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
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
1800's Swedish Mortar made of solid Öland limestone.
Located in Boden, SE
Mortars made of Öland limestone in the 1800's was used by many in Sweden.
They was known for its durability and ability to withstand wear over time.
In good vintage and charmy condit...
Category
Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art
Materials
Stone
Swedish Flemish Weave Riding Pad "The Parrot"
Located in Eskilstuna, SE
The Parrot is one of the most characteristic patterns in Scania Weave textiles. This textile Parrot cushion was once woven to be used as a riding pad. It is approximately one century...
Category
1920s Swedish Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Wool
Paul Walker - Outsider Art Checkerboard
Located in Savannah, GA
Paul Edward Walker
(American, b.1949)
Checkerboard
oil on board
signed “Art by Paul Walker”, “Nov. 97, Savannah, GA”
26 by 20 inches; ¾ inches deep
Paul Walker is a Savannah, G...
Category
1990s American Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Paint
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
American Folk Art Child's Quilt, 1930s
Located in New York, NY
American folk art child's twenty-four star quilt in blue and white, 1930's or later, mounted.
Dealer: S138XX
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art
Materials
Cotton
Vintage Folk Art Glazed Terracotta Shoe - Signed & Dated - U.S. - Circa 1966
Located in Chatham, ON
Vintage American folk art glazed terracotta shoe - hand modeled - signed and dated on the base - United States - circa 1966.
Good vintage condition - hand modeled body as intended b...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Terracotta
Folk Art Preening White Winged Scoter Decoy by Reggie Birch
Located in Nantucket, MA
Folk Art Preening White Winged Scoter Decoy by Reggie Birch, circa 2000, in the manner of a Gus Wilson Monhegan Island decoy, hand carved of white cedar with neck and head turned back to preen feathers on the back, with carved detail to eyes, bill nares, inlet neck, raised wings and upswept tail; the paint is deliberately distressed and aged to produce a striking patina. The wood is as dried as an antique, and the decoy has been worked to appear well used in the field. One would never suspect this was not an actual antique if not for the prominent signature on the bottom.
Reggie Birch is a renowned award-winning decoy carver from Chincoteague Island...
Category
Late 20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Cedar
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
Inge Woelfle - Portrait of a Bavarian Folksy Man with Pipe, Oil on Wood
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Inge Woelfle - Portrait of a Bavarian Folksy Man with Pipe, Oil on Wood
An colorful oil painting depicting a pipe smoking 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
Oil Painting “Palaios” 1969
Located in Oxford, GB
This unique "Palaios" art painting by MW Saunders is a timeless piece dating back to 1968, featuring intricate artwork and vibrant colours. Perfect for any collector or art enthusias...
Category
1960s Swedish Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Oscar Peterson Minnow Decoy Repainted by Jess Ramey, circa 1930
By Oscar Peterson
Located in Nantucket, MA
Oscar Peterson Minnow Decoy repainted by Jess Ramey, Cadillac, Michigan, circa 1930, an early Period II Peterson working ice fishing decoy that recei...
Category
1920s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Swedish folk art watercolour “Kungsklippan", 1932
Located in Oxford, GB
This Swedish folk art watercolour farm house located in Kingsklippan, Sweden on winter scene is a unique and timeless piece of art. Crafted with an aged brown tone, the painting has ...
Category
1930s Swedish Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Paper
Vintage Folk Art Carved Wood Juvenile Size Carousel Figure of a Standing Lion
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Vintage half-scale carved wood carousel figure by Robert Demechko (1938-1923). Called "Leo" a carved and bleached or limed wood figure of a standing male lion with glass eyes and dec...
Category
Late 20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Late 19th Century Folk Art Bumbass instrument
Located in London, GB
Late 19th Century Folk Art Bumbass instrument
A rare example of a late 19th Century folk art Bumbass instrument form, we have only ever uncovered one other example in the past 10 ...
Category
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Folk Art
Materials
Brass
Ketch Pond Yacht, c.1900
Located in Savannah, GA
A gaff rigged ketch pond yacht on display stand, circa 1900.
All original paint, riggings and six sails.
68 ½ inches wide by 12 inches deep by 62 inches tall
Category
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Folk Art
Materials
Canvas, Wood
Ebony Benin Kingdom, Bust Carving Of A Young Nigerian Warrior, 1970's
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Hand carved ebony hardwood bust of a young Benin warrior
Traditionally carved Benin artistry
Circa 1970
Height 10.75 inch, Width 5.5 inch, Depth 2.75 inc...
