Folk Art Games
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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Item Ships From: Europe
Style: Folk Art
Large Marble Solitaire Board Game with 33 Early Handmade Clay Marbles
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a complete board game of marble solitaire with a large turned maple board from the 20th century and handmade clay or stone marbles from the mi...
Category
Early 20th Century English Folk Art Games
Materials
Stone
Handmade Miniature Travelling Chess Set Game walnut Inlaid box, circa 1920
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a good quality handmade Miniature or travelling wood chess set game of 32 pieces in its own inlaid hardwood box, which we date to the early 20th century, circa 1920.
This piece is all handmade. The chess set is complete with 32 wood pieces having pegged bases. The jointed box is handmade of hardwood, possibly walnut with line inlays of a lighter wood to the top and the base. The lid is a good fit to the base and the box has brass hinges and a brass fastener to keep the lid securely closed.
The inside of the lid has a fabric pad to keep the chess pieces in position when the lid is closed.
Overall a quality handmade, complete, travelling chess set...
Category
Early 20th Century British Folk Art Games
Materials
Brass
Chess Set with Crusader and Saracen Figures An interesting slant on the game
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Chess Set with Crusader and Saracen Figures
An interesting slant on the game of chess, these large figures are made in a stone and resin compound, they have been hand painted and ar...
Category
Early 2000s Folk Art Games
Materials
Resin
Napoleonic Prisoner of War Painted Casket Dominoes Set
Located in London, GB
Napoleonic Prisoner of war painted casket dominoes set
We share what we love, and we love this early 19th century Napoleonic prisoner of war hand painted ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Folk Art Games
Materials
Bone
Napoleonic Prisoner of War Casket Dominoes Set
Located in London, GB
Napoleonic Prisoner of war casket Dominoes set
We share what we love, and we love this early 19th century Napoleonic prisoner of war cask...
Category
1820s French Antique Folk Art Games
Materials
Bone
Combination Board Game of Marble Solitaire and Tiddlywinks, circa 1925
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a complete combination board game of marble solitaire and tiddlywinks, dating to the early 20th century.
This is a most unusual and very de...
Category
Early 20th Century English Folk Art Games
Materials
Glass, Hardwood
Complete Handmade Game Box with Dominoes, Six Dice & Playing Cards, circa 1940s
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a very good handmade Inlaid, lidded games box or compendium, complete with a 6-spot Dominoe set, 6 dice and a set of playing cards, which we date to the mid-20th century, circa 1940s.
This is a lovely handmade Treen like games box set or compendium comprising;
A complete set of handmade wood 6-spot dominoes with brass inlaid detail
Six handmade wood dice with inlaid brass detail.
A set of boxed...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Folk Art Games
Materials
Brass
Indoor Cricket Game Hand Made Wood Set of 18 Pieces, circa 1900
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is an original wooden Cricket Game, all handmade, comprising 18 pieces, for indoor use on a table or carpet, all dating to the late 19th or early 20th century, circa 1900.
Th...
Category
Early 20th Century English Folk Art Games
Materials
Wood
Late 19th Century Napoleonic Prisoner of War Dominos
Located in London, GB
POW Dominos 28
late 19th Century Napoleonic prisoner of war (POW) hand carved set of dominos, in a sliding painted lid box.
Size in inches: BOX H 5” x W 1.8” x D 1.2” (28 Domi...
Category
1880s Unknown Antique Folk Art Games
Materials
Bone
Late 19th Century Fairground Knock Down Figure
Located in London, GB
Jeu De Massacre Fairground Figure
One of the finest examples of a late 19th Century fairground knock down figure we have had the pleasure to obtain, in ...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Folk Art Games
Materials
Wood
French Wooden Table Top Football Soccer Game
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
French wooden table top football soccer game
This is one for the Boys, it is a 1930s table football game from France, the game has the players in white ...
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art Games
Materials
Wood
Large Vintage Carousel Handmade Erzgebirge Germany
Located in Kitzbuhel, AT
Large handmade carousel in wood. Decorated with African animals in two levels. Handmade and hand painted in Erzgebirge Germany circa 1930. Unique and very decorative item.
No motor!
Category
Early 20th Century German Folk Art Games
Materials
Wood
Indoor Croquet Set Game for 7 Players in Jointed Wood Box, Early 20th Century
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is an original indoor or carpet croquet set game, coming with its own jointed wooden storage box, all dating to the early 20th century, circa 1930.
This is a classic game of strategy and skill, fun to play for all age groups.
The set has seven different colored balls and wood mallets...
Category
Early 20th Century English Folk Art Games
Materials
Metal
Victorian Marble Solitaire Fine Hardwood Board with 33 Clay and Stone Marbles
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is an original and complete game of Marble Solitaire with a very good polished hand turned hardwood board and 33 early clay and stone marbles, all dating to the mid-19th century, Victorian period.
The board is finely hand turned with good detail, made of well figured hardwood, possibly red walnut and sitting on three small bun feet. It has 32 equi-spaced holes with an additional one in the center and a gallery to the outer perimeter. This board is particularly good with a lovely mellow color, developed over many years of use and polishing.
