Skip to main content

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.

62
to
2
48
12
62
62
62
26
13
8
2
1
1
1
76
551
1,300
116
374
519
193
43
29
65
80
83
53
66
26
22
37
20
9
8
6
40
36
12
5
5
1
1
Style: Folk Art
Period: 1940s
"Saint George slaying the dragon" by Raymond Vaillant
By Raymond Vaillant
Located in Paris, FR
This sculpture by Breton sculpter Raymond Vaillant depicts the famed Saint George slaying the dragon, thereby demolishing an evil force that survived on human sacrifices. Here, we se...
Category

1940s French Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Granite

C1940 Hand Crafted Wooden French Folk Art Airplane with Moving Parts
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous hand crafted Art Deco styled airplane with the French colors on its tail. All there except for the tails wheel. Otherwise in excellent antique condition with minimal wear. ...
Category

1940s French Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Plastic, Hardwood, Paint

James Vullo W N Y Artist. , oil painting on canvas, Ashcan School, Portrait
By James Vullo
Located in Buffalo, NY
In 1938, when he was just 24 years old, James Vullo’s first exhibition opened at the Albright Art Gallery. Vullo began drawing around the age of eight. He loved the city, especially ...
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Canvas, Paint

Pair of Greyhound Guard Dogs, Natural Rust Weathered in Cast Iron
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Pair of Greyhound Guard Dogs, Natural Rust Weathered in Cast Iron This Super pair of Large Outdoor or Indoor Dogs these chaps have a good rusty outdoor patina they have been guard...
Category

1940s Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Iron

Chesapeake Bay Scaup Drake Sink Box Wing Decoy, circa 1940
Located in Nantucket, MA
Early Chesapeake Bay Scaup Drake Sink Box Wing Decoy, circa 1940, a very shallow flat bodied decoy in original condition, original black and white paint on head and body, and painted...
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Brazilian Wai Wai Tribal Cassava Graters Circa 1945
Located in Dallas, TX
Brazilian Wei Wei Casava Graters Two graters constructed of wood and sharpened rock used by the Wai Wai Indigenous tribe of Northern Brazil to process raw Cas...
Category

1940s Brazilian Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Stone

Folk Art Wedding Chest, circa 1940
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A beautiful example of a wedding chest from the hungarian tribes of the kalota, the illustrations are traditional with images of flowers and tulips. The chest was part of a dowry pa...
Category

1940s Hungarian Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Pine

W.P.A. Style Painting, Science, Politics Industry 1940s-1950s, Oil on Board
By WPA
Located in Buffalo, NY
Amazing W.P.A. style painting, trip-tic depicting science, politics industry, worker's, 1940s-1950s. Oil on board, measuring: 52" x 32". Attention to details. Unfortunately not signe...
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Wood, Paint

Early 20th Century Scratch Built Boat Model
Located in London, GB
Early 20th Century Scratch Built Boat Model The Pilote Niviere is a French working vessel which sailed from the early part of the 20th century to th...
Category

1940s French Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Metal

Vintage Folk Art Wooden Raffle Drum Lottery Ticket Spinner with Original Paint
Located in Savannah, GA
This very colorful pin wheel design wooden raffle drum is constructed in two pieces. The rectangular round drum holds the tickets and contains a metal handle and a latch on a door to access the lottery tickets...
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Brass

Early 20th century double sided metal fairground sign
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century double sided metal fairground sign A charming authentic double sided metal fairground sign, date to the first quarter of the 20th Century with original hanging hooks and paint still present. Remnants of old faded signage lettering is still visible. This sign would have hung over an amusement fairground arcade to detail the cost of a game. Size of inches: H 17” x W 24” x D 0.5” Completely solid in structure and form, with natural wear and patination across all surfaces due to age and use. Flaking paint...
Category

1940s Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Metal

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

1940s Face Veil, Sinai Bedouin Desert Garment Nikab Framed Collectible
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Traditional antique circa 1940s Collectible women face veil from the Sinai Bedouin Desert Garment Nikab framed in a lucite box. Museum quality well preserved Middle Eastern Bedouin women face veil, from the Bedouin tribes of the Sinai Desert. Face veil for a Bedouin Women, North Sinai Egypt or Palestine Mid 20th C. An amazing Niqab, Negev Bedouin veil from Palestine or Egypt. Worked on a base of thin red silk and cotton embroidery with antique Ottoman nickel silver coins, glass beads, wool, embroidered, stones, carnelians, glass, and amber. Mid 20th century, circa 1940-50s typical Middle Eastern traditional Arabian Bedouin, Egyptian, Palestinian face mask, garment, head dress, tribal jewelry, bridal veil. Showing heavily decorated in the bottom with silver nickel hands amulets for the Evil Eye protection and early textiles (wool and silk) and tassels hanging down. Face coverings were worn for centuries by the women of various nomadic tribal groups of North Africa and the Middle East. In the western desert of Egypt, Berber women living in Bedouin societies sometimes wear masks or veils called niqab. The veils serve multiple functions, including protecting the women’s face from sun damage, filtering dust from the air, displaying adornment, and demonstrating wealth or status. The niqab worn by Bedouin women on special occasions are sometimes elaborately decorated with coins and beads, like this one. Such masks are not for everyday use; they would be too hot and heavy. They are worn during special events, such as weddings and feasts. Face veil: 12" W x 19" L, circa 1915-1930. Last pictures are references from the book: "Traditional Palestinian Embroidery...
Category

