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Folk Art Seating

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
Color:  Gray
Vintage Dimitri Omersa Lion Leather Footstool, circa 1950s
Located in Vis, NL
Vintage Dimitri Omersa lion footstool with light wear and patina on the leather consistent with wear and age.  
Category

1950s American Vintage Folk Art Seating

Materials

Leather

Folk Art African Royal or Prince Aluminum and Metal Studded Animal Skin Chair
Located in Cincinnati, OH
An African Royal or Prince chair with wood frame, animal skin seat and back embellished with nailed aluminum pieces and metal studs. In the style of the A...
Category

Mid-20th Century Ghanaian Folk Art Seating

Materials

Cowhide, Wood

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Swedish Painted Folk Art Kubbstol Chair
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Antique Swedish Folk Art Rustic Pine Chair
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Dimitri Omersa Leather Pig Footstool for Abercrombie and Fitch
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Pair of Basque Tripod Chairs 1950s European Folk Art
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1960s Dimitri Omersa Leather Rhino Retailed by Abercrombie & Fitch - Restored
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Omersa Leather Hippopotamus Stool, 1960s England
Located in Los Angeles, CA
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English Leather Footstool in the form of a Hippo, Jancraft for Dimitri Omersa
Located in Downingtown, PA
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Pair of Coyote and Jaguar Benches by Mario Lopez Torres 1974
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Long Horn Lounge-Chair and Ottoman with White Long Icelandic Sheep Upholstery
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Arthur Court Antler Motif Aluminum Chairs
Located in Stamford, CT
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Located in North Hollywood, CA
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Folk Art seating for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique folk art seating 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 seating created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating, folk art, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, softwood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art seating 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 seating, popular names associated with this style include Alix Coco, Berber Tribes of Morocco, Bobby Falwell, and Thomas Chippendale. 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 seating differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $251 and tops out at $89,500 while the average work can sell for $2,400.

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