Modern Folk Art
MODERN STYLE
The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw sweeping social change and major scientific advances — both of which contributed to a new aesthetic: modernism. Rejecting the rigidity of Victorian artistic conventions, modernists sought a new means of expression. References to the natural world and ornate classical embellishments gave way to the sleek simplicity of the Machine Age. Architect Philip Johnson characterized the hallmarks of modernism as “machine-like simplicity, smoothness or surface [and] avoidance of ornament.”
Early practitioners of modernist design include the De Stijl (“The Style”) group, founded in the Netherlands in 1917, and the Bauhaus School, founded two years later in Germany.
Followers of both groups produced sleek, spare designs — many of which became icons of daily life in the 20th century. The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics. While Bauhaus principals Marcel Breuer and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe created furniture from mass-produced, chrome-plated steel, American visionaries like Charles and Ray Eames worked in materials as novel as molded plywood and fiberglass. Today, Breuer’s Wassily chair, Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona chair — crafted with his romantic partner, designer Lilly Reich — and the Eames lounge chair are emblems of progressive design and vintage originals are prized cornerstones of collections.
It’s difficult to overstate the influence that modernism continues to wield over designers and architects — and equally difficult to overstate how revolutionary it was when it first appeared a century ago. But because modernist furniture designs are so simple, they can blend in seamlessly with just about any type of décor. Don’t overlook them.
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Style: Modern
21st Century Empty Pocket Woven Regenerated Leather Handmade in Italy
By Pinetti
Located in Bagnatica, Lombardia
Lovely Pinetti round wash clothes holder, part of Almeria collection.
Four different water resistant sizes fixed at the end with chrome pins. The woven strips getting smaller and ...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Folk Art
Materials
Leather
21st Century Italian Tic Tac Toe in Walnut and Leather with Alabaster Pieces
By Pinetti
Located in Bagnatica, Lombardia
A masterpiece of style and design.
Pinetti Tic Tac Toe, our first addition to our board games collection. A canaletto walnut wood box covered with leather and completed with three...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Folk Art
Materials
Alabaster
21st Century Hand Sculpted "Mopane" Tree by Atang Tshikare
Located in Cape Town, WC
"It feels like the branches connect us all to each other, entangling us in our complexities. They hold us up and anchor us down, like a melting pot that has stopped boiling half way ...
Category
2010s South African Modern Folk Art
Materials
Sandstone, Bronze
Andrew Hull Cobridge High Fired Trial Art Pottery Baluster Vase
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
Superb high fired Cobridge trial art pottery Baluster vase designed by Andrew Hull and dated 2004. The heavily made stoneware vase is of baluster shape wit...
Category
Early 2000s English Modern Folk Art
Materials
Stoneware
21st Century Hand Sculpted "Laathlela" Tree by Atang Tshikare
Located in Cape Town, WC
Lathlela in Setswana means ‘to throw’. Here Tshikare designed a tree, but with the focus on the leaves to tell the story of how “the pre-rain wind blows the leaves off and carries th...
Category
2010s South African Modern Folk Art
Materials
Sandstone, Bronze
Brown 20th Century Stoneware Ceramic Bottle or Vase La Borne Pottery 2007
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
La Borne
Realised in 2007
Stoneware black or brown ceramic bottle or vase
Original good condition
Signed
Measures: Height 21 cm
Large 9 cm.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
Large Mural of the Szechenyi Chain Bridge in Budapest Hungary
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous large painting, wall mural of the Chain Bridge in Budapest Hungary. 10 feet x 4 feet with all the trimmings that surrounds the Danube River. Bridge was mostly destroyed by f...
Category
1960s Hungarian Vintage Modern Folk Art
Materials
Canvas, Paint
Wall Sculpture Wooden Frame Adorned Mosaic Leather Liquid Metal Artglass Backlit
By sicis
Located in London, GB
Wall sculpture with circular wooden frame, adorned with elements in lacquered wood, leather, glass mosaic, art glass and liquid metal.
Backlighting system with sensor.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Folk Art
Materials
Metal
21st Century Leather & Satin Brass Umbrella Stand Handcrafed in Italy
By Pinetti
Located in Bagnatica, Lombardia
Stands out for its simplicity.
An umbrella stand with cylindrical silhouette ideal to give a stylish addition to any hallway. Covered with a soft grained or woven leather our umbr...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Folk Art
Materials
Brass
Russell Biles "Wee Baby" Black & Pink Porcelain Figurine
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine porcelain figurine.