1940s Egyptian Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Lucite, Beads, Textile

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

Antique Toy Steamroller C1940 Style of Buddy L
By Buddy L. 1
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Large Steamroller toy from the forties. In the style of Buddy L. Repainted and some hardware replaced. In excellent vintage condition with minimal wear. Can be...
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Steel

Mid-20th Century French Passe Boule Game
Located in London, GB
Mid-20th Century French Passe Boule Game A highly decorative hand-crafted example of a mid-20th Century French passe boule game, in the form of a clown figure. The top hat is attache...
Category

1940s French Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Pair Scottie Dogs Atop Book Theme Japanese Puzzle Bank Occupied Japan Circa 1948
Located in Incline Village, NV
Quite an unusual piece for bank collectors or just for those seeking a unique collectible. This is a coin bank made of all wood; walnut and inlay here and there; simulating a stack and shelf of books; a pair of "Scottie dogs" (terriers) on top of the bank completes the decoration. The slot on top of the bank accommodates the saving of coins. When it is full; the method of opening the bank to remove the coins, exemplifies the ultimate in Japanese ingenuity. A video attached to the listing displays the foregoing. With the books facing you; slide the two front bottom panels to the left; slide the bottom right panel forward (tilt forward) exposing the opening; slide out the enclosed loose key; push everything back; slide left half of front panel to the left; the middle book drops down exposing the key hole; insert and turn the key to the right to open; lift the hinged lid; remove coins and reverse the process to start over again. Fantastic item!!! This bank was made in Japan, right after World War ll, during the occupation, around 1948. It is a further manifestation of a mid to early 19th century tradition of hiding documents and money in boxes with "tricks" and a multiplicity of "moves" to unlock a box or trunk. With these banks, it is all about condition and completeness, considering the rough play and use it was subject to from trying to figure out how to open it. This particular bank is in excellent and all original, complete condition with no repairs and no replacements, and is from my own personal collection of banks; having been in my possession since 1985. Worth noting is that this example was featured in "Antiquing and Collecting" magazine September 2003 edition in an article on Japanese Puzzle...
Category

1940s Japanese Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Set of Five Small American Folk Art Fish Decoys
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Group of five Folk Art fish decoys composed of painted tinned iron sheet metal or aluminum fins and tails and carved wooden weighted lead bodies, some with ...
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Lead

Antique Mexican Diablo Mask
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this rare and very antique Mexican Diablo mask in wood, circa 1940. Great patina.
Category

1940s Mexican Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Vintage Hand Carved Folk Art Walking Cane with Red Bird
Located in Seguin, TX
Vintage circa 1940s hand carved Folk Art cane by Fritz Rummler (1888-1983) Fredericksburg Texas. Branch of a tree carved into a bird with his feet...
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Folk Art Carved Walking Cane, Snakes and Fish
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Folk Art carved walking cane with hand, 2 snakes and fish. Cane measures 7" wide, 7" deep and 38.25" high.
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Late 1940s Penny Toy Wind-Up Train, Attributed Japan
Located in Incline Village, NV
Diminutive late 1940s "penny toy like" wind-up tin toy platform train modern and sleek looking for that era; it is hand painted and lithographed in bright co...
Category

1940s Japanese Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Tin

Antique Mexican White Enamel Bucket
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this antique Mexican white enamel bucket, circa 1940.
Category

1940s Mexican Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Metal, Enamel

Grouping of Five Hand-Painted and Carved American Folk Art Fish Decoys
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Group of five Folk Art fish decoys composed of painted tinned iron sheet metal or aluminum fins and tails and carved wooden weighted lead bodies, some with ...
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Metal, Aluminum

1948 Duke University Kappa Sig Sigma Signed Fraternity Pledge Hazing Paddle
Located in Dayton, OH
Mid 20th century Kappa Sigma fraternity wooden pledge hazing paddle, fully painted on the front in burgundy, green and white, with applied fraternity logo, taped handle and surname of original owner, (Jack) Gibson. Reverse is signed with the names of pledges. Made at Duke University...
Category

