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.
$1,196Sale Price|20% Off
Early 20thc Child's Wing-back Chair and Ottoman With 19thc Linen Upholstery
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Early 20thc Child's Wing-back Chair and Ottoman With 19thc Linen Upholstery. The Entire chair is upholstered with a wonderful aged white linen with a beautiful blue light stripe goin...
Linen, Wood
$1,895Sale Price / set|24% Off
Set of Four Charles Pollock Rush Seat Chairs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of Four wooden Charles pollock Green painted Chairs. These hand crafted chairs and hand painted chairs have hand rushed seats and in fine sturdy condition.This set of four chair...
Wood
Folk Art Chestnut Wood Tripod Chair, Charles Dudouyt Style, France, 1930s
Located in Valencia, VC
French Folk Art Chestnut Wood Tripod Chair, Art Deco Period, in the Manner of Charles Dudouit, 1930s–1940s A French Folk Art tripod chair in solid chestnut, made circa 1930s–1940s, ...
Wood, Chestnut
Near Pair of Antique Welsh Country Ladder back Chairs. C.1800
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Fabulous near pair of elm ladder back chairs One is slightly taller than the other Lovely original patina and colour Great in a Folk Art interior Sturdy construction The measure...
Elm
19Thc Child's Walnut Rocker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19Thc Walnut child's rocking chair upholstered in a suede leather.The condition is very good and sturdy.
Leather, Wood
Vintage Hand Carved Pine Swan Motif Bench
Located in Las Vegas, NV
A true one of a kind hand made piece, a true conversation piece. Hand carved out of solid pine with no detail spared. If you're looking for a unique piece, something different, to pu...
Pine
$1,516Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of White Painted Adirondack Chairs -Pair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Late 20thc original hand crafted & white painted pair of Adirondack porch or lawn chairs.These hand crafted chairs have double coats of top quality white outdoor paint.
Wood
Painted Rustic Farmhouse Folk Art Wooden Bench
Located in OOSTERHOUT, NL
Atmospheric Hungarian bench from the 1920s with a characterful rustic appearance. The bench is painted in a fresh green colour, which has beautifully worn over the years and formed a...
Pine, Paint
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 occur...
Wood
Handwoven Tule (Seagress) Stool / Ottoman, IN STOCK
Located in Los Angeles, CA
From a craft object to relevant design, these special pieces, made in Mexico, were created to add warmth and texture to your interior. Intended for indoor use, they are a reminder of...
Seagrass
Indoor-Outdoor Modern River Rock Masonry Tuffet Stool by Lland
By Rachel Shillander
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Masonry Tuffet stool is made from a common injection molded plastic child's stool, reimagined by cladding it in stone masonry. This piece represents the artist's personal appreciation for the physical characteristics, permanence, and labor-intensive construction of masonry. The Masonry Tuffet Stool is made to order. Due to the means and methods of laying masonry and the natural variations in stone, no two items are exactly the same, but final piece will use the same white river rock. The dimensions of each piece vary within reason, therefore weight and size are approximate. Please specify felt or rubber feet. Fabricated in 2019 by Rachel Shillander...
Stone
Painted and Dated Folk Art Corner Bench
Located in Greenwich, CT
A hand-painted late 19th century Hungarian corner bench. The bench is crafted in a corner‑settle form, built from solid wood and finished in a deep, traditional blue‑green ground. I...
Wood
Original Hand Painted Long Pine Bench Dated 1933
Located in Round Top, TX
Antique hand painted long pine bench is embellished with traditional Eastern European folk art painting with blue accents and red flower bouquets all set against a brown background. ...
Pine, Paint
$716Sale Price|20% Off
Wool Bird Hooked Rug Stool
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wool Hooked rug made into a beautiful stool with round ball feet. Colors are vibrant on the hood rug cushion. Comfortable to sit on or rest your feet on. Great size.
Wood, Wool
$2,500 / item
Handmade Artesanal Woven Tule (Seagrass) Bench
Located in Los Angeles, CA
From a craft object to relevant design, these special pieces, made in Mexico, were created to add warmth and texture to your interior. Intended for indo...
