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Folk Art Lighting

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
Tatupeba table Lamp GOLDEN BROW in Natural Palm Fiber 'Small' - EU plug typ C.
Located in São Paulo, BR
Prized as the best work of its category in the Novos Talentos Brasileiros (New Brazilian Talents) Award in 2020, the Tatubepa lamp is a piece with unique and valuable design. It was ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Sheet Metal

Tatupeba Sconce Lamp GOLDEN BROWN in Natural Palm Fiber 'LARGE' - EU plug typ C
Located in São Paulo, BR
Prized as the best work of its category in the Novos Talentos Brasileiros (New Brazilian Talents) Award in 2020, the Tatubepa lamp is a piece with unique and valuable design. It was ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Sheet Metal

Tatupeba Floor Lamp GOLDEN BROWN in Natural Palm Fiber - EU plug typ C
Located in São Paulo, BR
Prized as the best work of its category in the Novos Talentos Brasileiros (New Brazilian Talents) Award in 2020, now comes in a new version as a floor lamp. the Tatubepa lamp is a p...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Sheet Metal

Tatupeba Floor Lamp BLACK in Natural Palm Fiber - EU plug typ C
Located in São Paulo, BR
Prized as the best work of its category in the Novos Talentos Brasileiros (New Brazilian Talents) Award in 2020, now comes in a new version as a floor lamp. the Tatubepa lamp is a p...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Sheet Metal

Tatupeba Sconce Lamp BLACK in Natural Palm Fiber 'LARGE' - EU plug typ C
Located in São Paulo, BR
Prized as the best work of its category in the Novos Talentos Brasileiros (New Brazilian Talents) Award in 2020, the Tatubepa lamp is a piece with unique and valuable design. It was ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Sheet Metal

Folk Art floor lamp , natural parts from pinewood
Located in Vantaa, FI
This Folk art lamp is unique floor lamp every part is made from old pinewood parts, branch and burl parts, shade has been large burl. All parts are possible to dismantle, parts are n...
Category

20th Century Finnish Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Wood

Early 20th Century English Metal Fairground Crown Light
Located in London, GB
Early 20th Century English Metal Fairground Crown Light A unique example of an early 20th Century metal scratch-built fairground light in the shape of a crown. Hand crafted from met...
Category

1920s British Vintage Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Metal

Table Lamp With 4 Tier Deer Hoof With Nickel Bands And Antler Finial
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Mid-Century table lamp with 4-tier deer hoof with nickel bands and brass fitted antler finial. Shade is not included.
Category

20th Century American Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Organic Material

1969 Handmade Porcelain Owl Swag Lamp Pendant Light
Located in Waxahachie, TX
DOB 1969 Signed. Puts out a large amount of light. Beautiful little piece, lots of character. Statement piece. Switch on cord. 8' chained cord.
Category

1960s American Vintage Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Porcelain

Mid Century Modern Set of three Glass Pendant Light, 1960s Austria
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Gorgeous set of three pendant lights with biomorphic glass. Add a touch of opulence to your home with this charming set of three light pendants! Perfect nickel fixtures hold a big gl...
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Nickel, Metal

Pair of Petite Murano Caged Glass Pendant Light, 1930s Italy vintage
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Gorgeous pair of chandeliers in bubble-wrapped Murano glass with cage. The glass is hand-blown with a amber tint and was created by Giorgio Seguso during the 1930s in Italy. These M...
Category

1930s Italian Vintage Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Metal

American Folk Art Tin Four Light Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
American Folk Art tin four-light chandelier, 19th century or later, the central baluster comprised of two conjoined funnel forms issuing single candle arm...
Category

19th Century Antique Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Metal

Superb Art Deco Glass Lamp and Glass Shade This Is a Very Pretty Piece
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Superb Art Deco Glass Lamp and Glass Shade This is a very pretty piece, the base of the lamp has around shape set on brass feet, both the...
Category

1950s Vintage Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Glass

American Folk Art Table Lamp
Located in Hudson, NY
Very stylish folk art carving of an urn with flame. Likely from a hears of the mid nineteenth century. This sculpture is hand carved from pine and retains the original painted and gi...
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Gold

1960’s Lawnware Pendant Light
Located in Charleston, SC
Vintage Lawnware hanging light, 10” shade, #2310. Funky retro RV Lawnware tiki patio Swag lamp. Real KITSCHY cool planter pot Swag lamp, sometimes known as a Lite Brite Lamp. Beads make up this hippie style lamp. The lamp works. Great vintage condition. Some of the assorted multicolored plastic decorations are broken or missing, but once it’s lit up, it’s effect is there. Would be great on a screen porch, a kitschy retro patio, inside in your funky decor or would make a fun lamp...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Plastic

