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Folk Art Sofas

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
Mid 19th Century Charming Swedish Painted Folk Art Sofa or Bench
Located in Kramfors, SE
Charming folk art sofa or bench from northern Sweden with the dating 1855. The sofa is unusually short and has hand carved wooden decorations. Made in pine with the untouched origina...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Sofas

Materials

Pine

  • Mid 19th Century Charming Swedish Painted Folk Art Sofa or Bench
  • Mid 19th Century Charming Swedish Painted Folk Art Sofa or Bench
  • Mid 19th Century Charming Swedish Painted Folk Art Sofa or Bench
  • Mid 19th Century Charming Swedish Painted Folk Art Sofa or Bench

Mid 19th Century Charming Swedish Painted Folk Art Sofa or Bench

Bench Swedish 19th Century Pine Raw Finish Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Bench Swedish 19th Century pine raw finish Sweden. A pull out bench made during the 19th Century in Sweden. Finish is a raw wood.  
Category

19th Century European Antique Folk Art Sofas

Materials

Wood

  • Bench Swedish 19th Century Pine Raw Finish Sweden
  • Bench Swedish 19th Century Pine Raw Finish Sweden
  • Bench Swedish 19th Century Pine Raw Finish Sweden
  • Bench Swedish 19th Century Pine Raw Finish Sweden

Bench Swedish 19th Century Pine Raw Finish Sweden

Bench Swedish 18th Rustic Century Original Paint, Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Bench Sweden 18th rustic century original paint, Sweden. A bench made during the 18th century in Sweden. Original dark red paint.
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Sofas

Materials

Wood

  • Bench Swedish 18th Rustic Century Original Paint, Sweden
  • Bench Swedish 18th Rustic Century Original Paint, Sweden
  • Bench Swedish 18th Rustic Century Original Paint, Sweden
  • Bench Swedish 18th Rustic Century Original Paint, Sweden

Bench Swedish 18th Rustic Century Original Paint, Sweden

Bench Swedish Red Wood, 19th Century, Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Bench Swedish red wood, 19th century, Sweden. A bench made during the early 19th century in Sweden. Original paint in a dark red shade.    
Category

Early 19th Century Antique Folk Art Sofas

Materials

Wood

  • Bench Swedish Red Wood, 19th Century, Sweden
  • Bench Swedish Red Wood, 19th Century, Sweden
  • Bench Swedish Red Wood, 19th Century, Sweden
  • Bench Swedish Red Wood, 19th Century, Sweden

Bench Swedish Red Wood, 19th Century, Sweden

Bench Sofa with Storage Swedish 18th Century Original Paint, Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Bench sofa with storage Swedish 18th century original paint, Sweden. A storage bench made during the 18th century in Sweden. Original paint. Beautiful cut-outs on the armrests. Folk ...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Sofas

Materials

Wood

  • Bench Sofa with Storage Swedish 18th Century Original Paint, Sweden
  • Bench Sofa with Storage Swedish 18th Century Original Paint, Sweden
  • Bench Sofa with Storage Swedish 18th Century Original Paint, Sweden
  • Bench Sofa with Storage Swedish 18th Century Original Paint, Sweden

Bench Sofa with Storage Swedish 18th Century Original Paint, Sweden

Extra-Long Danish Pine Bench with Zimmer and Rhodes Linen
Located in East Hampton, NY
This early 20th century large and important pine bench is a truly work of craftsmanship. Rolled wood arms, a hand carved trim at base of seat and details abound, finished in Zimmer a...
Category

1920s Danish Vintage Folk Art Sofas

Materials

Linen, Pine

  • Extra-Long Danish Pine Bench with Zimmer and Rhodes Linen
  • Extra-Long Danish Pine Bench with Zimmer and Rhodes Linen
  • Extra-Long Danish Pine Bench with Zimmer and Rhodes Linen
  • Extra-Long Danish Pine Bench with Zimmer and Rhodes Linen

Extra-Long Danish Pine Bench with Zimmer and Rhodes Linen

Related Items
Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Folk Art Country Sofa or Bench
Located in Kramfors, SE
Swedish gustavian country sofa or bench from the early 19th century. The sofa is a country house furniture in folk art with an unusual straight shape. The sofa has profiled or fluted...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Sofas

