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Folk Art Furniture

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
Three Antique Dutch Delft Plates Netherlands Circa 1800
Located in Katonah, NY
Made in the Netherlands circa 1800, these three Dutch Delft plates exhibit a naive yet energetic quality. The center of each dish features a beautifully hand-painted arrangement of l...
Category

Early 1800s Dutch Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Delft

Santa Claus Belsnickle Christmas Chocolate Mold Antique 1900s, German
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A gorgeous chocolate mold. Made of metal, not marked. Beautiful and ready to use or display, with nice patina. The 1890s to 1920s were the golden age of Chocolate production and cons...
Category

Early 1900s German Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal

Korean Minhwa Jakhodo Tiger and Magpie Scroll Painting on Silk, 19th Century
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderfully painted and detailed Korean folk art Minhwa Jakhodo (The letters “jak” means magpie; “ho” means tiger; and “do” means painting) Tiger and Magpie...
Category

19th Century Korean Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Silk, Wood, Paint

Monoxyl pitcher olive wood, French folk art, Alexandre Noll style, circa 1950s
Located in leucate, FR
French Folk Art. Huge monoxyl pitcher olive wood. Free-form and organic design. Fantastic patina. Measures: - Height 27 cm / 10,63'' - Width 14 cm / 5,51'' ...
Category

1950s French Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Woven Bamboo Wicker Ikebana Basket, Philippines Folk Art
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage Philippine Folk Art open basket features elongated cylindrical body and prominent handle. The body is plaited in tight weave in simple pattern; the fibers are darkened with ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Philippine Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Bamboo, Wicker, Rattan

Professionally Framed Antique East European Embroidery, 19th C.
Located in Istanbul, TR
First the fragment has been hand backed on a linen fabric, then stretched over a wooden stretcher and finished with a wooden frame. Late 19th C. Bulgaria. Ready to go on a wall. Fra...
Category

Late 19th Century Bulgarian Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Silk

Japanese vintage urushi small Kiri tansu box chest of drawers, wabi sabi mingei
Located in 常陸大宮市, JP
Japanese vintage small box tansu chest of drawers, Kohikidashi, fully made of Kiri (Paulownia). Refinished by seller with traditional black Urushi ...
Category

20th Century Japanese Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Vintage Vietnamese Backpack Basket
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Vintage Vietnamese Backpack Basket. A woven form starting with a square bamboo base tapering up to an open round sturdy mouth with a a smooth interior surface, specifically used in t...
Category

Late 20th Century Vietnamese Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Bamboo

Double Sailor's Valentine of Sea Shells with Heart and Star Designs
Located in Downingtown, PA
Double Sailor's Valentine of Sea Shells, Barbados, West Indies, Circa 1885 A double sailor's valentine with Spanish Cedar box with two sides. The right side is centered with a heart within within a ring of pink shells with beds of different colored sea shells at the border The left side has a star in the center and also with a circular ring of shells with alternating panels around the border Dimensions: Open: 18 1/2 inches wide x 9 inches x1 1/2 inches deep; Closed: 9 inches wide x 9 inches high x 3 inches deep See an article from the Seaport Museum, New York City, about the story and history of valentines. From Wikipedia A sailor's valentine is a form of shellcraft, a type of mostly antique souvenir...
Category

1880s Bajan Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Shell

Early 20th Century Scratch Built Boat Model
Located in London, GB
Early 20th Century Scratch Built Boat Model The Pilote Niviere is a French working vessel which sailed from the early part of the 20th century to th...
Category

1940s French Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal

20th Century American Folk Art Carved Stop Sign
Located in Chicago, IL
A 20th century American Folk Art hand-carved and painted wood stop sign mounted on a custom steel stand.
Category

20th Century American Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paint

Rare Set of Antique French Limonaire Frères Carved Wood Carousel Pig Figures
Located in London, GB
Rare Set of Antique French Limonaire Frères Carved Wood Carousel Pig Figures A unique pair of antique French carved wooden carousel pig figures, attributed to the world renowned Limo...
Category

1890s French Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pine

Hand Carved Dog Bench by Stephen Huneck
Located in Chicago, IL
Stephen Huneck, a renowned American folk artist, left behind a legacy of creativity and craftsmanship that continues to inspire today. This hand-carved wood dog bench...
Category

