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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
Recognized Seller Listings
Armchair Captain's Chair Black Swedish 19th Century Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Armchair Captain's chair black Swedish 19th century Sweden. An armchair made during the end of 19th century. Painted in our signature Laserow Black.
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Armchairs

Materials

Wood

Armchair Captain's Chair Black Swedish 19th Century Sweden
Armchair Captain's Chair Black Swedish 19th Century Sweden

Armchair Captain's Chair Black Swedish 19th Century Sweden

Rare Norwegian Kubbestol, circa 1850, Origin Telemark, Norway
Located in New York, NY
Rare Norweigen Kubbestol, circa 1850, origin: Telemark, Norway Rosemaling and acanthus carvings in this extraordinary Kubbestol indicate it is most likely from Telemark, Norway, a region known for this exact carving and painting. A Kubbestol is a traditional Scandinavian chair carved from a single log...
Category

19th Century Norwegian Antique Folk Art Armchairs

Materials

Fir, Paint

Rare Norwegian Kubbestol, circa 1850, Origin Telemark, Norway
Rare Norwegian Kubbestol, circa 1850, Origin Telemark, Norway

Rare Norwegian Kubbestol, circa 1850, Origin Telemark, Norway

Early, Swedish Allmoge Poker / Stove Chair, Origin: Sweden, circa 1750
Located in New York, NY
Early, Swedish allmoge poker / stove chair, origin: Blekinge, Southern Sweden, circa 1750 Provenance: Private Manor House, Sweden These chairs were u...
Category

18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Armchairs

Materials

Rush, Wood

Early, Swedish Allmoge Poker / Stove Chair, Origin: Sweden, circa 1750
Early, Swedish Allmoge Poker / Stove Chair, Origin: Sweden, circa 1750

Early, Swedish Allmoge Poker / Stove Chair, Origin: Sweden, circa 1750

18th Century English Folk Art Chair
Located in Greenwich, CT
Most unusual English oak armchair with profuse carving to rails, crest and arms and possessing great color and patination. Custom crewelwork cushion over later plank seat, carved to ...
Category

1760s English Antique Folk Art Armchairs

Materials

Oak

18th Century English Folk Art Chair
18th Century English Folk Art Chair

18th Century English Folk Art Chair

Rare Mid-19th Century Prussian "Vierlander" Armchair
Located in Greenwich, CT
Rare mid-19th century "Vierlander" armchair, Prussia 1850, with owner's name "Hinrich Eggers", constructed of inlaid fruitwoods and walnut, with turned bone finials, the central back...
Category

1850s German Antique Folk Art Armchairs

Materials

Fruitwood, Walnut

Rare Mid-19th Century Prussian "Vierlander" Armchair
Rare Mid-19th Century Prussian "Vierlander" Armchair

Rare Mid-19th Century Prussian "Vierlander" Armchair

Related Items
19th Century Russian Giltwood Armchair
Located in Essex, MA
Period Early 19th Century Russian Giltwood and Painted Armchair or Bergere. In style of Rossi. Incredible proportion and size. Good size for modern sitting...
Category

Early 19th Century Russian Antique Folk Art Armchairs

Materials

Giltwood

19th Century Russian Giltwood Armchair
19th Century Russian Giltwood Armchair

19th Century Russian Giltwood Armchair

H 30 in W 29.5 in D 23 in
Early Womb Chair Designed for Eero Saarinen
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Stamford, CT
A early production womb chair designed by Eero Saarinen. Produced by Knoll starting in 1946 this model was produced in 1952. It re...
Category

1950s American Vintage Folk Art Armchairs

Materials

Steel

Early Womb Chair Designed for Eero Saarinen
Early Womb Chair Designed for Eero Saarinen

Early Womb Chair Designed for Eero Saarinen

H 35 in W 40 in D 39 in
Early Eames DAR Fiberglass Shell Chair Herman Miller
By Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Round Rock, TX
Early 2nd generation “Eiffel” DAR shell chair by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller. This example shows off its heavy fibrous shell in lovely parchment color. Still retains its ...
Category