Materials

Pine

  • Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Folk Art Country Sofa or Bench
  • Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Folk Art Country Sofa or Bench
  • Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Folk Art Country Sofa or Bench
  • Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Folk Art Country Sofa or Bench

Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Folk Art Country Sofa or Bench

H 35.83 in. W 68.51 in. D 16.54 in.
18th Century Unique Swedish Painted Rococo Folk Art Sofa
Located in Kramfors, SE
Unique folk art rococo sofa from an old farm house in Vålådalen in Jämtland in Sweden. The village is located a couple of Scandinavian miles from Sweden’s largest ski resort Åre. The...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Sofas

Materials

Pine

  • 18th Century Unique Swedish Painted Rococo Folk Art Sofa
  • 18th Century Unique Swedish Painted Rococo Folk Art Sofa
  • 18th Century Unique Swedish Painted Rococo Folk Art Sofa
  • 18th Century Unique Swedish Painted Rococo Folk Art Sofa

18th Century Unique Swedish Painted Rococo Folk Art Sofa

H 42.92 in. W 66.93 in. D 24.41 in.
Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Provincial Sofa
Located in Kramfors, SE
Northern Swedish gustavian provincial sofa. The sofa is made in pine and has the hand-scraped-to original paint. The sofa is from the first few years of the 19th century, around 1800...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Sofas

Materials

Pine

  • Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Provincial Sofa
  • Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Provincial Sofa
  • Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Provincial Sofa
  • Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Provincial Sofa

Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Provincial Sofa

H 36.23 in. W 71.66 in. D 20.87 in.
Late 18th Century Swedish Blue Pine Country Bench or Sofa
Located in Kramfors, SE
Very unusual blue bench or sofa from the late 1700s. The sofa is a country house furniture from Ångermanland in Sweden. The sofa is very unusual, most likely the only one of its kind...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Sofas

Materials

Pine

  • Late 18th Century Swedish Blue Pine Country Bench or Sofa
  • Late 18th Century Swedish Blue Pine Country Bench or Sofa
  • Late 18th Century Swedish Blue Pine Country Bench or Sofa
  • Late 18th Century Swedish Blue Pine Country Bench or Sofa

Late 18th Century Swedish Blue Pine Country Bench or Sofa

H 57.49 in. W 70.08 in. D 26.38 in.
Mid 18th Century Swedish Pine Bench
Located in Kramfors, SE
Early Swedish pine bench from northern Sweden. The bench is a very early version of a seat or sofa and this one also has a reversible backrest. It’s an unusual piece due to its age a...
Category

Mid-18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Sofas

Materials

Pine

  • Mid 18th Century Swedish Pine Bench
  • Mid 18th Century Swedish Pine Bench
  • Mid 18th Century Swedish Pine Bench
  • Mid 18th Century Swedish Pine Bench

Mid 18th Century Swedish Pine Bench

H 38.19 in. W 89.77 in. D 20.87 in.
18th Century Swedish Rustic Folk Art Bench
Located in Kramfors, SE
Northern Swedish Folk Art bench from the late 1700s. The bench is Primitive and rustic and has a lot of character, especially given the original distressed paint and authentic patina...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Sofas

Materials

Pine

  • 18th Century Swedish Rustic Folk Art Bench
  • 18th Century Swedish Rustic Folk Art Bench
  • 18th Century Swedish Rustic Folk Art Bench
  • 18th Century Swedish Rustic Folk Art Bench

18th Century Swedish Rustic Folk Art Bench

H 18.9 in. W 52.76 in. D 14.57 in.
Unusually Small Swedish Gustavian Bench
Located in Kramfors, SE
Unusually small Swedish Gustavian bench in Gustavian style. The bench is from northern Sweden and made circa 1820 in pine. Untouched original paint with authentic patina only 200 yea...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Sofas

Materials

Pine

  • Unusually Small Swedish Gustavian Bench
  • Unusually Small Swedish Gustavian Bench
  • Unusually Small Swedish Gustavian Bench
  • Unusually Small Swedish Gustavian Bench

