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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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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 chaircrafted 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
1970s Pippo Pozzi Alessandria/Biella Italy Ceramic Plate
Located in Biella, IT
Pippo Pozzi, Alessandria 1910 / Biella 1999, Italy in years 1960 ceramic plate design measure diameter 13 inches x 1,2" deep, in perfect condition A is very rare. signed in t...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Lawrence Glickman Clouds Acrylic on Canvas & Wood
Located in New York, NY
Lawrence Glickman (American, XX- XXI), Clouds, acrylic on canvas and wood, signed on reverse, which was a previous painting that was covered in white...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Folk Art

Materials

Canvas, Wood, Paint

Original Abstract Architectural Paper Sculpture by Lucien Petit Unique Piece
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
Lucien Petit French unique handmade sculpture by the artiste Lucien Petit Famous french ceramic artist This piece realised in 2000 is a paper sculpture with mixed media O...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Folk Art

Materials

Paper

Abstract Brown and White Stoneware Ceramic Stool Roz Herrin La Borne Table 8/11
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
Roz Herrin Stoneware ceramic stool by the English artist based in France in La Borne. Woodfiring ceramic production. Original perfect condition, si...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Small Tree Elemental Spinning Top in Oiled Walnut by Alvaro Uribe for Wooda
Located in Omro, WI
The initial inspiration for the elemental top collection by Alvaro Uribe for Wooda was wooda’s iconic logo of a tree. We felt it captured the company’s synergy for working with wood ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Folk Art

Materials

Hardwood, Walnut

Untitled 36 by Neshka
Located in Geneve, CH
Untitled 36 by Neshka Dimensions: 23 x 23 x 166 cm Material: Charred cedar sculpture with fir and acrylic base Neshka ( Agnieszka Krusche ), is a native of Kraków, Poland, and a...
Category

2010s Canadian Modern Folk Art

Materials

Acrylic, Cedar, Fir

Kayo Lennar "New York" Collage
Located in New York, NY
Kayo Lennar (French/American, b. 1923), "New York," collage, June 2008, signed and dated on reverse. Image: 21" H x 17" W; frame: 22.5" H x 18.5" W. Proven...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Folk Art

Materials

Paper

Untitled 37 by Neshka
Located in Geneve, CH
Untitled 37 by Neshka Dimensions: 20 x 20 x 55 cm Material: Charred cedar and wenge wood stand Neshka ( Agnieszka Krusche ), is a native of Kraków, ...
Category

2010s Canadian Modern Folk Art

Materials

Wood, Wenge, Cedar

Kayo Lennar "Promising trips..." Collage
Located in New York, NY
Kayo Lennar (French/American, b. 1923), "Promising trips...," collage, 2008, initialed lower right, signed and dated on reverse. Image: 21.25" H x 16" W; f...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Folk Art

Materials

Paper

Matt Moor Head Vase, Handmade in Sicily, Gold Leaf, Colors Customizable
Located in San Miniato PI, IT
This collection is a work of art that make a statement in modern décor and in the modern cultural art world. It can be used as a vase containing flowers, or as a beautiful centerpiec...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Folk Art

Materials

Gold Leaf

Moor heads, Collection of 3, Handmade in Sicily, Gold Leaf, Colors Customizable
Located in San Miniato PI, IT
This collection is a work of art that make a statement in modern décor and in the modern cultural art world. It can be used as a vase containing flowers, or as a beautiful centerpiec...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Folk Art

Materials

Gold Leaf

Modern Backgammon Travel Game Handmade Epoxy Resin Handpainted Limited Edition
Located in Milan, IT
The Backgammon Board is a handmade limited edition collection (100 pieces) designed by the young Milan based Valeria Molinari for Dilmos. The project, composed of four boards inspired by the elements of water, air, fire and earth, is born from the concept of play as an existential condition. The FIRE board, as the all collection, is made of epoxy eco resin. The edge of the boards are surrounded by an assembled frame made of wood, while the pawns are also made of resin, decorated one by one with the symbol of fire. The game boards are accompanied by an elegant packaging made by hand in cotton and linen. The product includes: - The board -open with magnets between the two sides: cm 27 x 28,8 x 0,8 H close: cm 27 x 14,4 x 0,8 - 30 customized pawns (diameter. cm 2 x 0,5) - pawn's case (cm 14,4 x 5,2 x 2,6 H) - 4 dice...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Folk Art

Materials

Epoxy Resin

Sympleglades Set of 2 by Andres Monnier
Located in Geneve, CH
Sympleglades set of 2 by Andres Monnier Dimensions: Height: 10-20, Width: 8-12, Length: 5-10 cm Materials: Nero Marquina Different dimensions available. Variant of the origina...
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Folk Art

