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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
"William Tell" Mechanical Toy Savings Bank. American, Circa 1896 (All Original)
Located in Incline Village, NV
"William Tell" mechanical bank was patented and manufactured in 1896 by the J. & E. Steven's Company in Cromwell, Connecticut (please see image of the underneath with patent informat...
Category

1890s American Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Iron

Large French Copper & Brass Egg Or Escargot Handled Poaching Pan
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Large French copper egg or escargot poaching pan with embossed drop brass handles and 19 cup openings. Previously repurposed as a tray and comes with a glas...
Category

20th Century French Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Copper

Ulysse Dabouze (Haitian, 19th C.) Hand-Carved Bust of Henri Christophe
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Ulysse Dabouze (Haitian, 19th C.) hand-carved bust of Henri Christophe. inscribed H. Christope This hand-carved wooden bust of Henri Christophe, attributed to Ulysse Dabouze (Haiti...
Category

19th Century Haitian Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Hardwood, Ebony

Asian Black and Red Round Box Lacquer Offering Vessel Urn
Located in North Hollywood, CA
South Asian Burmese black and red lacquer box, offering vessel urn with compartment for storage. This round lacquer ware box from Burma is made from bamboo and lacquer. In Burma (now...
Category

Late 20th Century Burmese Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Bamboo

Leaping Stag Weathervane Mounted on Marble Base C. 1940's
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage leaping stag weathervane made of copper, with a verdigris patina that gives it a weathered, greenish appearance. Then stag is depicted mid-l...
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Marble, Copper

Massive Vintage Leather Camel
Located in Dekalb, IL
Large, leather-wrapped wooden camel. This unique decorative piece is one for the books! Using realism, the designer accurately portrays a traditional Dromedary camel, a breed known ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Leather

Vintage Tri Folding Hand Painted Screen w/ Scene of Early Boston Massachusetts
Located in Savannah, GA
This unique tri-fold screen features a wooden frame with a hand painted oil on canvas view of early Boston Massachusetts. Very colorful and detailed, the bottom third highlights a di...
Category

1970s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Canvas, Wood

Antique Gemstone Gilt Bronze Mounted Rock Crystal Vessel Offering Bowl
Located in Forney, TX
A spectacular Mughal Empire Period (1526-1857) precious gemstone set gilt bronze ormolu mounted carved rock crystal vessel Buddhist altar offering bowl....
Category

19th Century Tibetan Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Multi-gemstone, Rock Crystal, Ormolu

Vintage large Tonala Mexican Stretching Cat Ceramic and Brass Figurine
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage large Tonala Mexican Stretching Cat Ceramic and Brass Folk Art Figurine. Vintage handcrafted Tonala pottery cat with brass overlay in Sergi0...
Category

Mid-20th Century Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Brass

Antique Swedish Copper Cake Baking Mold Form
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Scandinavian early 19th Century copper cake baking mold pan featuring an intricate tiered design. In the past in Scandinavia there was an important cake b...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Copper

Large Vintage or Antique Folk Art Pottery Sewer Tile Type Cat Figure Sculpture
Located in Wilton, CT
Large folk pottery cat figure in abstracted form, sitting alert with ears pricked, circa early 20th century. With terrific, original, cold painted and varnished yellow and red finish...
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pottery

Hand Carved Large Vintage Antique Wood Duck Decoy Sculpture, Early 20th Century
Located in Studio City, CA
A fantastic early to Mid-20th Century hand-carved and painted wood duck or mallard decoy with glass eyes. This piece has an wonderful color and texture. From an impressive Los Angeles vintage duck and antique swan decoy...
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paint

Zabihi Collection Pink Komodo Dragon Armenian Rug
Located in New York, NY
A rare armenian Rug depicting 2 Komodo Dragons on a pink fuchsia field Measures: 5'2'' x 9'4''.
Category

20th Century Armenian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

Antique shepherd’s chest, 1850s
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Low shepherd’s chest with a beautiful appearance and proportions from around 1850. These chests were made in the same way for centuries. They were deco...
Category

1850s Romanian Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Beech

Dated 1883 Masonic Flag Holder in Iron
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Masonic cast iron original black painted masonic flag holder with footed ball and claw feet. The condition is very good and strong.
Category

1880s American Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Iron

Antique 1874 Child's Needlepoint Sampler
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An antique needlepoint sampler by Mary Morgan dated 1874 with words: "When my father and my mother forsake me then the Lord will take me up...
Category