Unusually Small Swedish Gustavian Bench

H 30.71 in. W 64.18 in. D 18.12 in.
Mid 19th Century Swedish Painted Pine Folk Art Stump Chair
Located in Kramfors, SE
Swedish folk art stump chair made during the mid 1800s. The stump chair is a primitive chair made from an hollowed tree stump and this one has paint from the 1800s. It has some marks...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Sofas

Materials

Pine

  • Mid 19th Century Swedish Painted Pine Folk Art Stump Chair
  • Mid 19th Century Swedish Painted Pine Folk Art Stump Chair
  • Mid 19th Century Swedish Painted Pine Folk Art Stump Chair
  • Mid 19th Century Swedish Painted Pine Folk Art Stump Chair

Mid 19th Century Swedish Painted Pine Folk Art Stump Chair

H 32.29 in. W 23.63 in. D 15.36 in.
Swedish Gustavian Provincial Grey Sofa
Located in Kramfors, SE
Gustavian Provincial sofa from the Swedish area Forsa in Hälsingland. The sofa is from the early 1800s, around 1820, and has the original grey paint with green accents. After being i...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Sofas

Materials

Pine

  • Swedish Gustavian Provincial Grey Sofa
  • Swedish Gustavian Provincial Grey Sofa
  • Swedish Gustavian Provincial Grey Sofa
  • Swedish Gustavian Provincial Grey Sofa

Swedish Gustavian Provincial Grey Sofa

H 47.25 in. W 71.66 in. D 24.41 in.
Early 19th Century Northern Swedish Charming Pine Folk Art Stool
Located in Kramfors, SE
Northern Swedish charming folk art stool from the early 19th century. The stool is made in pine and it has the original worn patina of time. The model and construction is primitive b...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Sofas

Materials

Pine

  • Early 19th Century Northern Swedish Charming Pine Folk Art Stool
  • Early 19th Century Northern Swedish Charming Pine Folk Art Stool
  • Early 19th Century Northern Swedish Charming Pine Folk Art Stool
  • Early 19th Century Northern Swedish Charming Pine Folk Art Stool

Early 19th Century Northern Swedish Charming Pine Folk Art Stool

H 14.18 in. W 14.18 in. D 8.67 in.
Early 19th Century Swedish Folk Art Painted Chest
Located in Kramfors, SE
Northern Swedish folk art chest in pine. The chest is made during the early 19th century, around 1820, completely by hand. It has its original paint with a hand painted floral decor....
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Sofas

Materials

Pine

  • Early 19th Century Swedish Folk Art Painted Chest
  • Early 19th Century Swedish Folk Art Painted Chest
  • Early 19th Century Swedish Folk Art Painted Chest
  • Early 19th Century Swedish Folk Art Painted Chest

Early 19th Century Swedish Folk Art Painted Chest

H 27.56 in. W 30.32 in. D 20.87 in.
Mid Century Low Swedish Pine Table or Bench
Located in Kramfors, SE
Swedish Mid-Century Modern low bench in pine. The bench is from Sweden and made during the 1970s. The designer is unknown but the bench is well-crafted and made with high quality mat...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Folk Art Sofas

Materials

Pine

  • Mid Century Low Swedish Pine Table or Bench
  • Mid Century Low Swedish Pine Table or Bench
  • Mid Century Low Swedish Pine Table or Bench
  • Mid Century Low Swedish Pine Table or Bench

Mid Century Low Swedish Pine Table or Bench

H 10.24 in. W 48.43 in. D 18.12 in.
Previously Available Items
18th Century Southern Swedish Primitive Bench
Located in Kramfors, SE
Primitive Folk Art bench - a so called Fållbänk. The bench was manufactured in southern Sweden around the second half of the 18th century. The bench is in untouched original conditio...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Sofas

Materials

Pine

  • 18th Century Southern Swedish Primitive Bench
  • 18th Century Southern Swedish Primitive Bench
  • 18th Century Southern Swedish Primitive Bench
  • 18th Century Southern Swedish Primitive Bench

18th Century Southern Swedish Primitive Bench

H 31.5 in. W 71.66 in. D 19.3 in.
18th Century Folk Art Rustic Bench from Dalarna Sweden
Located in Kramfors, SE
Rustic folk art bench or 'Fållbänk' as it's called in Swedish. From the county of Dalarna in the middle of Sweden. The seat of the bench can be lifted which makes the area underneath...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Sofas

