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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
19th Century French Cast Iron Butcher's Shop Trade Sign in the Form of a Cow
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
French cast iron butcher shop trade sign retaining old paint and cast in low relief in the form of a steer wearing a tasseled blanket and with it's head turned. The blanked cast with...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Iron

Antique Mexican Demon Mask
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this rare antique Mexican Demon mask in wood, circa 1970. The mask makes a sound when moved.
Category

1970s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Vintage Americana Mid-Century Neon Barber Shop Sign
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Fantastic 13.5 foot long Mid-Century vintage neon barber shop sign. Total statement piece. Unusual three dimensional channel letters. Many layers of r...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal

Rare Antique Horse Rooster Shirvan Caucasian Rug Dated 1948
Located in New York, NY
A fine rust colored Caucasian rug depicting a large light blue colored horse and 4 roosters dated 1948. Measures: 4'3" x 6'8".
Category

20th Century Caucasian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

Rare Mercury Glass Holiday Christmas Ornament Antique German Money Bag, 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Add a touch of vintage charm to your Christmas tree with this antique German glass ornament. The unique design features a money bag, perf...
Category

Early 1900s German Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wire

A Charming Horse Shoe and Stirrup Stationary or Letter Rack This is a very attr
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A Charming Horse Shoe and Stirrup Stationary or Letter Rack This is a very attractive and useful piece, the rack is made in brass, it has a stirrup at the centre of 2 horseshoes set...
Category

1920s Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Brass

Napoleonic Prisoner of War Painted Casket Dominoes Set
Located in London, GB
Napoleonic Prisoner of war painted casket dominoes set We share what we love, and we love this early 19th century Napoleonic prisoner of war hand painted ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Bone

Hand Carved Gilded Torso Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
Large scale hand carved and gilded torso sculpture made from a tree branch,
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Turkish Hand Block Printed Square Panel, Bokhca, 1st Half 20th Century
Located in Istanbul, TR
This is a folk art textile from the 1st half of 20th C. The art of block printing is still being practiced in various parts of Turkey and this example is from Tokat.
Category

Early 20th Century Turkish Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Cotton

Original Antique Print of a Melodious Willow Warbler, circa 1880, 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Melodious Willow Warbler Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Alexander Francis Lydon. O...
Category

1880s English Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Paper

Pillowcase made from a Mid 20th C. English Crewel work embroidery
Located in Istanbul, TR
It does not come with an insert . Linen in the back. Zipper closure. Dry clean is recommended.
Category

Mid-20th Century English Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

Original Old Painted Storage Basket, Hand Decorated
Located in Vo', Veneto
Original old painted alpine storage basket, hand decorated Measures: Height 48 cm – Base diameter 39 cm – Top diameter 50 cm Hand painted antique Tyrolean wooden tub. Entirely painted in a beautiful teal blue, on the edge it is decorated with a motif of red triangles while on the central bands are painted scenes of a wedding. This accessory can have various uses, and given its medium size it can adapt to many environments. It can be used as an original blanket or magazine holder for the living room, or as a large vase filled with dried flowers, or as a pure decorative element, enhancing a corner of the house. Another idea could be to apply a removable cover in antique wood, thus transforming it into an entrance or living room table, or into a colorful bedside table...
Category

Late 19th Century Italian Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Fir

Folk Art Carnival Sign Winged Scarab and Pyramid "Elixer of Life" Circa 1900
Located in Stamford, CT
Carnival sign with Ancient Egyptian winged scarab and pyramid, hand carved and painted advertisement for "Elixer of Life", circa 1900. This wonderful piece, a personal favorite, has ...
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Blue Chinese Animal Pictorial Rug
Located in New York, NY
An early 20th-century Chinese Pictorial rug with an animal motif in light blue, navy and ivory Measures: 2'3' x 4'5''.
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

Original Vintage Print of Arthropods. French, C.1920
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of anthropods Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Chromo-lithograph Published, C.1920 Free shipping.
Category

1920s French Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Paper

Resting Bavarian Lion Chocolate Mold Antique Vintage, German, 1910s
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 consumption throughout Europe. Many cities and towns had competing chocolate shops with wonderful window displays filled with intricate, molded solid chocolate figures to entice hungry passersby. By this time, they had perfected the art of molding chocolate by using metal molds. The most known and best Manufactory for this kind of molds was the famous Anton Reiche...
Category

