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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
Set of 5 Swedish Folk Wooden Dala Horse Toys, circa 1960
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Set of 5 handpainted Swedish wooden traditional Dala horse toy. Designed by Nils Olsson in Sweden, circa 1960. Materials: Wood In original condition, with minor wear consistent wit...
Category

1960s Swedish Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Massive Antique Folk Art Candle Driven Tiered Windmill Form "Carousel"
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Classic Folk Art Candle-Powered Carousel in the form of a Tiered and Steepled Gazebo. Carved and painted wood in green and off-white with gilt details, Multiple tiers with a center s...
Category

19th Century Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Folk Art Terracotta Cat Egg Cup or Votive
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Unique and delicate - a terracotta ceramic cat acquired in Paris France. the piece is a compliment to many settings and would work well in a Childs space, or someone who is very fond of felines. The body has a bell inside (this I believe is to remind the owner that the person that gave it them Is always thinking of them... purchased for a special person, for sure. Could be used as an egg cup, for a votive or small office supplies...
Category

20th Century French Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Ceramic, Terracotta

Set of 6 Swiss Handmade Farm House Carved Dining Chairs, Switzerland, 6 Pieces
Located in Madison, WI
Absolutely stunning RARE complete set of 6 Swiss Solid wood farm house traditional dining chairs. The chairs are handmade and display beau...
Category

1950s Swiss Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Black and Gold Lacquered Thai Elephant Sculpture
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Black and Gold Lacquered Thai Elephant sculpture. This small elephant sculpture was handcrafted and hand-painted with several coats of glossy...
Category

Late 20th Century Thai Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Fruitwood

Pair of Carved Giltwood Mexican Folk Art Vanity Mirrors
Located in Forney, TX
A striking pair of antique hand carved gilded solid wood table mirrors. Inspired by Italian design, this magnificent Mexican folk art features elegant oval shaped mirrors with brilliant gold gilt (dore bronze) finish, intricate piecered scrolling frames with floral blossom accents, rising on turned pedestal stand, with circular molded edge base. Mixing classic contrasting elements of antique warm...
Category

Early 20th Century Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Mirror, Giltwood

Folk Art Tropical Painting on Canvas
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Charming acrylic painting on canvas of a group of colorful figures in a tropical setting executed in a naive style. Signed Osnel in the lower right and presented in the original wood...
Category

20th Century Caribbean Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Paint

1992 Vaillancourt Folk Art Chalkware Father Christmas Santa Claus #1219
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage 1992 Vaillancourt Folk Art chalkware figurine #1219 of Father Christmas or Santa Claus dressed in green and gold with a peaked hood and red gl...
Category

1990s Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

18th or 19th Century French Ship Chandler's Trade Sign
Located in Nantucket, MA
18th or 19th century French ship chandler's trade sign, circa 1800, an oval pine double sided sign built with large dove-tails, advertising Cooperage and...
Category

1790s French Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pine

Folk Art Brigantine Weathervane by Frank Adams, Martha's Vineyard, circa 1930s
Located in Nantucket, MA
Folk Art Brigantine Weathervane by Frank Adams (1871 - 1944), West Tisbury, Martha's Vineyard, circa 1930s, a hand built weathervane of a brigantine with square-rigged foremast and fore-and-aft-rigged mainmast, with wooden hull, characteristic cut sheet metal sails with folded fore-edges, and wire rigging. The weathervane is in original nicely weathered paint and condition. Frank Adams was a folk artist on the Vineyard best known for his duck decoys, but also for these weathervanes, ship models, miniature decoys...
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal

Rare English Hand Painted Railway Sign
Located in London, GB
Rare English hand painted railway sign. An extremely rare example of an English hand painted on pine board railway sign. Naïve yet highly decorative in...
Category

Early 20th Century British Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pine

Australian Aboriginal Carved Ancestor Figure with Ochre Paint
Located in Atlanta, GA
Hand-carved wood ancestor figure with surface pictorial carving showing kangaroo hunting and decorated with black and red paint and white and yellow ocher pigment. The figure slightly leans forward as made. The piece was carved by aboriginal artist...
Category

Early 2000s Australian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Early 20th Century Folk Art Zinc Barbers Pole Trade Sign
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century folk art zinc barbers pole trade sign. An early 20th century hand crafted zinc barbers pole trade sign. Hand painted and of naïve construction. Lots of characte...
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Zinc

