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: Mid-20th Century
Original Mexican Retablo "Exvotos" Oil on Tin
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1950.We offer this original exvoto.
Votive paintings in Mexico go by several names in Spanish such as “ex voto,” “retablo” or “lámina,” which refer to their purpose, place oft...
Category
1950s Mexican Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Tin
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
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
Robert 'Mouseman' Thompson Folk Art Carved Oak Oval Cutting or Cheese Board
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This solid oak oval cutting board was made by the renowned English furniture maker Robert 'Mouseman' Thompson in his signature Arts & Crafts style. The cutting board has a raised han...
Category
Mid-20th Century English Folk Art
Materials
Oak
Vintage American Folk Art Copper Chess Board
Located in Chicago, IL
This enchanting mid-20th century American Folk Art chess board is a true testament to naive and outsider craftsmanship and creativity. Hand-crafted with meticulous care, the board fe...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Copper
Carnival Midway Sideshow Banner
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Original hand-painted canvas sideshow banner for carnival midway sideshow entrance. Not signed but most likely out of Chicago Tent and Awning's banner ...
Category
1950s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Canvas
Pair of Vintage Primitive Oversized Hand Weights/Dumbbells
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Hand-carved dumbbells, each from one continuous piece of wood accented with carved lines (circa 1930s, USA).
Natural toned wood, perfectly aged with rich patina/soiling/splits from a...
Category
1930s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Whimsical Carousel Pig Carnival Ride Mexican Attrib Higareda Brothers
By Higareda Brothers
Located in Forney, TX
A rare and whimsical vintage Mexican carnival amusement ride carousel pig attributed to the Higareda workshop.
This ultra charming carousel pig carving was made in a smaller scale f...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art
Materials
Wood, 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
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
Vintage Swiss Made Comtoise Pocket Watch with Hunters Motives
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Swiss Made Comtoise Pocket Watch with Hunters Motives
A very nice vintage pocket watch manufactured by ARSA (Auguste Reymond S. A.), Switzerland. The case is made of metal a...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Folk Art
Materials
Metal
A wooden lantern mold France 1950
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
This wooden lantern mold, originating from a former paper lantern manufacturing facility, is a superb decorative piece, boasting a highly graphic design. It consists of seven detacha...
Category
1950s French Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Wood
A wood catchall mid-20th century French folk art
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
A remarkable catchall, emblematic of mid-20th century French folk art, stands out for its ingenious use of half a fruit tree trunk, likely from a cherry tree. This particular trunk s...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Folk Art
Materials
Fruitwood
Mid-Century Prison Art Box from Cigarette Packs
Located in Forney, TX
A rare vintage prison art box, mid-20th century, colorful round folk art box with removable lid, handmade from a large tin can and cigarette packs.
...
Category
Mid-20th Century Folk Art
Materials
Tin
Vintage Bavarian Traditional Costume Jewelry Charivari with Hunting Pendants
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Bavarian Traditional Costume Jewelry Charivari with Hunting Pendants
A Bavarian Charivari from the middle of the 20th century. A beautiful pie...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Folk Art
Materials
Metal, Silver
Large Oil Paint on Masonite Surrealist Abstract Painting signed Adolphus "66
Located in Buffalo, NY
Large 54" x 54" Oil on Masonite Surrealist Abstract Painting signed Adolphus "66... Amazing use of colors.. space,, Modernism,, abstraction,, surreal. Show-stopper for sure,, Statem...
Category
1960s Unknown Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Masonite, Paint
Early 20th Century English Folk Art Jigger Doll
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century English Folk Art jigger doll
A wonderful example of a unique Folk Art handcrafted jigger doll we have lovingly ...
Category
1930s British Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Pine, Paint
Mid Century Japanese Tin Litho Friction Toy Car Chevrolet Station Wagon C1956
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fantastic Japanese tin litho toy car from the mid to late fifties. A Chevrolet Station Wagon in excellent vintage condition with minimal wear, practi...
Category
1950s Japanese Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Vintage Carved Wood and Poly Chrome Painted Figural Musical Clock Figurine
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This vintage hand carved and hand painted musical clock is unsigned, but presumed to have been made in or near Austria in circa 1950 in a Folk Art style. The carving depicts a male figure leaning against a post mounted Black Forest styled clock. The carving is quite detailed and well executed on all sides and has been hand painted in a realistic style. Both the clock and the music box are currently not working as both have been over-wound and would require servicing. The head of the carving should turn slightly left to right while the music box is playing, but in its current state it is unknown whether the mechanism functions and/or what tune the music box may play. In addition, there is currently no key for the clock, but these normally use a standard small music box...
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Vintage Bavarian Traditional Costume Jewelry Cufflinks
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Bavarian Traditional Costume Jewelry Cufflinks
A pair Bavarian cufflinks from the middle of the 20th century. A beautiful piece of historical Bavarian folk art jewelry, a re...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Folk Art
Materials
Metal, Silver
Half Round Blacksmith Made Iron Game Hanger, Kitchen Utensil Hanger
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Half Round Blacksmith Made Iron Game Hanger, Kitchen Utensil Hanger
A great piece it is a half round shape with 4 large hooks, it sits flat on the wall, if you don’t need it to han...