Seagrass
19Thc Original Dark Green Painted Thumb Back Windsor Chairs-5
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19Thc Original dark green painted thumb back Windsor chairs with mustard trim.Set of five chairs with trim.The set is very good collection.
Wood
1970s Whimsical Textile Animals Green Colorful Serpentine Wingback Settee Sofa
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
On offer on this occasion is one of the most stunning and rare, wingback settee you could hope to find. Outstanding design is exhibited throughout. The beautiful sofa is statement pi...
Textile, Upholstery, Wood, Paint
Vintage Wabi Sabi Style Dining Chair in Patinated Elm Wood, Mid-Century, Italy
Located in Odense, DK
A striking solo Alpine-style dining chair, crafted in mid-century Northern Italy or Switzerland, characterized by its distinctive carved splat back and robust construction. This vers...
Elm
Vintage Egyptian Camel Saddle Stool, Hand-Crafted Wood & Brass, 1960s
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Egyptian, North Africa camel saddle shape stool. Traditionally used to ride camels in the desert of Africa and the Middle East, this camel saddle...
Brass
$1,756Sale Price|20% Off
Adirondack Chairs & Table -Three Piece Set
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This amazing set of hand made adirondack three piece matching set of two chairs & table are in fine condition and very sturdy.They have been coat with a protective coat of marine v...
Wood
19th Century hand painted folk art corner seat
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century hand painted folk art corner seat circa 1880. We are pleased to offer this rare traditional piece of hungarian furniture, hand painted in a blue/green and red colour sc...
Pine, Paint
Antique ASHANTI Queen Mother Carved Wooden Stool Ghana Africa
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Antique GHANA, ASHANTI "Queen Mother" type hardwood hand carved stool. Hand-carved stool made by the Ashanti People of Ghana, West Africa. It's carved from one piece of wood and has ...
Wood
Beachcomber Spindle Back Chair in Walnut in Stock
Located in Los Angeles, CA
During the 18th century, a profound design movement took place in Wales. It was led by peasant-carpenters who, simply in an effort to create a practical seating option, produced one of the most elegant spindle back chairs of that time. It is known as the 'Welsh Stick Chair...
Oak, Walnut
$3,200Sale Price|20% Off
Rare Norwegian Kubbestol, Primitive Telemark Rosemaling, Norway
Located in Skien, NO
Antique / Vintage Norwegian Kubbestol with Telemark Rosemaling, c. 1920-40s. A sculptural piece of Norwegian heritage, this vintage Kubbestol (stump chair) is hand-carved from a sin...
Beech, Bentwood, Pine, Birch
Brutalist bar stools Mid-Century 1950s
By Mice di rugiano domenico e c. s.n.c.
Located in Cantù, IT
Brutalist bar stools Mid-Century 1950s
Wood
Pair of Antique Swedish Monk's Corner Chairs in Oak, Circa Early 20th Century
Located in Peabody, MA
Pair of rustic Swedish munkstolar, or monk’s chairs, ca. 1910-1920. Their three legged design has its origins in the medieval monasteries of Northern Europe where it was considered a...
Oak
$6,500 / set
1970’s Indian Tripod Female and Male Chairs
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Pair of Indian hand carved and painted wood male and female chairs. This were purchased in India in the 1970’s. In beautiful original condition...
Wood
Rustic Primitive Farmhouse Wabi Sabi Folk Art Mountain Chair
Located in OOSTERHOUT, NL
Traditional antique mountain chair from southern Germany. This characteristic and primitive chair is entirely handmade and assembled with mortise and tenon joints. The piece is made ...
Pine
Vintage American Birdcage Windsor Bench, 1990's after Nichols & Stone
Located in Southampton, NJ
1990's American Folk style Windsor bench or settee with mortis & tenon joinery in the Birdcage style. Faux bamboo turnings combine traditional Windsor construction with Asian des...
