Folk Art
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.
2010s British Folk Art
Cotton, Linen, Silk, Natural Fiber
1880s Dutch Antique Folk Art
Wood, Paint
1940s French Vintage Folk Art
Granite
1960s Israeli Vintage Folk Art
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s American Folk Art
Steel
Early 2000s American Folk Art
Fabric
1960s Unknown Vintage Folk Art
Masonite, Paint
1970s American Vintage Folk Art
Steel
Early 20th Century Scandinavian Folk Art
Wood
Late 20th Century Folk Art
Wool
2010s American Folk Art
Metal, Steel
2010s American Folk Art
Metal, Steel
Mid-20th Century Turkish Folk Art
Wool
2010s Mexican Folk Art
Ceramic, Clay
2010s American Folk Art
Steel
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art
Copper
Late 20th Century Moroccan Folk Art
Wool
Early 20th Century Chinese Folk Art
Wool
1920s American Vintage Folk Art
Leather, Velvet, Plaster
2010s North American Folk Art
Ceramic
20th Century Nepalese Folk Art
Sandalwood
Early 20th Century English Folk Art
Stone
Late 19th Century French Antique Folk Art
Brass, Iron
Mid-20th Century German Folk Art
Metal
1920s Austrian Vintage Folk Art
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American Folk Art
Pottery
1840s Italian Antique Folk Art
Fir
1940s French Vintage Folk Art
Plastic, Hardwood, Paint
1920s British Vintage Folk Art
Wood
2010s Mexican Folk Art
Ceramic, Clay
19th Century French Antique Folk Art
Wood
1770s Italian Antique Folk Art
Fir
Late 18th Century American Antique Folk Art
Glass, Wood, Paper
Early 1900s American Antique Folk Art
Cotton
2010s American Folk Art
Metal, Steel
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art
Metal
Mid-19th Century English Antique Folk Art
Other
Early 20th Century Folk Art
Cotton
Mid-20th Century French Folk Art
Fruitwood
1950s French Vintage Folk Art
Wood
Early 19th Century Antique Folk Art
Pine
20th Century Folk Art
Composition, Metal
Mid-20th Century Folk Art
Tin
19th Century French Antique Folk Art
Iron
Mid-19th Century English Antique Folk Art
Wool
Early 20th Century French Folk Art
Steel
Late 20th Century Moroccan Folk Art
Wood
Late 19th Century Hungarian Antique Folk Art
Pine, Paint
Mid-20th Century German Folk Art
Metal, Silver
19th Century Antique Folk Art
Silk
20th Century Indian Folk Art
Bone, Paint
1950s Japanese Vintage Folk Art
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary American Folk Art
Leather, Paint
20th Century Indian Folk Art
Bone, Paint
1960s Italian Vintage Folk Art
Ceramic, Pottery
1960s Vintage Folk Art
Iron
Mid-20th Century Folk Art
Silk
1780s Italian Antique Folk Art
Fir