Folk Art Textiles
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
French Needlepoint with Pigeon
Located in New York, NY
An interesting French needlepoint with a colorful pigeon from the middle of the 20th century. The bottom has an interesting set of color samples too.
Category
20th Century French Folk Art Textiles
Materials
Wool
Vintage Turkish Rooster Rug
Located in New York, NY
Vintage Turkish mat size rug depicting a rooster on an ivory field.
Measures: 1'6" x 1'11''.
Category
1970s Vintage Folk Art Textiles
Materials
Wool, Cotton, Foam
Early Twentieth Century Folk Art Framed Velvet Quilt Chess / Checker Board
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Unique Folk Art chess / checker board composed of a handmade, burgundy velvet quilt with beige, white and gold stitched accents, all housed within a glass-fronted oak frame (ca. 1910...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Textiles
Materials
Velvet, Glass, Oak
Vintage Turkish Rooster Rug
Located in New York, NY
Vintage Turkishmat size rug depicting a rooster on an ivory field. Dated 1976
Measures: 1'10" x 2'.
Category
1970s Vintage Folk Art Textiles
Materials
Wool, Cotton, Foam
Pictorial Turkish Camel Rug
Located in New York, NY
A cute small Turkish Pictorial Camel rug depicting a man pulling a large camel. Its also dated 1983
Measures: 2'2'' x 3'.
Category
1980s Vintage Folk Art Textiles
Materials
Wool
Crewel Embroidered Area Rug or Tapestry
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Fringe is perfect -- we didn't realize it was a bit pushed aside in the 1st photograph.
Beautiful traditional embroidered crewel rug or tapestry from a P...
Category
Late 20th Century Folk Art Textiles
Materials
Textile
Rolakan Pillow, Cushion, Sofa Cushion by Selma Giöbel, Sweden, circa 1900
By Selma Giöbel 1
Located in Bochum, NRW
Very rare and hard to find, this Rolakan pillow was designed by Selma Giöbel circa 1900, and it is a living example of an exquisite work of art. Not only the timeless geometric design and the vivid colors, but also the very good condition report for its age, make this sofa cushion a must have for any vintage textile lover and not only. Backside made of dark blue fabric, down filling.
Dimensions: 55 x 50 cm
Selma Giöbel was a Pioneer in Swedish textile art and one of the foremost painters of the late 19th century.
As early as interested in the female handiwork, Selma was one of the co-founders of the Association of Handicraft Friends. Its first exhibition was the 1874, 1878 World Exhibition in Paris, (1887 was the year that the Friends of handicraft and its rules were adopted and properly organized), as well as the world's Columbian exposition at Chicago 1893...
Category
Early 1900s Swedish Antique Folk Art Textiles
Materials
Wool
20thc Rare Flag Quilt W/ Star Corner Blocks
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This amazing flag quilt with 48 hand quilted stars is in amazing condition. It is a one of a kind flag quilt. We sold this quilt over 21 years ago and got it back from the original b...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Textiles
Materials
Cotton
19th Century Collection of Indigo Coverlet Pillows, 4
Located in Los Angeles, CA
These fine handwoven coverlet pillows are in fine condition and have indigo blue linen backings. The inserts are down and feather fill.
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Textiles
Materials
Cotton
Pictorial Folk Art Soumac Pillow
Located in New York, NY
Pillow made from a flat-weave Persian pillow.
1'3'' x 1'3''
Category
Late 19th Century Persian Antique Folk Art Textiles
Materials
Wool, Cotton, Foam
Chicken Rooster Vintage Turkish Square Rug
Located in New York, NY
mid 20th century turkish rug depicting a chicken and rooster on a brown field
Measures: 2'10" x 2'10''.
Category
Mid-20th Century Folk Art Textiles
Materials
Cotton, Foam, Wool
Authentic Vintage Moroccan Berber Throw Pillow
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Authentic Moroccan Berber handwoven tribal throw pillow made from a vintage rug.The front and the back are made from a different rug, front is more elaborate and back is more plain.G...
Category
20th Century Moroccan Folk Art Textiles
Materials
Wool
Animal Motif Tibetan Large Lumbar Size Pillow
Located in New York, NY
Bolster size pillow made from a mid-19th century animal motif Tibetan rug in red blue and camel. Backed in cotton, zipper closure provided too.
Measures: 16" x 26".
Category
19th Century Antique Folk Art Textiles
Materials
Wool, Cotton, Foam
Wooden Buffer for Printing Fabrics, India, Early 20th Century
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Wooden pad with trefoil patterns used to decorate fabrics.
India, early 20th century.
Category
Early 20th Century Indian Folk Art Textiles
Materials
Wood
1960s Moroccan Vintage Flat-Weave Brown Tribal Organic Textile
Located in North Hollywood, CA
1960s Vintage Moroccan rug flat-weave tribal brown Kilim or blanket.Large size blanket vintage Moroccan rug, handwoven by Berber women in Morocco for t...
Category
20th Century Moroccan Folk Art Textiles
Materials
Wool
Early 19thc Hand Woven Red & Blue Coverlet Pillows-Set of Four
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Early woven coverlet pillows with fantastic blue linen backings. The inserts are down & feather fill.
