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.
Antique Swedish Folk Art Bench, Rustic Patina and Functional Storage Space
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique folk art bench from northern Sweden made around 1840. The bench is a charming and authentic Swedish antique, with rustic patina and character. Original untouched condition wi...
Pine
$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
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
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
$799Sale Price|30% Off
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
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
$1,036Sale Price|20% Off
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
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
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
$1,675 / set
Ladder Back Arm Chair & Foot Stool Set
Located in Los Angeles, CA
These amazing hand crafted and hand painted ladder back arm chair & matching ottoman or foot stool.The chair and ottoman have the original hand rush seat and stool.Fantastic reproduc...
Rattan, Wood
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
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
$2,895 / set
Old Hickory Lounge Chair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
36 x 46 x 26 seat height 16 Original Rattan seat and backing. Sits comfortably. Great size for a hickory lounge chair.
Hickory
Sculptural Swedish Folk Art Pine Stool, Mid-20th Century, 1950s
Located in Odense, DK
Charming Swedish folk art stool crafted from solid pine, featuring a sculptural saddle-shaped seat raised on three cylindrical legs. The organically carved seat highlights the natu...
Pine
$629Sale Price|20% Off
19thc Adirondack Milk Stool
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19Thc Original dry surface milk stool.Wonderful original surface.
Wood
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
A pair of 19th Century Swedish Folk Art Empire chairs with original paint
Located in Boden, SE
A pair of 19th Century Swedish Folk art chairs from Skellefteå, Northern Sweden. Scraped by hand to its beautiful original color. They could be used as side chairs in different par...
Pine
$1,260Sale Price / set|20% Off
Decorative Pair of Hand-Painted Folk Art Inspired Folding Metal Chairs
Located in Bruton, GB
A decorative pair of hand-painted folk-art style folding metal chairs featuring richly detailed floral and foliate decoration on a deep red painted ground. Each chair displays a rou...
Metal
20thc Iron & Wood Garden Bench
Located in Los Angeles, CA
20thc Garden Bench. Painted cast iron frame with wooden slats going across. The back rest has painted cast within the back frame. A wonderful old park look. Great patina and can wit...
Iron
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
$1,000Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Wooden Stools
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Wooden S.Bent and Bros. stools. Crafted for fine taste. Strong and sturdy stools with amazing patina. This pair of stools is a truly beautiful sight. Everything about these c...
Wood
Antique Unusual Swedish Folk Art Chair with Antique Hand Carved Graffiti
Located in Kramfors, SE
Unusual Swedish folk art chair. Rustic and made by hand in solid pine, around the mid 1800s in northern Sweden. The chair has never been painted but is covered in 19th century grafit...
Pine
Rustic Well-Loved Folk Art Bench, Handcrafted Pine, Northern Sweden, Late 1700s
Located in Kramfors, SE
Rustic well-loved folk art bench from the late 1700s. This antique bench is from northern Sweden and made by hand in pine. Rustic condition with plenty of patina that shows the age a...
Pine
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
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
19th Century Austrian Hardwood Peasant Chair with rustic charme
Located in ALHAURÍN EL GRANDE, Malaga
Rustic Austrian peasant chair (Bauernstuhl) crafted from solid hardwood, 19th century. The chair has a solid wooden seat and a tall, shield-shaped backrest giving it its rustic charm...
Oak
Vintage Low Three Legged Primitive Milking Stool with Handle, 1950s
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage low milking stool features traditional design with thick, flat, slab maple wood seat, raised on three turned legs, with a small rounded handle o...
Maple
Black Wicker Chair W/ Buck Plaid Seat Cushions
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Bar Harbor black painted wicker chair w/ custom made Pendleton blanket cushions seat & back cushions are removable if need be or want to change.
Wicker
19th Century Swedish Folk Art Chair
Located in Allerum, SE
19th century Swedish Folk Art chair in it's original condition. Ca 1820 Sweden.
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 ...
Wood
Early 20th Century, Scandinavian Folk Art Three-Legged Chair in Pine, Wabi Sabi
Located in Odense, DK
A Scandinavian folk art three-legged chair, carved in solid pine and finished with a warm lacquer, early 20th century. The sculptural seat, turned legs, and low curved backrest displ...
