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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
Period: 18th Century and Earlier
Art Populaire Chest Bench, France, 17th Century
Located in Antwerp, BE
Carved chest bench from 17th century France. Made of rich, dark wood, this majestic piece embodies the epitome of refinement and grace. Intricate carved details showcase the craftsma...
Category

17th Century French Antique Folk Art Seating

Materials

Wood

Primitive Swedish Pine Log Chair or Kubbestol
Located in Houston, TX
Primitive Swedish pine log chair, or kubbestol, from Dalarna circa 1770-1789. Flip-seat for storage inside chair. Steamed bentwood banding. Fine, dry pale patina. The flip-seat has b...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Seating

Materials

Brass

Unique 18th Century Chippendale Chair Family Heirloom, Extensive Repair.
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Unique 18th Century Chippendale Chair Family Heirloom, Extensive Repair. This chair from the American Colonial era fills a special place in the field of antiques. Obviously, the own...
Category

18th Century American Antique Folk Art Seating

Materials

Mahogany

Rare Pair of Tyrolean Walnut Armchairs 18th Century
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
Rare Pair of Tyrolean Walnut Armchairs 18th Century Crescent arm ending in rounded terminals surmounted by a traditional crest with pierced heart supported by six turned columns s...
Category

Late 18th Century Austrian Antique Folk Art Seating

Materials

Walnut

18th Century Swedish Folk Art Stool
Located in Mjöhult, SE
A unique organic and sculptural 18th century Swedish Folk Art stool, ca 1770 - 1800. Sweden.
Category

18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Seating

Materials

Pine

Swedish Primitive Kubbstol Chair in Original Paint with Provenance, 18th c.
Located in Wichita, KS
This “kubbstol” is a traditional Scandinavian chair made from a hollowed trunk of wood. This beautiful folk art piece has provenance. The back is inscrib...
Category

18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Seating

Materials

Wood, Paint

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 Seating

Materials

Beech

Unusual Swedish Antique Decorated Folk Art Chair
Located in Kramfors, SE
Unusual Swedish antique chair from Hälsingland made around the late 1700s to the turn of the century 1700 to 1800. The chair is folk art and thi...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Seating

Materials

Pine

Antique Swedish Rustic Solid Pine Bench
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique primitive Swedish bench made in folk art. The bench is made by hand in solid pine around the year 1800 and has a rustic and authentically antique appearance...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Seating

Materials

Pine

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 Seating

Materials

Pine

Late 18th Century Swedish Folk Art Bench
Located in Mjöhult, SE
Late 18th century Swedish Folk Art bench in solid raw pine. Ca 1790.
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Seating

Materials

Pine

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 Seating

Materials

Wood, Pine

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 Seating

Materials

Pine

Stool Fruitwood Treen Heart Love Minature Folk Vernacular Commemorative Child's
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
- Charming piece of folk, vernacular, country furniture oozing character. - It was most likely intended as a love token or to commemorate a child as there is not much wear on the un...
Category

1780s English Antique Folk Art Seating

Materials

Fruitwood

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 Seating

Materials

Pine

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 Seating

Materials

Wood

18th Century English Folk Art Chair
Located in Greenwich, CT
Most unusual English oak armchair with profuse carving to rails, crest and arms and possessing great color and patination. Custom crewelwork cushion over later plank seat, carved to ...
Category

1760s English Antique Folk Art Seating

Materials

Oak

Early, Swedish Allmoge Poker / Stove Chair, Origin: Sweden, circa 1750
Located in New York, NY
Early, Swedish allmoge poker / stove chair, origin: Blekinge, Southern Sweden, circa 1750 Provenance: Private Manor House, Sweden These chairs were u...
Category

18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Seating

Materials

Rush, Wood

Primitive Swedish Pine Log Chair from Dalarna
Located in Houston, TX
Primitive Swedish pine log chair from Dalarna dated 1760. Steamed bentwood banding. Fine, dry pale patina. Note: Original/early finish on antique and vintage metal will include some...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Seating

Materials

Pine

Related Items
17th Century, James I Joined Oak Bench, England, Circa 1603 - 1625
Located in Leominster, GB
The one-piece seat with ovolo-moulded edge, the rails with lower broad run-moulding, on inverted-baluster legs, joined by plain stretchers all round.
Category

Early 17th Century British Antique Folk Art Seating

Materials

Oak

17th Century Style Joint Stool
Located in Westwood, NJ
An antiqued wood ‘Joynt’ stool, with a serpentine apron on pegged splay legs joined by a stretcher. The original 17th century. Dimensions: 22" W x 12" D x 18" H.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Folk Art Seating

