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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
Antique Swedish Wide Wooden Bowl with Original Paint and Authentic Patina
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique Swedish wooden bowl in good vintage condition with authentic patina and traces after use. The bowl has a round shape and is made from a single piece of wood that’s been hollo...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Original Antique Print of a Whale, 1847 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a whale. Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Cpt. Brown with original hand color. Publish...
Category

1840s English Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Paper

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

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

Set of 15 Large Original Antique Animal Prints, 1830s
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great set of animal prints Lithographs after the drawings by Cpt. brown. Original hand color. Unframed The measurement given below is for one print.
Category

1830s Scottish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Paper

Vintage Pepsi-Cola Enameled Metal Advertising Sign, Europe, 1970s
Located in Milano, IT
Iconic Pepsi-Cola advertising sign made of enameled metal, dating from the 1970s. The design incorporates the classic logo with red cursive lettering, set against a wavy background ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal, Enamel

Antique 18th Century Zanzibar Trunk With Studded Copper Decoration
Located in Peabody, MA
A rare 18th century North African Zanzibar trunk, fashioned of cedar with studded decoration and clad with pierced copper panels. Used in Kenya and Zanzibar to store valuables and sp...
Category

18th Century Zanzibari Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Copper

Exceptional 1750 Red and Blu Painted Blanket Chest, Central Europe
Located in Vo', Veneto
Small Antique painted blancket chest Measures: H. 31cm - L. 72cm - P. 45cm Rare small chest in painted fir wood. The decorations are geometric, of an intense blue color, with ...
Category

Mid-18th Century Italian Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Fir

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

Mid 19th century Swedish folk art hand painted pine coffer
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 19th century Swedish folk art hand painted pine coffer circa 1841. Fine quality piece of Scandinavian folk art.  Made from solid pine with a slight dome top lid.  Base coated in...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Iron

Santa Claus Belsnickle Christmas Chocolate Mold Antique 1930s, 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

1930s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal

Early 20th Century Scandinavian Faded Wooden Milliners Head, 1900's
Located in Silvolde, Gelderland
Beautiful faded wooden gent milliners hea from the early 1900's. The faded lines and the non-treated wood give this head his beautiful character. Absolutely top of the line decorati...
Category

Early 1900s Scandinavian Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Found and Salvaged Steel Industrial Objects on Wooden Base
Located in Chicago, IL
Jim Rose, known primarily for his steel furniture, was an avid collector and scoured salvage yards for unique, interesting items. Here, a beautifully rusted tobacco box, a steel egg...
Category

2010s American Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal, Steel

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

Folk-Art Bridal Chest, 1826
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
German pine bridal chest made in 1826 for a certain Jacob Sallberger. Hand-painted with beautiful fine details. The iron hinges and handles are hand-forged. The key and lock are orig...
Category

1820s German Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wrought Iron

18th C, American School "Woman, Dog and Basket of Geese" Watercolor on Silk
Located in Atlanta, GA
Attributed: The Misses Pattens’ School (Hartford, Connecticut). Circa Late 18th Century. Watercolor on Silk housed in original giltwood frame. Measures: 23.125" w x 19.25" h. A ra...
Category

18th Century American Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Silk, Giltwood, Paint

Scottish Early 20th C. Pond Yacht
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This charming antique “pond yacht” from Scotland will appeal to the sailor, the toy collector, the kid-at-heart types alike for the sporty and real...
Category

20th Century Scottish Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal

Early 19th Century Decorated Swedish Corner Cabinet
Located in Kramfors, SE
Rare corner cabinet from northern Sweden made during the first years of the 19th century, 1810 to 1820. The cabinet is pine and made in two parts. It has the original decoration paint with the authentic patina of time. The paint is unusually intricate and varied with both floral motifs and marbling. That points to it being an expensive cabinet...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pine

Large Antique East African Carved Wood & Bronze Antelope Deer Folk Art Sculpture
Located in Forney, TX
A large, rare, and most impressive antique hand carved and painted wood and metal stylized antelope African folk art sculpture with beautifully aged distressed patina. Handmade in East Africa, dating to around the late 19th / early 20th century, possibly earlier, this scarce, one-of-a-kind, museum quality work, features a richly detailed patinated bronze head and tail with etched textural elements, tall ears and faux ringed...
Category

Late 19th Century African Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Bronze

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

19th Century Tramp Art Jewelry Box
Located in High Point, NC
19th century tramp art jewelry box from England. The box has a domed top with layers upon layers of molded edges, leading up to a graceful formed...
Category

19th Century English Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Fruitwood