19th Century American Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Thread, Glass, Wood

1960s Moroccan Vintage Berber Tribal Rug
Located in North Hollywood, CA
1060s Large handwoven vintage Moroccan Berber Tribal rug, nicely aged and faded washed cors.Handwoven by The Berber tribes in Morocco with traditional geometric tribal designs.South ...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool, Goat Hair

Child' Wind Up Toy "Crawling Beetle" by The Lehman Toy Co. Germany, Circa 1900
Located in Incline Village, NV
Listed as #431 in the Lehman catalogues this wonderful vintage children's wind up toy, manufactured by the prestigious and iconic Lehman Toy Company of Germany; was patented in 1895 (see image--markings under wing ). The toy was made for over 25 years and was quite popular. When wound up using the underside attached clockwork( key (see attached movie) the toy depicts the six legged beetle crawling across the floor by moving it's legs back and forth while flapping it's wings in the air. All the markings "Pat. U.S.A." "D.R.G.M." "Pat April 23, 1895" "Lehman" are clearly marked under the wing (see image). It is lithographed and hand painted in colors of bluish green wings, a red and white head, yellow and black under wings, with red and blackish green legs. This particular example is completely original ,which is highly unusual for this toy as a search of other examples would reveal that one or several of the legs are typically lacking, or repaired, as are the fragile wings as well. There is no restoration and no touch up paint of any kind. to this toy. It is original in every respect. The toy is catalogued as "EPL #431" and documented on page 59 and 60 of the book "Lehman Toys" by Jurgen & Marianne Cieslik, published in 1982. Dimensions: 4 1/4" long x 2" high x 4" wide Provenance: Recently acquired from a highly regarded West Coast collection of antique wind...
Category

Early 1900s German Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Tin

Highly Unusual American Folk Art "Yale vs. Harvard" Spinning Wheel Game C. 1900
Located in Atlanta, GA
American, circa 1900. A highly unusual American folk art game board. Hand designed and painted likely in New England by an Ivy Leaguer which features a 4 corner "Yale Vs. Harvard" d...
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paint

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

Charming Antique Primitive Folk Art Chairs, from Northern Sweden Made in Pine
Located in Kramfors, SE
Charming antique primitive chairs in folk art made in northern Sweden. Made by hand in solid pine around the year 1800 which makes them around 220 years old. Original paint which has...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pine

Antique Handmade Bronze Cowbell From Switzerland 1850s
Located in Hannover, DE
This bell has a wonderful and very loud sound. Ideal for a large house to call all the residents out to eat or on your property in the country, the children will hear this sound from...
Category

1850s Swiss Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Bronze

18th Century Swedish Antique Wood Trough /Serving bowl dated 1789 sign PPS OIS
Located in Boden, SE
A genuine antique wood trough dated 1789 and signed with ownermarks PPS OIS ,from Hälsingland Northern Sweden A nearly monumentaly large farmers ...
Category

1780s Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pine

Authentic Mexican Folk Art Painting of Saint
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Wonderful folk art primitive painting of a saint on distressed wooden panel.
Category

1970s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Mushroom Botanical Scientific Specimen Model Europe, 1950s or older
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This rare vintage model of a botanical scientific specimen depicts a mushroom native to Central Europe. This kind of items are used as teaching material in German schools or as showp...
Category

20th Century Czech Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paper

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

Art Nouveau Cast Iron Christmas Tree Stand, Vintage, German, 1910s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This beautiful Art nouveau silver color cast iron Christmas tree stand, was made in Germany, in the 1910s. A nice addition for your Christmas decoration. It holds a stem up to 1.88 i...
Category

1910s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal, Iron

Glass Parrot Bird Christmas Tree Clip-On Ornament, Vintage, German, 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A rare antique clip-on bird ornament, it's a beautiful parrot. This ornament, is made from ultra-thin hand blown glass, hand painted with a kind of cold paint, would be a great antiq...
Category

Early 20th Century German Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Mercury Glass

Swedish 19th Century hand painted oak coffer
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Swedish 19th century hand painted oak coffer circa 1831. Fine quality piece of swedish folk art, although we have dated this piece from the time it was painted, it is much older, gi...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Oak, Paint

