Folk Art Furniture
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.
Early 1800s Welsh Antique Folk Art Furniture
Elm
1920s French Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Ceramic
20th Century Italian Folk Art Furniture
Brass, Copper
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Birch, Pine
1840s English Antique Folk Art Furniture
Paper
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Birch
1890s Austrian Antique Folk Art Furniture
Glass, Wood
1840s English Antique Folk Art Furniture
Paint, Delft, Faience
Early 1900s Scandinavian Antique Folk Art Furniture
Wood
1950s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Leather
1940s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Earthenware, Pottery
1910s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Wire
1930s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Mercury Glass
1980s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Mohair
2010s Italian Folk Art Furniture
Gold Leaf
Early 20th Century British Folk Art Furniture
Pine
1850s German Antique Folk Art Furniture
Pine
18th Century Indian Antique Folk Art Furniture
Wood
Late 19th Century European Antique Folk Art Furniture
Oak
Late 19th Century German Antique Folk Art Furniture
Mirror, Wood
1910s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Composition
1960s French Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Shell
1960s Spanish Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Fruitwood
1910s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Metal, Iron
Late 19th Century Balkan Antique Folk Art Furniture
Wool, Cotton
1930s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Wood, Cork
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Pine
Late 19th Century Finnish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Pine
2010s Moroccan Folk Art Furniture
Clay, Earthenware
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Copper
1980s Italian Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Shell, Plastic
1840s English Antique Folk Art Furniture
Canvas, Oak
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Pine
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Pine
1850s Romanian Antique Folk Art Furniture
Beech
1910s Austrian Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Antler, Wood
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Wood
1850s Swiss Antique Folk Art Furniture
Bronze
1890s German Antique Folk Art Furniture
Glass, Wood
19th Century British Antique Folk Art Furniture
Glass, Wood
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Elm
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Pine
1960s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Beech
1890s German Antique Folk Art Furniture
Glass, Wood
Mid-19th Century Burmese Antique Folk Art Furniture
Teak
Early 1900s European Antique Folk Art Furniture
Copper
Early 20th Century Mexican Folk Art Furniture
Ceramic, Pottery, Stoneware
Early 20th Century Danish Folk Art Furniture
Elm
Early 1900s German Antique Folk Art Furniture
Glass, Wood
Early 1900s German Antique Folk Art Furniture
Porcelain, Fabric
Early 1900s Austrian Antique Folk Art Furniture
Composition
Early 20th Century Austrian Folk Art Furniture
Composition
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Pine, Paint
Mid-20th Century French Folk Art Furniture
Iron
Early 20th Century Swedish Folk Art Furniture
Wood
1920s French Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Reclaimed Wood
1930s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Metal
Early 1900s German Antique Folk Art Furniture
Metal