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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 Southern/Mid-Atlantic 1/2 Gal Blue Decorated Salt Glazed Stoneware Crock
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine, diminutive 19th Century blue decorated salt glaze stoneware crock. With a cylindrical body, a slightly tapered neck, squared lip, and blue underglaze stylized tulip decorati...
Category

19th Century American Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Stoneware

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

Zabihi Collection Persian Pictorial Animal Gabbeh Rug
Located in New York, NY
One-of-a-kind Persian animal motif Gabbeh rug from the middle of the 20th century Measures: 4'1'' x 6'
Category

Mid-20th Century Persian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

42x50 Vintage Signed Original Abstract Mid CenturymModern Folk Art Painting 1974
Located in Troy, MI
Massive abstract folk art painting signed by the artist and dated 1974 A colorful statement piece in greens and reds with yellow center eye detail Presumably originated in the Santa...
Category

1970s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Paint

German Tinplate Clockwork Wind Up Toy By Ernest Paul Lehman "Quack Quack" C 1903
Located in Incline Village, NV
This is a very popular Lehman wind up toy; emblematic of "whimsy" typical of Ernest Paul Lehman whose toy company opened in Brandenburg, Germany in 1881.. The action portrays a mama duck walking along with her three baby chicks in tow being carried in a basket from behind. The toy is nicely lithographed with a greenish yellow basket; light and dark green baby chicks, and the mother duck with yellow green features and an orange and white undercoat. The underneath of the basket is filled with markings documenting the genesis of the toy. "Paak Paak" German for "Quack Quack": are clearly spelled out along with "Lehman" "Pat. U.S.A. March 12, 1903". Printed on the side #645 indicating the catalogue number (see image). To operate: wind up the attached clockwork key on the right side; release while still in your hand to see what happens; wind up some more and then gently place on the floor to watch the baby chicks bob up and down as mama pulls them forward. Very few examples are intact---legs usually absent and mechanisms broken, and examples are incomplete because of rough play. This example is completely original with no restoration of any kind and no touch up to the lovely surface. The toy is catalogued as "EPL #645" and documented on page 197 of the book "Lehman Toys" by Jurgen & Marianne Cieslik, published in 1982. This would be a wonderful addition for the discerning collector of antiques children...
Category

Early 1900s German Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Tin

20th Century Erzgebirge German Noah’s Ark Putz Toy Set, Vintage Folk Art
Located in Nuernberg, DE
20th century Erzgebirge German Noah’s Ark. A wonderful example of a 20th century Erzgebirge German Noah’s Ark, With 36 assorted hand carved figures. Typically, children played with t...
Category

20th Century German Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

19th Century Pennsylvania Folky Sheraton Cherry Chest of Drawers
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique wooden chest of drawers. With a terrific old finish. In cherry wood with a polar secondary, turned wooden pulls, and r...
Category

Mid-19th Century North American Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood, Cherry

Mid Century Large Motorized Hand Made Chris Craft Cabin Cruiser C1955
By Chris Craft Boats
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous and large cabin cruiser boat model with an untested motor and batteries. 41.5 inches long and sitting on a brand new custom made stand with a nautical theme. In very good vi...
Category

1950s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal

Mexican Terracotta Articulated Doll Figure, 1920's
Located in Stamford, CT
Amusing Mexican terracotta doll figure with articulated limbs. Since it is solid terracotta it is likely this is a mold from which other dolls were made. As a folk art sculpture it i...
Category

Early 20th Century Mexican Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Terracotta

Early 20th Century Vintage Artists Paint Box and Pallet, Denmark
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Danish Vintage Artists Paint Box and Pallet, Early 20th Century Well loved Danish artists traveling wooden box with everything needed to paint on location. This charming box, acqui...
Category

Early 19th Century Danish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Brass

Tonala Mexico Bird Figurine Folk Art Hand-painted 1960s
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Charming vintage Tonala pottery bird figurine is decorated with hand-painted decor of white bird in a landscape, framed with abstract bands of deco...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Ceramic, Pottery

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

Set of 16 Large Original Antique Exotic Bird Prints, 1830s
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great set of bird 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

Folk Art Hand Painted XL Colorful Gourd
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Folk Art Hand Painted XL Colorful Gourd 18 h x 16 diameter Original vintage unrestored Refer to images listed
Category

Late 20th Century Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

19th Century English Folding Inlaid Cribbage Board
Located in Stamford, CT
19th century English folding cribbage board inlaid with walnut, various fruit woods and bone. The peg boards framed by inlaid geometric borders. Beautifully made, likely by a sailor ...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Bone, Fruitwood, Walnut

Zabihi Collection Light Blue Animal Persian Qum Room Size Rug
Located in New York, NY
early 20th century Persian Tabriz Pictorial rug in predominant light blue featuring a flurry of small animals floating in field and border. Measures: 7'4" x 11'1".
Category

Early 20th Century Persian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

Folk Art Mountain Landscape Painting - Initialed & Dated - Canada - Circa 1956
Located in Chatham, ON
Mid Century folk art mountain landscape oil painting on artist's canvas board - unframed - initialed lower right - Canada - circa 1956. Good vintage condition - no loss - no apparen...
Category

Mid-20th Century Canadian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Canvas, Paint

Hand painted mid 19th century Swedish pine wall cupboard
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Hand painted mid 19th century Swedish pine wall cupboard circa 1861. Good quality traditional hand painted Swedish wall cupboard.  Made from pine and painted in a blue/orange and ru...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pine, Paint