1940s Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Hardwood, Paint

American Folk Art Cowboy and Horse Whirligig
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Tall one of a kind cowboy and horse spinning whirligig American Folk Art piece. Most likely from a larger folk art environment. Sheet steel constructi...
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Iron, Sheet Metal

20th C, Hand Crafted Tall Copper Electrified Lighthouse Table Lamp
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Amazing craftsmanship in this one of a kind piece hand crafted from copper. Hammered repousse in and around the entire lighthouse. Tall 33 inches by 14 diameter with an 11 inch balcony. Entirely lights up, Tower with a large dome light...
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Copper

20thc Hand Carved Wood Mermaid Statue
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This hand carved wood sculpture of a mermaid is in fine condition.It is hand carved and unsigned.So fantastic the surface and carving.
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Large Mexican Folk Art Wrought Iron Rooster Weathervane, c. 1940
Located in San Francisco, CA
A large circa 1940 Mexican Folk Art wrought iron rooster weathervane presented on a rustic reclaimed wood base. Features a sheet metal rooster perche...
Category

1940s Mexican Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Wrought Iron, Sheet Metal

O'Henry Fred Johnson Salem Witch Trials Sideshow Spider Girl Banner
Located in Santa Monica, CA
O'Henry Tent and Awning sideshow banner with original shipping tag. Unusual subject matter and fantastic story from the Salem witch trails to Spider Girl. ...
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Canvas

1940s Folk Art Modern Vintage PIG Castile Soap Sculpture Carving
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1940s Folk Art Modern Vintage PIG Castile soap sculpture carving presents with fractured leg. 2.75 w x 2.13 tall x 1.38 d Preowned vintage condition unre...
Category

1940s Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Other

Unusual Folk Art, Bespoke Billiard Themed Floor Lamp, 8-Ball, Modernist
Located in Buffalo, NY
Unusual Folk Art, Bespoke Billiard Themed floor lamp.. 8-ball. Modernist, que sticks, Hand crafted, Shade measuring 16" in diameter.
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Brass

Pair of Trench Art Candlesticks
Located in Chicago, IL
A wonderful and thought provoking pair of early 20th century American Trench Art candlesticks made from the spent brass casings of naval artillery shells.
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Brass

Persian Animal Pictorial Pink Color Runner
Located in New York, NY
Make a bold statement in a hallway with this mid-20th-century tribal Persian runner featuring a folksy motif on a soft pink field. Various Animals are found within the field. The col...
Category

1940s Persian Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Wool

Persian Animal Motif Goat Deer Scatter Neutral Color Rug
Located in New York, NY
Mid-20th-century Persian scatter size rug with what looks to be goats and deer circa 1930, measures: 3'6" x 6'4".
Category

1940s Persian Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Wool

Early 20th Century Hand Carved Papier Mache Jockey Figure
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century hand carved papier mache jockey figure An unusual English folk-art early 20th century papier mache figure, of a winning jockey. Standing proud with chest puffed out and whip in hand. This figure stands firmly on a textured fake grass top plinth. Original paint still intact if a bit faded and cracked in sections, revealing some old newspaper...
Category

1940s British Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Paper

Vintage Magician Magic Suitcase Hand Painted Folk Art
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Fantastic Magician's suitcase. Hand painted and lettered. Vintage Folk Art rabbit trick and card paintings. Great bookshelf display.
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Fabric, Canvas

Large Brass Pigs Bookends / Pair
By Benjamin Stephens
Located in Los Angeles, CA
These two big pigs could even be doorstops as they are tall and heavy. They have a nice mellow patina / surface. They are in great condition and are signed and dated. Stephens copyri...
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Brass

Carnival Midway Punk Knockdown Goat Game
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Vintage carnival punk. Unusual goat named "Billie". Knock "Billie" over and win the prize.
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Canvas

Toy Wooden Tank Made by Italian Soldier from the Second World War
Located in London, GB
A wonderful piece of social history made at a time when the world was beginning to heal itself from the termoil of the Second World War. Passed down through generations of an English...
Category

1940s British Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Reclaimed Wood

Folk Art Nantucket Island Ornamental Fishing Line "Fish" Spool Souvenir
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Hand carved and painted mint green fish souvenir spool from Nantucket Island (ca. 1940s, MA, USA). The fishing twine is connected to a small metal hook affixed to the fish's mouth. Warm patina / good age commensurate with history (small spots of wood / paint loss along with crazing). Small but impressive vintage fishing collectible...
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Stone