It comes complete with a full set of 33 ( 32 + one spare) early handmade playing marbles...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Folk Art Games
Materials
Stone
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Miniature Travelling Chess Set Game handmade & Pokerwork Board / Box, Circa 1900
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a high quality handmade Miniature or travelling wood chess set game of 32 pieces in its own lidded pokerwork decorated box, which we date to the English Edwardian period, circa 1900.
This piece is all handmade. The chess set is complete with 32 wood chess pieces. The box is also handmade of wood, opening up to make a pokerwork chess board with further pokerwork design to the sides. All the pieces are hand carved, probably from boxwood with the black ones stained . The box has metal hinges and a brass fastener to keep the lid securely closed, with the pieces inside.
Overall a quality antique handmade, complete, travelling chess set...
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19th Century Bocce Balls, France, Set of Three
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Late 19th to early 20th century bocce balls, France, set of three
boxwood, iron and brass nails.
The first ball has the letters PP in brass, the second ha...
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Chess Game by Michel Dumas
By Michel Dumas
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Chess game by Michel Dumas. Located in NYC
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19th Century Romanian Polychrome Wooden Rocking Horse
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Charming 19th century Romanian hand carved wooden rocking horse. Featuring a colorful polychrome finish on a base decorated with a floral m...
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Stones Chess Game
Located in Paris, FR
Chess stones game with black and white pieces made in stone
with 24-karat gold-plated metal ornaments. Checkerboard made with
black stone, white stone, black resin and wood. Checke...
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20th Century Italian Sterling Silver Chess Board, Chess Game Red Jasper, Marble
Located in VALENZA, IT
Sterling silver bi-color chessboard and chess game in "Florence" style.
The chessboard is in molten silver with red jasper and white color marble
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H 9.06 in W 20.48 in D 20.48 in
Jaques London Victorian Faux Book Chessboard Staunton Pieces & Hardwood Clock
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning original Victorian Antique Jaques of London faux leather folding book chessboard with the original Staunton Chess set dating to circa 1880, a travel chess set in the form of checkers pieces and lastly a Jacques of London Rosewood Chess clock...
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H 17.72 in W 3.55 in D 10.24 in
Swedish Folk Wooden Dala Pig Toy, circa 1960
By Nils Olsson
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Handpainted Swedish wooden traditional Dala pig toy.
Designed by Nils Olsson in Sweden, circa 1960.
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In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age...
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Michael Graves Post-modern Chess / Checkers Set Board Game and Pieces
Located in Miami, FL
Michael Graves Post-modern Chess and Checkers Board Game and Pieces
Offered for sale is an original post-modern Michael Graves(1934-) chess and checkers set. The box and board are made from maple. The pieces are resin in ebony and ivory tones. The pieces are signed on the bases on the felt. The board has velvet-lined storage compartments for the pieces when you choose to play checkers.
Michael Graves was a Memphis Group designer and a member of the New York Five...
Category
1990s American Folk Art Games
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Chess Marble Game
Located in Paris, FR
Game Chess Marble all in carved and polished marble.
Chess: L80,3xD80,3xH6cm.
small pawns: H9cm, each.
Pieces from rook to king: H10cm to 16,5cm.
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21st Century and Contemporary Indonesian Folk Art Games
Materials
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Weighted Resin Chess Set Game in Jointed Wood Box Kings, Ca 1930s
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a good and complete English resin moulded "weighted" chess set game of 32 pieces, in a jointed pine box, all dating to the early/ mid 20th century, Circa 1930's.
The chess...
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Early 20th Century British Folk Art Games
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Cylindrical Art Glass Chess and Wood Lathed Table
Located in Naucalpan, Edo de Mex
This Board Games edition presents classic games and decorative pieces like Backgammon, Chess and Tic Tac Toe, made out of wood and glass.
Since 2000, Orfeo Quagliata offers a remarkable consistency based in design and a fine technical work in glass. He creates custom interior design projects, as well as furniture, jewelry and decorative elements.
Orfeo takes his most interesting glass techniques to apply them in the inserts of the table. The "Barcodes" technique is a fine linear design with schemes of different colors that contrast with the wood. For the chess pieces, Orfeo applies the exclusive "Jimmiz...
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2010s Mexican Folk Art Games
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Previously Available Items
Set of Three Early 20th Century English Fairground Double Sided Panels
Located in London, GB
A set of three early 20th century English Fairground double sided panels
A set of three double sided formed hardboard English fairground panels, dating from the 1930 to the Mid-2...
Category
1940s British Vintage Folk Art Games
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Paper
Handmade Miniature Travelling Chess Set Game Inlaid Walnut Box, circa 1930's
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a good quality handmade miniature or travelling wood chess set game of 32 pieces in its own inlaid walnut box, which we date to the early 20th century, circa 1930's.