1910s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal

Swedish Gustavian Dowry Chest with Exceptional Interior Painting, Dated 1782
Located in New York, NY
An exceptional Swedish Gustavian dowry chest with original paint on the interior and exterior. The interior painting depicts a marriage scene and...
Category

18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Iron

1800s Clothing Store Carousel Coat Brown Wood Rack
Located in Chicago, IL
1800s clothing store carousel coat brown wood rack.
Category

1890s North American Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Zabihi Collection Pictorial Animal Figure Antique Persian Serapi Carpet
Located in New York, NY
Late 19th century Persian serapi carpet featuring some human elements and pictorial figures. Measures: 11'1'' x 15'1'' The finest antique Persian Serapis are geometric or styli...
Category

19th Century Persian Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

Early 20th Century Piano Teacher Sign Board
Located in Peabody, MA
Hand painted sign for the services of a "modern" piano teacher. This would likely have meant ragtime or jazz, as these were often referred to as new approaches to the instrument as o...
Category

1930s North American Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paint

German Pine Blanket / Marriage Chest
Located in Wilson, NC
Antique painted German pine blanket/marriage chest. Wonderful folk art flowers and geometric designs on facing front. Colors are still vibrant after 200 years. Two handles for easy ...
Category

Early 19th Century German Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wrought Iron

Chelsea Textiles Original Needlepoint Tulip Artwork In Red White and Yellow
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Needlepoint Wood Framed Artwork of Tulips from Chelsea Textiles One-of-a-kind needlepoint artwork from Chelsea Textiles. This framed artwork features tulips in rust, orange, yellow and green colors. This classic piece of art would make a suitable piece to add to a bookshelf or wonderful displayed as part of a wall gallery art collection.
Category

Mid-20th Century English Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Fabric

Pillow Cover Made from an E 20th C. Rabat Embroidery, Morocco
Located in Istanbul, TR
This pillow case is made from an early 20th C. Rabat Embroidery. It does not come with an insert . Cotton in the back. Zipper closure. Dry clean is r...
Category

Early 20th Century Uzbek Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Silk

Beech wabi sabi cabinet, 1850s
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Rare primitive cabinet, Carpathians, circa 1850, early construction, built from sawn or hewn beech wood. A shelf on the inside. This is a cabinet from a very modest home in the highl...
Category

1850s Romanian Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Beech

Folk Art Early 20th Century Wood Rustic Four Chairs
Located in Brescia, IT
Four rustic chairs 1900-1910 Hand-carved wood Excellent condition.
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Antique Swedish flour Wooden storage box 1800's Handmade Folk Craft blue painted
Located in Forest, BE
Swedish antique pine and birch wooden flour box. All made by hand, the lid is perfectly adjusted to the barrel. Fine quality of bentwood. It is a true piece from the late 18 century ...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Birch, Pine

early 20th Century Wabi Sabi 3 Leg Workshop Stool, German Folkart Around 1910s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This early 20th century wabi sabi 3 leg workshop stool from Germany is an excellent example of this style. The piece has a square, rustic-looking seat made of wood and is supported b...
Category

Early 20th Century German Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Guatemalan Child's Chair, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Crafted in the early 20th century, this petite Guatemalan children's chair charms with its playful asymmetry and blend of motifs. Influenced by Spanish Colonial furniture design, the painted chair has an angular back and square seat resting on two hand-turned legs. The low seat is the perfect height for a youngster, but we love this petite chair as a low side table or tabletop display...
Category

Early 20th Century Guatemalan Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Folk Art Wall Mirror, Hand-Painted Floral Motifs and Gilded Frame, Peru 1970s
Located in ROUEN, FR
Folk Art Wall Mirror, Hand-Painted Floral Motifs and Gilded Frame, Peru 1970s Add a touch of vibrant folk charm to your space with this 1970s Peruvian mirror. The wooden frame fea...
Category

Late 20th Century Peruvian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Glass, Mirror, Wood, Giltwood, Paint