Fully Working Table Top Easel Reading Stand Lamp
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Fully Working Table Top Easel Reading Stand Lamp A great little piece, this is a table top easel which is mounted with an adjustable reading lamp so it can be used for both book...
Category

Mid-20th Century Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Beech

Tatupeba Table Lamp in Natural Straw Fiber 'Small' - EU plug typ C.
Located in São Paulo, BR
Prized as the best work of its category in the Novos Talentos Brasileiros (New Brazilian Talents) Award in 2020, the Tatubepa lamp is a piece with unique and valuable design. It was ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Sheet Metal

Tatupeba Table Lamp in Natural Palm Fiber 'Medium' - EU plug typ C
Located in São Paulo, BR
Prized as the best work of its category in the Novos Talentos Brasileiros (New Brazilian Talents) Award in 2020, the Tatubepa lamp is a piece with unique and valuable design. It was ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Sheet Metal

Stig Blomberg Bronze Table Lamps, Sweden, 1970
Located in Bronx, NY
Pair of Stig Blomberg table lamps from the 1970s by the Swedish artist Stig Blomberg. The pair has each expressionist lion heads embedded on the sides of the lamps very detailed on ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Bronze

Fox & Squirrel Folk Art Lamp, France, circa 1930
Located in Culver City, CA
Fox & Squirrel Folk Art Lamp, France, circa 1930 Hand carved folk art lamp featuring a fox and a squirrel. Measures 20”L x 14”d x 17”h.
Category

Early 20th Century French Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Wood

Sconce Wall Freestanding Portable Tin Mirror Cresting
Located in Eversholt, Bedfordshire
Extremely rare survival of a vernacular tin wall sconce Unusually incorporating mirror plate which was an expensive material suggesting this was made for an affluent customer The m...
Category

18th Century English Antique Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Metal

Folk Art Chandelier, 21 Candles
Located in Doylestown, PA
A charming American folk art 21-candle chandelier in turned wood, with blue and rust-red painted finish with wire arms and wood candle holders, circa 1870. Unelectrified.
Category

Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Wood

19th Century Decorated Salt Glaze Crock Lamps-Pair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This amazing pair of decorated crocks with handles and newly electrified lamps are in great condition.They also come with custom made burlap shades.Th...
Category

19th Century American Antique Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Pottery, Linen

Hand Painted Folk Art Table Lamp, Eva Fritz-Lindner Masterwork , One of a Kind
Located in South Burlington, VT
A whimsical and unique Eva Fritz-Lindner hand painted Folk Art table lamp complete with new custom fitted linen shade. Here's a beautiful and unique way to accent your home or office, or make a charming gift to someone special. This is a unique hand painted pottery table lamp fitted with a beautiful rectangular linen shade. It is hand painted in lovely cobalt blue and cream colors designed and hand painted by the now deceased master artisan Eva Fritz-Lindner working at Staatliche Majolika-Manufaktur Karlsruhe over the past 50 years. Creative design, lovely vivid colors in cobalt blue and creams over a natural terra cotta pottery base , good opportunity to display a functional one of a kind work of art. Glaze: Fine colors that only Eva Fritz-Lindner could execute by hand Designer signature: signature i 3 on pottery base It would surely "pop" out and create pleasant conversation in splendid fashion in your favorite spot! Dimensions: table lamp with shade 33.5 inches high; shade only is 11.5 inches high x 18 inches wide and 11 inches deep. hand painted pottry base is 21 inches high and 8.5 inches diameter at mid section. We have installed this sculptural lamp with a 72 inch cord - all mounted on a handsome round hardwood stand. Quality: Very good Only one. Most of her larger pottery sculptures such as this, were likely produced in less than 25 copies Based upon research and all were hand painted individually by this artist ensuring each work of art was indeed unique. Provenance: pottery lamp base...
Category

20th Century German Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Iron

"After Work" Western Desk Lamp
Located in Santa Barbara, CA
This Western style iron, glass and wood desk was designed by Steven Handelman and handcrafted at Steven Handelman Studios. It is part of a larger series of high end western themed it...
Category

20th Century American Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Iron

Wooden Star Form Chandelier
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A custom Folk Art Style Star Fixture in a subtle cream paint finish. 6 Lights, one in each star point, with copper finish. Each point is gilt trimmed and...
Category

20th Century Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Metal

Pair of Hand Carved Wooden African Folk Art Figure Lamps and Custom Woven Shades
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Folk Art lamps - Hand carved African Figures on a black base - A decorative brass rod extend to the top with two custom made Lamp Shades made of woven black fabric with knots...
Category

20th Century Central African Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Brass

