Folk Art More Lighting
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.
Mid-20th Century Folk Art More Lighting
Metal
20th Century Folk Art More Lighting
Metal
1980s Italian Vintage Folk Art More Lighting
Shell, Plastic
20th Century Folk Art More Lighting
Resin
20th Century American Folk Art More Lighting
Zinc
18th Century European Antique Folk Art More Lighting
Metal
1930s English Vintage Folk Art More Lighting
Brass, Chrome, Iron
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Folk Art More Lighting
Resin
21st Century and Contemporary English Folk Art More Lighting
Epoxy Resin
20th Century Folk Art More Lighting
Aluminum, Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Folk Art More Lighting
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Folk Art More Lighting
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Finnish Folk Art More Lighting
Brass
18th Century Italian Antique Folk Art More Lighting
Cut Glass
1950s Danish Vintage Folk Art More Lighting
Brass
19th Century Unknown Antique Folk Art More Lighting
Brass
20th Century French Folk Art More Lighting
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary English Folk Art More Lighting
Epoxy Resin
1960s Italian Vintage Folk Art More Lighting
Metal, Brass
20th Century French Folk Art More Lighting
Metal
18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art More Lighting
Wrought Iron
1950s Mexican Vintage Folk Art More Lighting
Clay
Early 20th Century American Folk Art More Lighting
Plywood
19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art More Lighting
Iron
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art More Lighting
Tin, Iron
1880s British Antique Folk Art More Lighting
Serpentine
19th Century French Antique Folk Art More Lighting
Iron
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art More Lighting
Metal, Iron
1940s American Vintage Folk Art More Lighting
Wood
1950s American Vintage Folk Art More Lighting
Sheet Metal