Folk Art Armchairs
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: Early 20th Century
Swedish Folk Art Chair Handmade in Oakwood, 1900s
Located in Odense, DK
Charming and unusual Swedish Folk Art chair made by a skilled craftsman in the early 20th century. The chair is constructed from solid oak and oak laminate decorative arm rests. The ...
Category
Early 1900s Swedish Antique Folk Art Armchairs
Materials
Oak
Early 20th Century 1918 Folk Art Hand Carved Armchair with Carved Imagery
Located in Oakland, CA
Hand carved armchair dating from 1918, the entire chair is embellished with carved imagery. Various images derived from nature and other influences with some appearing to be surreal ...
Category
1910s American Vintage Folk Art Armchairs
Materials
Hardwood
Finnish circa 1900 hand-carved kubbstol in Pine
Located in Turku, Varsinais-Suomi
This one-of-a-kind Finnish hand-carved Pine Kubbstol from the 19th century is a unique piece of folk art. Handcrafted from a single piece of pine, its beautiful patina makes it a pop...
Category
Early 20th Century Finnish Folk Art Armchairs
Materials
Pine
Early 20th Century Black & White Hand Beaded African Chair
Located in East Hampton, NY
This truly exquisite hand beaded chair by the Yoruba Artisans of Nigeria, best representation of furniture as art. And don't be shy to sit on them, because they are very comfortable. There is a Second matching chair available.
They were traditionally created for the Yoruba tribe kings and queens and are embellished with thousands of seed glass beads applied to fabric covers, which are then stitched or glued onto the chair frame - resulting in an exotic chair...
Category
Early 20th Century Nigerian Folk Art Armchairs
Materials
Wood, Beads
Majestic Odd Fellows Carved and Painted Armchair
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This magnificent Odd Fellows Fraternal Lodge 'throne' (circa 1910-1920) with carved and painted decoration throughout is a fine example of early 20th century Folk Art. Nice use of de...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Armchairs
Materials
Velvet, Wood
American Folk Art Armchair
Located in Stockton, NJ
Very unique early 20th century American folk art chair made of reclaimed material. Fabulous patina to weathered frame.
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Armchairs
Materials
Wood
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Rustic Folk Art Lounge Chair, UK, 1920s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Early 20th-century easy chair, a true testament to the principle of form following function. This exquisite piece stands out for its meticulous attention to detail. The intricate pat...
Category
1920s British Vintage Folk Art Armchairs
Materials
Wood
Swedish garden chairs, circa 1900.
Located in Aalsgaarde, DK
Pair of charming Swedish garden chairs, circa 1900.
Category
20th Century Folk Art Armchairs
Materials
Metal
Antique Olive Green Painted Armchair, Sweden, 1900s
Located in Rīga, LV
Vintage Swedish green-gray painted armchair with new olive green washed linen upholstery. The decoration ribbon was left original to save the character of the chair.
Category
Early 20th Century Swedish Folk Art Armchairs
Materials
Wood
Set of Three Hand Carved Art Nouveau Chairs, circa 1900
By Victor Horta
Located in Lucenec, SK
Set of three Art Nouveau early 20th century Art Nouveau armchairs. Beautifully carved chair frame made of fruitwood with upholstered seats and back...
Category
Early 20th Century European Folk Art Armchairs
Materials
Fruitwood, Upholstery
Pair of Circa 1900s Swedish Spindle Back Upholstered Mahogany Armchairs
Located in London, GB
A lovely pair of Swedish spindle back open sided armchairs on turned legs with brass castors.
They are of neat proportions and upholstered in a neutral beige herringbone fabric with ...
Category
Early 1900s Swedish Antique Folk Art Armchairs
Materials
Brass
H 32.68 in W 22.84 in D 22.05 in
Organic Handcrafted Wabi Sabi Armchair in Solid Wood, Swedish Modern, 1900s
Located in Odense, DK
A fantastic unique wabi sabi chair carved from a large wooden piece. Traces of wear. Handcrafted by a Swedish Cabinetmaker in the mid 20th century.
...
Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Folk Art Armchairs
Materials
Hardwood
H 38.98 in W 23.63 in D 24.41 in
Armchair Art Decó
By Art Decor
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Art Deco armchair made of mahogany wood and leather upholstery.
France, circa 1940.
Category
1930s French Vintage Folk Art Armchairs
Materials
Leather
Early 20th Century Colonial Sri Lankan Satinwood Garden Chair
Located in Southampton, NY
Hand-turned garden chair made of solid satinwood, Colonial, Sri Lanka, circa 1900. Hand-caned seat and back.
Came from a British Military family in Sri Lanka.
40.25" overall height ...
Category
Early 20th Century Sri Lankan Folk Art Armchairs
Materials
Cane, Satinwood
Early 20th century wide cushioned armchair
Located in Malton, GB
This is an extremely comfy early 20th century wide armed armchair. The whole piece is well cushioned both in the seat as well as the body making it one of the comfiest chairs I have ...