In the form of a black back doll with pink geometric patterns to the torso that is reminiscent of magma cracks in stone.
By Russel Biles.
A self-d...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Folk Art
Materials
Porcelain
Tribal Ceremonial Silver Ornament/Neckrings, Sculpture, Miao, Guizhou, Plus Stand
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a great and important ceremonial neck rings ware by the people of the Minorities of China, the Golden triangle ,Mongolia and Tibet. These pieces were made of low content of s...
Category
20th Century Chinese Modern Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Atang Tshikare, Bronze Sculpture, "PEO E ATANG"
Located in Cape Town, WC
"Peo e Atang" is a celebration by artist Atang Tshikare in honor of his firstborn son Peo. The word Peo means seed or beginning and Atang means to grow or multiply. Together they mea...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary South African Modern Folk Art
Materials
Bronze
Eric James Mellon Studio Pottery Experimental Glazed Cup, 2006
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A very fine stoneware cup decorated in experimental glazes by renowned ceramic artist Eric James Mellon (British, 1925-2014) and dated 2006.
Trained at the Central School of Arts...
Category
Early 2000s English Modern Folk Art
Materials
Stoneware
21st Century Arianna Labyrinth Game Set in Wood and Leather Handmade in Italy
By Pinetti
Located in Bagnatica, Lombardia
A perfect addition for your game room or the ideal luxury gift?
The choice is yours!
Arianna, our new wooden square maze is laser cut and finished in genuine leather. Its lines a...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Folk Art
Materials
Leather, Wood
Pop Art Niki de Saint Phalle Inflatable Plastic Snake Collectibles, France 1999
Located in Miami, FL
Pop art Niki de Saint Phalle double sided inflatable plastic Snake collectibles, France, 1999.
Swimming pool toys for happiness.
Never used, New out of the ...
Category
1990s French Modern Folk Art
Materials
Plastic
Vase Psiche di Capua in Ceramic, Italy
Located in Treviso, Treviso
VG presents a collection of classic sculptures which revisits the techniques of pop art. The original work is taken apart; a few details are then removed and highlighted, becoming t...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
Vase 'David by Michelangelo' Mouth, Matt White Ceramic, Italy
Located in Treviso, Treviso
The “Andy” ceramic collection VG presents a collection of Classic sculptures which revisits the techniques of pop art. The original work is taken apart; a few details are then remove...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
21st Century Camel Leather and Walnut Wood Backgammon Set Handcrafted in Italy
By Pinetti
Located in Bagnatica, Lombardia
Our backgammon set, a must of board games.
Expertly crafted with canaletto walnut wood and dressed on the outside with a textured calfskin leather covering, its interior delivers ...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Folk Art
Materials
Leather, Walnut
Vintage Porcelain Beer Tray, Beer Sign
Located in Antwerp, BE
Vintage porcelain beer tray - beer sign.
An enameled metal beer tray designed and made for the Belgian Beer:
CTS Stout Wielemans, a dark Belgian Beer made by the Brewery Wielemans which was located in Brussels.
Black with orange and yellow beer tray with the typical long Stout glass on.
This porcelain beer tray is in used condition so does have some traces by age.
It's a great beer sign - beer collectable - Belgian Beer Sign - Vintage beer tray...
Category
Mid-20th Century Belgian Modern Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Danese Milano 16 Pesci Toys in Solid Oak Wood by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
16 Pesci is a wooden puzzle, cleverly designed to produce 16 different fish shapes, with just one continuous cut, from a single piece of wood. It is one of th...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Folk Art
Materials
Oak
Susan Bennett English Glazed Thrown Studio Pottery Vase
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A stylish thrown and glazed stoneware studio pottery vase with a ribbed body attributed to Susan Bennett (b.1954) and dated 1977. The vase has a bell sha...
Category
1970s English Vintage Modern Folk Art
Materials
Stoneware
21st Century Petanque Game Set with Leather Box Handmade in Italy
By Pinetti
Located in Bagnatica, Lombardia
A complete game set of 6 metal balls with one jack and a leather measuring rope.