Category
Late 20th Century Beninese Folk Art
Materials
Ebony
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
Fantastic American Paint Decorated Folk Art Cutlery Tray - Circa 1845
Located in Atlanta, GA
American, circa 1845.
One of the finest quality folk art cutlery trays on the market. Not only does this piece have its original robin's egg blue paint to...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Antique Folk Art
Materials
Pine, Paint
Jim Rose - Construct No. 03, Salvaged Steel and Aluminum Industrial Objects
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, interesting items. Here he has welded together various washers, nuts, ...
Category
2010s American Folk Art
Materials
Metal, Steel
Large Whimsical Antique Hand Carved Wooden Horse Sculpture
Located in Forney, TX
A large antique hand carved wooden horse sculpture on stand. Most likely from Southeast Asia, (Indonesian, Burmese, Thai) early 20th c...
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art
Materials
Wood
D.G. BENNETT - 'U.S. White Tailed Deer' - Painted Wood Plate - Late 20th Century
Located in Chatham, ON
DAVID G. BENNETT - 'American White Tailed Deer' - Vintage hand painted folk art wood plate/charger - solid lathe turned pine - signed front - signed and titled back - Canada (Wasaga...
Category
Late 20th Century Canadian Folk Art
Materials
Pine, Paint
Jim Rose - Construct No. 02, Salvaged Steel and Aluminum Industrial Objects
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, interesting items. Here he has welded together various washers and cyl...
Category
2010s American Folk Art
Materials
Metal, Steel
Swedish Folk Art bridge bookshelf, designed by Petrus & Sture Lundström 1925
Located in London, GB
A wonderful and skilfully executed piece of Swedish Folk Art. In 1925 readers of the Swedish family magazine Allérs familj-journal, would have found instructions for building this im...
Category
1920s Swedish Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Copper
Found and Salvaged Industrial Objects, Metal Sculpture on Base
By Jim Rose
Located in Chicago, IL
Known for his steel furniture, Jim Rose was an avid collector and scoured salvage yards for unique, interesting items. Here he has paired various repurposed finds together to create...
Category
2010s American Folk Art
Materials
Steel, Metal
A four mast 18th century ship in a bottle, English folk art circa 1920
Located in Central England, GB
This very good example has been hand built in a smaller sized square bottle than normally seen. It contains a large four mast 18th century ship fully rigged and with open sails leaving the shoreline which has high cliffs and buildings whilst about to pass a lighthouse. The scale and detail are very good and it has been very nicely hand painted. These rare folk art bottles...
Category
Early 20th Century British Folk Art
Materials
Glass
Found and Salvaged Steel Industrial Objects on 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, interesting items. Here, a beautifully rusted tobacco box, a steel egg...
Category
2010s American Folk Art
Materials
Metal, Steel
Mid-19th Century Folk Art Horn Carved Nun Figure
Located in London, GB
Mid-19th Century Folk Art Horn Carved Nun Figure
A rare and unusual example of a mid-19th Century hand carved folk art figure of a Nun. Made from the t...
Category
1880s Unknown Antique Folk Art
Materials
Horn
Petite 19th C. Sailor's Woolie of a Double Decker Ship of the Line, circa 1860
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th Century Sailor's Woolie of a Double Decker Ship of the Line, circa 1860, at anchor under furled sails, flying the British Ensign at stern and a ship's flag at mizzen peak, on th...
Category
1860s English Antique Folk Art
Materials
Wool
Antique Painted Lyre Shaped Easel Fireplace Screen. English Late 19th Century
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful painted fireplace screen
Original paint. No re-touches.
Naively painted wood surround and tin floral panel.
The floral panel is in Dutch baroque style
Country House con...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Folk Art
Materials
Tin
Vintage Christmas Nutcracker Figure Wood Erzgebirge Germany
Located in Kitzbuhel, AT
Folk Art vintage wooden nutcracker figure from the Erzgebirge. The region Erzgebirge formerly Eastern Germany is famous for this special kind of nutc...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Wedding Chest From Circa 1820
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
German dowry chest made circa 1820 for one Anna Bertha Holderegger. Hand painted with beautiful fine details. The iron details such as the hinges ar...
