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.
1930s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Bentwood
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Furniture
Wood
1880s Antique Folk Art Furniture
Wood, Bentwood
Mid-20th Century European Folk Art Furniture
Brass, Copper
Early 1900s American Antique Folk Art Furniture
Tin
2010s Italian Folk Art Furniture
Gold Leaf
1970s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Leather, Wood, Feathers
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Furniture
Wood
2010s Indian Folk Art Furniture
Wool
1920s British Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Pine
1920s Belgian Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Oak
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Bentwood, Pine
20th Century American Folk Art Furniture
Steel, Iron
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Furniture
Wood
1890s American Antique Folk Art Furniture
Oak, Paint
Early 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Furniture
Wood
1950s North American Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Glass, Wood
1890s French Antique Folk Art Furniture
Mirror, Wood
1950s French Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Clay
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Pine, Paint
19th Century Thai Antique Folk Art Furniture
Wood
1860s French Antique Folk Art Furniture
Clay, Glass, Paper
1790s Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Iron
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Pine
1960s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Plywood
1960s French Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Wood
1970s Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Wool, Cotton, Foam
1890s American Antique Folk Art Furniture
Wool
1890s Antique Folk Art Furniture
Iron, Sheet Metal
19th Century Persian Antique Folk Art Furniture
Wool
2010s Italian Folk Art Furniture
Gold Leaf
Early 1900s Mexican Antique Folk Art Furniture
Wood
Mid-20th Century Moroccan Folk Art Furniture
Leather
Late 20th Century American Folk Art Furniture
Clay, Pottery
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Furniture
Wood
1970s Central Asian Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Hardwood, Paint
Late 20th Century Canadian Folk Art Furniture
Softwood
Mid-20th Century Austrian Folk Art Furniture
Metal
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Folk Art Furniture
Wood
19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Wood
1940s Swedish Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Burl
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Gold Leaf
1930s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Metal
1920s Asian Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Cotton, Foam, Wool
Late 20th Century Folk Art Furniture
Wool
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Pine
Mid-20th Century Turkish Folk Art Furniture
Wool
Early 2000s Canadian Folk Art Furniture
Wood, Paint
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Furniture
Iron
19th Century Dutch Antique Folk Art Furniture
Earthenware, Delft, Faience
1970s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Pottery
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Furniture
Wool
Mid-19th Century Antique Folk Art Furniture
Wood
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Pine
Mid-20th Century Moroccan Folk Art Furniture
Bone, Fruitwood
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Folk Art Furniture
Fir
Early 20th Century English Folk Art Furniture
Wrought Iron
Mid-20th Century Turkish Folk Art Furniture
Wool
1970s English Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Beech
2010s Italian Folk Art Furniture
Gold Leaf