Pair of Antique Cast Iron Elements as Table Lamps
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A large and very solid feeling pair of antique iron architectural elements as lamp bases. Three part shaped iron elements with decorative motifs with leaves on the tops and bottoms. ...
Category

19th Century Antique Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Iron

20th Century Vintage Tole Painted Floral Tin Tea Canister Jar Lamp W/ Shade
Located in Dayton, OH
Mid 20th Century tole painted canister lamp. Features a yellow painted body with a still life of fruit along the front and barrel shade with ornate trim. Measures:6.25” x 17” / S...
Category

Mid-20th Century Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Metal

Whimsical Hand Carved Wood Folk Art Chandelier with Two Hands
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Whimsical one of a kind carved wood light fixture having a folk art feel with two hands that hold candle bulbs. The center of the light is painted red & white with a brass column whe...
Category

1950s American Vintage Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Wood

Unusual Folk Art, Bespoke Billiard Themed Floor Lamp, 8-Ball, Modernist
Located in Buffalo, NY
Unusual Folk Art, Bespoke Billiard Themed floor lamp.. 8-ball. Modernist, que sticks, Hand crafted, Shade measuring 16" in diameter.
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Brass

Wall Sconce Tin Diamond Single Arm Wallace Nutting Collection
Located in Eversholt, Bedfordshire
Surviving pieces of vernacular lighting are extremely rare and it is hard to source convincing re-creations. These are copies of a period sconce from the Wallace Nutting Collection a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Tin

Wall Sconce Tin Circular Single Arm Illustrated Furnituretreasury Wallacenutting
Located in Eversholt, Bedfordshire
Surviving pieces of vernacular lighting are extremely rare and it is hard to source convincing re-creations. These are copies of a period sconce illustrated in Furniture Treasury by ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Tin

Antique Swedish Intricate Bronzed Chandelier
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique Swedish bronzed chandelier made during the mid 1800s, around 1850 to 1860. The chandelier is made in bronzed metal with a richly deco...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Metal

Dachshund English 1960s Floor Lamp
Located in London, GB
Lovely folk art sausage dog floor lamp, great detail to the features. Rewired with bronze rope twisted silk flex. Delightful vintage light. Made in England in the 1960s.
Category

1960s British Vintage Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Wood

c 1920 Brass Star of David Chandelier from Chicago Synagogue
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Historical and significant brass electrified Star of David from the last grand Chicago synagogue, Agudas Achim. Beautiful when lit. Hard to believe these were hung as chandeliers in ...
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Brass

Pair of Solid Brass Two-Light Wall Sconces, Vintage, Austria, 1950s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A stunning pair of heavy brass wall sconces. Each consisting of a stylish Farmhouse style design. Each fixture requires two European E14 / 110 Volt candelabra bulbs, each bulb up to ...
Category

1950s German Vintage Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Metal, Brass

19th Century Folk Art Cast Iron Green Painted Candlestick
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Single French Cast Iron Candlestick In The Original Green Painted Patina, 19th Century
Category

19th Century French Antique Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Iron

Pair of Early 20th Century Folk Art Tole Peinte Lamps with Black Shades
Located in Middleburg, VA
Pair of Early 20th Century Folk Art Tole Peinte Lamps with Black Shades. One lamp has the number 1 and the other has the number 13. New black Gorden shades with inside gold...
Category

Early 20th Century French Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Tin

Vintage 70s Wrought Iron Chandelier Eight Candles Swedish Art Glass 2 Extenders
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Add a touch of opulence to your home with this charming candle chandelier! This 60s Wrought Iron Chandelier with eight Swedish Art Glasses holds ball globe candles which are not incl...
Category

1970s Swedish Vintage Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Wrought Iron

Early 19th Century American Hammered Brass Wall Sconces
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Charming pair of hammered brass 19th century wall sconces having a folk art feel with hearts at the top and octagonal sections with circles and oval decoration. Fully electrified wit...
Category

Early 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Brass

Handcrafted Ceramic Wall Lamp by "Delamorylabelleza" for Ikb191, Spain, 2022
Located in Madrid, ES
Handcrafted wall lamp designed and made by Spanish designers Carlos Jiménez, better known as ``Del Amor y la Belleza´´. Made of ceramic at low temperatures and illustrated with abstr...
Category

2010s Spanish Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Ceramic, Paint

Handcrafted Ceramic Wall Lamp by´Delamorylabelleza´for IKB191, Spain, 2022
Located in Madrid, ES
Handcrafted wall lamp designed and made by Spanish designers Carlos Jiménez, better known as ``Del Amor y la Belleza´´. Made of ceramic at low temperatures and illustrated with abstr...
Category

2010s Spanish Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Ceramic, Paint, Clay

