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Folk Art Chairs

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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Item Ships From: Europe
Style: Folk Art
Antique Set 4 Spanish Polychrome Dining Chairs Giltwood Green Painted Folk Art
Located in Sherborne, Dorset
A stunning set of four Andalusian ladderback dining chairs in original Polychrome dark green and old gold with rush seats – a stunning combination of colours with the most appealing ...
Category

Early 20th Century Spanish Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Rush, Paint, Giltwood, Wood

19th Century Swedish Folk Art chairs with original paint
Located in Boden, SE
A pair of similar 19th century Swedish country chairs. Very slight difference with great patina ,see pictures Scraped by hand to its beautiful blue original color. Such nice ext...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Pine

Folk Art Early 20th Century Wood Rustic Four Chairs
Located in Brescia, IT
Four rustic chairs 1900-1910 Hand-carved wood Excellent condition.
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Wood

Vintage Beaded African Ceremony or Nobility Chair
Located in AMSTERDAM, NH
Mid 20th century vibrant red and white hand beaded African ceremony chair. Originally crafted for Yoruba tribe kings and queens, these chairs boast a meticulous process involving th...
Category

Mid-20th Century Nigerian Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Cotton, Wood, Beads

Set of 4 Small Swedish Folk Art Chairs, Early 19th Century
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Set of four Swedish 18th Century Folk Art chairs Set of 4 smaller chairs with its old vintage patina in pine. "Allmoge", the Swedish word for Folk Art, is exactly what these four ea...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Pine

Mid-Century Modern Brutalist Folkart Tripod Chair, Germany Vintage 1950s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Interesting Brutalist wood tripod chair from Germany. the seat was cut out of a tree trunk. Historically used as a chair in the farmhouses in Germany in the 19th Century, this modern...
Category

1950s German Vintage Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Wood

Set of Ten wooden Tavern Chairs out of the Humbser Brewery Fürth Bavaria, 1950s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A set consisting of 10 chairs out of the Humbser brewery in Fürth Bavaria. These chairs were used in the brewery restaurant's dining room for years. After the brewery closed, we were...
Category

1950s German Vintage Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Wood

Set of Four Folk Art Carved Tavern Bavarian Inn Chairs, Nuremberg Germany 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A set consisting of 4 chairs out of a tavern restaurant in Nuremberg Bavaria. These chairs were used in the restaurant's dining room for years. Each Stool is in very good, used condi...
Category

1960s German Vintage Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Wood

Mid-Century Modern Brutalist Wood Tripod Chair and Foot Rest, German Vintage
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A interesting brutalist wood tripod chair from Germany, with a matching foot rest or table. Great piece of functional sculpture. Stool and foot rest is in great vintage condition and...
Category

1970s German Vintage Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Wood

Mid Century set with 2 Directors Chairs and a Coffee Table
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Mid Century set with 2 Directors Chairs and a Coffee Table A great set with 2 lounging chairs and a coffee table, these would work very well both indoor and out, the chairs are mad...
Category

1960s Vintage Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Canvas

Folk Art Haagsche School Child Chair set, Netherlands 1920's
Located in Oud-Turnhout, VAN
Vintage Folk Art Populaire Haagsche School Design Style Child Chair set. Made in the Netherlands, 1910's / 20's. Handmade and carved oak child chairs ...
Category

1920s Dutch Vintage Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Oak

Folk Art Brutalist Design SAW Back Side Chair set, France 1960's
Located in Oud-Turnhout, VAN
Vintage French Folk Art Brutalist Design SAW Back Side Chair set of 2. Made in France, 1960's period. Light oak constructed chairs with Saw mod...
Category

1960s French Vintage Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Steel

Unusual Northern Swedish Antique Unique Country Folk Art Chair
Located in Kramfors, SE
Unusual primitive country chair in folk art from Northern Sweden. The chair is a one of a kind piece made by hand in solid pine around 1820 to 1840. Old historic paint which has beco...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Pine

Mid-Century Modern Brutalist Sculptural Wood Tripod Chair, Spain Vintage 1970s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Interesting Brutalist wood tripod chair from Spain. Notched holes in head rest and both arms. Historically used as a birthing chair. Great piece of functional sculpture. Good conditi...
Category