Materials

Other

3 Mailbox by Lluis Clotet & Oscar Tusquets
Located in Geneve, CH
3 Mailbox by Lluis Clotet & Oscar Tusquets Dimensions: D 32 x W 24 x H 40 cm Materials: Made up of steel sheets painted in a black polyester powder coating (RAL 9005). Doors in p...
Category

2010s Spanish Modern Folk Art

Materials

Steel, Stainless Steel

21st Century Leather and Walnut Wood Backgammon Set Handcrafted in Italy
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

Danese Milano Quindici, Il Gorilla Print by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
Il Gorilla is a silkscreen print tones of brown and is part of the Nature Series (Serie della Natura). The print is part of a study to transform an image into a symbol through the sy...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Folk Art

Materials

Paper

Danese Milano Tre, La Mela E La Pera Print by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
La Mela e la Pera is a three-colour silkscreen print and is part of the Nature Series (Serie della Natura). The choice of these archetypal subjects and the for...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Folk Art

Materials

Paper

Moor heads, Collection of 4, Handmade in Sicily, Gold Leaf, Reflex Blue Bespoke
Located in San Miniato PI, IT
This collection is a work of art that make a statement in modern décor and in the modern cultural art world. It can be used as a vase containing flowers, or as a beautiful centerpiec...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Folk Art

Materials

Gold Leaf

5 Mailbox by Lluis Clotet & Oscar Tusquets
Located in Geneve, CH
5 Mailbox by Lluis Clotet & Oscar Tusquets Dimensions: D 32 x W 40 x H 40 cm Materials: Made up of steel sheets painted in a black polyester powder coating (RAL 9005). Doors in p...
Category

2010s Spanish Modern Folk Art

Materials

Steel, Stainless Steel

Modern Backgammon Board Game Handmade Epoxy Resin Handpainted Limited Edition
Located in Milan, IT
The Backgammon Board is a handmade limited collection (100 pieces) designed by the young Milan based Valeria Molinari for Dilmos Edizioni. The project, composed of four boards inspir...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Folk Art

Materials

Epoxy Resin

4 Mailbox by Lluis Clotet & Oscar Tusquets
Located in Geneve, CH
4 Mailbox by Lluis Clotet & Oscar Tusquets Dimensions: D 32 x W 32 x H 40 cm Materials: made up of steel sheets painted in a black polyester powder coating (RAL 9005). Doors in p...
Category

2010s Spanish Modern Folk Art

Materials

Steel, Stainless Steel

Modern Backgammon Travel Game Handmade Epoxy Resin Handpainted Limited Edition
Located in Milan, IT
The Backgammon Board is a handmade limited edition collection (100 pieces) designed by the young Milan based Valeria Molinari for Dilmos. The project, composed of four boards inspire...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Folk Art

Materials

Epoxy Resin

Lawrence Glickman Abstraction Acrylic on Canvas
Located in New York, NY
Lawrence Glickman (American, XX- XXI), Abstraction, acrylic on canvas, of interwoven forms in a multitude of colors, signed on reverse, unframed. 36"...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Folk Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Smoke with Black Marble Texture Resin Tic Tac Toe by Paola Valle
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
Our Tic Tac Toe is a beautiful, modern and fun take on the classic game. The three dimensional pieces and board are handmade in smoke resin with black marbled texture. It will be the...
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Folk Art

Materials

Resin

White Marbled Resin Tic Tac Toe by Paola Valle
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
Our Tic Tac Toe is a beautiful, modern and fun take on the classic game. The three dimensional pieces are handmade in white resin with black marbled texture and the board is made of ...
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Folk Art

Materials

Resin

Modern Backgammon Travel Game Handmade Epoxy Resin Handpainted Limited Edition
Located in Milan, IT
The Backgammon Board is a handmade limited edition collection (100 pieces) designed by the young Milan based Valeria Molinari for Dilmos. The project, composed of four boards inspire...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Folk Art

Materials

Epoxy Resin

Herman Hershel Kahan Abstract Acrylic on Canvas
Located in New York, NY
Herman Hershel Kahan (XX-XXI) abstract acrylic on canvas, 2021, signed with artist's monogram lower right, signed and dated on canvas reverse, unf...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Folk Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

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

Grey and White Resin Tic Tac Toe by Paola Valle
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
Our Tic Tac Toe is a beautiful, modern and fun take on the classic game. The three dimensional pieces are handmade in grey with white marble textured resin, and board is in clear and...
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Folk Art