1950s American Vintage Folk Art Armchairs

Materials

Fiberglass

Early Eames DAR Fiberglass Shell Chair Herman Miller
Early Eames DAR Fiberglass Shell Chair Herman Miller

Early Eames DAR Fiberglass Shell Chair Herman Miller

H 31 in W 25 in D 25 in
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Captain's "Y" Chair, ca. 1955
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Captain's "Y" chair, ca. 1955. Professionally restored walnut frame with new back caning and new upholstered seat with super soft and luxurious ivory wool f...
Category

1950s American Vintage Folk Art Armchairs

Materials

Brass

Edward Wormley for Dunbar Captain's "Y" Chair, ca. 1955
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Captain's "Y" Chair, ca. 1955

Edward Wormley for Dunbar Captain's "Y" Chair, ca. 1955

H 30 in W 22 in D 25 in
18th Century Swedish Folk Art Stool
Located in Mjöhult, SE
A unique organic and sculptural 18th century Swedish Folk Art stool, ca 1770 - 1800. Sweden.
Category

18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Armchairs

Materials

Pine

18th Century Swedish Folk Art Stool
18th Century Swedish Folk Art Stool

18th Century Swedish Folk Art Stool

H 12.6 in W 19.3 in D 11.42 in
18th Century Mahogany Chippendale Library Chair
By Thomas Chippendale
Located in Lincoln, GB
This Chippendale Library Chair is adorned with a breathtaking display of vibrant colours, delicate flowers, luscious fruits, and majestic gam...
Category

18th Century Antique Folk Art Armchairs

Materials

Mahogany

18th Century Mahogany Chippendale Library Chair
18th Century Mahogany Chippendale Library Chair

18th Century Mahogany Chippendale Library Chair

H 41.34 in W 33.08 in D 33.08 in
Early 20th Century Moroccan Chair
Located in Chicago, IL
An early 20th century Moroccan armchair with an elaborate pattern of repeated large and small eight-point stars executed in inlaid exotic and ebonized woods and mother-of-pearl. The ...
Category

1940s Moroccan Vintage Folk Art Armchairs

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl, Wood

Early 20th Century Moroccan Chair
Early 20th Century Moroccan Chair

Early 20th Century Moroccan Chair

H 30 in W 24 in D 17 in
Antique Norwegian Small Kubbestol, Child's Chair
Located in Round Top, TX
A kubbestol is a traditional Scandinavian chair made from a log. This one is unusual, as it is rare to find one scaled small for a child. Every knot, crack, and sign of wear adds to ...
Category

Early 19th Century Norwegian Antique Folk Art Armchairs

Materials

Wood

Antique Norwegian Small Kubbestol, Child's Chair
Antique Norwegian Small Kubbestol, Child's Chair

Antique Norwegian Small Kubbestol, Child's Chair

H 27.5 in W 13.5 in D 13 in
18th Century Languedocienne Chair
Located in New York, NY
18th century walnut Languedocienne armchair upholstered in 100% Belgian linen.
Category

18th Century and Earlier French Antique Folk Art Armchairs

18th Century Languedocienne Chair
18th Century Languedocienne Chair

18th Century Languedocienne Chair

H 45 in W 26 in D 36 in
French 19th Century Pair of Armchairs
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Nice twisted arms on those chairs, so different, very comfortable as well.
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Folk Art Armchairs

Materials

Fruitwood

French 19th Century Pair of Armchairs
French 19th Century Pair of Armchairs

French 19th Century Pair of Armchairs

H 37.75 in W 22.25 in D 22 in
Primitive Swedish Pine Log Chair or Kubbestol
Located in Houston, TX
Primitive Swedish pine log chair, or kubbestol, from Dalarna circa 1770-1789. Flip-seat for storage inside chair. Steamed bentwood banding. Fine, dry pale patina. The flip-seat has b...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Armchairs

Materials

Brass

Primitive Swedish Pine Log Chair or Kubbestol
Primitive Swedish Pine Log Chair or Kubbestol

