once-in-a-lifetime piece of genuine folk art. This endlessly whimsical watercolor features an intriguing playful still life of Johnny Gruelle's icon...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Glass, Wood, Paper
Antique English Painted Chest Of Drawers Dressing Table Scumbled Folk Art
Located in Sherborne, Dorset
A very decorative English pine dressing chest of three drawers with an attractive honey hue and contrasting ebonized knob handles, surmounted by a dressing-glass, which can be easy r...
Category
Late 19th Century British Antique Folk Art
Materials
Mirror, Pine, Paint
Colonial Mexican Folk Art Ex-Voto Retablo Painting of Saint Rita De Cascia 1800s
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautiful 19th century Spanish Colonial Mexican Folk Art ex-voto retablo lámina painting featuring Saint Rita De Cascia. Santa Rita is almost always depicted as she is here, with a trickle of blood and a thorn deeply embedded in her forehead. According to legend, in the year 1441, during a sermon on the Crown of Thorns, Santa Rita prayed so intently that a thorn detached itself from her crucifix and lodged itself in her forehead. For the next fifteen years, she bore this external sign of stigmatization and union with Christ. It was said her wound became so disturbing to view, that she spent the latter part of her life in isolation and prayer. At her canonization ceremony in the year 1900, Santa Rita de Cascia was bestowed the title of Patroness of Impossible Causes. In Mexico, Santa Rita is widely venerated as the Patroness Saint of mothers, abused wives, and heartbroken women. In this work, she is flanked by two small male figures representing her two beloved sons (notice the fine attention to the paintings of their faces and their glowing rosy red cheeks). She holds a large crucifix in one hand and a flagella whip, symbolizing her practice of mortifying the flesh, in her other hand.
The work is hand painted on metal (likely tin). Ex-votos and retablos are often placed above the altars in churches or family shrines as votive offerings made in the form of religious pictures...
Category
19th Century Mexican Antique Folk Art
Materials
Metal, Tin
A folk art diorama model passenger ship in a bottle English circa 1930
Located in Central England, GB
This early 20th century ship in a bottle diorama is of a rarer subject being an early large steam ocean going passenger liner set in a scene just off the shoreline with a lighthouse ...
Category
Mid-20th Century British Folk Art
Materials
Glass
Swedish Folk Art Midcentury Hand Carved Wall Cabinet
Located in New York, NY
Swedish mid-20th century Folk Art wall cabinet of carved pine, painted in “mahogany” red. The motif depict a man in a horse pulled carriage, various animals including a snake, crayfi...
Category
Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Paint
Vintage Swedish Painting of Klara sjö
Located in Oxford, GB
This swedish watercolour of Klara sjö is a canal in central Stockholm believed to be 1920/30s watercolour on paper a work of art by G or C Hagen unknow artist offers a beautiful wint...
Category
1930s Swedish Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Paper
Scandinavian Folk Art Hand Carved Oak Mangle Board
Located in New York, NY
Scandinavian folk art mangle board, hand carved oak with traditional designs. Carved wooden horse was used as handle for pressing linen.
Mangle boards were given as a wedding gift fr...
Category
19th Century Danish Antique Folk Art
Materials
Oak
Inge Woelfle - Portrait of a Bavarian Folksy Man, Oil on Wood
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Inge Woelfle - Portrait of a Bavarian Folksy Man, Oil on Wood
An colorful oil painting depicting a folksy Bavarian man in his sunday robe. Painted on wood with pastel colors around 1950s. Framed with wooden carved and gilded frame in Baroque style. Painted by Inge Woelfle. Signed on the right top corner.
Alpine oil...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Folk Art
Materials
Wood
French Tailor's Mannequin, early 20th Century
Located in Berghuelen, DE
French Tailor's Mannequin, early 20th Century
French 20th century tailor's mannequin. Made of paper, fabric and metal. It features a mechanism inside which allows the tailor to adju...
Category
Early 20th Century French Folk Art
Materials
Metal
British Sailor's Large Woolwork Woolie of a Sailing Ship
Located in Katonah, NY
This large 19th century sailor's Woolie of a British line-of-battle ship, circa 1840is
is hand embroidered with woolen yarn. It depicts a British naval ship under full sail with can...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wool
Aage Hogfeldt Outsider Art Clown Sculpture
Located in Savannah, GA
Aage Hogfeldt
(American, 1925-2014)
A clown bust made from concrete and found lamp parts.
10 by 10 by 17 inches
In 1954 Aage Hogfeldt founded an artist...
Category
1950s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Concrete, Wire
A Pair Of John Bauer Wooden Carved Wall Sculptures
By John Bauer
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A pair of wooden carved and hand painted birch wood panels representing a moose and a troll with a child. These figures were taken from the famous Swedish painter and illustrator Joh...
Category
1930s Swedish Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Birch
J. Gruber - Portrait of a Bavarian Folksy Man with Wine Glass, Oil on Wood
Located in Berghuelen, DE
J. Gruber - Portrait of a Bavarian Folksy Man with Wine Glass, Oil on Wood
An colorful oil painting depicting a wine drinking folksy Bavarian man in his sunday robe. Painted on wood with pastel colors around 1950s. Framed with antique wooden gilded frame...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Neapolitan Polychrome Terracotta Nativity Heads from the 1700s Set of Ten Figures
Located in Milan, IT
Neapolitan Nativity Scene Heads in Terracotta from the 1700s set of ten traditional Neapolitan nativity scene figurine heads, in polychrome terracotta from the 1700s, small collectio...
Category
Early 18th Century Italian Antique Folk Art
Materials
Pottery, Paper
Paul Walker - Outsider Art Box and Fan
Located in Savannah, GA
Paul Edward Walker
(American, b.1949)
Box and fan
signed on side P.E.W. ‘94
box: 8 ¾ inches wide by 5 ½ inches deep by 2 ½ inches tall
Paul Walker is a Savannah, Georgia outside...
Category
1990s American Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Paint, Paper
Zabihi Collection Vintage Persian Pictorial Rug
Located in New York, NY
Mid-20th Century Persian Pictorial small square rug
Measures: 3'' x 4'1'' circa 1940.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Wool
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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