Folk Art Toys and Dolls
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
Period: 19th Century
19th C Original Painted Game Board
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th C original painted game board. Nice original Salmon and black paint.
Category
19th Century North American Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Materials
Wood
19th Chinese Checkers Game Board with Original Paint
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th Chinese checkers game board with original paint form Pennsylvania. beautiful colors and patina.
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Materials
Wood
Large French 19th Century Hand Carved Wooden Fragment of a Marionette
Located in Buisson, FR
Very nice handcarved fragment of a marionette.
France, circa 1850. Weathered, small losses and old repairs
Measurement include the wooden base.
Category
19th Century French Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Materials
Textile, Wood
Lot of Five Deer & Hunter Putz Toy Antique German Erzgebirge Christmas 1880s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Antique German set of five Putz stick-legged Deers and a Hunter. All of them are genuine antique German Christmas nativity scene figures. As they are all old, most show the expected signs of age and use. This is a fabulous set of stick-legged deers with dust covered body. The animals have a sturdy stick leg construction, with all of them having their original stick legs and have not been repaired. The Measurements given in the dimensions section refers to the Hunter figure. This extraordinary set dates from around 1880 - 1890s and was made in the Erzgebirge area (Ore Mountains) in Germany. This is a nice addition to any Christmas Decoration or just for your collection of old German toys.
For explanation:
Putz items, by true definition, were any figures or buildings that when displayed together, told the Biblical story of the birth of Christ. The term today is loosely used for any item that is used under a Christmas tree to create a Christmas “garden” or “yard.” Buildings, homemade or mass produced, composition figures and animals, bottle brush trees and any assortment of various accessories, possibly a toy train and usually a Nativity set at the heart of the display are just a few things that might spark one’s creativity when designing a “putz” for under the tree.
Elaborate “putz” scenes reached their heights in the 1920s and 1940s. Today you will generally find them under the trees of diehard collectors of antique Christmas items...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Materials
Composition
Lot of Five Sheep Nativity Putz Toy Antique German Erzgebirge Christmas 1880s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Antique German set of five Putz stick-legged sheep. All of them are genuine antique German Christmas nativity scene figures. As they are all old, most show the expected signs of age and use. This is a fabulous set of stick-legged sheep with dust covered body . The sheep have a sturdy stick leg construction, with all sheep having their original stick legs and have not been repaired. They all have hand-painted composition faces. The Measurements given in the dimensions section refers to the tallest sheep. This extraordinary set dates from around 1880 and was made in the Erzgebirge area (Ore Mountains) in Germany. This is a nice addition to any Christmas Decoration or just for your collection of old German toys.
For explanation:
Putz items, by true definition, were any figures or buildings that when displayed together, told the Biblical story of the birth of Christ. The term today is loosely used for any item that is used under a Christmas tree to create a Christmas “garden” or “yard.” Buildings, homemade or mass produced, composition figures and animals, bottle brush trees and any assortment of various accessories, possibly a toy train and usually a Nativity set at the heart of the display are just a few things that might spark one’s creativity when designing a “putz” for under the tree.
Elaborate “putz” scenes reached their heights in the 1920s and 1940s. Today you will generally find them under the trees of diehard collectors of antique Christmas items...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Materials
Composition
Set of 2 Antique Miniature German Boule Biedermeier Dollhouse Chairs, 1860-1890s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This rare and exquisite miniature antique German wooden Boule set of Chairs with fine golden transfers, dated about 1860s to 1890s. Made by one of the famous German toy...
Category
1890s German Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Materials
Wood
Antique Dollhouse Biedermeier Boule Furniture Sofa, German 1860s - 1890s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This rare and exquisite miniature antique German wooden Boulle sofa with original velvet upholstery and fine golden transfers, dated about 1890. Made by one the famous German toy...
Category
1890s German Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Materials
Fabric, Velvet, Wood
Antique Miniature German Boule Biedermeier Dollhouse Bed Room Furniture 1860-90s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This rare and exquisite miniature antique German wooden Boule Bedroom Furniture set with fine golden transfers, dated about 1860s to 1890s. Made by one of the famous German toy companies. A very lovely Furniture set for antique dolls and for dollhouses. Measurements given in dimensions section refers to the bed. The small Vanity desk...
Category
1890s German Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Materials
Wood
Marx "Wonder Cyclist" American Circa 1930
Located in Incline Village, NV
Marx "Wonder Cyclist" is the earlier version of this wind-up "Boy on a Tricycle" toy; and not to be confused with the later version by Unique Art called "Kiddy Cyclist". This toy featured is MUCH more rare and more sought after by collectors of early tin wind up toys...
Category
1830s American Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Materials
Metal
19th Century Child's Platform Rocking Horse "Glider". American. Circa 1875
Located in Incline Village, NV
Of American manufacture, circa 1875, this authentic children's platform rocking horse "glider" is hand carved of hard wood, and has a hand craft...
Category
1870s American Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Materials
Wood, Leather
Antique American Primitive Handmade Gliding Rocking Hobby Horse
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique American primitive handmade gliding rocking hobby horse
Additional information:
Materials: Iron, Leather, Wood
Color: Antique White
Period: 19th Century
Styles: Ameri...