1990s American Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Exceptional Painted Bookcase with Gold Leaf Carvings
Located in Vo', Veneto
Exceptional bookcase painted in blue and red with gold leaf carvings. Two large side pillars, with richly carved scrolls, lacquered and gilded wi...
Category

1810s Italian Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Fir

Vintage Swiss/German Carved and Painted Board Chair
Located in Centennial, CO
A charming vintage Swiss or southern German carved and painted board chair with turned legs. Skillfully painted and structurally strong this chair would be a sweet accent chair in a ...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swiss Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pine, Paint

French Tramp Art Mirror with Chip-Carved Frame and Medallions, circa 1900
Located in Atlanta, GA
This early 20th-century French Tramp Art mirror captures the resourcefulness and layered geometry that define the tradition. Carved entirely by hand, the frame features an intricate ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Mirror, Wood

Iconic Pair of Sicilian Ceramic Heads from Caltagirone
Located in Budapest, HU
Fascinating traditional handmade ceramic planters from private collection.
Category

20th Century Sicilian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Original Antique Animal Prints, Bugs/Beetles, 1847
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great images of beetles Unframed. Lithographs after Cpt. Brown with original hand color. Published, 1847. The measurement is for 1 print Free shipping
Category

1840s English Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Paper

Sculptural 19th Century Horn Chair with Footstool
Located in Chicago, IL
A sculptural armchair and matching footstool from the late 19th century, artfully assembled from the curving forms of American cattle horns. At once delicate and dramatic, the chair ...
Category

Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Horn, Wool, Wood

Original Antique Astronomy Print. C.1900
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of the sun Unframed. Chromo-lithograph Published, C.1900 The measurement is the paper size of the print Free shipping.
Category

Early 1900s English Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Paper

19th Century Original Blue Painted Hanging Rack with 12 Pegs, Hungary
Located in Round Top, TX
This festive hanging rack is a wonderful example of the folk art found in Eastern Europe during the 1800's. The original blue painted background has traditional contrasting red trim....
Category

Late 19th Century Hungarian Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pine, Paint

Cast Iron Doorstop "Floral Arrangement in Green Vase" Amercan, Circa 1930 SCARCE
Located in Incline Village, NV
My title for this beautiful and excellent condition cast iron doorstop is appropriately called "Floral Arrangement in Green Vase". I have not seen this before, and it is not noted in...
Category

1930s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Iron

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 Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Antique American Carousel Horse Carnival Ride Attrib Charles Dare
Located in Forney, TX
A charming antique, circa 1920, American track machine carousel horse amusement ride attributed to legendary carver Charles W. Dare Company (United States), now mounted on a custom r...
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paint

British Sailor's Woolwork of Royal Navy Ship with Sunset
Located in Downingtown, PA
British Sailor's Woolwork of Royal Navy Ship with Sunset, Circa 1875 This is a lovely example of a sailor's woolie with wonderful color and subject. The sailor's woolwork or sailor...
Category

1870s English Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

Hand-Carved English Yorkshire Terrier Box, Circa 1930's
Located in High Point, NC
Vintage English hand-carved box in the form of a Yorkshire Terrier. This box just grabs your heart and squeezes it with the fluffy coat of fur and the sweet expression. This piece ...
Category

1930s English Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Fruitwood

24" Tall Antique Swedish Large Wooden Horse Carved Hand-Painted 19th Century
Located in Silkeborg, Silkeborg
Tall antique Swedish horse in carved wood with original patinated paint in off-white color with blue dots. Made circa end of the 19th century. Th...
Category

1890s Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Leather, Wood

Antique Wool Amish Diamond in A Square Quilt
Located in Los Angeles, CA
20Thc Wool Lancaster County,Pennsylvania diamond in a square quilt in very good condition.Center diamond is in a slate grey.Borders are in a purple with green corner blocks.The cente...
Category

1930s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

Primitive Antique Native American Mayan Mexican Folk Art Ocarina Fish Sculpture
Located in Studio City, CA
An interesting and rather unusual southwestern native North or Central American (Mesoamerican) primitive fish sculpture/instrument. We believe this piece is an earth-toned clay ocar...
Category

19th Century Mexican Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Clay, Earthenware, Pottery

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Country Rustic Folk Art Chair
Located in Boden, SE
Late 18th Century Swedish Country Folk Art Chair from Northern Sweden. This charming chair is a true piece of history. It was made by hand in Northern ...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pine