Whirligig Depicts Woman Churning Butter, American, circa 1940
Located in Incline Village, NV
Ubiquitous 20th century theme for whirligigs, this example depicts a woman churning butter, with the action being driven by wind powered four blade propellers in the front. As the wi...
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Early 20th Century Folk Art French Weather-Vane Plane
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century Folk Art French weather-vane plane. For sale in this lot is an early 20th century handmade Folk Art French weather-vane plane. Th...
Category

1940s British Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Folk Art Glass Shard Cat Picture
Located in Riverdale, NY
Charming Folk Art glass shard cat picture set within a grey washed handmade wood frame. Made with glass shard mosaics by hand depicting in an image of a ca...
Category

1940s North American Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Glass

Folk Art Hand Carved Black Cat Trinket Dish
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Wooden ebonized cat with dish sculpture mounted to a mahogany plinth. Dish can accommodate keys or smaller objects. Patina / light wear present (paint loss to the tips of ears / edges of green dish...
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Mahogany, Wood

Vintage Huckley Barrel Carnival Game
By St. Louis Carnival Co.
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Vintage carnival game made by the Saint Louis Carnival company. We also have the original paper game rules signs with these. Please note that not all crates are painted St. Louis Car...
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Clay, Wood

Early 20th Century English Folk-Art Farmer and His Wife Model
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century folk-art farmer and his wife model We are proud to offer an unusual hand carved folk-art model of a farmer and his wife sat on a cart pulled by two oxen. This ite...
Category

1940s European Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Pine

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Bush Plane Model on Custom Mount
Located in Chicago, IL
A wonderful and charming early 20th century American bush plane model constructed with painted canvas stretched over a wooden skeleton, and mounted on a custom steel mount.
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Canvas, Wood

Mid-20th Century Folk Art English Acrobat Toy
Located in London, GB
Mid-20th century Folk Art English acrobat toy We are proud to offer a rare example of a mid-20th century English folk-art acrobat toy. Handmade from scrat...
Category

1940s British Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Wood

American Mechanical Bank "Melody-Bank, " circa 1946
Located in Incline Village, NV
"Melody-Bank" is a rare bank and was manufactured by "Electric Coding Machine Co., N.Y.C." in 1946. American made, this is a genuine and authentic vintage mechanical bank, albeit somewhat later, having been manufactured in 1946. It maintains all of the elements of a collectible antique mechanical bank; pleasing shelf appeal and wonderful musical action. The metal faux textured, green painted casing on five sides is fronted by cardboard on wood, filled with delightful images of "children at play with money" lithography. To operate: Wind up the mechanism by turning the brass dial in front clockwise; then put a nickel, dime, or quarter in the appropriate slot at the top. Music will play as additional lithography depicting children's nursery rhymes rotate on the interior circular dial ("Little Boy Blue", "Mary Had A Little Lamb", etc.). Coins are removed by unscrewing the metal plate at the rear bottom. Bank is in excellent all original condition with fully operable musical mechanism. Dimensions: 7" high x 4 9/16" wide x 3" deep. I am a leading specialist in the field of antique mechanical coin banks...
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Metal

Vintage Carnival Midway Penny Pitch Game
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Nicely scaled carnival midway penny pitch game. Original paint surface. Graphic bold design with great colors.
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Wood

English Folk Art Church Model
Located in London, GB
Folk Art Church Model We are proud to offer a wonderful example of a mid-20th Century folk-art church model. Built from scratch using various material...
Category

1940s British Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Large-Scale American Folk Art Carnival Game Board, Very Graphic
Located in Atlanta, GA
Large-scale Folk Art Carnival game board, American, circa 1940s. This painted carnival game board came from Texas and combines wonderfully patinate...
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Wood, Cork

American Folk Art Wood and Iron Farm Bureau Weathervane Advertising Sign
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Great looking cartoon Midwestern Americana weathervane. Farm Bureau Insurance started in 1921. This great piece most likely was a premium or advertising piece. Hand painted wood with...
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Iron

French Tole Flowers Bunch Decoration, circa 1940
Located in Austin, TX
Interesting French tole decoration bunch of flowers in a basket, maybe a dummy board.
Category

1940s French Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Tôle

Sculptural Tramp Art Double Sided Frame and Candleholder
Located in Mt Kisco, NY
A magnificent and elaborate hand-carved wood sculptural frame. It is mirror image double sided. The base reads "1945" & "SOUVENIR" on both sides. The ...
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art

Materials

Wood

American Legion Baseball and Basketball Folk Art Paintings
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Pair of baseball and basketball paintings found in a Midwestern American Legion hall. These were proudly displayed behind the legion hall bar. Grea...
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art

Vintage Hand-Carved Folk Art Dog Head
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Folky hand-carved dog head found in the midwest.
Category

1940s 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.

Recently Viewed

View All