Materials

Resin

21st Century Washcloth Tray in Full Calf Leather Handmade in Italy
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

Sheep Moneybox Pop Art, Set of 2 Pieces, Made in Italy, 2022, Black, Red
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 Backgammon Travel Game Handmade Epoxy Resin Handpainted Limited Edition
Located in Milan, IT
The Backgammon Board is a handmade limited edition collection (100 pieces) designed by the young Milan based Valeria Molinari for Dilmos. The project, composed of four boards inspire...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Folk Art

Materials

Epoxy Resin

Wave Hand-Tufted Rug in Orange by 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

Elizabeth Anderson Harbour Pottery Studio Pottery Jug and Vase
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A stylish and finely made studio pottery jug and vase decorated in trailed glazes by Elizabeth L Anderson and made at the Harbour Pottery at South Quay Studios in Maryport, Cumbria a...
Category

20th Century English Modern Folk Art

Materials

Stoneware

Vintage Warren Fischer Figurative Abstract Painting On Linen Canvas
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Warren Fischer Figurative Abstract Painting on linen canvas Offered for sale is a figurative abstract painting on linen canvas by ...
Category

Late 20th Century American Modern Folk Art

Materials

Canvas, Wood, Linen, Paint

Black Marbled Resin and Wood Tic Tac Toe by Paola Valle
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
Our Tic Tac Toe is a beautiful, modern and fun take on the classic game. The three dimensional pieces are handmade in black resin with white marbled texture and the board is made of ...
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Folk Art

Materials

Resin, Wood

Black Swan Lifeboat by Neil Nenner and Avihai Mizrahi
Located in Geneve, CH
Black swan lifeboat by Neil Nenner and Avihai Mizrahi Objects Dimensions: H 90 x L 42 x W 25 cm Materials: PVC, Styrofam, MDF Avihai Mizrahi (b. 1979, Jerusalem), Independent designer / Artist and lecturer in visual communication, holds a B.des in visual communication and M.des in Industrial Design from Bezalel Academy...
Category

2010s Israeli Modern Folk Art

Materials

PVC

Large Rocking Elephant In Fiberglass Painted By Hand With Inset Resin Jewels
Located in Roma, RM
Eye catching and whimsical, this very limited edition elephant rocker is a spectacular showpiece. Lifelike down to its most minute details, this exquisite piece is equally at home in a child's room, living room or entryway. Made in Germany, between 2000 and 2010, the meticulously detailed elephant is cast in fiberglass which was then been painted by hand. The saddle as well as its straps are also finely detailed. The saddle is gilded, the silver neck and rear saddle straps embellished have a raised scalloped cording painted in antique gold. Inset in each scallop is a large faceted resin jewel alternating red and green. The rendering of the elephant's skin is painstakingly detailed both in the cast of the fiberglass as well as the hand painting. The elephant is mounted on hand forged and hand painted cast iron...
Category

Early 2000s German Modern Folk Art

Materials

Resin, Fiberglass, Paint

A Modern Wool Carpet, Rug, Wool Five by Seven Feet Nine Inches
Located in Stamford, CT
A Modern Wool Carpet, Rug, Wool Five by Seven Feet Nine Inches By Kaleen. A fine thick wool pile having a geometric design of blue and green colors.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Folk Art

Materials

Wool

Cover #2 by Neil Nenner and Avihai Mizrahi
Located in Geneve, CH
Cover #2 by Neil Nenner and Avihai Mizrahi Cover Story Dimensions: H 39.5 x L 15.5 x W 26 cm Materials: iron Avihai Mizrahi (b. 1979, Jerusalem)...
Category

2010s Israeli Modern Folk Art

Materials

Iron

Sheep Moneybox Pop Art, Red, 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

Cover #13 by Neil Nenner and Avihai Mizrahi
Located in Geneve, CH
Cover #13 by Neil Nenner and Avihai Mizrahi Cover Story Dimensions: H 24.5 x L 49 x W 49 cm Materials: iron Avihai Mizrahi (b. 1979, Jerusalem),...
Category

2010s Israeli Modern Folk Art

Materials

Iron

21st Century Leather Playing Cards Holder Handcrafted in Italy
Located in Bagnatica, Lombardia
The ideal gift for poker players or card collectors. A wooden box covered with a luxurious grained leather with hand stitched details. This travel set comes in a wide range of colors...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Folk Art

Materials

Leather

21st Century Petanque Game Set with Leather Box Handmade in Italy
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...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Folk Art