Category
1960s Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Iron
4 Marked Vintage Majolica Ceramic Pottery Wall Masks Italy Cottura Hand Painted
Located in Miami, FL
Set of 4 hand-painted and hand-crafted Majolica Masks, one of them is way bigger than others, Italy circa 1960.
The pieces showcases Italian craftsmanship and feature beautiful col...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic, Pottery
Zabihi Collection Silk Pictorial Herekeh Rug
Located in New York, NY
3rd quarter of the 20th century Fine Turkish silk one-of-a-kind Herekeh rug with a beautiful pictorial animal garden design
Measures: 1'4'' x 1'11'.
Category
Mid-20th Century Folk Art
Materials
Silk
Hand Carved Wooden Smoker Gnome Figure, Vintage German Black Forest Folk Art
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful hand carved wooden smoker figure, found at an estate sale in Nuremberg, Germany. We believe that this piece is from around 1930s or older. A nice addition to any room. Beau...
Category
1930s German Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Wooden Trade Sign Advertising Model of Kissel Gold Bug Speedster
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Wooden Trade Sign Advertising Model of Kissel Gold Bug Speedster
A Car made famous by Amelia Earhart the Kissel Gold Bug Speedster thought of as one of the hottest cars on the road...
Category
1950s Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Plywood
Miniature Model Wooden Canoe, American Circa 1950's
Located in Incline Village, NV
While this model canoe might have been used as a salesman sample, whereby merchants, carried it from town to town to encourage sales, it was more than likely used as a demonstration ...
Category
1950s Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Northwest Coast Mask
Located in Sharon, CT
A midcentury hand crafted wood mask in traditional NorthWest Indian
Style.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Mid-Century Era Inuit Soapstone Carving of a Standing Hunter
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This well executed sculpture is signed by an unknown artist and originated from Canada and dates to approximately 1960 and done in the Mid-Century Inuit style. The sculpture is compo...
Category
Mid-20th Century Canadian Folk Art
Materials
Soapstone
Carved Wooden Milliners Head, Vintage Italy, circa 1930s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Adorable unique wood carved head. Italy, 1930s or older. Ideal decoration item, used in the displaying and making of hats. Hand carved from wood. Nice display piece in any room. Foun...
Category
1930s German Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Wood
WWII Trench Art Artillery Shell Bullet Coin Ashtray
Located in Forney, TX
A fascinating Word War II trench art sculptural ammo ashtray.
Typically hand-crafted by a soldier from found objects during their down time at war, especially in the trenches of WW1...
Category
Mid-20th Century European Folk Art
Materials
Brass
Carved Wooden Milliners Head, Vintage Italy, circa 1930s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Adorable unique wood carved head. Italy, 1930s or older. Ideal decoration item, used in the displaying and making of hats. Hand carved from wood. Nice display piece in any room. Foun...
Category
1930s German Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Wooden statue of a warrior
Located in NANTES, FR
Tall statue depicting a warrior in wood with brass inlays. Great patina.
Do not hesitate to ask me for a shipping quote.
Category
Mid-20th Century Gabonese Folk Art
Materials
Wood
20Thc Canadian Goose Copper Weather Vane on Mount
Located in Los Angeles, CA
20Thc Copper & brass flying geese weather vane.This Canadian goose weather vane is a latter version of the 19thc weather vane.
Category
1950s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Copper
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
Pair of Canadian Folk Art Carved Japanese Internment Camp Figures or Sculptures
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This pair of Folk Art carved figures is believed to have been made by a Japanese immigrant to Canada either while or after being interned by the Canadian government during the Second World War. The male carved figure is hand painted in vibrant colors and the base reads: June 11, 1942" and "Ontario" underneath. The nude female carving...
Category
Mid-20th Century Canadian Folk Art
Materials
Softwood
Pair of Large Sculptured Greyhound Dogs
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Pair of Large Sculptured Greyhound Dogs
This Super pair of Dogs has a good patina they appear to be made with an old polished steel finish
They are in very good condition with a bea...
Category
1960s Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Clay
Collection of (3) Native American Folk Art Canoes
Located in Chicago, IL
Collection of (3) Native American Folk Art Children's Toy Canoes most likely made between the 1940's and 1950's. Two of the Folk Art Children's Canoes were made from Birchbark, while...
Category
1950s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Birch
Vintage Painting of a Young Child - Oil on Board
Located in Centennial, CO
A charming vintage oil on fiber board painting of a young child with a blue and white cup and a piece of bread (?). Painted in shades of warm brown, pinks, maroons and whites. Surfac...
Category
1930s Unknown Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Masonite, Paint
Mid 20th Century African Folk-Art Carving of a Woman
Located in Cheltenham, GB
Beautiful African rustic folk carving of a woman, probably mid-century, hardwood, the nose has been rubbed many times for good luck!