Pair of Handcrafted Ceramic Wall Lamp by`Delamorylabelleza´, Spain, 2022
Located in Madrid, ES
Handcrafted wall lamp designed and made by Spanish designers Carlos Jiménez, better known as ``Del Amor y la Belleza´´. Made of ceramic at low temperatures and illustrated with abstr...
Category

2010s Spanish Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Ceramic, Clay, Paint

Folk Art Resin Lamp for Fans of John Travolta or Disco Fever
Located in Marseille, FR
Folk art resin lamp for John Travolta fans representing the dancer in different postures from the film it was a live Adrian Line and dance step lighting below friends and transparent...
Category

20th Century Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Resin

Folk Art Root Carved Table Lamp
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Folk Art root carved table lamp. This is a very attractive if somewhat unusual piece, it is an old root carving which has been adapted to change it into a charming table lamp, the...
Category

Early 20th Century Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Bog Wood

Bulbous Folk Art Painted Table Lamp
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Bulbous folk art painted table lamp. This an attractive pottery lamp painted in a folk art style, in crackle finish Gold, Cream and Red, the paint has now aged in colour and developed a charming finish, the lamp has its own pleated silk lamp...
Category

Mid-20th Century Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Pottery

Folk Art Style Carved and Painted Table Lamp
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Folk Art Style carved and painted table lamp. This lamp has a carved decoration painted in cream with gold highlights, the lamp comes with a new coarse linen lamp shade. The lamp...
Category

Mid-20th Century Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Softwood

Vintage Custom 'Flower' Table Lamp
Located in Houston, TX
Vintage custom flower table lamp circa 1950-1979. Custom lamp composed of paper, wire, wood and papier-mâché, Lamp shades are paper flowers. All han...
Category

1970s Japanese Vintage Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Brass, Wire

Superb Large Brass Sextant Ceiling Light from the Captains Cabin
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Superb large brass sextant ceiling light from the captains cabin A very good quality lamp it has been made in the form of a brass sextant, it is centrally hung with a large shade at each end (like a snooker table light...
Category

Early 20th Century Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Brass

Wood Carved Red and White American Folk Art Barber Pole Trade Sign Sconce, C1920
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Great Americana! c. 1920s American Folk Art wood and iron carved barber pole. Layers of thick original red and white hand painted surface. Substantial iron mounts and iron strapping around neck of sconce. Unique wall sconce...
Category

1920s North American Vintage Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Iron

Architecual Element Lamp w/ Floral Ticking Shade
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Zinc Architecual Element lamp w/ Floral Ticking shade Lamp with Shade H 64 Lamp Base 9 x 11 x 45 H Shade top: 14.5 Dia shade bottom: 22 Dia.
Category

20th Century American Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Zinc

20th Century Table Lamp with Shells
Located in Buggiano, IT
Table lamp with plastic sphere manually coated with shells, very elegant. In working condition. Equipped with original 20th century European wiring. We recommend buyer consults an ex...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Shell, Plastic

Antique Hand Carved Folk Art Pendant Light w. Accordion Playing 'Madchen' on Top
Located in Lisse, NL
Rare and beautifully handcrafted Arts & Crafts light fixture for black forest enthousiasts. If you are looking for unique antiques that tell something about life in different parts ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Rope, Wood, Oak

Vintage Cholla Cactus Skeleton Floor Lamp
Located in Forney, TX
A unique and interesting cholla cactus skeleton turned floor lamp, freestanding, hand-crafted, this charming piece of American Southwest folk art is sure...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Organic Material

Chippy White & Blue Swedish Farmhouse Style Tole Pendant Chandelier, 1970s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Add a touch of opulence to your home with this charming chandelier! Perfect wood and metal chandelier to enhance any chic or eclectic home. The beautiful chippy white...
Category

1970s Austrian Vintage Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Metal

Vintage Turned Wood Lamp Made of Mahogany, Maple and Walnut
Located in Nantucket, MA
Large turned wood lamp of urn-form made by gluing pieces of various types of wood together then lathe turning the block to reveal patterns of co...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Mahogany, Maple, Walnut

Spanish Folk Art Floor Standing Standard Lamp
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Spanish Folk Art floor standing standard lamp A traditionally turned, carved and painted piece from Spain. This wooden lamp stands on a square ba...
Category

Mid-20th Century Folk Art Lighting

Materials

Softwood

Folk Art lighting for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique folk art lighting 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 lighting created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include lighting, folk art, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art lighting made in a specific country, there are Europe, North America, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original lighting, popular names associated with this style include Berber Tribes of Morocco, EGLO Leuchten, Guillerme et Chambron, and Robert Abbey. 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 lighting differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $150 and tops out at $9,950 while the average work can sell for $1,250.

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