Category
19th Century Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Materials
Iron
American Salesman Sample Late 19th Century Wooden Flat Bed Cargo Wagon
Located in Incline Village, NV
Salesman Sample : Late 19th century. American (4) wheeled hand carved all wooden horse drawn flat bed cargo wagon, in excellent condition with original red st...
Category
1890s American Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Materials
Wood
American Salesman Sample Late 19th C. Wooden Hay Wagon
Located in Incline Village, NV
SALESMAN SAMPLE: Late 19th C. American (4) wheeled hand carved all wooden horse drawn hay wagon, in excellent condition with original gold stenciling to carr...
Category
1890s American Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Materials
Wood
Antique Primitive Folk Art Red Painted Wood & Iron Childrens Sled Sleigh 49"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Victorian wooden children’s sled with iron wrapped runners, painted dark red with the word “Belle” picked out in gold.
Category
19th Century Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Materials
Iron
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...
Category
19th Century Romanian Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
19th C Checkerboard Game Board
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th C original painted checkerboard game board.
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Materials
Wood
19th C Original Painted Checkerboard
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th C Original painted checkerboard.
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Materials
Wood, Paint
American Pottery Pig Bank, Circa 1880's
Located in Incline Village, NV
American pottery still bank in the shape of a pig, used for saving coins (usually pennies) to encourage children the importance of thrift. Pottery still banks are somewhat scarce since the typical way to remove coins was to smash the bank open, albeit, with this particular example, perhaps a knife was used for coin removal (note the wear to the coin slot---see images) or perhaps the additional wear is also from many coins having been deposited.
The bank is in good all original condition , from an unknown potter (unmarked) circa 1880's, and probably a variant of #633 "Two Toned Pig" in Andy Moore's "The Penny Bank Book" written in 1984 when collecting pottery banks...
Category
1880s American Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Materials
Pottery
Antique French Marionette
Located in Houston, TX
We found this wonderful 19th century French marionette in Rouen France. The puppet, and its art form, have been a mainstay of French cultural life f...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Materials
Fabric, Wood
19th Century Articulated Automaton Doll
Located in London, GB
19th century articulated automaton doll
We are proud to offer a highly collectable and rare example of a late - 19th century English Folk Art, fully a...
Category
1880s British Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Materials
Pine
Antique French Marionette
Located in Houston, TX
We found this wonderful 19th century French Marionette in Rouen France. The puppet, and its art form, have been a mainstay of French cultural life f...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Raven Collection 19th Century Doll
Located in London, GB
The Raven collection 16th century Venetian doll
We are proud to offer an amazing museum quality 16th century Venetian doll still in its original linen and silk clothing. A wonderful...
Category
1820s Italian Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Materials
Wood
Prototype Late 19th Century Hand Carved Toy Horse Drawn Hansom Cab, American
Located in Incline Village, NV
This is a hand carved wood prototype for a toy that would have been the model for a 19th century cast iron or tin horse drawn hansom cab. It precedes the mol...
Category
1890s American Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Materials
Wood
"Peg-Leg Beggar" Mechanical Bank, American, circa 1880
Located in Incline Village, NV
"Peg-leg Beggar" 19th century cast iron mechanical bank was probably inspired by the many disabled Civil War veterans begging for their subsistence. The bank was manufactured by the ...
Category
1880s American Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Materials
Iron
Collection of 19th Century Cloth Animal Toys
Located in Stockton, NJ
A collection of thirteen mid-19th century Amish stuffed cloth toys. Featuring various cattle, elephant, zebra, camel, ducks, and ducks. Excellent decorative piece. Largest measures 6...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Materials
Fabric
American Tin Toy Trolley, circa 1880
By George W. Brown & Co.
Located in Incline Village, NV
Horse drawn trolleys or "horse buses" were the main source of "mass transit", along with trains in the late 1800s in America. Thus they were ubiquitous subject matter for toy makers to exploit as toys for young children. While many tin toy...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Materials
Tin
Mechanical Bank, "Watchdog Safe" in Cast Iron, circa 1890
Located in Incline Village, NV
"Watchdog Safe" mechanical bank was manufactured by the prolific toy coin bank manufacturer J. & E. Stevens Company in Cromwell, Connecticut in 1890. "Patent Applied For" appears in ...
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Materials
Iron
Five Mechanical Bank Trade Cards in Frame, circa 1880s
By J. & E. Steven's Company
Located in Incline Village, NV
Five mechanical bank trade cards are displayed in two separate frames. In one frame are three polychrome trade cards, which the salesmen typically carrie...
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Materials
Paper
Danish 19th Century Faience Money Bank In The Shape Of A Clogs
Located in Copenhagen, K
Danish 19th Century Faience Money Bank In The Shape Of A Clogs
Category
Late 19th Century Danish Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Materials
Earthenware
Antique Miniature German Boule Biedermeier Dollhouse Secretary Desk, 1860-1890s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This rare and exquisite miniature antique German wooden Boule Secretary Desk with fine golden transfers, dated about 1860s to 1890s. Made by one of the famous German toy...
Category
1890s German Antique Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Materials
Wood
Folk Art toys and dolls for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique folk art toys and dolls 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 toys and dolls created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include more furniture and collectibles, decorative objects, folk art and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art toys and dolls made in a specific country, there are Europe, 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 toys and dolls differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $475 and tops out at $2,800 while the average work can sell for $1,388.
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