Our portable Pétanque game set comes with its own sleek storage box, completely covered with genuine grained leather. Ideal for outdoor entertaining...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Folk Art
Materials
Metal
'Mis-Shapes' Contemporary Irregular Abstract Shape Hand Tufted Rug by RAG Home
By RAG home
Located in Jakarta Selatan, ID
'Mis-Shapes'
Contemporary irregular abstract shape hand-tufted Viscose wool rug
A combination of neatness and abstraction. A fluid patterns and shades of primary colors from vibrant to pastel, just enough to make your room stand out, yet still homey and comfortable.
Original designed by Rannisa Soraya from RAG Home
Hand-tufted with mixed Methods and Colours. It can be customised in size, and composition upon request.
RAG under this brand, lies a strong picturesque construct with solid contemporary HOME ornaments. a delicate kind of mix materials arranged in artistic motifs the vision pursued by establishment of high-end line with the highest quality.
RAG will constantly focusing and innovating, monitoring craftsmanship behind the product.
RAG provide a wider selection to your HOME ornaments.
The design will be consisted of limited edition with higher build quality to deliver premium value in unique features.
Proudly Made In Indonesia...
Category
2010s Indonesian Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wool
Irregular Shape Viscose Wool Rug Pink Blush, Blue, Green 'IRO-IRO' by RAG Home
By RAG home
Located in Jakarta Selatan, ID
Hey Archie rug is made with a combination of pink blush, blue, green a touch of maroon
Original Designed by RAG Home Jakarta
Hand-tufted Carpet with mixed Carving Embossed Methods ...
Category
Early 2000s Indonesian Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wool
Black White Arizona Desert Mountain Landscape Signed Oil Painting, Edwin H House
Located in Studio City, CA
A lovely gem of an impressionist Arizona landscape oil on board painting by Brisbee, Arizona artist Edwin H House.
The painting is done in subtle s...
Category
20th Century American Modern Folk Art
Materials
Paint
Takeshi Yasuda 'Japanese, b.1943' Creamware Studio Pottery Hand Thrown Bottle
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
Interesting hand thrown Japanese studio pottery creamware vase with a craquelure glaze by Takeshi Yasuda (Japanese, b.1943) dating from the 1980’s. The ...
Category
1980s Japanese Vintage Modern Folk Art
Materials
Pottery
Katerina Evangelidou Greek Stoneware Hand Built Studio Pottery Vase
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A hand-built squat studio pottery vase of slight tapering rhombic form in brown glazes by Katerina Evangelidou (Greek, c.1960). The four sided vase has two erupting vertical seams at...
Category
20th Century English Modern Folk Art
Materials
Pottery
Cubist Portrait of Cleopatra & Hawk, by Clevan Thomas Jr. 1944
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Cubist portrait of Cleopatra & Hawk, by Clevan Thomas Jr. 1944
A masterwork of 1940s modern American outsider Art, by relativity unknown southern African -American artist Clevan Tho...
Category
20th Century American Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Mike Dodd Studio Pottery Green Glazed Faceted Stoneware Vase
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
Mike Dodd (British, b.1943) Studio pottery vase with a faceted body and decorated in green trailed glazes dating from the 20th Century. The stoneware vase stands on an unglazed foot ...
Category
20th Century English Modern Folk Art
Materials
Stoneware
Midcentury Mercedes Mb300 Sedan Windup on Stand by Prameta with Driver Keyc1958
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous articulated Mercedes MB300 sedan by Prameta. Green sedan sits mounted on a stand. Key for winding the clockwork mechanism is in the form of a chauffeur. In excellent vintage...
Category
1950s German Vintage Modern Folk Art
Materials
Metal
21st Century Washcloth Tray in Full Calf Leather Handmade in Italy
By Pinetti
Located in Bagnatica, Lombardia
Ideal to keep small towels tidily stored in readiness for guests.
Our rigid wash cloth holder is entirely made with a genuine and water-resistant calf leat...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Folk Art
Materials
Leather
Black White Arizona Desert Mountain Landscape Signed Oil Painting, Edwin H House
Located in Studio City, CA
A lovely gem of an impressionist Arizona landscape oil on board painting by Brisbee, Arizona artist Edwin H House.
The painting is done in subtle s...