24 Pcs. Alabaster Mini Stone Fruit W/ Birds Eye Maple Compote
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Collection of 24 pieces of miniature stone fruit or alabaster hand painted mini alabaster fruits in a collection.The compote is a 19thc birds e...
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Marble

Carved Wood Sculpture of the Hindu Deity Nandi With Pedestal, Circa 1920
Located in Point Richmond, CA
South Indian carved wood sculpture depicting the Hindu Deity of Nandi, a recumbent black bull figure, known within the Hindu faith as the vehicle for Siva, often depicted in sculptur...
Category

20th Century Indian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Hardwood

19th Century Original Blue Painted Swedish Mora Grandfather Clock
Located in Round Top, TX
Antique Swedish Mora Grandfather clock with original blue painted finish. The monogram indicates this clock was likely a wedding or dowry present. Pine longcase with original folk a...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pine, Paint

Japanese antique wooden small tansu cabinet box, 1860s-1920s wabi sabi
Located in 常陸大宮市, JP
Japanese antique small tansu cabinet box with sliding doors - made of Hinoki Japanese cypress, finished with persimmon tannin & burnt pine ink. Product of circa 1870s-1920s (Meiji to...
Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood, Cypress

Mackenzie-Childs Flower Market Set of Oval Tray and Box, Retired Pieces
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage MacKenzie-Childs set of oval tray and square box with lid is decorated with Flower Market pattern on white background; the steel underbodies are color-glazed in white and de...
Category

2010s North American Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal, Enamel

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Black Leopard Framed Vintage Poster
Located in Savannah, GA
This large and very colorful vintage Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Baily Circus ink on paper poster features a charging black leopard with a ferocious grimace. Printed by the Erie Li...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Glass, Wood, Paper

Mid-20th Century Handmade Persian Pictorial Tabriz Hunting Ground Carpet
Located in New York, NY
A vintage Persian Tabriz pictorial hunting ground room size carpet handmade during the mid-20th century. Measures: 9' 11" x 12' 7".
Category

Mid-20th Century Persian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

Early 19thc Scrimshaw and Walnut Hand Carved with Heart Cutlery Caddy
Located in Savannah, GA
Scrimshaw is the art of carving bone, ivory, or other materials. It was a popular pastime for whalers in the 19th century, who created decorative and utilitarian objects. This very u...
Category

1820s American Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Bone, Walnut

Swedish Craft, Bowl, Wood, Sweden, 19th Century
Located in High Point, NC
A hand-painted wood bowl produced in Sweden, 19th century.
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Vintage 70s Wrought Iron Chandelier Eight Candles Swedish Art Glass 2 Extenders
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Add a touch of opulence to your home with this charming candle chandelier! This 60s Wrought Iron Chandelier with eight Swedish Art Glasses holds ball globe candles which are not incl...
Category

1970s Swedish Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wrought Iron

Folk art wedding chest from 1849
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A pine wedding chest from 1849. The illustrations are traditional with images of flowers and tulips. The chest was part of a dowry package and would have been in the clean room of th...
Category

1840s German Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pine

Italian Antique Cabinet
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is an antique Italian cabinet. It is probably quite old, dating back to the 1700s or 1800s. The texture it has acquired over the years gives it a dignified appearance that is ...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Teak

Early 20Thc Wool Amish Pennsylvania Bars Quilt
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fine all wool bars quilt is from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and has very fine tight quilting & in very good condition. The simple cool colors are also amazing as it goes wit...
Category

1920s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

19th Century Original Painted Narrow Bench with Storage, Hungary
Located in Round Top, TX
Antique hand painted narrow bench with divided seats and storage; 6.5' long. Two bench seats open to reveal interior storage. Traditional Eastern European folk art painting with dark...
Category

Late 19th Century Hungarian Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paint

Mid-20th Century Handmade Persian Kurd Pictorial Lion Throw Rug
Located in New York, NY
A vintage Persian Kurd throw rug handmade during the mid-20th century with a folk pictorial depiction of a lion. Measures: 3' 6" x 4' 9" P...
Category

Mid-20th Century Persian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

Italian 1930s beautifully hand-crafted oak mountain armchair
Located in Milan, IT
Italian 1930s beautifully hand-crafted oak mountain armchair
Category