Original Antique Print of Fish, 1847 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of fish. Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Cpt. Brown with original hand color. Published ...
Category

1840s English Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Paper

German ANRI Wood Carved Gnome Dwarf Figure Toothpick Holder Stand, vintage 1920s
By ANRI
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Adorable wood carved and hand colored toothpick holder or stand made in the 1920s - 1930s or older. Ideal decoration for any table or bar. Great idea to surprise your guests or a ver...
Category

1920s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

French Tramp Art Mirror with Carved Vines and Diamond Glass Inset, circa 1900
Located in Atlanta, GA
A tall and sculptural French Tramp Art mirror from around 1900, distinguished by its intricate relief carving and decorative texture. The frame is composed of multiple layers of fine...
Category

Early 20th Century French Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Glass, Mirror, Wood

Vintage Log Cabin Stitched Geometric Floral Quilt Blanket Bedspread 87"
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage hand stitched quilt, blanket, comforter, bedspread featuring the traditional Log Cabin geometric design with squares, crosses and floral motifs. Full to queen size. The Log ...
Category

20th Century Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Cotton

David Malangi Daymirringu Australian Indigenous Aboriginal Art Bark Painting
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderful, unique, relatively large, very engaging original indigenous Australian Aboriginal dreaming painting by Northern Territory Yolngu artist David Malangi (1927-1999. He is ...
Category

20th Century Australian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paint

Early 19th Century Folk Art Side Table or Desk, Scandinavia
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Danish or Swedish Rectangular Folk Art Table or Desk. The table has tonnes of charm, wear and tear to the finish that gives thus table an unbeatable patina. Most of the original pai...
Category

Early 19th Century Scandinavian Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pine

Lot of 34 Mercury Glass Christmas Ornaments, Vintage German, 1910s - 1930s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A rare vintage and antique ornament collection. The size given in the dimensions section refers to the larger Santa Claus in red Coat seen in the first pic...
Category

1930s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Mercury Glass

Mexican Equipale Folk Art Chair with Hand-Painted Scene 1930s
Located in Sakskøbing, DK
This is a rare vintage equipale chair from Mexico, dating to the 1930s. Entirely handcrafted using traditional techniques, it features a pigskin leather seat and backrest stretched o...
Category

1930s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Leather, Cedar, Paint

Rolakan Pillow by Selma Giöbel, Swedish Folk Art Textile, circa 1900
By Märta Måås-Fjetterström, Annie Frykholm
Located in Bochum, NRW
A rare gem from the heart of early Scandinavian design, this handwoven Rolakan cushion crafted using the double interlocked tapestry technique is a stunning example of Swedish folk a...
Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

Small 19th Century original painted sarcophagus box
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Small 19th century original painted sarcophagus box circa 1870. Beautiful decorative box with original paint.   Sarcophagus shaped lidded box in original paint with traces of origin...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pine, Paint

Indoor-Outdoor Modern River Rock Masonry Tuffet Stool by Lland
By Rachel Shillander
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Masonry Tuffet stool is made from a common injection molded plastic child's stool, reimagined by cladding it in stone masonry. This piece represents the artist's personal appreciation for the physical characteristics, permanence, and labor-intensive construction of masonry. The Masonry Tuffet Stool is made to order. Due to the means and methods of laying masonry and the natural variations in stone, no two items are exactly the same, but final piece will use the same white river rock. The dimensions of each piece vary within reason, therefore weight and size are approximate. Please specify felt or rubber feet. Fabricated in 2019 by Rachel Shillander...
Category

2010s American Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Stone

Early 20th Century Hand Painted Duck Decoy Antique, German
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Found in Germany at an estate sale, this hand carved and hand painted duck decoy is perfect for the collector. Well used by a previous hunter the paint ha...
Category

Early 20th Century German Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paint

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

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

Antique Vintage Spun Cotton Stork Bird Christmas Ornament Germany 1930s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A rare Christmas ornament. It was made from wire and cotton, this would be a great antique addition for your Christmas or feather tree. You can also use it just to display it in a de...
Category

1930s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wire

Large Vintage 2 ft Tall African Hand Carved Wood Wall Mask
Located in Bochum, NRW
Large vintage hand-carved from one piece of solid wood African Tribal mask richly decorated with intricate tribal motifs. Beautifully hand carved, painted details, it has a hook, re...
Category

1990s African Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

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

19th Century Swedish antique genuine rustic Bent wood box with original paint
Located in Boden, SE
19th Century Swedish Folk Art Bentwood Box from Hälsingland, Northern Sweden. Oval box with lid. Originalpainted with nice patina after several hundred years of use. Beautifully pain...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pine