Mexican Mixed Metal Stone Inlaid Pitcher with Frog
Located in New York, NY
Vintage Mexican Los Castillos style mixed metal pitcher jug, brass and silverplate interior, inlaid with chrysocolla stone border of animal figures, the lilypad shaped spout mounted with a frog figure, marked "METALES / HECHO EN MEXICO...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Brass

Nantucket Basket with Stencil Decorated Top, by Harry Hilbert, 1995
Located in Nantucket, MA
Nantucket Basket by Harry Hilbert, 1995, a Nantucket purse having a solid mahogany hinged top with colonial or federal style stenciled decoration on ebonized reserve, fine brass hinges minutely inlaid, and tropic wood cross-band inlay around perimeter; double carved wooden swing handles attached with bone mounts; nickel clasp; two tone woven cane wrap on oak staves; signed and dated by wood-burnt stamp on the mahogany bottom. This is a beautiful basket made with astounding craftsmanship by one of the finest artists in the field. The basket remains in superb, barely used condition. I found one scuff above the stenciled reserve. Harry Hilbert (1917 – 2010) was an acclaimed Nantucket Basket maker known for his fine inlay and superb craftsmanship. He originally made his baskets as personal gifts, but later sold them through Wayne Pratt...
Category

1990s American Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Cane, Wood

Swedish Original Blue Painted 19th Century Box
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A Swedish blue and red painted pine-wood box from the Gustavian period or the early 19th Century. The hand painted flower decoration has still the remaining of the rococo period kind...
Category

Early 1800s Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Iron

Mid 19th Century Sailor's Elaborate Woolie
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique Sailor's elaborate woolwork, circa 1855, with a photograph of the sailor held in a woolwork frame set on the British flag on a cruciform reserve; with the "Honi Soit Qui Mal ...
Category

1850s English Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

Manuel Sandoval Valez Latin American Folk Art Figurative Ceramic Sculpture
Located in Miami, FL
Manuel Sandoval Valez Latin American folk art figurative ceramic sculpture Offered for sale is a folk art-style terracotta ceramic sculpture...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Peruvian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Ceramic, Terracotta

Haitian Painting on Canvas of a Still life by Gabriel Alix
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Standout vintage Haitian acrylic painting on canvas of a still life with fruit, executed with a spirited naive flair by noted artist Gabriel Alix. Present...
Category

Mid-20th Century Haitian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Cane, Acrylic, Wood

Large Painted Open Bookcase, Folk Art
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Large Folk Art painted open bookcase. This is a larger than usual open fronted bookcase it is 20” deep The bookcase is painted in the tradit...
Category

Late 19th Century Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Paint

British Sailor's Woolwork with Unusual Border and a Fine Chain Stitch
Located in Downingtown, PA
British sailor's woolwork with unusual border, Chain stitch, Circa 1875 The unusually designed charming sailor's woolie depicts a starboard side view of a British two-masted sh...
Category

1860s English Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

JOHN R. WATTS, Folk Art Watercolor & Gouache Landscape Painting, U.S., C.1890
Located in Chatham, ON
JOHN R. WATTS (Unknown/Unidentified Artist) - Folk art watercolor and gouache landscape painting on paper - unframed - twice signed and dated lower right (one with applied paper stam...
Category

Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Paint, Paper

19th Century Sailor's Woolwork of Frigate with Signal Flags
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th Century Sailor's woolwork of a British Frigate at Anchor, circa 1880, adorned with an array of British ensigns and a full rig of signal flags strung along the stays. The hull has the unusual touch of having glass beads mounted in each gunport, and a metaliic gilt thread highlighting the strakes above and below the two rows of gunports, and on the sterncastle. Mercantile silk threads were used for the flag halyards. The ship is moored off a lighthouse at the foot of a large green haystack headland. The woolwork is mounted in its original Victorian carved, ebonized and parcel gilt oak frame...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

Antique Rajasthani Footed Chest Box India 1900's
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Antique Rajasthani Shekhawati Merchant's Footed Chest Box India 1900's. Early 20th Century Indian carved wood storage cash footed box used by merchants in ...
Category

Early 20th Century Indian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal

Pair of Early 20th Century Folk Art Tole Peinte Lamps with Black Shades
Located in Middleburg, VA
Pair of Early 20th Century Folk Art Tole Peinte Lamps with Black Shades. One lamp has the number 1 and the other has the number 13. New black Gorden shades with inside gold...
Category

Early 20th Century French Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Tin