Hand Stitched Quilt Geometric Folk Art Tulips King Queen Blanket Bedspread
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage hand stitched king sized quilt featuring gray-green, mauve and white floral cotton in blocks framing quartets of tulips on the front, a navy bl...
Category

Mid-20th Century Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Cotton

Mexican Antique Dolores Porras Clay Pottery Folk Art Ant Terracotta Vessel Vase
Located in Queretaro, Queretaro
This one of a kind Mexican antique is one of few pieces Dolores had at her home at the time she passed away. Dolores portrays the flora from her garden in Santa María Atzompa, Oaxaca...
Category

1980s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Terracotta, Clay, Pottery

Antique Miniature German Boule Biedermeier Dollhouse Bed Room Furniture 1860-90s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This rare and exquisite miniature antique German wooden Boule Bedroom Furniture set with fine golden transfers, dated about 1860s to 1890s. Made by one of the famous German toy companies. A very lovely Furniture set for antique dolls and for dollhouses. Measurements given in dimensions section refers to the bed. The small Vanity desk...
Category

1890s German Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

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

Giovanni De Simone platter
Located in Pasadena, TX
This is a wonderful vintage example of Giovanni De Simone's work! It was created and hand-painted by the artist himself. It's signed and dated on the verso. This piece was rendered b...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pottery, Paint

1930s Austrian Horse Toy
By Craft and Folk Art Museum
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
Beautiful 1930s Austrian horse toy. Wonderful patina.
Category

1920s Austrian Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Bentwood

Midcentury Persian Folk Handmade Throw Rug in Red
Located in New York, NY
A vintage Persian Hamadan folk rug handmade during the mid-20th century in scatter/throw rug size with a red field filled with geometric botehs (paisleys).
Category

Mid-20th Century Persian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

Original Antique Print of a Blue Tit, circa 1880, 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Blue Tit Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Alexander Francis Lydon. Original color P...
Category

1880s English Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Paper

Indian Kalamkari Panel, Late 19th Century.
Located in Istanbul, TR
A great example of the type, displaying the high levels of the art of kalamkari.
Category

Late 19th Century Indian Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Cotton

Spanish Colonial Mexican Folk Art Ex-Voto Retablo Painting Catholic Saint 1800s
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautiful 19th-century Spanish Colonial Mexican Folk Art ex-voto retablo lámina painting featuring an unknown Spanish Roman Catholic Saint. The work is hand-painted on metal (li...
Category

19th Century Mexican Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal, Tin

Antique Tall Patinated Brass Turkish Ottoman Spice Coffee Pepper Grinder
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful antique rare pepper coffee spice grinder, hand made an incredible mechanical piece hand hammered one of a kind rare piece with some inscription...
Category

Early 20th Century Turkish Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Brass

Mexican Burnished Clay Hand Oaxaca Sculpture Mixtec Ceramic Organic Pre-Hispanic
Located in Queretaro, Queretaro
Mexican Ceramic Clay Hand Sculpture by Manuel Reyes Handmade Folk Art from Oaxaca This Mexican ceramic hand sculpture is a one-of-a-kind piece handcrafted by renowned ceramic artis...
Category

2010s Mexican Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Ceramic, Clay

Scandinavian Stump Chair, Late 1700s - Early 1800s
Located in Helsinki, FI
A beautiful stump chair with beautiful scars and wonderful repairs that add to its charm and uniqueness. The chair was aquired from Sweden and is most probably from a Swedish origin....
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pine

Mid-20th Century Polish Cepelia Rug
Located in Chicago, IL
A beautiful mid-20th century Polish Folk Art Cepelia rug depicting a village with rows of houses and churches, and sylized trees, all woven in muted orange...
Category

1950s Polish Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

1930s American Braided Rug ( 8' R - 245 R )
Located in New York, NY
1930s American Braided Rug ( 8' R - 245 R )
Category

1930s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool, Fabric

Nantucket Basket by A.D. Williams (1867 - 1927), circa 1890
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique Nantucket Basket by A.D. Williams (Nantucket: 1867 - 1927), circa 1890, an oval open Nantucket basket with cane weave on oak staves, w...
Category

