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.
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Furniture
Wood
1930s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Wood
1950s Polish Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Wool
1940s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Stainless Steel
1940s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Wood
Mid-20th Century Folk Art Furniture
Ceramic
1930s Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Wood
Mid-20th Century German Folk Art Furniture
Iron
1950s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Copper
1950s Indian Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Silk
1950s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Wood, Birch
1960s English Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Wood
1930s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Wire
Mid-20th Century Canadian Folk Art Furniture
Paint, Paper
1940s Indonesian Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Wood
Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art Furniture
Clay
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Furniture
Wood
Mid-20th Century Mauritanian Folk Art Furniture
Brass, Copper, Pewter
1930s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Mercury Glass
Mid-20th Century British Folk Art Furniture
Glass
Mid-20th Century Burmese Folk Art Furniture
Bamboo, Lacquer
1960s Swedish Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Wood
1960s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Plywood, Paint
Mid-20th Century Canadian Folk Art Furniture
Canvas, Paint
1950s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Metal
1930s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Wood
Mid-20th Century Kenyan Folk Art Furniture
Ebony
1940s Finnish Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Birch
1960s Italian Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Pottery, Paint
1960s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Mohair
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Furniture
Fir
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Furniture
Wood
1940s Swedish Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Burl
1940s Swedish Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Pine
Mid-20th Century Canadian Folk Art Furniture
Wood
Mid-20th Century Thai Folk Art Furniture
Bronze
Mid-20th Century Unknown Folk Art Furniture
Teak
1940s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Cotton, Satin
Mid-20th Century Balinese Folk Art Furniture
Wood
1960s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Wood, Paper
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Furniture
Stone
Mid-20th Century Israeli Folk Art Furniture
Ceramic
1940s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Wood
Mid-20th Century Asian Folk Art Furniture
Bamboo, Wicker
Mid-20th Century Turkish Folk Art Furniture
Cotton
Mid-20th Century Turkish Folk Art Furniture
Cotton
Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art Furniture
Ceramic
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Furniture
Wood, Paint
Mid-20th Century Folk Art Furniture
Brass
Mid-20th Century Unknown Folk Art Furniture
Leather
1960s French Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Shell
1960s Italian Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Metal
Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art Furniture
Paint, Wood
Mid-20th Century Thai Folk Art Furniture
Bronze
1960s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Beech
1960s Peruvian Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Brass, Copper
1950s Japanese Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Wood
Mid-20th Century European Folk Art Furniture
Wood
1960s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Paper
Mid-20th Century European Folk Art Furniture
Brass, Copper