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Folk Art Maps

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
19th Century Lithograph Map of Lower Manhattan, New York
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
1859 hand colored map of Lower Manhattan or New Amsterdam by George H. Moore.
Category

19th Century English Antique Folk Art Maps

Materials

Paper

19th Century Lithograph Map of Lower Manhattan, New York
19th Century Lithograph Map of Lower Manhattan, New York

19th Century Lithograph Map of Lower Manhattan, New York

Vintage Afghan Pictorial Map Rug
Located in New York, NY
A vintage Afghan Pictorial map rug from the mid-20th century. Measures: 3' 0" x 4' 10"
Category

Mid-20th Century Afghan Folk Art Maps

Materials

Wool

Vintage Afghan Pictorial Map Rug
Vintage Afghan Pictorial Map Rug

Vintage Afghan Pictorial Map Rug

Large University Chart “Physical Map of Africa” by Bacon
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Large university chart “Physical Map of Africa” by Bacon W&A K Johnston’s Charts of Physical Maps By G W Bacon, This is colorful Physical map of North America, it is large lithograph set...
Category

Early 20th Century Folk Art Maps

Materials

Linen

Large University Chart “Physical Map of Africa” by Bacon
Large University Chart “Physical Map of Africa” by Bacon

Large University Chart “Physical Map of Africa” by Bacon

Related Items
Large Original Antique Map of New Jersey, USA, circa 1900
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Fabulous map of New Jersey Original color Engraved and printed by the George F. Cram Company, Indianapolis. Published, circa 1900 Unframed Repairs to minor edge tears  
Category

1890s American Antique Folk Art Maps

Materials

Paper

Large Original Antique Map of New Jersey, USA, circa 1900
Large Original Antique Map of New Jersey, USA, circa 1900

Large Original Antique Map of New Jersey, USA, circa 1900

H 22 in W 15 in D 0.07 in
Antique Physical Chart of the Pacific Ocean by Johnston, '1850'
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique map titled 'Physical Chart of the Pacific Ocean showing the currents and temperature of the ocean'. Original antique chart of the Pacific Ocean. This map originates from 'The...
Category

Mid-19th Century Antique Folk Art Maps

Materials

Paper

Antique Physical Chart of the Pacific Ocean by Johnston, '1850'
Antique Physical Chart of the Pacific Ocean by Johnston, '1850'

Antique Physical Chart of the Pacific Ocean by Johnston, '1850'

H 11.03 in W 14.18 in D 0.02 in
Russian Icon with Processional Cross 19th Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Very beautiful Russian icon with a processional cross in its center from the 17th century We can see that the icon was created to accommodate the processional cross with the Chris...
Category

19th Century Belarusian Antique Folk Art Maps

Materials

Wood

Russian Icon with Processional Cross 19th Century
Russian Icon with Processional Cross 19th Century

Russian Icon with Processional Cross 19th Century

H 16.93 in W 14.57 in D 0.99 in
Vintage Afghan Baluch Rug
Located in Dallas, TX
77009 Vintage Afghan Baluch Rug, 02'07 x 09'08. Afghan Baluch rugs are handwoven textiles originating from the Baluch tribes in Afghanistan. These r...
Category

Mid-20th Century Afghan Folk Art Maps

Materials

Wool

Vintage Afghan Baluch Rug
Vintage Afghan Baluch Rug

Vintage Afghan Baluch Rug

W 31 in L 116 in
19th Century half mode of steam ship New York
Located in Martlesham, GB
A fabulous quality 19th Century half model of the steam ship "New York", originally called "City of New York", British built for the Inman line launched on the 15th March 1888. Cir...
Category

19th Century British Antique Folk Art Maps

Materials

Walnut

19th Century half mode of steam ship New York
19th Century half mode of steam ship New York

19th Century half mode of steam ship New York

H 9 in W 29.75 in D 2.75 in
Medical Anatomy Chart Titled 'Thin Man'
By George F. Cram
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This is a fantastic double-sided anatomy chart with four separate overlays showing the human body in various layers. Titled the Thin Man this piece was p...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Maps