1890s American Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Cane, Oak

20th Century Swedish Rag Rug
Located in Boden, SE
A fantastically Swedish Rag Rug in beautiful color & pattern. Handwoven in Boden Northern Sweden . The rug is freshly washed. Vintage & antique Swedish Rag Rugs from Sweden comes in ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Cotton

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

19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

20th C Original Painted Bank
Located in Los Angeles, CA
20th C original painted bank from Mexico. The bank is more Gray than the photos.
Category

20th Century Mexican Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pottery

Vintage Peruvian Folk Art Framed Negreria Dance Cape
Located in Forney, TX
A scarce framed fragment of "Negreria" dance cape, circa 1940s, Huayucachi, Junin, Peru. Dating to the mid-20th century, the rare large size South ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Peruvian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Textile, Cotton, Sequins

Antique Block Printed Indigo Quilt Top, Uzbekistan, Early 20th
Located in Istanbul, TR
These quilt tops are supposed to be from Tashkent of Uzbekistan and mostly used for the purpose along with as lining for a group of chapans from the area. This is for sure is a prod...
Category

Early 20th Century Uzbek Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Cotton

"Lady Seated in Chair Reading" Money Box/ Still Bank by a. Biagioni, Circa 1925
Located in Incline Village, NV
Penny bank made by Italian Angelo Biagioni for the French market (see image with marking on the back of the chair), circa 1910. Biagioni, born in 1870, was a well known sculptor who crafted objects for resale to the European market. Money boxes (or still banks as they are called in America) were one of the more unique and more difficult items to find by this artist as most objects were basic uni-dimensional sculptered pieces. What makes it more rare is the unfortunate requirement to break and smash the bank open to get the coins out, as there was no mechanism to remove the money. The subject matter of the bank is that of a nicely dressed older lady seated in a chair reading a book. The bank is in all original condition and paint with no restoration or touch-up of any kind. This is a nice addition to any bank or toy collection, or simply to have as a "stand alone" unique item. Dimensions : 4 1/4" deep x 3 3/8" wide x 8 5/8" high. Note: After 40 plus years of dealing and collecting toys and banks, I am justly qualified to guarantee and present the authenticity of antique and vintage still banks...
Category

1910s French Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pottery

Taisho Period Japanese Carved Wood Netsuke of a Tiger
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Hand-carved Taisho period netsuke depicting a tiger with its head over its shoulder. The word netsuke is formed using the symbol ne (根) meaning “root" and tsuke (付) meaning “attach...
Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Boxwood

19th Century Bronze Sheep Handcrafted Sculpture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century handmade bronze sheep sculpture. No signature or makers mark.
Category

19th Century American Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Wooden Turned Treen Pot, Container or Vide Pouche, England Late 20th Century
Located in London, GB
A skilfully crafted piece of turned treen with an interesting silhouette. The piece opens into two sections leaving an interior space to prize, hide or store a treasure or two. There...
Category

1990s English Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Figurative Hand Carved Wood Sculpture - Juneau, Alaska 1984
Located in Soquel, CA
Figurative Hand Carved Wood Sculpture - Juneau, Alaska 1984 Hand carved wooden sculpture, presented on a dark wooden base. The sculpture is somewhat figural, but rather abstract. Th...
Category

1980s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Danish Folk Art Armchair in Solid Oak & Gotland Sheepskin, Mid 19th Century
Located in Odense, DK
Step back in time and immerse yourself in the rich heritage of Denmark with this extraordinary Danish Folk Art armchair from the mid-19th century. Handcrafted with remarkable attenti...
Category

Late 20th Century Danish Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Lambskin, Wool, Oak

Swedish pair of tree chairs from the early 1900 Folk Art Peasant Seating
Located in Forest, BE
Confortable pair of Swedish hand carved pine trunk seats from the early 1900. Lots of history, patina and traces of time. Very good condition. Could be used to sit on a desk or a ta...
Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pine

Tobacco/Snuff Box In Carved Boxwood, 18th Century
Located in Bilzen, BE
Carved boxwood snuffbox Very beautiful old patina. Finely carved with religious scene Period 18th century. 5 x 9.3 cm, height 2.7 cm
Category

18th Century French Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Boxwood

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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