Mid-Century American Folk Art Wood Articulated Man Figure
Located in Farmington Hills, MI
We are very pleased to offer a Folk Art wooden articulated man, circa the 1950s. This nearly 5-foot tall, handcrafted piece, epitomizing Mid-century American craftsmanship, is made ...
Category

1950s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Hardwood

Original Hand Painted Pine Bench with Storage, Hungary circa 1920-40
Located in Round Top, TX
Original hand painted folk art pine bench displays traditional brown faux wood background and colorful floral motif. Back has 3 decorative spindles, slightly curved armrests and hing...
Category

Early 20th Century Hungarian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pine, Paint

Scandinavian Cake Copper Pan, Early 19th Century
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
An Early 19th Century Scandinavian copper cake mold. The handle and the feet are also in copper. If desired, this antique cake pan could easily be pol...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Copper

Rare Folk Art Chair
Located in Vlimmeren, BE
This mysterious chair will surely catch the attention of any visitor. We can’t say much about the age, but this chair could certainly be 200 years old. It is for sure an European cha...
Category

19th Century Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Japanese antique wooden mortar. side table or coffee table. wabi sabi
Located in 常陸大宮市, JP
New finds from the farmer's Kura (traditional style warehouse) in Ibaraki pref., Japan. Antique wooden mortar, "Usu" in Japanese, made of quality Keyaki (Japanese Zelkova) hardwood....
Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood, Hardwood

Set of Two Mushrooms Scientific Models Europe , Germany 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This rare vintage set of two different types of mushrooms, show Models which are native to middle Europe. This kind of items are used as teaching material in German schools. Colorful...
Category

1960s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paper

Antique Mexican Jaguar Mask
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1960. We offer this antique Mexican Jaguar mask made in leather, mirror for eyes and boar bristles. These masks depict jaguars and tigers used in ...
Category

1960s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Leather

Moroccan Silver Choker Collectible Berber Jewelry
Located in North Hollywood, CA
A Moroccan Tribal jewelry vintage chocker inlaid with colorful glass beads in red and green and dangling coins. German silver, but not of the standard of sterling and richly embelli...
Category

Mid-20th Century Moroccan Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal

Mushroom Botanical Scientific Specimen Model Europe, 1950s or older
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This rare vintage model of a botanical scientific specimen depicts a mushroom native to Central Europe. This kind of items are used as teaching material in German schools or as showp...
Category

20th Century Czech Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paper

Nantucket Cocktail Purse by Jose Formoso Reyes, circa 1950
By Jose Formoso Reyes
Located in Nantucket, MA
Nantucket Cocktail Purse by Jose Formoso Reyes, circa 1950, a very early Nantucket diminutive oval woven purse made during the first few years Reyes was m...
Category

1950s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Cane, Rattan, Pine

Folk Art Hand Painted Wooden Trade Sign
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique Folk Art hand painted double-sided wooden trade sign dating from the early 20th Century... 1920s? 1930s? A wonderful whimsical sign most likely...
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pine

Wooden Nutcracker, Mid-Century French Folk Art, Carved Geometric Motifs, 1960s
Located in ROUEN, FR
Wooden Nutcracker, Mid-Century French Folk Art, Carved Geometric Motifs, 1960s Elegant and sculptural Nutcracker, a nice example of French Folk Art ! Both sides are engraved with f...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood, Fruitwood

Large Red and White Hand Painted Ceramic Italian Soup Cup, Italy
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A beautiful large hand painted soup cup with handle made in Italy. Italian folk pottery has become highly coveted in recent years. This piece features a hand ...
Category

20th Century Italian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Ceramic, Paint

George III Oak Cricket Table
Located in London, GB
A George III Oak Cricket table with circular top above a triform base with tapering legs joined by a raised shelf. Solid construction and rich overall patina. Bears the typical old ...
Category

Early 19th Century English Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Oak

18th Century Swedish Wooden Bowl
Located in Kvidinge, SE
18th Century wooden bowl with nice patina. You can see the use of time Fantastic bowl full of Swedish history
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Antique Hand Quilted Jacket, Ottoman Turkey, Late 19th Century.
Located in Istanbul, TR
Here is an unusually large example to these intensive hand quilted satin silk jackets from Ottoman Empire times.
Category

Late 19th Century Turkish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Silk

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

19th Century American General Store Apothecary Grain Paint Hand Stenciling
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Beautiful 19th century general store large scale yellow pine apothecary in old surface. Found in the north eastern united states. Most likely of Pennsylvania origin. Red stain grain ...
Category