Category
20th Century American Modern Folk Art
Materials
Paint
Limited Edition Devotion Omnia Gray Rug
Located in Milan, IT
Combining the traditional weaving and modern technology, this elegant limited edition rug is entirely hand-tufted in India from refined bamboo silk...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Folk Art
Materials
Textile
21st Century Coffee Round Paper Bin with Lid Waste Bin Handmade in Italy
By Pinetti
Located in Bagnatica, Lombardia
Nothing like a sleek waste bin in calfskin leather to keep your bathroom looking chic. The cylindrical body is entirely covered by hand with fine calfskin leather in a woven pattern....
Category
2010s Italian Modern Folk Art
Materials
Leather
Indonesian Stone Coin, Large
Located in New York, NY
A large hand-carved stone coin from Indonesia, square-shaped center. Rustic finishing, natural off-white color. Mounted on a 18" x 8" black metal stand.
Category
Early 2000s Indonesian Modern Folk Art
Materials
Stone
Irregular Shape Viscose Wool Rug Pink Blush, Blue, Green 'IRO-IRO' by RAG Home
By RAG home
Located in Jakarta Selatan, ID
Hey Archie rug is made with a combination of pink blush, blue, green a touch of maroon
Original Designed by RAG Home Jakarta
Hand-tufted Carpet with...
Category
Early 2000s Indonesian Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wool
21st Century Demetra Washcloth Holder Regenerated Leather Handmade in Italy
By Pinetti
Located in Bagnatica, Lombardia
Lovely Pinetti round wash clothes holder, part of Almeria collection.
Four different water resistant sizes fixed at the end with chrome pins. The woven strips getting smaller and ...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Folk Art
Materials
Leather
21st Century Demetra Rectangular Magazine Holder Handwoven in Italy
By Pinetti
Located in Bagnatica, Lombardia
A real eye-catcher.
Part of the Demetra series, Pinetti low rectangular basket is strictly hand woven. Made with water-resistant and washable bonded leather useful also for outdo...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Folk Art
Materials
Leather
21st Century Leather Poseidon Round Bathroom Set Made in Italy
By Pinetti
Located in Bagnatica, Lombardia
It’s easy to understand why they are called best seller.
This is our Poseidon round bathroom set entirely covered in soft and waterproof genuine leather. Our Rialto tray, together with a round soap dispenser, a toothbrush holder, a cotton pad holder and a small box for rings to create a complete set. Five accessories with simple and minimal design perfect for contemporary and traditional bathroom suites.
Category
2010s Italian Modern Folk Art
Materials
Chrome
21st Century Rio Rectangular Closet Box Handwoven in Italy
By Pinetti
Located in Bagnatica, Lombardia
The Rio collection, smooth and soft design specially studied for your closet.
A box made with the resistant regenerated leather with two practical holes as handles on the short si...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Folk Art
Materials
Leather
Hand Woven Red/Pink Modern Blanket, Double Sided Patterned Bed Throw Woven in UK
By Custhom
Located in London, GB
For this woven blanket We work closely with a 300 year old mill in Sudbury, Essex, UK. We have the utmost respect for their approach to making fabrics, their knowledge and experience...
Category
2010s English Modern Folk Art
Materials
Cotton
Andrianna Shamaris Large Copper African Currency
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful patina on this 20th century copper African currency. Celebrating the cracks and crevices found in this unusual large size.
This item was sou...
Category
Early 20th Century Congolese Modern Folk Art
Materials
Copper
Exceptional Life Size Wicker and Bamboo Racing Motorcycle
By Tom Dixon
Located in Hastings, GB
A superb sculpture in the form of a racing motorcycle, using wicker rattan and bamboo the detailing on this piece is fantastic, even down to the rear inter...
Category
1980s English Vintage Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wicker
4.7x10.4 Ft Contemporary "Tulu" Rug, 100% Wool Pile, Custom Options Available
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A contemporary hand knotted TULU (Turkish word for soft, cozy, high pile) rug made of fine hand-spun and hand-dyed lambswool.
It is partly hand knotted (with pile) and partly flat-w...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wool
VINC, Bibendum, 2021, Acrylic on Hood of 4CV
Located in Saint ouen, FR
Artist VINC
4 CV Bibendum
Acrylic on hood of 4CV from 1960 ( French car)
Circa 2021
H 83 x W 100 X D 22 cms
Signed by the artist
Unique and original a...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Modern Folk Art
Materials
Metal
1950's Signed Modernist Painting, Fine Drawing of Historic Fountain
Located in Cirencester, GB
Historic fountain
by Bernard Labbe (French mid 20th century), stamped verso
original gouache/watercolor painting on artist paper
overall size: 25.5 x 19.5 inches
condition: very ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Modern Folk Art
Materials
Other
Mike Dodd Studio Pottery Green Ash Glazed Teapot and Cover
By Mike Dodd
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A stylish English studio pottery teapot and cover decorated in green ash glazes by renowned potter Mike Dodd (British, b. 1943) and dating from t...