Primitive Swedish Pine Log Chair or Kubbestol

H 27 in Dm 14.5 in
Rare 18th Century Mahogany Cockpen Armchair
Located in Lymington, GB
An 18th-century mahogany Cockpen armchair. George III period, ca 1762. Rare and sophisticated, this antique Cockpen armchair retains its chinoiserie ...
Category

18th Century Antique Folk Art Armchairs

Materials

Mahogany

Rare 18th Century Mahogany Cockpen Armchair
Rare 18th Century Mahogany Cockpen Armchair

Rare 18th Century Mahogany Cockpen Armchair

H 37.01 in W 26.78 in D 20.48 in
Previously Available Items
Pair of 19th Century Swedish Folk Art Log Chairs
Located in Mjöhult, SE
fine and rare pair of 19th century Swedish Folk Art log chairs in their original condition and great proportions and shape, circa 1810 Sweden.
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Armchairs

Materials

Pine

Pair of 19th Century Swedish Folk Art Log Chairs
Pair of 19th Century Swedish Folk Art Log Chairs

Pair of 19th Century Swedish Folk Art Log Chairs

H 32.68 in W 21.26 in D 15.75 in
Armchair Tall Back Swedish Shearling White Brown Frame 19th Century Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Armchair Swedish Shearling white brown frame 19th century Sweden. An armchair made during the 1840-50s in Sweden. Upholstered in a white shearling. F...
Category

19th Century European Antique Folk Art Armchairs

Materials

Sheepskin, Wood

Armchair Tall Back Swedish Shearling White Brown Frame 19th Century Sweden
Armchair Tall Back Swedish Shearling White Brown Frame 19th Century Sweden

Armchair Tall Back Swedish Shearling White Brown Frame 19th Century Sweden

H 44.5 in W 24 in L 44.5 in
Armchair or Desk Chair Adjustable Black, Swedish, 19th Century
Located in New York, NY
Armchair desk chair Swedish 19th century in black, Sweden. An armchair made during the late 19th century in Sweden. Adjustable height. Repainted in our custom paint Laserow black.  
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Armchairs

Materials

Wood

Armchair or Desk Chair Adjustable Black, Swedish, 19th Century
Armchair or Desk Chair Adjustable Black, Swedish, 19th Century

Armchair or Desk Chair Adjustable Black, Swedish, 19th Century

H 32.5 in W 23 in D 18.5 in
Black Desk Chair, Sweden
Located in New York, NY
A black painted and distressed desk chair made in Sweden during, circa 1850.
Category

1850s Swedish Antique Folk Art Armchairs

Materials

Birch

Black Desk Chair, Sweden
Black Desk Chair, Sweden

Black Desk Chair, Sweden

H 29.8 in W 22 in D 17.2 in
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

Pair of American Painted Lowback Windsor Antique Chairs, Early 20th Century
Pair of American Painted Lowback Windsor Antique Chairs, Early 20th Century

Pair of American Painted Lowback Windsor Antique Chairs, Early 20th Century

H 28.32 in W 28.07 in D 17.5 in
Early 19th Century "Lobster Pot" Vernacular Windsor Armchair
Located in Greenwich, CT
Unusual early 19th Century English or Welsh vernacular "lobster pot" comb back windsor armchair, the spindle back with shaped crest rail, over shaped "D" s...
Category

19th Century Welsh Antique Folk Art Armchairs

Materials

Ash, Oak

Early 19th Century "Lobster Pot" Vernacular Windsor Armchair
Early 19th Century "Lobster Pot" Vernacular Windsor Armchair

Early 19th Century "Lobster Pot" Vernacular Windsor Armchair

H 40 in W 22 in D 18 in
Rare Irish or West Country Comb Back Windsor Armchair
Located in Greenwich, CT
Very unusual Irish or West Country vernacular windsor comb back armchair, the simple bar crest over "lobster pot" spindle back with square profiled back splat, the shaped seat over f...
Category

19th Century Welsh Antique Folk Art Armchairs

Materials

Oak, Ash

Rare Irish or West Country Comb Back Windsor Armchair
Rare Irish or West Country Comb Back Windsor Armchair

Rare Irish or West Country Comb Back Windsor Armchair

H 38 in W 22 in D 22 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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