Category
1820s German Antique Folk Art
Materials
Oak, Pine
Sally Morgan Signed Australian Aboriginal Art Original Painting Marble Bar Pool
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderful, large original acrylic painting on canvas by Australian Aboriginal artist/author/ activist/dramatist Sally Morgan titled "Marble Bar Pool."
The work is signed, dated (...
Category
1990s Australian Folk Art
Materials
Canvas, Paint
Decorative and Mid Century African Hand Made Wooden and Hide Tribal Drum, 1900s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare and beautiful handmade drum in painted wood and hide produced i Africa early 1900s / 20th century. In original condition.
Very decorative and genuine and works well with many c...
Category
Early 20th Century Kenyan Folk Art
Materials
Hide, Wood
Custom Mounted Display of Antique Child's Baseball Gloves
Located in West Hartford, CT
A collection of 9 rare small antique childs baseball gloves circa 1920's -1960's. Custom displayed in a cabinet grade black painted maple shadow box with custom made steel stands.
T...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Leather, Wood
Antique German Hand Painted Cabinet, Circa 1850
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A beautiful cabinet from the rural south of germany, dating from circa 1850. The cabinet was probably given as a wedding present. This cabinet is made of solid pine and is hand paint...
Category
1850s German Antique Folk Art
Materials
Pine
Mid-century Modern Articulated Wood Artist Hand Model
Located in Downingtown, PA
Articulated Wood Artist Hand Model,
1950s-1970
The beautifully carved light wood hand is articulated at the wrist and the base of each finger while the forefinger and thumb are also...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Carved Wood Sculpture of the Hindu Deity Nandi With Pedestal, Circa 1920
Located in Point Richmond, CA
South Indian carved wood sculpture depicting the Hindu Deity of Nandi, a recumbent black bull figure, known within the Hindu faith as the vehicle for Siva, often depicted in sculptur...
Category
20th Century Indian Folk Art
Materials
Hardwood
18th Century Swedish Folk Art antique rustic Trunk /Chest
Located in Boden, SE
18th Century Swedish antique rustique Chest from Boden Norrbotten, Northern Sweden.
The chest has untouched original paint.
The trunk was dated 1799 to celebrate a birthday ,and the ...
Category
Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art
Materials
Pine
Cigar Store Statue, Half and Half Pipe Mixture
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Cigar store red wood statue titled Half and Half, Pipe Mixture. Statue is half man and half woman. Left foot has a carved number of 523. A great piec...
Category
1940s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Paint
Pair of early 20th century English estate made folk art decoy pigeons
Located in London, GB
Pair of early 20th century English estate made folk art decoy pigeons
Obtained from an Estate sale in Cornwall earlier this month, hand carved pine working pair of folk-art pigeon d...
Category
1910s European Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Pine
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
Tonala Folk Art Pottery Charger, Hand Painted Swan, Mexico, Circa 1970's
Located in Chatham, ON
Tonala folk art pottery charger or wall plate - large size - hand made and hand painted with a swan and flowers - elaborate border - unsigned - Mexico - circa 1970's.
Excellent v...
Category
Late 20th Century Mexican Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic, Paint
Carved Wooden Milliners Head, Vintage Austria, circa 1910s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Adorable unique wood carved head. Austria, 1910s. Ideal decoration item, used in the displaying and making of hats. Hand carved from wood. Nice display piece in any room. Found at an...
Category
1910s Austrian Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Painting Rural Feast, oil, hardboard, Oto Dobovišek, Yugoslavia 1973
Located in Miklavž Pri Taboru, SI
Immerse yourself in the charming and whimsical world of rural life with this captivating painting of style Naive Art by Oto Dobovišek (born in Maribor in 1920), an artist from Yugosl...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Folk Art
Materials
Paint
Early 20th Century carved hand painted decoy
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Early 20th century carved hand painted decoy circa 1920.
Hand painted Scandinavian decoy duck, black and white paint scheme with yellow eyes. Fine example of how things used to be...
Category
Early 20th Century Swedish Folk Art
Materials
Pine, Paint
Beaded Ndebele Ceremonial 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...
Category
Mid-20th Century South African Folk Art
Materials
Fabric, Cotton, Wood
Coastal Shiny Shell Folk Art Photo Frame
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A beautiful seashell-encrusted photo frame. Accommodates two photos in an oval shape.
Dimensions:
6.25" Wide
4.5" Tall
1" Deep.