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

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

1920's German Airplane Penny Toy by Kellerman (Mounted on Marx "Lucky Stunt")
Located in Incline Village, NV
Great item for toy collectors and those who collect aeronautical items. Being offered is a very rare German Penny Toy from the 1920’s, manufactured by the well known, and quality toy...
Category

1920s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Tin

Duck Decoy Three-Piece Sculpture by Herb Watson
Located in San Diego, CA
A very cool and unique duck decoy three-piece sculpture by Herb Watson, circa 1987. The detail, craftsmanship and painting of the ducks is amazing; they look absolutely real! The set includes a green winged teal drake and hen (3.25"W x "7D x 3.5"H) on a round pond...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paint

Vintage Toy Wind-Up "Baby L" Speedboat by Lindstrom Toy Co., American Circa 1933
Located in Incline Village, NV
Vintage toy speed boat manufactured by the Lindstrom Toy Company of Bridgeport Connecticut, circa 1933 or earlier; the Lindstrom company having been founded in 1913, made quality tin...
Category

1930s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Tin

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

Late 19th C Authentic Shaker Wood Bucket. Pennsylvania, Circa 1885. All Original
Located in Incline Village, NV
This is an authentic and late 19th century hand made wooden Shaker bucket from Pennsylvania. in all original and unrestored, very good condition; with it...
Category

1880s Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood, Bentwood

German Majolica Vintage Green Ceramic Deviled Egg Plate with Salt Pepper Shaker
Located in Nuernberg, DE
20th century German majolica plate platter for serving eggs with two chicken as salt and pepper shakers. Nice addition to your table or just to display. Please see detailed pictures ...
Category

1960s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Ceramic, Majolica

19th Century American Folk Art Game Board
Located in Chicago, IL
Beautifully hand-crafted and quietly sculptural, this 19th-century American Folk Art game board was made not in a factory, but by someone who clearly knew their way around a piece of...
Category

19th Century American Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Maple, Walnut

Antique pair Italian brass urn 20th century
Located in Cantù, IT
Antique pair Italian brass urn 20th century
Category

20th Century Italian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Brass

Antique Thai Hardwood Betelnut Box
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Antique Thai Hardwood Betelnut Box. A turned wood globular chedi form having a narrower pedestal base, fitted wood conical top shaped with circular tiers and a lotus bud finial. Cra...
Category

Late 19th Century Thai Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Hardwood

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

Beech Wabi Sabi Cabinet, 1850s
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Rare primitive cupboard, Carpathians, circa 1850, early construction, built from sawn or hewn beech wood. Two shelves on the inside. This is a cupboard from a very modest home in the...
Category

1850s Romanian Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Beech

Set of 3 Antique Blue and White Delft Plates Hand Painted Netherlands Ca. 1800
Located in Katonah, NY
This set of three antique Delft plates was hand-painted in the Netherlands circa 1800. Each plate measures approximately 9 inches in diameter and ...
Category

Early 19th Century Dutch Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Delft

1950s Catrin "Dandy" Mask, Tlaxcala, Mexico
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Catrin (Dandy) mask Nahua people, Tlaxcala, Mexico Wood, gesso, paint 1950s-1960s Measures: 7? (17.8 cm) high, 6.5? (16.5 cm) wide, 5? (12.7 cm) deep This mask is called the C...
Category

1950s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paint

Beautiful Antique Black Forest Deer Antler Trophy, German, 1890s or older
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A beautiful antique Black Forest deer antler trophy on hand carved, black lacquered wooden plaque. It's from the 1890s or older. The size given in the dimensions section refers to th...
Category

Late 19th Century German Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Antler, Wood

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

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

Wooden Hand Crafted Trench Folk Art Toy Castle Medieval Knight, German, 1910s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Offered is an absolutely stunning toy castle, it is a beautiful example of early 20th century trench folk art, German handmade craft. The architectural detailing in the crenellated t...
Category

Early 20th Century German Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Antique Black Tramp Art Frame Folk Art Picture Frame Carved Wood Carved Oak
Located in Munich, DE
This tramp art picture frame was handcrafted and handcarved in the last decades of the 19th century. It is decorated with for pointed stars, square and rectangular pyramids, lozenge...
Category

1890s European Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Oak

Cow Bull Folk Art Speculaas Springerle Cookie or Butter Mold Antique, German
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic late 19th century wooden gingerbread cookie or speculaas springerle mold, circa 1890 (cow bull ox). Made of hand carved wood. Found at an esta...
Category

Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

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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