Category
Mid-20th Century African Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Traditional Hardwood Crocodile Carving, Nigeria, cira 1970s
Located in Aramits, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Decorative Folk Art hand-carved hardwood crocodile, with lots of details in the carving. Nigeria, circa 1970s.
Category
Mid-20th Century Nigerian Folk Art
Materials
Hardwood
Folk Art Sea Horse Hooked Rug, circa 1960
Located in Nantucket, MA
Vintage Folk Art Sea Horse Hooked Rug, circa 1960, featuring a family of three variously sized and colored sea horses swimming against a variegated bl...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art
Materials
Wool
Folk Art Mountain Landscape Painting - Initialed & Dated - Canada - Circa 1956
Located in Chatham, ON
Mid Century folk art mountain landscape oil painting on artist's canvas board - unframed - initialed lower right - Canada - circa 1956.
Good vintage condition - no loss - no apparen...
Category
Mid-20th Century Canadian Folk Art
Materials
Canvas, Paint
MIKE MATAS - Vintage Folk Art Whale Carving on Stand - Signed - Canada - C. 1980
Located in Chatham, ON
MIKE MATAS - Vintage folk art hand-carved pine model of a whale - mounted by two brass pins to the base - finished with a semi-gloss varnish - signed and dated - possibly from the ea...
Category
Mid-20th Century Canadian Folk Art
Materials
Brass
Large Folk art /surrealist Oil painting on canvas.. Circus scene. " Burning Tent
Located in Buffalo, NY
Large Folk art / surrealist Oil painting on canvas.. depicting circus scene. "Burning Tent".. Very well executed.. amazing detail..
Category
1950s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Canvas, Wood, Paint
Whimsical Folk Art Painted Lady Liberty Political Figure
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Whimsical hand made carved wood and painted folk art hanging liberty figure.
Category
1960s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Wood
A. RUSHTON - Vintage Folk Art Oil Painting - Framed - Canada - Mid 20th Century
Located in Chatham, ON
A. RUSHTON - Vintage folk art oil painting on canvas covered panel - signed lower right - framed (likely original) - Canada - mid 20th c...
Category
Mid-20th Century Canadian Folk Art
Materials
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
Eye and Glasses Window Display Trade Sign
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Eye and Glasses Window Display Trade Sign
The sign is made in presses tin, it seems to be hand painted with the slogan Eye Glasses Sold Here
The sign is a ...
Category
1930s Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Tin
Prison Folk Art Matchstick Model Boat Ship Maritime Night Light Sculpture 31"
Located in Dayton, OH
Mid century three tiered prison folk art / tramp art model steam boat sculpture. Upcycled cardboard framing structure, matchstick exterior with glossy...
Category
Mid-20th Century Folk Art
Materials
Metal
NYC Artist MARGARET LAYTON, PAINTING AND Iron SCULPTURE "WINDOW WASHER"
Located in Buffalo, NY
Margaret Layton (American, 20th century)"Parker Street" New York City Gouache on board, Iron Sculpture "window washer " circa 1950s
Amazing Greenwich Village Building by artist Ma...
Category
1950s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Metal, Iron
Splendid Kpélié Mask, Sénoufo population, Ivory Coast 1950
Located in Paris, FR
Splendid Kpélié Mask, Sénoufo population, Ivory Coast 1950
Kpélié Mask, wood covered with copper
Dimensions 36.5 x 14.5 cm / 14.17 x 5.51 inches
The populations speaking the Sénouf...
Category
1950s Ivorian Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Splendid Seven rams Ntomo Mask, Bamana Population, Mali, 1930-1940
Located in Paris, FR
Splendid Seven rams Ntomo Mask, Bamana Population, Mali, 1930-1940
Seven Rams Ntomo Mask, Ségou region, Mali, Wood, cowrie shells, reptile skin. Dimensions: 61.5 cm / 24.02 inches.
...
Category
1930s Malian Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Shell, Wood
Oversized Carved wood and painted Sheaffer Fountain Pen Store Display , 5 feet
Located in Buffalo, NY
Amazing ! Oversized Carved wood and painted Sheaffer Fountain Pen Store Display , Selling two pens. One 5" high 6 " in diameter.. other 50" h , 4" in diameter. Very well made, Qualit...
Category
1950s American Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Steel
Folk Art Wedding Chest, Anno 1960
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
1960s Hungarian Vintage Folk Art
Materials
Pine
Vintage Nahua Pottery Chililico Hidalgo Mexican Folk Art Animal Candleholders
Located in Forney, TX
A most charming pair of two rare and whimsical indigenous Nahua peoples pottery animal folk art candleholders.
Handmade in the village of Chililico, Hidalgo, Central Mexico, primiti...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art
Materials
Pottery
Salampasu Mask
Located in Chicago, IL
This ceremonial African mask is linked to the Salampasu people of the Bantu ethnic group located primarily in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Salampasu masks...
Category
Mid-20th Century Congolese Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Bamboo
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 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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