18th Century Swedish Folk Art Wooden Cheese Board from Northern Sweden
Located in Boden, SE
18th century Swedish Folk Art Wooden cheese board from, Northern Sweden A tray with lovely patina. It has owner marks SOS on the side of the board. A large farmers Cheese board o...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pine

Folk Art Maine Rocky Coast Seascape, by D. A. Fisher, circa 1900
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique Folk Art Maine rocky coast seascape, by D. A. Fisher (1867 - 1940), circa 1900, an oil on board seascape with gentle combers breaking on rocks on the foreground, with two sloops sailing in the background, signed lower right. The reverse retaining the label for Frost & Adams Academy Boards, Artists' Tube Colors, etc. , dealers in fine art materials in Boston from 1869 to 1921. There is also a label from The Thomas Co, Picture Framing, Washington D.C. D.A. Fisher lived in Portland Maine and was a prolific painter of primarily marine landscapes, with subjects focused primarily in southern Maine, but also Massachusetts and New Hampshire. While his work is quite similar and sympathetic with "The Brushians," a group of about 16 artist from Portland that painted on outings around Casco Bay...
Category

Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Other

Early 20th Century Scratch Built Church Model
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century scratch built Church model We share what we love, and we love this scratch-built pine model of a church. Hand carved detail with gla...
Category

Early 1900s British Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pine

Lot of Five Vintage Swedish Dala Rooster Chicken by Nils Olsson, Sweden Folk Art
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This offer is for a collection of five Swedish Dala rooster Chicken by Nils Olsson. Each is hand carved painted wood. Nice display item for every room. Th...
Category

1970s Swedish Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paint

Vtg 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

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

Vintage Studio Pottery Green Leaf Platter, Unsigned, Canada, 20th Century
Located in Chatham, ON
Large vintage studio pottery serving platter - realistically modelled/molded as a leaf - over-all dark green glaze with subtle iridescence - kiln/firing stilt marks to the base - uns...
Category

20th Century Canadian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Antique Spongeware Bowl. 19th Century
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Lovely spongeware dish Probably Welsh Wonderful naive decoration  
Category

Mid-19th Century Welsh Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pottery

Vintage Turkish Donkey Camel Animal Rug
Located in New York, NY
Mid 20th century colrufl Turkish rug depicting camel and donkeys on an ivory ground. The striation of colors on 1 end is referred to as abrash which is natural color variations found in some vintage and antique rugs...
Category

Mid-20th Century Turkish Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

Naive Ethiopian Painting, Traffic in Addis Ababa, 1970s
Located in Budapest, HU
Naive Ethiopian painting, Traffic in Addis Ababa, 1970s. with Ge'ez language inscriptions.   
Category

1970s Ethiopian Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Canvas

Folk Art Jewelry Box from the 1940s in Copper with Women Nude
Located in Berlin, DE
This charming jewelry box from the 1940s was made out of copper and is hand-dented. It shows a nudist art of a woman. It is in a beautiful original condition. A unique piece whic...
Category

1940s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Copper

Trench Art Vase Dated 1918-19
Located in Fulton, CA
Extraordinary example of WWl Trench Art. Historical significance as this vase is signed by the soldier that crafted it, "Lieutenant Thorburn" including regiment "62nd Reg" and date "1918-19". Also inscribed A. E. F. The AEF helped the French Army on the Western Front during the Aisne Offensive (at the Battle of Château-Thierry and Battle of Belleau Wood...
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Brass

Original Chinese Gouache on Mulberry Paper A Mountainous Winter Scene
Located in Miami, FL
An original gouache on mulberry paper depicting a joyful winter scene. It is beautifully presented in a custom frame, measures: 17 5/8" Wide x 21 3/4" High x 1" Deep Very go...
Category

Late 20th Century Chinese Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paint, Paper

Colorful Vintage Turkish Camel Donkey Rug
Located in New York, NY
Mid-20th century colrufl Turkish rug depicting camel and donkeys on an ivory ground. Size: 3'5'' x 5'3''.
Category

Mid-20th Century Turkish Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

French Turn of the Century Tramp Art Mirror with Rosettes and Brass Motifs
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Tramp Art mirror from the early 20th century, with raised rosettes and ornate brass accents. Created in France at the Turn of the Century, this wall mirror was hand carved i...
Category

Early 20th Century French Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Brass