Wood
Exceptional Finnish Folk Art Chair, ca 1900–1920
Located in Farsta, SE
Exceptional Finnish Folk Art Chair, ca 1900–1920 Sometimes words are just not enough… we absolutly love this piece! A truly unique piece, with acid-staine...
Pine
Folk Art Early 20th Century Wood Rustic Four Chairs
Located in Brescia, IT
Four rustic chairs 1900-1910 Hand-carved wood Excellent condition.
Wood
Rare Long Swedish Folk Art Pine Bench
Located in Kramfors, SE
Northern Swedish rare folk art bench made during the mid 1800s. The bench is hand-crafted in Sweden from pine and has been made carefully with attention to detail. The seat is made f...
Pine
1920s Bar Harbor Robin Egg Blue Wicker Rocker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Bar Harbor wicker rocker with blue paint over the original mustard paint. Stripped custom made seat cushion
Wicker
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...
Pine
Vintage art populaire mexican dining chairs set of 6, 1970s
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
Remarkable art populaire or 'equipale' dining chairs from mexico. Exotic weaved wooden frames upholstered with ostrich leather. The backrests and armrests are also upholstered creat...
Leather, Wood
Genuine Antique Rare Folk Art Northern Swedish Bench or Sofa
Located in Kramfors, SE
Rare folk art bench or sofa from northern Sweden, unusually well-crafted with decorative panels and sculpted legs. It features carved wooden decorations at the top of the backrest an...
Pine
Original Blue Painted and Carved Swedish Chair, Dated 1722
Located in Round Top, TX
Original Blue Painted and Carved Swedish Chair, Dated 1722 Early 18th-century Swedish pine chair retaining its original painted and carved decoration, dated 1722. The chair features ...
Wood, Pine, Paint
Beautiful Folk Art Wood Carved Chair Foot Rest Stool, Vintage German 1920s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
An interesting brutalist stool with hand carved legs, seat and great patina. Great piece of functional sculpture. It is in great vintage condition and is structurally sound. Nice add...
Wood
Classic Hand-Painted Mexican Pine Chair, circa 1950
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Charming small-scale Mexican chair crafted from pine wood and hand-painted, representative of traditional mid-20th-century folk furniture. Its sturdy yet simple structure reflects th...
Pine
20th Century English Bleached Lobster Pot Chair / Folk Art / Stick Back Chair
Located in Southampton, GB
Large scale bleached "Lobster Pot " Chair made from beech wood. Possibly a one-off. Woven rush seat, with thick curved arm rests and thin spindle back. England, circa 1940 - 1950. ...
Beech
$760Sale Price|20% Off
19thc Carved Wooden Foot Stool
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fine 19thc hand carved foot stool was found in Maine and looks like sailors art or carving.The condition is very good.
Wood
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...
Birch
Late 18th Century Irish Folk Art Armchair, Circa 1780, Ireland
Located in Girona, Spain
DESCRIPTION: Late 18th Century Irish Folk Art Armchair, Circa 1780, Ireland. Very decorative piece made with oak. CONDITION: Good condition. Wear consistent with age and use. DIMENSIONS: Height: 90cm (35.5in) Width: 65cm (25.5in) Depth: 46cm (18in) Seat Height: 44cm (17in) ABOUT THE STYLE: The chair, as furniture, is probably the oldest of all types of furniture found in Ireland. One of the earliest types of seating found in any rural home was the ‘creepie’; a roughly made stool often consisting of a log raised off the floor. Throughout the Irish Country Furniture...
Oak
Pine Storage Bench or Settle in Decorative Paint
Located in Baltimore, MD
What an amazing bench! In line and form it is very much like other Central European storage benches we offer, albeit a very fine example. It has straight back rails enclosing three ...
Pine
$1,600Sale Price|20% Off
Danish Heart-Shaped Folk Chair from the 1920s in Solid Oak Wood
Located in Copenhagen, DK
This Danish Folk Chair is made of solid oak with rounded, chunky club legs. Ca. 1920s with a characteristic back shaped like a heart including a heart shaped hole in the back. The ...