1970s Spanish Vintage Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Wood

Set of Four Black Forest Carved Tavern Bavarian Inn Chairs, 1890s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A set of four interesting brutalist wood carved from the Bavarian Alps or Black Forest Area , with a motif adorning all chair Backrests. Each Stool is in very good, used condition, t...
Category

Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Wood

Mid-Century Modern Brutalist Wood Tripod Chair Foot Rest Stool, Spain Vintage
Located in Nuernberg, DE
An interesting brutalist stool with hand carved legs and great patina. Great piece of functional sculpture. It is in great vintage condition and is structurally sound. Nice addition ...
Category

1970s Spanish Vintage Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Wood

18th Century Rustic country Primitive Folk Art Stool
Located in Boden, SE
18th Century Swedish Primitive Folk Art Chair from Northern Sweden. This charming chair is a true piece of history. It was made by hand in No...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Pine

Pair of Basque Tripod Chairs 1950s European Folk Art
Located in Trensacq, FR
A fabulous pair of oak three-legged chairs, crafted in the Basque region of France/Spain C1950. Beautifully decorated with carved flowers and diamond detailing, these chairs are a r...
Category

Mid-20th Century European Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Oak

Pair of Mid-Century Modern Brutalist Sculptural Wood Tripod Chair, Spain Vintage
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A pair of interesting brutalist wood tripod chairs from Spain, with a trefoil motif adorning all the chair handles. The trefoil is a frequently occurring emblem in the architectural ...
Category

1970s Spanish Vintage Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Wood

Three Folk Style Chairs Handcarved in Solid Beech.
Located in Renens, CH
These charming three-legged beech folk style chairs embody a timeless aesthetic that effortlessly bridges the gap between rustic simplicity and enduring craftsmanship. Handcrafted wi...
Category

1660s European Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Beech

Primitive Handcrafted Organic Highback Naga Chair in Solid Teak, Wabi Sabi Style
Located in Odense, DK
One of a kind charming authentic primitive stump chair made in a single solid hardwood. Hand carved by the Naga tribe in India, ca 1970s. A nice wabi...
Category

Mid-20th Century Indian Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Hardwood, Teak

Antique Swedish Folk Art Rustic Pine Chair
Located in Kramfors, SE
Swedish folk art chair made during the late 1800s. The chair is hand-made from pine with a heart cut out from the backrest. The chair has never been painted so the pine has aged natu...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Pine

Antique Swedish Original Folk Art Chair
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique folk art chair from Sweden made around 1860 in painted pine. The chair has the original paint with a time-worn distressed patina. The chair had a very particular function in ...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Pine

Swedish Painted Folk Art Kubbstol Chair
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Folk Art Kubbstol chair from Northern Sweden. A Kubbstol chair is made from a hollowed tree trunk; from a single piece of wood that's been hewn out to form the seat, back and frame. ...
Category

Early 1900s Swedish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Pine

A Set of 6 BRUTALIST Handcrafted RUSTIC MID-CENTURY-MODERN Chairs, France 1960
Located in PARIS, FR
A set of 6 surprising tripod chairs, Modernist, Brutalist, Folk Art, Tribal Art, sculpted in massive wood, with beautiful floral organic motifs, to be attributed, France 1950. This ...
Category

1950s French Vintage Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Wood

Folk Art Chair from Finland
Located in Farsta, SE
One of a kind Folk Art chair from Finland Acid-stained Pine 1930s Consistent with age and use.
Category

1930s Finnish Vintage Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Pine

English Ladder Back Armchair, Early 19th Century
Located in London, GB
English Ladder back armchair, Early 19th Century A country-made early 19th century ladder back armchair. Made in Ash with great patina and origi...
Category

Early 19th Century English Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Ash

Swedish Stump Chair
Located in Farsta, SE
Swedish Stump Chair Made out of a single log of pine tree, made between in year 1680-1730. Metal ribbon and nails added in late 1800 century.       
Category

1690s Swedish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Pine

19th Century Swedish Antique rustic Stamp chair folk Art " Kubb "chair
Located in Boden, SE
Swedish "Kubb "chair from the 18th-19th century. The "Kubb"chair is an old type of furniture, and is probably the first chair. It is found on depictions from the Viking Age...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Pine