Bonzo Dog 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

Wood Carved Chinese Restaurant Entry Arch, circa 1940s
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Impressive and grand arch that graced the entry of a Chinese restaurant in the 1940s American Midwest. Impressively carved and double-sided solid wo...
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Mid Century Sculptural Hand Carved & Painted Wooden Buddha
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous hand carved & painted 40 inch tall wooden Buddha. Polychrome decorations with Gilt. Brightly colored and in prayer. Heavy and well executed. In excellent vintage condition ...
Category

1970s Central Asian Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Hardwood, Paint

Antique Torito de Pucara Peruvian Old Folk Pottery Bull Figure Ceremonial
Located in Wilton, CT
Nice old or antique Peruvian folk pottery Torito de Pucara bull figure. Lots of character, dressed for ceremony, good contrasts, and licking his nose. 8'" ...
Category

Early 20th Century Peruvian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pottery

Mexican Tonala Hand Painted Colorful Pottery Dove
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Mexican Tonala hand painted pottery dove Folk Art. Rita Tilleya Yelapa Mexico hand painted ceramic bird dove. Warm earth tone polychrome color...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

19th Century Welsh Folk Art Column Form
Located in London, GB
19th Century Welsh Folk art Column Form Really quite extraordinary piece of Welsh folk art, "The Marquess of Angleseys Column" dating mid to late 19th Century. Constructed from carv...
Category

Early 19th Century British Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Slate

Antique German Christmas Scene Doll in Sled, with Music Box, 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This beautiful Bisque Head doll, with a smaller baby doll, is seated in a metal sled. The doll has brown glass eyes, blonde hair and teeth. The coat is made of pressed cotton. The sl...
Category

Early 20th Century German Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal

1829 Needlepoint Pictorial Sampler of Flowers and Quote by 12-year old Girl.
Located in Soquel, CA
Wonderful 1820's needlepoint by 12 year-old Ellen Roberts (American, b. 1817 - ?) of New York with flower boarder and quote: Count that day lost whose low descending sun. ...
Category

1820s American Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Linen, Thread

Tibetan Pictorial Rug
Located in New York, NY
Scatter size Pictorial Motif Tibetan rug from the 2nd quarter of the 20th century. Measure: 3'5'' x 5'6''.
Category

1930s Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

Contemporary Elliptical Bamboo Sculpture
Located in Chicago, IL
Folk art style oval/elliptical bamboo sculpture, contemporary. Lengths of lighter colored bamboo form the larger ovals with short pieces of darker bambo...
Category

Late 20th Century Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Bamboo

Naive Ethiopian Painting Hospital Scene, 1970s
Located in Budapest, HU
Naive Ethiopian Painting Hospital scene, 1970s with Ge'ez language inscriptions.
Category

1970s Ethiopian Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Canvas

Rare Chenille Cotton Basket Christmas Ornament Antique, German, 1910s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A rare Christmas ornament. It was made from Chenille, wire and cotton, this would be a great antique addition for your Christmas or feather tree.  
Category

1910s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wire

Antique Floral Chinese Peking Rug
Located in New York, NY
An early 20th-century Chinese Peking scatter size rug Measures: 3'3'' x 5'5''.
Category

Early 20th Century Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

Antique Victorian P. Hackett Americana Watercolor Painting School Boy with Horn
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Victorian Americana watercolor portrait of a young boy dressed in blue and holding a horn. Signed P. Hackett on the back of the frame.
Category

19th Century Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Paint, Paper

Pair of Solid Brass Two-Light Wall Sconces, Vintage, Austria, 1950s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A stunning pair of heavy brass wall sconces. Each consisting of a stylish Farmhouse style design. Each fixture requires two European E14 / 110 Volt candelabra bulbs, each bulb up to ...
Category

1950s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal, Brass

Rare Large Vintage Swedish Dala Rooster Chicken by Nils Olsson, Sweden Folk Art
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This offer is for a Swedish Dala rooster Chicken by Nils Olsson. It is hand carved painted wood. Nice display item for every room.
Category

1970s Swedish Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paint

19Thc Velvet One Patch Doll Quilt Mounted in a Plexy Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fine and folky velvet 19thc doll quilt was found in Lancaster County,Pennsylvania and is in fine condition.Thats why we mounted in a plexus box instead of just framing it.Its ve...
Category

Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Velvet

Rare Long Swedish Folk Art Pine Bench
Located in Kramfors, SE
Northern Swedish rare folk art bench made during the mid 1800s. The bench is hand-crafted in Sweden from pine and has been made carefully with attention to detail. The seat is made f...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pine

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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