The chess set is complete with 32 wood pieces having pegged bases. The circular box is handmade of walnut with line inlays of a lighter wood to the lid top and a base section with the chess board. The lid is a good snug fit to the base section. The base has two removable side pegs that stop the lid closing on the chess pieces when the lid is on.
The inside of the lid has a fabric pad to keep the chess pieces in position when the lid is closed.
Overall a quality handmade, complete, travelling chess set...
Category
Early 20th Century British Folk Art Games
Materials
Wood
19th Century Collection of French Carved Bone Spillikins
Located in London, GB
19th century collection of French carved bone spillikins
A small collection of 19th century French carved bone spillikins or sand set pieces Dieppe. Comprising of eleven hand car...
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1850s French Antique Folk Art Games
Materials
Natural Fiber
Handmade Miniature Travelling Chess Set Game Inlaid Walnut Box, circa 1930's
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a good quality handmade miniature or travelling wood chess set game of 32 pieces in its own inlaid walnut box, which we date to the early 20th century, circa 1930's.
The chess set is complete with 32 wood pieces having pegged bases. The circular box is handmade of walnut with line inlays of a lighter wood to the lid top and a base section with the chess board. The lid is a good snug fit to the base section. The base has two removable side pegs that stop the lid closing on the chess pieces when the lid is on.
The inside of the lid has a fabric pad to keep the chess pieces in position when the lid is closed.
Overall a quality handmade, complete, travelling chess set...
Category
Early 20th Century British Folk Art Games
Materials
Wood
55 Napoleonic Mutton Bone Prisoner of War Dominos
Located in London, GB
55 Napoleonic mutton bone prisoner of war dominos
We share what we love, and we love this set of 55 mutton bone Napoleonic prisoner of war dominoes. Ind...
Category
19th Century French Antique Folk Art Games
Materials
Bone
19th Century POW Dice
Located in London, GB
19th century POW dice
A lovely example of prisoner of war mutton bone dice. Encased in a mutton bone sliding top dice box container. Unsure if some would...
Category
19th Century French Antique Folk Art Games
Materials
Bone
19th Century Napoleonic Prisoner of War Game Set
Located in London, GB
Napoleonic prisoner of war game set
An aged example of an early 19th Century mutton bone hand crafted prisoner of was games set. Including a slide top sec...
Category
1820s French Antique Folk Art Games
Materials
Bone
Collection of Eight 19th Century Hand Crafted English Teetotum
Located in London, GB
A nice collection of eight 19th century hand crafted bone Teetotum (spinning dice). Of various size and shape. One is exceptionally large.
Size in inches Approx.: H 3” x W 1.5” x...
Category
1880s British Antique Folk Art Games
Materials
Bone
Prisoner of War Domino and Dice Set
Located in London, GB
Prisoner of War Domino and dice set
This set is made from cow bone. Hand carved in the 19th Century by a prisoner of war. The 49 pieces of dominos ...
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19th Century Unknown Antique Folk Art Games
Materials
Bone
Marble Solitaire Game Hardwood Board 33 Agate Mineral Stone Marbles, circa 1930s
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a very attractive complete game of Marble Solitaire with a hand turned hardwood board and 33 beautiful agate mineral stone marbles, probably French and all dating to the first half of the 20th century, circa 1930s.
The circular hand turned board is made of hardwood, probably mahogany, with a very good grain figure. The board has 32 equi-spaced holes with an additional one in the centre and a gallery to the outer perimeter. The board has developed a nice soft color and patina from many years of use.
It comes complete with a full set of 33 (32 Plus 1 spare) early handmade playing marbles.
Early marbles are very collectable in their own right and the marbles in this set are nominally about 9/16 inches in diameter. They are made from agate or mineral stone with a mixture of some lovely colors.
Popular in the court of Louis the XIV, the game was supposedly invented by a nobleman incarcerated in the Bastille in France during the 17th century and was popular in the court of Louis XIV. It is a challenging game for the fan of strategy and skill and became one of the more popular games of the last few 100 years.
To play, place all 32 marbles with one hole left unoccupied in the middle of the board. The objective is simply to remove all but one of the marbles by jumping one marble over another, similar to the game of Draughts. The marble jumped is removed to the gallery around the side of the board.
This is a particularly nice set, with a very good hand turned board and beautiful agate marbles!
Category
Early 20th Century French Folk Art Games
Materials
Stone
Early 20th Century Fairground Roulette Game
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century fairground roulette game
A highly decorative and character filled early 20th Century fairground roulette stye game. With its worn and...
Category
1940s British Vintage Folk Art Games
Materials
Pine
19th Century Napoleonic Prisoner of War Dominos Set
Located in London, GB
19th Century Napoleonic Prisoner of War dominos set
We are proud to offer a set of hand carved mutton bone prisoner of war dominos. 48 dominos in total which come encased in a hand carved wooden sliding lid box...
Category
1880s French Antique Folk Art Games
Materials
Bone, Pine
Folk Art games for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique folk art games for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Early 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage games created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include folk art, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with paper and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art games made in a specific country, there are North America, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. 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 games differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $695 and tops out at $695 while the average work can sell for $695.
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