Materials

Metal

Brown and White Stoneware Ceramic Pitcher La Borne circa 1990 Pottery
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
La Borne Original french stoneware ceramic pitcher Brown and white pottery colors Signed Original perfect condition Measures: h...
Category

1990s French Modern Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Grey & White Resin and Wood Tic Tac Toe by Paola Valle
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
Our Tic Tac Toe is a beautiful, modern and fun take on the classic game. The three dimensional pieces are handmade in grey with white marbled texture & grey , the board is made of oa...
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Folk Art

Materials

Resin, Wood

White Pearl Resin and Wood Tic Tac Toe by Paola Valle
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
Our Tic Tac Toe is a beautiful, modern and fun take on the classic game. The three dimensional pieces are handmade in white pearl & ivory and the board is made of oak wood veneer. It...
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Folk Art

Materials

Resin, Wood

Contemporary Australian Aboriginal Painting by Walangkura Napanangka
Located in Atlanta, GA
A striking abstract painting by Australian Aboriginal painter Walangkura Napanangka (1940-2014), one of the matching pair painted in 2007 in Alice Spring. Entitled "Kutungka", acrylic on Belgium linen, inscribed on reverse with gallery catalog no. "Kutungka" depicts the landscape of a country where an old woman named "Kutungka" travelled from Malparingya to Kaltarra in Western Desert during the Dreamtime creation. The highly abstract forms are the dreamtime memory of the land features, such as rock piles and waterholes. Provenance: Grasstree Gallery, Australia. It comes with a COA from the gallery as well as progressive photos taken during the creation of this painting by the artist in 2007. Brief biography From Australian Art Gallery...
Category

Early 2000s Australian Modern Folk Art

Materials

Acrylic, Linen, Wood

Australian Aboriginal Painting Tjukurla Country Nyurapayia Nampitjinpa
Located in Atlanta, GA
A stunning abstract painting by Australian Aboriginal artist Nyurapayia Nampitjinpa (also known as Mrs. Bennett; 1935-2013). Entitled "Tjukurla Country", this work was acrylic on Be...
Category

Early 2000s Australian Modern Folk Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

1950's French Modernist/ Cubist Painting, Wacky Interior Scene
Located in Cirencester, GB
Wacky Interior Scene by Bernard Labbe (French mid 20th century) original watercolour/ gouache painting on paper board, unframed size: 10 x 8.75 inches condition: very good and re...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Folk Art

Materials

Other

Black and White Resin and Wood Tic Tac Toe by Paola Valle
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
Our Tic Tac Toe is a beautiful, modern and fun take on the classic game. The three dimensional pieces are handmade in white resin with black marbled texture and the board is made of ...
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Folk Art

Materials

Resin, Wood

Handcrafted Illustrated Ceramic by Mathew, Spain, 2021
Located in Madrid, ES
Handcrafted ceramic bowl by Mathew. Handpainted panther in light grey over blue background.
Category

2010s Spanish Modern Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Modern Design Style Hand-Tufted Rug 'Zen Garden' by Rag Home
Located in Jakarta Selatan, ID
Modern Design Style Hand-tufted Rug 'ZEN GARDEN' by RAG HOME A rug inspired by currents of Serene, peaceful, balanced, simple words that describe the zen garden. RAG under thi...
Category

2010s Indonesian Modern Folk Art

Materials

Wool, Acrylic

'Mis-Shapes' Custom Rug with Combination of Orange, Burgundy, Pink, Tosca Blue
Located in Jakarta Selatan, ID
CUSTOM RUG SIZE 7 x 8 with combination of Orange, Burgundy, Pink, Tosca and Blue 'Mis-Shapes' Contemporary irregular abstract shape hand-tufted Viscose wool rug A combinatio...
Category

2010s Indonesian Modern Folk Art

Materials

Wool

21st Century Camel Leather and Walnut Wood Backgammon Set Handcrafted in Italy
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

21st Century Arianna Labyrinth Game Set in Wood and Leather Handmade in Italy
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

Modern Backgammon Board Game Handmade Epoxy Resin Handpainted Limited Edition
Located in Milan, IT
The Backgammon Board is a handmade limited collection (100 pieces) designed by the young Milan based Valeria Molinari for Dilmos Edizioni. The project, composed of four boards inspir...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Folk Art

Materials

Epoxy Resin

Orange and Pink Resin Tic Tac Toe by Paola Valle
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
Our Tic Tac Toe is a beautiful, modern and fun take on the classic game. The three dimensional pieces are handmade in pink & orange resin, and board is in white pearl resin. It will ...
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Folk Art

Materials

Resin

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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