Oak
Brutalist Oak Child Chair - Folk Art Kids Wooden Chair - France 1940s
Located in ROUEN, Normandie
Brutalist Oak Child Chair - Folk Art Wooden Chair - France 1940s Great design for this charming French child chair ! Can also be used as a stool, o...
Wood, Oak
Long Solid Pine Bench from Scandinavia, Mid-20th Century
Located in Karis, Nyland
This long solid pine bench reflects the honest and utilitarian character of mid-20th century Scandinavian design. Crafted from a single, generously proportioned plank, the seat highl...
Pine
Early 20th Century Swivel Piano Stool with Red Velvet Seat, Belgium
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This charming early 20th century four-legged upholstered swivel 'Bobbin' stool in ebonised wood with a red velvet seat is in very good condition. It is...
Wood
Oak 19th Century Primitive Wabi Sabi Mountain Chair
Located in OOSTERHOUT, NL
Traditional antique mountain chair from southern Germany. This distinctive and primitive chair is entirely handmade and assembled with mortise and tenon joints. Crafted from oak, thi...
Oak
Italian 1920s Folk Art Sculpted Wood and Straw Armchair
Located in Milan, IT
Splendid Italian 1920s Folk Art Sculpted Wood and Straw Armchair.
Straw, Wood
19th Century Unusual Antique Folk Art Chair with Storage from Northern Sweden
Located in Kramfors, SE
19th century unusual chair in folk art from northern Sweden. This is antique chair is made by hand in solid pine around 1850. Unique model with a curved back and storage underneath t...
Pine
Wabi Sabi Hand Crafted Carved Low Stool set, Spain 1960's
Located in Oud-Turnhout, VAN
Vintage Wabi Sabi Design Hand Crafted Carved Low Stool set of 2. Made in Spain, 1960's period. Solid pine wood constructed stools with nails in the top and carved decorations. They b...
Pine
Antique Wooden Folding Chair, Black Forest Style carved Wood, 1910s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This early 20th century folding chair from Germany is an excellent example of the black forest style. The piece has a rustic-looking seat made of wood and a wood carved backrest. The stool has a simple, understated design which is typical of early 20th century garden or yard furniture...
Metal
$4,800 / set
Folk Art Carved Eagle Chairs
Located in Hanover, MA
Very unusual pair of chairs, hand carved, possibly using a chainsaw as well as other blades, of a fierce looking eagle with unfurled wings, its talons on the feet of a man on all fou...
Walnut
Mexican “Butaque” Armchair In the Style of William Spratling Taxco.
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1940. We offer this Mexican “Butaque” Armchair In the Style of William Spratling Taxco. There is no chair more deeply rooted in Mexican vernacular design than the butaque, a fo...
Wood
Decorative Antique Sled, Wrought Iron with a Wood Seat, German 1910s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This early 20th century sleigh from Germany is an excellent example of a child's toy or likely a display piece for your doll or teddy bear collection. The piece has a rustic looking ...
Wood
Rustic Primitive Farmhouse Wabi Sabi Folk Art Mountain Chair
Located in OOSTERHOUT, NL
Traditional antique mountain chair from Southern Germany. This characteristic and primitive chair is entirely handmade and assembled using mortise and tenon joints. This particular p...
Pine
Rustic Folk Art / Peasant Stool in Pine and String, Finland 1800's
Located in Helsinki, FI
Rustic late 1800s Finnish peasant stool, handcrafted from solid wood with a beautifully aged patina. Originally made with a backrest, this example has been charmingly adapted over ti...
Pine, Hemp
Yoruba Royal Beaded Chair Made in West Africa
By Yoruba Tribe
Located in London, GB
Yoruba Royal Beaded Chair, West Africa A traditional Yoruba royal beaded chair, handcrafted in West Africa. These chairs were historically made for Yoruba kings and high-ranking ind...
Fabric, Wood, Beads
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 ...
Wood