Materials

Wood

17th Century Style Joint Stool
17th Century Style Joint Stool
H 18 in W 22 in D 12 in
20th Century Baby Pink Stool, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Stool from the turn of the 1960s and 1970s. Beautiful baby pink upholstery. The stool consists of an upholstered part, a seat and wooden legs narrowing downwards, characteristic of t...
Category

Mid-20th Century Polish Folk Art Seating

Materials

Velvet, Beech

20th Century Baby Pink Stool, 1960s
20th Century Baby Pink Stool, 1960s
H 15.75 in W 15.75 in D 15.75 in
20th Century Baby Pink Stool, Europe, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Stool from the turn of the 1960s and 1970s. Beautiful baby pink upholstery. The stool consists of an upholstered part, a seat and wooden legs narrowing downwards, characteristic of t...
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Mid-20th Century Polish Folk Art Seating

Materials

Velvet, Beech

20th Century Baby Pink Stool, Europe, 1960s
20th Century Baby Pink Stool, Europe, 1960s
H 15.75 in W 15.75 in D 15.75 in
19th Century Oriental Carved Wood Stool
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A wonderfully stylish 19th century Oriental style stool, with pierced fretwork decoration to the frieze, stuff over upholstered seat, raised on classical carved cabriole legs with my...
Category

19th Century French Antique Folk Art Seating

Materials

Mahogany

19th Century Oriental Carved Wood Stool
19th Century Oriental Carved Wood Stool
H 18.51 in W 25.2 in D 20.48 in
Louis XV Period Pair of Walnut Cabriolets Armchairs, 18th Century
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A very chic pair of Louis XV period 'fauteuils cabriolets' armchairs, in natural wood, their frames sculpted with great finesse and upholstered in cream fabric. Delightful hand carved floral motifs adorn the back crown, apron and the top of each elegant cabriole leg, while the armrests terminate and bend towards the seat in typical 'whiplash' Rococo curves. These wonderful chairs, with their curved and enveloping backrests, and broad, padded seats (originally designed to accommodate the voluminous dresses...
Category

18th Century French Antique Folk Art Seating

Materials

Walnut

Hand Carved Primitive Stump Chair in Pine, Swedish Modern, Wabi Sabi, 1960s
Located in Odense, DK
A charming primitive stump chair made in solid pine. Hand carved by an unknown Swedish cabinetmaker in 1960s. A lovely wabi sabi piece for the modern interior. This appealing chair ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Folk Art Seating

Materials

Pine

Pair Of 18th Century Painted Armchairs
Located in London, GB
A pair of French XVIII Century painted armchairs. In their original condition, newly upholstered in XIX Century hand died French linen.
Category

1780s French Antique Folk Art Seating

Materials

Beech

Pair Of 18th Century Painted Armchairs
Pair Of 18th Century Painted Armchairs
H 35.44 in W 23.63 in D 23.63 in
18th Century Mahogany Chippendale Library Chair
Located in Lincoln, GB
This Chippendale Library Chair is adorned with a breathtaking display of vibrant colours, delicate flowers, luscious fruits, and majestic gam...
Category

18th Century Antique Folk Art Seating

Materials

Mahogany

18th Century Mahogany Chippendale Library Chair
18th Century Mahogany Chippendale Library Chair
H 41.34 in W 33.08 in D 33.08 in
Pair of 18th Century English Chippendale Side Chairs
Located in Savannah, GA
This handsome pair of large scale 18th century English Chippendale solid mahogany ladder back side chairs feature sturdy peg construction, original finish and newly upholstered dish ...
Category

1770s English Antique Folk Art Seating

Materials

Mahogany

18th century Swedish Gustavian Period Side Chair
Located in Charleston, SC
18th century Swedish Gustavian period side chair hand-scraped to its most original paint, with oval back, pierced slats and carved wheat sheaf, cross...
Category

Mid-18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Seating

Materials

Linen, Wood

18th century Swedish Gustavian Period Side Chair
18th century Swedish Gustavian Period Side Chair
H 35.75 in W 18.25 in D 15.25 in
Stool in Lacquered Colors Folk
Located in Lisbon, PT
Folk stools are inspired by chess game pieces. It gives a funny atmosphere as well as bring tons of color to your interior. Practical and fun, these ...
Category

2010s Portuguese Folk Art Seating

Materials

Wood

Stool in Lacquered Colors Folk
Stool in Lacquered Colors Folk
H 17.72 in Dm 11.03 in
Previously Available Items
Late 18th Century Antique Primitive Swedish Folk Art Chair
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique Swedish primitive chair in folk art. The chair is made by hand in painted Swedish pine. It was most likely made during the late 1700s in northern Sweden.
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Seating