1880s American Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Stunning Large Santa Claus Belsnickel Candy Container German Christmas, Vintage
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This vintage Belsnickle Santa Claus candy container made of composition, cardboard and wood was made in the 20th century and is a charming addition ...
Category

20th Century German Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Composition

"Organ Bank" with Cat and Dog, circa 1882, American
By Kyser & Rex Co.
Located in Incline Village, NV
This American cast iron bank known as "Organ Bank" (Cat and Dog), was manufactured by Kyser & Rex Company, Frankford, Pennsylvania in 1882. It conforms exac...
Category

1880s American Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Iron

Modern Eclectic Style Rug with Hand-Tufted Botanical Silk
Located in Vilnius, LT
Category: Rugs, Carpets, Decoration Dimensions: 1.95m x 1.65m Thickness: 0.015m Weight: 6.5kg Material: recycled used clothing, 100% cotton The technique combines crochet, embroider...
Category

2010s Ukrainian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Cotton

Antique Swedish Folk Art Solid Pine Cabinet
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique folk art cabinet from Sweden made during the first years of the 19th century, around 1810. The cabinet is made by hand in solid pine. ...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pine

Elmer Crowell Quarter Sized Canada Goose Decoy, circa 1930s
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique Quarter Sized Canada Goose Decoy, by J.Elmer Crowell, East Harwich, MA (1862 - 1952), circa 1928 - 1943, a hand carved and painted diminutive Can...
Category

1930s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Cedar

Folk Art Adam and Eve from Midwest Lodge
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Fantastic hand-painted and carved lodge piece from the Midwest. Painting depicts Eve picking the apple from the snakes mouth. The Stand has a hand-carved snake that wraps around the ...
Category

1930s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Japanese Antique Root wood burl sculpture display stand, flower stand wabi sabi
Located in 常陸大宮市, JP
Tree root display stand (Dai), made from antique wood burl, which looks like a lion dog / Komainu / Foo dog. The product of 1930s to 50s (mid Showa period) estimate from the style & ...
Category

20th Century Japanese Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood, Burl

A Large Pair of Extraordinary Decorative Early 20th C. Wooden Barn Doors
Located in Nashua, NH
A beautiful pair of very large interlocking hardwood barn doors which have been in storage in a 19th C. New England barn for many many years. Each door is very intricately and beautifully decorated on their interior sides with a lattice and sunburst wooden...
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Antique French Limonaire Frères Signed Carved Painted Wood Carousel Donkey Ride
Located in Forney, TX
A rare, important and most charming French carousel amusement ride by important Parisian craftsmen Limonaire Frères / Limonaire Brothers (France; 1839-1932) Hand-crafted in Paris, France in the late 19th century, exceptionally executed near life-size form depicting a standing donkey figure with the rare unique feature of a nodding head. Finished in country fair taste, hand-carved solid wood construction, the menagerie merry-go-round ride presents splendidly, with the original layered polychrome paint finish, enhanced by beautifully aged heavily worn patina acquired over many years of carnival use. Signed, retaining the original manufacturer's brass plaque that reads: "Sculptures Pour Forains, Chevaux De Bois Etc, Limonaire Freres, Paris, 166 Avenue Daumesnil" The extremely rare, museum quality example is one of the very few surviving Limonaire Frères wooden carousel fixtures, one of only a handful imported to the United States, and quite possibly the last surviving donkey! DIMENSIONS: (approx) 44" High, 52" Wide, 10" Deep PROVENANCE / ACQUISITION: Acquired from the highly reputable auction house, Schultz Auctioneers, Clarence, New York. Important Antiques & Decorative Arts catalog HISTORY: Limonaire Frères were an amusement ride and later street organ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paint

Collection of 8 Glass And Metal German Tankards
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A collection of 8 pieces of tankards in glass with metal lids from the end of the 19th Century and beginning of the 20th Century. Probably these have been used for beer drinking. Fou...
Category

1890s German Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal

British Sailor's Woolwork of a Royal Navy Second Rate Battleship
Located in Downingtown, PA
British Sailor's Woolwork of a Royal Navy Second Rate Battleship, Circa 1875 The charming simple sailor's woolie depicts a starboard side view of a Royal Navy second rate battleship...
Category

1870s English Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

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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