Category
20th Century English Modern Folk Art
Materials
Clay
Danese Milano Quattro, La Pantera Print by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
La Pantera is a four-colour silkscreen print and is part of the Nature Series (Serie della Natura). The print is part of a study to transform an image into ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Folk Art
Materials
Paper
21st Century Italian Leather Chess Board with Brass Pieces Handcrafted in Italy
By Pinetti
Located in Bagnatica, Lombardia
Two in one. A bicolour game board with an interior storage tray that houses the set’s pearled checkers and black and brass-finished chess pieces.
The class of a noble material such as walnut wood perfectly matches with the timeless beauty of genuine leather. A full chess and checkers set...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Folk Art
Materials
Brass
21st Century Mill Leather Game Set Board Game Handcrafted in Italy
By Pinetti
Located in Bagnatica, Lombardia
We are glad to welcome aboard our leisure collection the Mill game.
This new brilliant strategy board game is crafted with a luxury field covered in soft calf leather embellished ...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Folk Art
Materials
Leather, Wood
Original Framed Acrylic Painting on Wood Panel by K. Hall
Located in Malibu, CA
Original work of art, framed, acrylic painting on wood panel. "The Mistress", by artist Kimball Hall. Incorporates primary colors in a highly stylized cubist work of art. Created in ...
Category
1990s American Modern Folk Art
Materials
Hardwood
21st Century Sombrero Magazine Holder Handmade in Italy with Regenerated Leather
By Pinetti
Located in Bagnatica, Lombardia
We feel Mexican!
Made with eco-friendly, washable, and resistant regenerated leather, the traditional Mexican Sombrero hat becomes a unique magazin...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Folk Art
Materials
Leather
Hand Built Sculptural Wood Fired Gourd Shaped Signed Studio Pottery Vase
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A truly wonderful design piece, and one of my favorite pieces, is this hand-built wood fired gourd shaped studio pottery bottle vase of sculptural form dating from the 20th century. ...
Category
20th Century British Modern Folk Art
Materials
Stoneware
Vase Hands Small, Matte White Ceramic, Italy
Located in Treviso, Treviso
The “Andy” ceramic collection VG presents a collection of classic sculptures which revisits the techniques of pop art. The original work is taken apart; a few details are then remove...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
Sonia Lewis Studio Ceramic Craquelure Glazed Miniature Vase
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A stunning studio ceramic porcelain squat shaped miniature rounded vase decorated in a brown stained craquelure glazed finish on a white ground by renowned Cambridgeshire based potte...
Category
20th Century English Modern Folk Art
Materials
Porcelain
Wave Hand-Tufted Rug in Orange by Verner Panton
By Verpan, Verner Panton
Located in Horsens, DK
Seven Colored rectangular rug with organic pattern designed by Verner Panton.
Material:
100% New Zealand's Wool
Hand-tufted
Color:
Orange.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Modern Folk Art
Materials
Wool
21st Century Poseidon Square Bathroom Set Waterproof Leather Handmade in Italy
By Pinetti
Located in Bagnatica, Lombardia
It’s easy to understand why they are called best seller.
This is Poseidon, our square bathroom set entirely covered in soft and waterproof genuine leather. Our Rialto tray, together with a square soap dispenser, a toothbrush holder, and a cotton pad holder with simple and minimal design perfect for contemporary and traditional bathroom suites.
Category
2010s Italian Modern Folk Art
Materials
Chrome
Sheep Moneybox Pop Art, White, Made in Italy, 2022, New Collection
Located in San Miniato PI, IT
These splendid ceramic creations are born from the artistic laboratory of Mosche Bianche.
The piggy bank, a means that has always been used to remind us of the importance of savi...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Folk Art
Materials
Ceramic
Modern folk art for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Modern 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 ceramic, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern folk art made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original folk art, popular names associated with this style include Pinetti, VG-VGnewtrend, Danese Milano, and Mosche Bianche. 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 $75 and tops out at $50,000 while the average work can sell for $1,001.
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