Materials

Pine

Norwegian Folk Art Side Chair, 1700s
Located in Farsta, SE
This old beautiful chair is originally from Norway where it was crafted some time in the beginning of 1800 century. It has only wooden plugs, and the seat is made out of a thick sla...
Category

Early 18th Century Norwegian Antique Folk Art Seating

Materials

Pine

Norwegian Folk Art Side Chair, 1700s
Norwegian Folk Art Side Chair, 1700s
H 20.1 in W 22.8 in D 13.8 in
1784 Swedish Folkart Milking Stool
Located in Farsta, SE
The patina of this Swedish milking stool from 1784 is amazing and truly something out of the ordinary. This pine sculptural wabi-sabi milking stool whit its organic form, has specifically been chosen in the woods for its shape and size. Through centurys it has been used and abused but has stud the test of time. The legs are higher than it originally was and have been added about in the 19th-20th century. It also has repairs from 1800 century in form of big nails, see pictures. It has also been used as a chopping block and holes has been drilled in it a long time ago...
Category

1780s Swedish Antique Folk Art Seating

Materials

Pine

Antique Swedish Blue Pine Folk Art Stump Chair
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique Swedish stump chair in folk art. The chair is made from a single piece of wood, a pine log that’s been hollowed out by hand. Made in Sweden...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Seating

Materials

Pine

Antique Swedish Blue Pine Folk Art Stump Chair
Antique Swedish Blue Pine Folk Art Stump Chair
H 33.86 in W 22.84 in D 21.66 in
18th Century Primitive Welsh Windsor Armchair
Located in Houston, TX
18th Century primitive Welsh Windsor armchair, or stick chair, circa 1740-1760. All-original: elm shaped-seat; ash back, arms and legs. Remnants of ear...
Category

1740s Welsh Antique Folk Art Seating

Materials

Ash, Elm, Paint

Late 18th Century Welsh Comb-Back Stick Chair
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Late 18th Century Welsh comb-back stick chair from Cardiganshire. This chair originates from the coastal town of Aberaeron in West Wales. With a wonderful time-worn black painted fi...
Category

Late 18th Century Welsh Antique Folk Art Seating

Materials

Wood

Late 18th Century Welsh Comb-Back Stick Chair
Late 18th Century Welsh Comb-Back Stick Chair
H 40.95 in W 20.08 in D 23.63 in
Early Elm French High Stool
Located in Houston, TX
Early elm French high stool circa 1750-1789 with later bracing at feet. Gorgeous natural sun-bleached finish.
Category

Mid-18th Century French Antique Folk Art Seating

Materials

Elm, Pine

Early Elm French High Stool
Early Elm French High Stool
H 28 in W 26 in D 19 in
18c Green Swedish Kubbestol Chair
Located in New Orleans, LA
A Swedish Kubbestol chair carved from a tree trunk. The bottom is hollowed and top carved to make the back. Considered Swedish Folk Art.
Category

18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Seating

Materials

Wood

18c Green Swedish Kubbestol Chair
18c Green Swedish Kubbestol Chair
H 33 in W 22 in D 17 in
Early Welsh Primitive Windsor Armchair
Located in Houston, TX
Early Welsh primitive Windsor armchair dating to the 18th century. Rustic style and vernacular pegged and mortise and tenon construction. Beautiful t...
Category

Mid-18th Century Welsh Antique Folk Art Seating

Materials

Ash, Elm, Oak, Paint

Early Welsh Primitive Windsor Armchair
Early Welsh Primitive Windsor Armchair
H 40.5 in W 23 in D 22.63 in
Swedish Folk Art Blue and Orange Kubbstol Chair
Located in Kramfors, SE
Swedish Folk Art kubbstol from the second half of the 19th century. The chair is painted with a bright blue and has an orange accent color which brings out the colors even more. A ku...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Seating

Materials

Pine

Swedish Folk Art Blue and Orange Kubbstol Chair
Swedish Folk Art Blue and Orange Kubbstol Chair
H 31.89 in W 16.54 in D 15.75 in
Green Painted Swedish Folk Art Chair
Located in Houston, TX
Green painted Swedish Folk Art chair, circa 1780. Pegged construction vernacular side chair in layers of early milk paint: green over blues.
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Seating

Materials

Pine

Green Painted Swedish Folk Art Chair
Green Painted Swedish Folk Art Chair
H 32.75 in W 13.25 in L 32.75 in
Set of 4 Antique Oak Country Chippendale Chairs, English, 18th Century
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
A great set of 4 naive oak country chairs. Lovely color. In the Country Chippendale style. I particularly like shape of the splat. The chairs are English, circa 1780. ...
Category

1780s English Antique Folk Art Seating

Materials

Oak

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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