Pine
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
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
Swedish Mid Century, Set of 4 Handcrafted "Sports Cabin" Chairs in Pine, 1940s
Located in Odense, DK
A charming set of four primitive "sports cabin" chairs handcrafted in solid pine. Made in Sweden in the 1940s. Each chair features a shaped seat and backrest, gently curved to provi...
Pine
Mexican Arena Outdoor Folding Bench
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1940, We offer this Mexican Arena Outdoor Folding Bench. This kind of benches were used in the arenas of Mexican wrestling that were presented in t...
Pine
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
Swedish 18th century log chair handcrafted with lots of texture
Located in Forest, BE
18th-Century Swedish Hand-Carved Solid Pine Trunk Armchair A distinctive 18th-century Swedish armchair made from solid pine, entirely hand-carved and retaining a beautiful aged pati...
Pine
$1,120Sale Price|20% Off
Ashanti Style Tribal Stool
Located in Pasadena, TX
Ashanti Style Tribal Stool Stool in the style of the Ashanti Tribe of Ghana. Beautifully carved with a stepped base.
Wood
$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
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
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
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
$1,142Sale Price|51% Off
Antique Finnish Folk Art Rustic Pine Chair
Located in Karis, Nyland
Finnish folk art chair made during the late 1800s. The chair is hand-crafted from pine with beautifully sculptured seat and backrest. The legs, seat and vertical backrest have a intr...
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...
Birch
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
Wooden Foot Stool With Leather Seat Cushion
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19Thc Pine foot stool with leather ulpholstered seat.The condition is very good.
Pine
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
A Traditional Camel Saddle / Stool A Traditional Camel Saddle
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A Traditional Camel Saddle / Stool A Traditional Camel Saddle constructed from several pieces of scratch carved olive wood, tied together with strips of hide to form a saddle stool ...
Olive
Mid 19th Century Swedish Antique Rustic Small Folk Art Sofa
Located in Boden, SE
A charming antique sofa from the mid-1800s. The sofa is from Boden Norrbotten, Northern Sweden It's petite and compact, perfect for smaller spaces. The sofa has a foldable lid tha...
Pine
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
$3,916Sale Price|30% Off
Large Handwoven Rattan Peacock Chair, Southeast Asia, 1960s–1970s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Large Handwoven Rattan Peacock Chair, Southeast Asia, 1960s–1970s, Height 165 cm Monumental handwoven rattan Peacock chair, also known as an Emmanuelle chair, produced in Southeast ...
Rattan, Reed
Pair of Swedish Folk Art Stump Chairs, Painted Floral Motifs, Late 19th Century
Located in Odense, DK
A rare pair of Swedish stump chairs, also known as Kubstol, crafted from solid tree trunks and decorated with charming hand-painted floral motifs. Rooted in Scandinavian folk traditi...
Wood, Paint, Pine
Finnish Mid-Century Sauna Stool / Bench in Solid Pine
Located in Karis, Nyland
A traditional Finnish sauna stool / bench from the mid-20th century, crafted entirely from solid pine. Made by an unknown maker, the piece reflects the functional vernacular of Finni...
Pine
$3,116Sale Price / set|20% Off
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
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
English 19th Century Walnut Folk Low Chair with Three-Legged Base
Located in Atlanta, GA
An unusual English walnut low chair dating to the 19th century, displaying the bold construction and sculptural character associated with vernacular or folk furniture. Standing only ...
Walnut
$2,320Sale Price|20% Off
Finnish Handmade Folk Art Burl Wood Chair, Mid-20th Century
Located in Karis, Nyland
Expressive hand-carved burl wood chair, crafted in Finland in the mid-20th century. This striking piece of folk art furniture has been sculpted from large burls, showcasing the organ...
Wood, Burl
1960s Folk Art Rustic Hand Carved Monumental Rocking Horse Chair
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
On offer on this occasion is one of the most stunning, full rocking horse chair you could hope to find. This is an ultra-rare opportunity to acquire what i...
Leather, Upholstery, Wood
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