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Textiles
Materials
Cotton
Tibetan Dragon Horse Cover Textile Rug
Located in New York, NY
An early 20th century Tibetan dragon horse cover textile rug,
circa 1900, measures: 2'5" x 4'.
Category
Early 20th Century Tibetan Folk Art Textiles
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Phulkari Bawan Bagh Wedding Shawl, Silk Embroidery on Cotton, Punjab India
By Rajhastani
Located in North Hollywood, CA
A rare pattern embroidered in silk on a hand loomed cotton background.
Punjab is known for its Phulkaris. The embroidery is done with floss silk thread on coarse handwoven cotton fab...
Category
Early 20th Century Indian Folk Art Textiles
Materials
Cotton, Silk
20th Century P.A. Mennonite Geometric Mounted Rug
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1930s Pennsylvania Mennonite geometric rug with diamond design center. Rug is mounted on black linen. Wood frame.
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Textiles
Materials
Wool
Tibetan Horse Cover Textile Rug, Early 20th Century
Located in New York, NY
An early 20th century Tibetan horse cover textile rug in blue and yellow,
circa 1900, measures: 2'1" x 4'9".
Category
Early 20th Century Tibetan Folk Art Textiles
Materials
Wool, Cotton
Rare Tuareg Nomadic Boots
Located in Antwerp, BE
Tuareg nomadic people leather boots.
Category
19th Century Nigerien Antique Folk Art Textiles
Materials
Leather
Pair of Neutral Tabriz Pictorial Reindeer Mats
Located in New York, NY
A pair of neutral Persian Tabriz rugs from the mid-20th century with a set of reindeer's staring at each other,
Measuring 21'' x 34'' respectively.
Category
20th Century Persian Folk Art Textiles
Materials
Wool
Antique English Folk-Art Beaded Pillow w/Real Bronze Bullion Cord Trim
Located in Chicago, IL
Folk Art Bead-Work such as this, was common amongst wealthy socialites as a favorite accepted pastime. This dynamite Pillow showcases this art and does so quite magnificently. The corded trim is expertly constructed utilizing real bronze...
Category
19th Century English Antique Folk Art Textiles
Materials
Velvet, Wool, Beads
Set of Three Handwoven Crochet Throws
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of three handwoven crochet throws in beautiful condition.
Measurements are as follows for all throws,
Multi-color striped throw - 64in x 44in
Blac...
Category
1930s American Vintage Folk Art Textiles
Materials
Wool
1930s Red, White and Blue Doll Quilt
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1930s red, white and blue doll quilt in mint condition and wonderful geometries.
Category
1930s American Vintage Folk Art Textiles
Materials
Cotton
Pillows Made Out of 19th Century Shahsavan Caucasian Kilim
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
nr. 114 /3 - 7 .
Set of pillows made with a rare fragment of a Shahsavan Caucasian Kilim, not an usual kilim ! very interesting...
In a modern home they give an impression of charac...
Category
Mid-19th Century Caucasian Antique Folk Art Textiles
Materials
Wool
19th Century Linen Plaid Pillows
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Linen plaid pillows in blue and white. Backing is white homespun linen. Zipper on bottom and down and feather inserts.
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Textiles
Materials
Linen
Bengal Kantha quilt, Mid 20th C.
Located in Istanbul, TR
A remarkably in good condition , example to Bengali chant quilts.
Category
Mid-20th Century Indian Folk Art Textiles
Materials
Cotton
Antique Ottoman Turkish Pillow Case, Early 20th C.
Located in Istanbul, TR
It was made from a pair of shalvars / panatloons that were popular at the time in Western Anatolia.
It does not come with an insert but a bag made to the size to accommodate insert m...
Category
Early 20th Century Turkish Folk Art Textiles
Materials
Metallic Thread
Antique Ottoman Turkish Pillow Case, Early 20th C.
Located in Istanbul, TR
It was made from a pair of shalvars / panatloons that were popular at the time in Western Anatolia.
It does not come with an insert but a bag made to the size to accommodate insert m...
Category
Early 20th Century Turkish Folk Art Textiles
Materials
Silk
Antique Ottoman Turkish Pillow Case, Early 20th C.
Located in Istanbul, TR
It was made from a pair of shalvars / panatloons that were popular at the time in Western Anatolia.
It does not come with an insert but a bag made to the size to accommodate insert m...
Category
Early 20th Century Turkish Folk Art Textiles
Materials
Metallic Thread
American Folk Art Star of Bethlehem Quilt
Located in New York, NY
Americana Folk Art star of Bethlehem pieced quilted wall hanging in printed calido and muslin-linen.
Dealer: S138XX
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Textiles
Materials
Cotton, Muslin, Linen
Fantastic Chimayo Weaving Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vibrant Chimayo weaving pillow with linen backing, down and feather insert.
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art Textiles
Materials
Wool
Folk Art textiles for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Folk Art textiles 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 textiles created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include more furniture and collectibles, asian art and furniture and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with fabric, silk and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art textiles made in a specific country, there are Asia, Europe, and Hungary pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original textiles, popular names associated with this style include and Rajhastani. 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 textiles differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $85 and tops out at $7,600 while the average work can sell for $425.
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