English Elm Corner Chair, Early 19th Century
Located in London, GB
English Elm Corner chair, Early 19th Century An early 19th Century corner chair made in elm with a rush seat and an unusual simulated bamboo details in the seat back. A lovely ...
Category

Early 19th Century English Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Elm

Italian Chair with a Very Original Design with Seat in Colored Fabric Black Wood
Located in Buggiano, IT
Italian uncommon chair with a very original design with seat in colored fabric. Heavy black wood. Colored stick decorations on the sides. Grooves o...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Antique Swedish Folk Art Stump Chair
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique Swedish stump chair in folk art. The chair has a round shape and is made from a hollowed pine tree stump. The chair is in untouched conditi...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Pine

Swedish Rustic Folk Art Primitive Chair
Located in Kramfors, SE
Rustic folk art chair from Northern Sweden. The chair is unique and hand-made into a primitive example of an antique chair. The pine has never been pa...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Pine

19th Century Swedish Folk Art Chair in Higly Decorative Shapes
By Craft and Folk Art Museum
Located in Hillringsberg, SE
Folk art made in Sweden at its best. This chair with highly appealing shapes and patina. Made in the late 19th century this chair is a given piece to any modern home that wants to ha...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Birch

Antique German Leather & Wood Armchair with Brass Nailhead Details
Located in Nuernberg, DE
beautiful lounge arm chair made of wood and leather with nailhead details. We think this example is from the 1910s, good condition. Minor patina and scratches on the leather, gives t...
Category

1910s German Vintage Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Nutwood, Leather

Early 18th Century Swiss Pine Back Stool
Located in London, GB
A Swiss pine back stool with an open heart carving on the back panel. Swiss, early 18th century Dimensions: H 85 x W 40 x D 34.5 cm.
Category

Early 18th Century Swiss Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Wood, Pine

Antique Beechwood Children's Chair
Located in Budapest, HU
Antique children's highchair with an abacus and potty chair functions. Made of steamed beechwood, with leather cover. Manufactured around 1910.  
Category

1910s Vintage Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Leather, Beech

Studio Furniture American Craft Stool Mid-century modern 1960s USA
By Bobby Falwell
Located in Antwerp, BE
Walnut stool, hand-crafted, studio craft, USA Wendell Castle, Roger sloan, JB Blunk, Jawar, Richard Bronk, Gerald Mccabe, Bobby Falwell, David Scott, Charles Fischer, Howard Osinski...
Category

1970s American Vintage Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Walnut

Antique Folk Art Swedish Rustic Kubbstol
Located in Kramfors, SE
Folk Art rustic Kubbstol from northern Sweden. A Kubbstol is a chair made of a single piece of wood that's been hewn out to form the seat, back and frame. It's a primitive constructi...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Pine

Scandinavian Wooden Barrel Chair Made in the 19th Century
By Craft and Folk Art Museum
Located in Stockholm, SE
Scandinavian wooden barrel chair made in the 19th century. A circular, beautifully wooden chair with patina and soft edges hollowed out from a natu...
Category

1890s Swedish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Pine

Late 19th Century Swedish Stump Chair in Solid Pine
Located in Kramfors, SE
Swedish stump chair manufactured from a hollowed tree trunk. The chair is primitive and has never been painted. The two bands going around the seat...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Pine

Antique Swedish Folk Art Countrry Carver Chairs in Kurbits Faux Wood Grain
Located in LONDON, GB
Lovely antique Swedish turbots Folk Art pair of carver chairs in hand-painted faux wood grain with excellent detail and a turbots hand-printed Fo...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Pair of Folk Art Chairs with Tractor Seats, France, 1950s
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Almost-pair of French "homemade" iron chairs with very comfortable! tractor seats. Original paint.
Category

Mid-20th Century French Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Iron

Rustic Bench, circa 1920, France
Located in Girona, Spain
Rustic bench Made with chestnut structure and hand woven rattan cord seating. Solid, sturdy and comfortable Circa 1920, France Very good vintage condition.
Category

Mid-20th Century French Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Chestnut, Cord

Folk Art chairs for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique folk art chairs 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 chairs created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating, folk art, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, softwood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art chairs 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 chairs, popular names associated with this style include Bobby Falwell, and Luteca Furniture. 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 chairs differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $390 and tops out at $12,400 while the average work can sell for $2,400.

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