Folk Art Toys and Dolls
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.
Early 20th Century Austrian Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Composition, Metal
1880s American Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Pottery
1970s American Vintage Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Iron
Mid-20th Century Japanese Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Tin
1960s American Vintage Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Aluminum, Iron, Tin
1970s American Vintage Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Iron
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Brass
19th Century Romanian Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Wood, Lacquer
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Bone, Wood
20th Century Austrian Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Brass
1910s German Vintage Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Antler
1960s Swedish Vintage Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Wood
1890s American Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Iron
Mid-20th Century Indian Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Cotton
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Iron
Early 1900s American Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Iron, Tin
1960s Japanese Vintage Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Metal
1930s British Vintage Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Pine
19th Century French Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Bone
19th Century French Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Bone
1850s French Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Natural Fiber
1930s German Vintage Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Metal
1930s Indian Vintage Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Clay, Terracotta, Paint
1950s Japanese Vintage Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Tin
1890s American Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Iron, Nickel
1980s American Vintage Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Aluminum
1970s American Vintage Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Iron
1950s American Vintage Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Tin
1860s American Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Iron
1890s American Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Iron