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art Armchairs
Materials
Beech
French 1900s Design Bistro Rattan and Wicker Chair
Located in Tourcoing, FR
French Bistro Design rattan and wicker chair composed of a rattan structure, braided wicker back and seat with a red outline, famous at the beginning of the 20th century in Paris, it...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Folk Art Armchairs
Materials
Wicker, Rattan
Scandinavian folk art chair circa 1830-50s
Located in Farsta, SE
Scandinavian folk art chair circa 1830-50s
Most likely from Norway.
Beautiful patina with an amazing form and glow.
Made out of birch wood.
Heigth: 66 cm/25.9 inch
Depth: 38 cm/14...
Category
1830s Norwegian Antique Folk Art Armchairs
Materials
Birch
Decorative White Painted Armchair, Wabi Sabi, Early 20th Century
Located in Odense, DK
A decorative antique tripod armchair with interesting shapes. A rare decorative object made in wood and painted white. Crafted by a cabinetmaker in Sweden ca 1900-1920. A true wabi s...
Category
Early 20th Century Scandinavian Folk Art Armchairs
Materials
Wood
Previously Available Items
Petite Jute and Pine Scottish Orkney Chair
Located in Houston, TX
Petite jute and pine Scottish Orkney chair, dating to late 19th or early 20th century. Open arms, hand-woven jute back, solid seat and raised on tapered square supports joined by str...
Category
Early 20th Century Scottish Folk Art Armchairs
Materials
Iron
Swedish Dug-Out Chair 'or Kubbestol'
Located in Houston, TX
Swedish dug-out chair, or kubbestol, circa 1910. Traditional Scandinavian folk art chair made from a log, from central Sweden. Rustic fruitwood barrel-shape body with arms and seat f...
Category
1910s Swedish Vintage Folk Art Armchairs
Materials
Fruitwood, Pine
Early 20th Century Black & White Hand Beaded African Ceremony Chair
Located in East Hampton, NY
This truly exquisite hand beaded chair by the Yoruba Artisans of Nigeria, best representation of furniture as art. And don't be shy to sit on them, because they are very comfortable....
Category
Early 20th Century Nigerian Folk Art Armchairs
Materials
Wood, Beads
Vintage Petite Bent-Willow Chair
Located in Houston, TX
Vintage petite bent-willow chair, circa 1910s-1930s. Small Folk Art chair made from bent willow featuring original red velvet upholstered seat (seat can be reupholstered for a nominal cost). Perfect size for a small child, large doll...
Category
1920s American Vintage Folk Art Armchairs
Materials
Bentwood
1900 Pair of Swedish Carved Ornament Wooden Armchairs
Located in Paris, FR
Swedish wooden brown armchairs with extraordinary carved ornaments and geometrical details, made in the 1900s. The chairs have three legs and a triangular seat with the central back ...
Category
Early 1900s Swedish Antique Folk Art Armchairs
Materials
Oak
Early 20th Century Hand Carved Oak Anthropomorphism Chairs by J.B Vansciver Co
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century hand carved Folk Art Oak anthropomorphism chairs by J.B Vansciver Co
We are proud to offer a unique pair of hand carved solid oak chairs in the form of Anthropomo...
Category
1910s American Vintage Folk Art Armchairs
Materials
Oak
H 41 in W 24 in D 25 in
Early 20th Century Folk Outsider Art Vernacular Lichen Twig Armchair
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A wonderful sculptural Folk Art armchair constructed from branches/sticks early 20th century in age
The chair has large areas of its original lichen tone paint, the seat has been ...
Category
Early 20th Century English Folk Art Armchairs
Materials
Twig
Folk Art Chair, Signed and Heavily Carved, circa 1900
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Folk Art chair signed AJW 1900. Heavily carved from top to bottom. Believed to have come from the east coast of North America.
Free shipping within the United States and Canada.
Category
Early 20th Century North American Folk Art Armchairs
Pair of American Painted Lowback Windsor Antique Chairs, Early 20th Century
Located in Shippensburg, PA
NEAR PAIR OF AMERICAN LOWBACK WINDSOR ARM CHAIRS
Late 19th or Early 20th Century
This is a positively gorgeous near pair of American Lowback Windsor Chairs, crafted during the late 19th or early 20th century with period techniques after the Philadelphia originals of a century prior. They are entirely bench made, the tooling and craftsmanship absolutely identical to 18th Century examples. The crest rail is crafted in three parts, the top set in soft grooves of the flanking arm rails over a gallery of spindles that openly tenon through the arm rails. The underside of one of the crest rails shows hand forged iron nails affixing the arm rails to the raised crest. The seats are finely carved of a solid broad plank, the bottoms deeply chamfered along the edges to lighten the visual proportions, the bottoms hand planed with light rippling to the surface from the planing blade. The legs tenon through the seat, locked in place with split wedge tenons, these visible in the soft scoop of the comfortable seat. A thin "rain gutter...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Armchairs
H 28.32 in W 28.07 in D 17.5 in
Folk Art armchairs for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Folk Art armchairs for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage armchairs created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, softwood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art armchairs made in a specific country, there are Europe, Scandinavia, and Sweden pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original armchairs, popular names associated with this style include and Alix Coco. 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 armchairs differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $610 and tops out at $12,400 while the average work can sell for $3,223.
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