1930s Italian Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Early 19th century hand painted Swedish cupboard
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Early 19th century hand painted swedish cupboard circa 1812. Fine quality example of Swedish hand painted folk art in the form of a cupboard. Painted in a tonal brown wash with rag...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pine, Paint

Petite French Tramp Art Mirror with Carved Geometric Frame, circa 1900
Located in Atlanta, GA
Petite in scale but bold in personality, this early 20th-century French Tramp Art mirror delivers hand-carved intricacy in a size that’s easy to place. Crafted circa 1900, the geometric frame is built up from layers of chip-carved wood with stepped corners and recessed central panels that create dimension from every angle. Brass tacks punctuate the four corners, center, and midpoints of the vertical sides—adding rhythm to the pattern and depth to the surface. Measuring just under 15 inches tall, this is one of the smallest antique Tramp Art mirrors...
Category

Early 20th Century French Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Mirror, Wood

Nantucket Purse with Painted Seascape on Top, by Barbara Grey, circa 1995
Located in Nantucket, MA
Vintage Nantucket Purse by Barbara Grey, circa 1995, a covered oval Nantucket basket, with cane weave on rattan staves, braided leather shoulder strap, turned bone peg, and having a ...
Category

1990s American Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Cane, Rattan, Wood

Vintage Haitian Painting of Animals in a Jungle by Jean Claude
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Enchanting mid century Haitian acrylic painting on canvas of African animals and ducks in a pond in a jungle setting executed in a distinctive naive style, signed Jean Claude in the ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Haitian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Paint

Vintage American Brass Sperm Whale Doorstop
Located in Chicago, IL
This vintage American brass sperm whale doorstop is a delightful blend of charm and functionality, perfect for adding a splash of coastal flair to your space. Cast in solid brass, th...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Brass

Antique Swedish Wooden storage box 1865 Handmade Folk Craft
Located in Forest, BE
Swedish antique pine and birch wooden storage box. . Fine quality of bentwood. It is a true piece from the 19 century. Initials are hand painted on the top 1865 and hand engraved und...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Birch, Pine

Japanese antique slim wooden mortar. side table / coffee table wabi sabi organic
Located in 常陸大宮市, JP
New finds from Naya (the barn) in Ibaraki pref., Japan. Antique wooden mortar, "Usu" in Japanese, made of quality Keyaki (Japanese Zelkova) hardwood. Hand-carved, Manufactured circ...
Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood, Hardwood

Pillow Cover Made from an Anatolian Embroidered Skirt, 2nd Quarter 20th C.
Located in Istanbul, TR
The pillow case has been fashioned from a Western Anatolian Cotton embroidered dress skirt. It does not come with an insert but a bag made from cotton fabric to accommodate insert ma...
Category

Early 20th Century Turkish Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Cotton

Mid Century French Wicker Fish Ceiling Light
Located in Hastings, GB
Superb 1950’s wicker fish ceiling light, French. Due to their nature these original ceiling lights are incredibly rare to find from this period and especially in such good condition....
Category

1950s French Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wicker

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 ...
Category

Early 20th Century German Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Folk Art Mountain Landscape Painting - Initialed & Dated - Canada - Circa 1956
Located in Chatham, ON
Mid Century folk art mountain landscape oil painting on artist's canvas board - unframed - initialed lower right - Canada - circa 1956. Good vintage condition - no loss - no apparen...
Category

Mid-20th Century Canadian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Canvas, Paint

Tibetan Horse Cover Textile Rug, Early 20th Century
Located in New York, NY
An early 20th century Tibetan horse cover textile rug in blue and yellow, circa 1900, measures: 2'1" x 4'9".
Category

Early 20th Century Tibetan Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Cotton, Wool

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...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pine

Antique French Floral Painted Folk Art Marriage Chest, Late 18Th Century
Located in Bristol, GB
ANTIQUE PAINTED DOMED TRUNK A highly decorative chest of lovely proportions with a slightly domed top. Made of softwood in its original paint with hand-painted floral decoration on...
Category

Late 18th Century French Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal

Folk Art furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique folk art furniture 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 furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include folk art, decorative objects, wall decorations and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art furniture made in a specific country, there are Europe, North America, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original furniture, popular names associated with this style include Berber Tribes of Morocco, Mosche Bianche, Jim Rose, and Nils Olsson. 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 furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $20 and tops out at $225,000 while the average work can sell for $1,252.

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