Materials

Pine

  • 18th Century Folk Art Rustic Bench from Dalarna Sweden
  • 18th Century Folk Art Rustic Bench from Dalarna Sweden
  • 18th Century Folk Art Rustic Bench from Dalarna Sweden
  • 18th Century Folk Art Rustic Bench from Dalarna Sweden

18th Century Folk Art Rustic Bench from Dalarna Sweden

H 28.35 in. W 74.81 in. L 28.35 in.
19th Century Northern Swedish Sofa by Johan Lust
By Jonas Lust
Located in Kramfors, SE
Gustavian sofa or solsäng from Hälsingland. The Swedish name solsäng literally means sun bed. The sofa have rich wooden carvings all around and the surface has been scraped to the or...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Sofas

Materials

Pine

  • 19th Century Northern Swedish Sofa by Johan Lust
  • 19th Century Northern Swedish Sofa by Johan Lust
  • 19th Century Northern Swedish Sofa by Johan Lust
  • 19th Century Northern Swedish Sofa by Johan Lust

19th Century Northern Swedish Sofa by Johan Lust

H 35.04 in. W 72.84 in. D 23.23 in.
Antique Romanian Folk Art Painted Storage Bench
Located in Round Top, TX
The quality and craftsmanship of this pine bench are exceptional with its traditional Eastern European Folk Art painted motifs. The deep, warm patina of the painted bench is enhanced...
Category

Late 19th Century Romanian Antique Folk Art Sofas

Materials

Pine

  • Antique Romanian Folk Art Painted Storage Bench
  • Antique Romanian Folk Art Painted Storage Bench
  • Antique Romanian Folk Art Painted Storage Bench
  • Antique Romanian Folk Art Painted Storage Bench

Antique Romanian Folk Art Painted Storage Bench

H 36.75 in. W 78 in. D 22.25 in.
Antique Folk Art Blue Painted Hungarian Storage Bench
Located in Round Top, TX
This delightful late 19th century storage bench from Hungary still maintains its original blue paint. The charming, simplistic flowers on the front panel were a traditional Folk Art ...
Category

Late 19th Century Hungarian Antique Folk Art Sofas

  • Antique Folk Art Blue Painted Hungarian Storage Bench
  • Antique Folk Art Blue Painted Hungarian Storage Bench
  • Antique Folk Art Blue Painted Hungarian Storage Bench
  • Antique Folk Art Blue Painted Hungarian Storage Bench

Antique Folk Art Blue Painted Hungarian Storage Bench

H 37 in. W 76.75 in. D 21.25 in.
Early 20th Century Carved Lion Bench Oak and Pine Sweden
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Stunning bench from the beginning of the 20th century in carved wood whose sides represent a lion. Made in Sweden, handmade in solid oak and pine with an incredible patina. Very nice...
Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Folk Art Sofas

Materials

Oak, Pine

  • Early 20th Century Carved Lion Bench Oak and Pine Sweden
  • Early 20th Century Carved Lion Bench Oak and Pine Sweden
  • Early 20th Century Carved Lion Bench Oak and Pine Sweden
  • Early 20th Century Carved Lion Bench Oak and Pine Sweden

Early 20th Century Carved Lion Bench Oak and Pine Sweden

H 33.86 in. W 40.56 in. D 21.66 in.
Bench Swedish 18th Century Orange and Blue Original Paint Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Bench 18th century Sweden orange and blue original paint. Bench made in Sweden during the 18th century. Original paint in dark blue and a reddish orange. Storage under seat.
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Sofas

Materials

Pine

  • Bench Swedish 18th Century Orange and Blue Original Paint Sweden
  • Bench Swedish 18th Century Orange and Blue Original Paint Sweden
  • Bench Swedish 18th Century Orange and Blue Original Paint Sweden
  • Bench Swedish 18th Century Orange and Blue Original Paint Sweden

Bench Swedish 18th Century Orange and Blue Original Paint Sweden

H 29 in. W 65 in. D 21.5 in.

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