Medical Anatomy Chart Titled 'Thin Man'
Medical Anatomy Chart Titled 'Thin Man'

Medical Anatomy Chart Titled 'Thin Man'

H 58.5 in W 25 in D 1 in
19th Century North African Calligraphy Manuscript Leaves, Set of Six
Located in Stamford, CT
Wonderful group of 6 colorful pages of a 19th century North African prayer book with expressive calligraphic script in black ink with red, green and yellow highlights. These are trul...
Category

Mid-19th Century Moroccan Antique Folk Art Maps

Materials

Paper

19th Century North African Calligraphy Manuscript Leaves, Set of Six
19th Century North African Calligraphy Manuscript Leaves, Set of Six

19th Century North African Calligraphy Manuscript Leaves, Set of Six

H 4.5 in W 4.5 in D 0.01 in
Early 19th Century Italian Majolica Holy Water Font
Located in Milano, MI
Small and lovely Italian Holy Water font from Italy, a shaped polychrome ceramic artwork dating back to Neoclassical period, early 19th century. This rare religious work is finely ...
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Antique Folk Art Maps

Materials

Maiolica, Majolica

Early 19th Century Italian Majolica Holy Water Font
Early 19th Century Italian Majolica Holy Water Font

Early 19th Century Italian Majolica Holy Water Font

H 7.49 in W 3.55 in D 1.97 in
Mariner's Chart Poster
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Mariner's chart poster (nautical).
Category

20th Century Folk Art Maps

Mariner's Chart Poster
Mariner's Chart Poster

Mariner's Chart Poster

H 24.25 in W 43 in D 0.1 in
19th Century Reverse Painted Glass Games Board
Located in London, GB
19th Century reverse painted glass games board We share what we love, and we love the decorative nature of this stunning English 19th Century reverse painted glass games board. With aged surface across the glass reflection and wooden frame. With a glance of old news paper...
Category

Late 19th Century British Antique Folk Art Maps

Materials

Glass

19th Century Reverse Painted Glass Games Board
19th Century Reverse Painted Glass Games Board

19th Century Reverse Painted Glass Games Board

H 18 in W 18 in D 1 in
Set of Five Large 1970s Acupuncture Charts
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great set of acupuncture charts from the 1970s. Extremely detailed and thorough diagrams showing every part of the human anatomy. Charts in good vintage condition. Floating on black ...
Category

1970s American Vintage Folk Art Maps

Materials

Wood, Paper

Set of Five Large 1970s Acupuncture Charts
Set of Five Large 1970s Acupuncture Charts

Set of Five Large 1970s Acupuncture Charts

H 36.25 in W 20 in D 1.25 in
19th Century Feench Barometer Antique Scientific Instrument Weather Misure
Located in Milan, IT
Wooden barometer with cedar wood trim at the edges, signed Caux Opticien Rue Rivoli près du Louvre Paris, mid-19th century; dial with the meteorological indications on paper printed ...
Category

1850s French Antique Folk Art Maps

Materials

Wood

19th Century Feench Barometer Antique Scientific Instrument Weather Misure
19th Century Feench Barometer Antique Scientific Instrument Weather Misure

19th Century Feench Barometer Antique Scientific Instrument Weather Misure

H 37.01 in W 10.36 in D 2.37 in
Previously Available Items
Tony Sarg Hand Colored Whimsical Map of Nantucket, circa 1926
By Tony Sarg
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique Tony Sarg Hand Colored Whimsical Map of Nantucket, circa 1926, a decorative colored folk art tourist map of Nantucket Island by Tony Sarg (Nantucket: 1880 - 1942) depicting g...
Category

1920s American Vintage Folk Art Maps

Materials

Paint

Tony Sarg Hand Colored Whimsical Map of Nantucket, circa 1926
Tony Sarg Hand Colored Whimsical Map of Nantucket, circa 1926