Category
20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic, Shell
19th Century Napoleonic Prisoner of War Carved 'Spinning Jenny' Automaton.
Located in London, GB
19th Century Napoleonic Prisoner of War Carved 'Spinning Jenny' Automaton.
A rare early 19th Century example of a Napoleonic prisoner of war carved mutton bone 'Spinning Jenny' autom...
Category
1820s Unknown Antique Folk Art
Materials
Bone
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 two chimneys. Executed in the American Folk Art style, this is a charming piece that is both decorative and practical. T...
Category
Late 20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Mexican Burnished Clay Chicken Kitchen Hen Egg Basket Decoration Hen Brown
Located in Queretaro, Queretaro
This Mexican ceramic hen is an egg basket/container, perfect to keep eggs fresh -- a utilitarian kitchen piece by artist Manuel Reyes. Made with clay from Oaxaca and Zacatecas, painted with oxides from the region. Done with the hand-modeled technique and cooked in traditional wood-fired oven. Reyes has been constantly innovating with his hen collection, making this one of his most iconic works.
Ceramic artist, sculptor and painter, Manuel Reyes (Mexico City, 1972) atended the Escuela Nacional de Artes Plásticas in Xochimilco, México. He was later mentored by Royer Von Guten, Joy Laville...
Category
2010s Mexican Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic, Clay
Double Sided Gilt & Painted "HAPPY JACK'S" Tobacconist Trade Sign, Laconia, NH
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Two-sided tobacconist trade sign of circular form with gold leaf lettering with red shadow on a black sand paint ground with green borders "HAPPY JACK'S" centers a cutout pipe above a white banner applied to the bottom of each side which reads "CIGAR, PIPE & / TOBACCO SHOP...
Category
Late 20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Gold Leaf
Arbol de la Vida Bull Colorful Ceramic Mexican Folk Art Tree of Life
Located in Queretaro, Queretaro
Beautiful folk art piece made by La Familia Castillo. Handmade in clay and painted with acrylic paint.
Created by master artisan Soledad Martha Hernández and her son Marco Antonio C...
Category
2010s North American Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
Collection of Green Glass Marbles. English, 19th Century
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful collection of 83 green glass marbles
Amazing colours
Good condition.
The size given is for one marble
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Folk Art
Materials
Glass
Beaded Ndebele Ceremonial 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...
Category
Mid-20th Century South African Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Fabric, Cotton
Mexican Burnished Clay Chicken Kitchen Vessel Hen Egg Basket Decoration
Located in Queretaro, Queretaro
This Mexican ceramic hen is an egg basket, perfect to keep eggs fresh -- a utilitarian kitchen piece by artist Manuel Reyes. Made with clay from Oaxaca and Zacatecas, painted with oxides from the region. Done with the hand-modeled technique and cooked in traditional wood-fired oven. Reyes has been constantly innovating with his hen collection, making this one of his most iconic works.
Ceramic artist, sculptor and painter, Manuel Reyes (Mexico City, 1972) atended the Escuela Nacional de Artes Plásticas in Xochimilco, México. He was later mentored by Royer Von Guten, Joy Laville...
Category
2010s Mexican Folk Art
Materials
Clay, Ceramic
Diptych paintings in the style of Naive art, Oto Dobovišek, Yugoslavia 1970s
Located in Miklavž Pri Taboru, SI
Immerse yourself in the charming and whimsical world of rural life with this captivating set of two diptych paintings of style Naive Art by Oto Dobovišek, an artist from Yugoslavia i...
Category
Mid-20th Century Slovenian Folk Art
Materials
Paint
Painting portrait Sad Clown, oil, hardboard, Oto Dobovišek, Yugoslavia 1989s
Located in Miklavž Pri Taboru, SI
This oil painting, titled "Sad Clown," is a remarkable piece of Naive art created by Oto Dobovišek in Yugoslavia during the 1980s. This folk art portrait beautifully captures the poi...
Category
Mid-20th Century Slovenian Folk Art
Materials
Paint
Folk Art folk art for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique folk art for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage folk art created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include folk art, decorative objects, wall decorations and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art made in a specific country, there are North America, United States, and Europe pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original folk art, popular names associated with this style include Berber Tribes of Morocco, Mosche Bianche, Jim Rose, and Nils Olsson. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for folk art differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $35 and tops out at $49,500 while the average work can sell for $1,387.
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