Tony Sarg Hand Colored Whimsical Map of Nantucket, circa 1926

H 15.5 in W 18.5 in D 0.75 in
Vintage Whimsical Map of Nantucket Island by Fred Gardner, 1933.
Located in Nantucket, MA
Vintage Whimsical Map of Nantucket Island by Fred Gardner, 1933, a classic tourist map from the golden age of poster art, etched and printed by the young Fred Gardner on Nantucket Island, and then in this example hand colored by him and inscribed as a present to a friend. The map shows the three islands of the Nantucket archipelago, with place names and visual accents, as well as a Nantucket "coat-of-arms" of a sailor and harpooneer flanking a whale oil barrel with inscription of the island's purchase by Bartholomew Gosnold in 1609, anthropomorphic winds blowing out of the Northwest and Northeast, compass rose, ships, breaching white whale and a soaring seagull, hand signed, dated and copyrighted "(c) Fred H. Gardner, '33" in the lower left, and hand inscribed across the bottom "To Francey: Wishingf you many more enjoyable visits on this quaint island. "Freddy" August 17, 1934." The map remains in excellent condition, with the colors bold and strong with no fading whatsoever. It is mounted in a mat and gilded frame that appears from the 1970s or so. Fred Gardner, while not from Nantucket, was descended from an old island family, and summered here all his life. He was one of the first major collectors of scrimshaw, and a serious student of Nantucket history. He was a young art student when he created this map, inspired by those of his friends Austin Strong...
Category

1930s American Vintage Folk Art Maps

Materials

Paper

Vintage Whimsical Map of Nantucket Island by Fred Gardner, 1933.
Vintage Whimsical Map of Nantucket Island by Fred Gardner, 1933.

Vintage Whimsical Map of Nantucket Island by Fred Gardner, 1933.

H 18 in W 23.25 in D 0.75 in
Map of Nantucket by Austin Strong '1881-1952', circa 1925
Located in Nantucket, MA
Map of Nantucket by Austin Strong (1881 - 1952), circa 1925, an original print on paper whimsical map of Nantucket Island by Robert Louis Stevenson's...
Category

1920s American Vintage Folk Art Maps

Materials

Paper

Map of Nantucket by Austin Strong '1881-1952', circa 1925
Map of Nantucket by Austin Strong '1881-1952', circa 1925

Map of Nantucket by Austin Strong '1881-1952', circa 1925

H 15 in W 17.75 in D 0.75 in
Georgian Map of UK Sampler by Elizabeth Kifft, 1797
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
1797 England & Wales Map Sampler by Elizabeth Kifft, Leacock School. The sampler is worked in silk on linen ground, in a variety of stitches. Meandering floral border. Titled, 'Map o...
Category

1790s English Antique Folk Art Maps

Materials

Linen, Silk

Georgian Map of UK Sampler by Elizabeth Kifft, 1797
Georgian Map of UK Sampler by Elizabeth Kifft, 1797

Georgian Map of UK Sampler by Elizabeth Kifft, 1797

H 19.3 in W 16.9 in D 2 in
Rare Chart of the Caribbean Islands Published by James Imray & Son, London, 1866
Located in Stamford, CT
Rare chart of the Caribbean Islands published by James Imray & Son, London, 1866. FW 1370.
Category

Mid-19th Century English Antique Folk Art Maps

Materials

Paper

Rare Chart of the Caribbean Islands Published by James Imray & Son, London, 1866
Rare Chart of the Caribbean Islands Published by James Imray & Son, London, 1866

Rare Chart of the Caribbean Islands Published by James Imray & Son, London, 1866

H 44 in W 30 in D 1.5 in

Folk Art maps for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Folk Art maps for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage maps created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include more furniture and collectibles, rugs and carpets, wall decorations and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with fabric, linen and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art maps made in a specific country, there are Afghanistan, Asia, and Central Asia 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 maps differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $660 and tops out at $1,084 while the average work can sell for $872.

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