18th Century Scandinavian Folk Art Oak Chest with Carved Panels, Dated 1764
Located in Odense, DK
A rare and characterful Scandinavian Folk Art chest, crafted in solid oak and dated 1764. The front is richly decorated with hand-carved floral and foliate panels, flanking a central...
Category

18th Century Scandinavian Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Iron, Wrought Iron

French Tramp Art Mirror with Deeply Carved Geometric Frame, Circa 1900
Located in Atlanta, GA
A striking French Tramp Art mirror from the early 20th century, crafted circa 1900 with a distinctive layered chip-carved frame in dark wood. The stepped construction of the surround...
Category

Early 20th Century French Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Mirror, Wood

Norwegian Kjenge / Ølhøne with Telemark 1790 Rosemaling Pattern, Nordic Folk Art
Located in Skien, NO
A rare piece from Norway - a beautiful porcelain Kjenge / Ølhøne / Øland with traditional Telemark Year 1790 Rosemaling Pattern decor, Scandinavian / Nordic design Viking ale/beer bo...
Category

Late 20th Century Norwegian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

1940's Southwestern-Style Yeibichai-Figure Kilim Rug
Located in Dallas, TX
77768 Vintage Southwestern style Kilim Yeibichai Rug, 02'11 x 04'04. Yeibichai Southwestern style Kilims are a distinctive type of Southwestern style weaving that depict figures from...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

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

Woven Tule 'Icpalli' Bench made in Mexico from LUTECA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
From a craft object to relevant design, these special pieces, made in Mexico, were created to add warmth and texture to your interior. Intended for indo...
Category

2010s Mexican Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Seagrass

Antique German Folk Art Cabinet, circa 1850
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A pine cabinet from rural southern Germany, dating from around 1850. The cabinet was probably given as a wedding gift. This cabinet is made of solid pine and is hand-painted in earth...
Category

1850s German Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pine

Vintage Large American Hand Woven Gathering Buttocks Basket
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage or antique oversized gathering basket features traditional rib or buttocks shape with the bent wood ring rim and handle. The plaited splints are carefully interwoven to carry...
Category

20th Century American Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wicker, Oak

19th Century German Carved Polychrome Carousel Horse by P. Schneider
Located in Forney, TX
A rare antique, circa 1890s, German hand carved and painted wood carousel horse carnival fair ride by Peter Schneider (famous for making the first double decker carousel in 1898). ...
Category

Late 19th Century German Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Large Wooden Tramp Art Box Folk Art Gold 20th Century
Located in Poperinge, BE
Large tramp art box with lid and brass handle, folk art object made of layered pieces of gold, partly gold colored, from the late first half of the 20th century. Beautiful form of f...
Category

1940s European Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Antique Tramp Art Box with Mirrors Folk Art Collectible
Located in Poperinge, BE
Beautiful antique tramp art box with mirrored panels on the sides and top, pointed feet and a triangular lid, partly covered with green velvet inside and decorated with a small mirro...
Category

Early 20th Century European Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Mirror, Wood

Stoneware Jars with Cobalt Blue Floral Motif from Westerwald, Germany, Set of 3
Located in Grythyttan, SE
Crafted in the traditional style of gray pottery adorned with cobalt blue floral motif, these salt-glazed stoneware jars hails from the Westerwald...
Category

1970s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Stoneware

20thc Hand Carved Wood Mermaid Statue
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This hand carved wood sculpture of a mermaid is in fine condition.It is hand carved and unsigned.So fantastic the surface and carving.
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Original Vintage Beatrix Potter Print. Peter Rabbit And Friends C.1905
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Lovely image by Beatrix Potter Rescued from an early edition of " The Tale of Two Bad Mice " Possibly a 1st edition from 1904 The measurement given is the paper size not the actua...
Category

Early 1900s British Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Paper

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

“40 Acres and a Mule” Satirical Folk Art Painting, American School, 19th C.
Located in Atlanta, GA
“40 Acres and a Mule” Satirical Folk Art Painting, American School, Late 19th Century Oil on Canvas, laid to stiff board. Measures: 22.875" w x 19.125" h A compelling and historic...
Category

19th Century American Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Canvas, Giltwood, Paint

Original Antique Print of An English Sporting Dog, 1847 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a sporting dog, a bloodhound. Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Cpt. Brown with original...
Category

1840s English Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Paper

Antique French Tramp Art Mirror with Stepped Corners, circa 1900
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Tramp Art mirror from the early 20th century, handcrafted around 1900 with intricately layered geometric woodwork and stepped corners that frame the glass with graphic chara...
Category

Early 20th Century French Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Mirror, Wood

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

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

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

Italian 1930s beautifully hand-crafted oak mountain armchair
Located in Milan, IT
Italian 1930s beautifully hand-crafted oak mountain armchair
Category

1930s Italian Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Japanese Aging Toy Soccer Ball/ Object / 1970-1990s / Wabi-sabi Mingei
Located in Iwate-gun Shizukuishi-cho, Iwate Prefecture
This is an old toy soccer ball. Over the years, the outer material has peeled off, exposing the inner material. The appearance, which has changed naturally over time, has a beauty th...
Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Other

Antique Germany Lidded Beer Stein glazed Ceramic, 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A gorgeous beer stein, made in Germany. This beer stein has been made in Germany, circa 1900s. Absolutely gorgeous piece still in great condition, without damage. Lid works properly....
Category

Early 1900s German Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pewter

Rare c. 1900 French Cigar-Box Violin – Authentic Trench-Art Folk Instrument
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Discover a truly evocative piece of musical folk art: an original three-string violin hand-crafted around 1890-1920 from an official French “Manufacture des Tabacs / République Franç...
Category

Early 1900s French Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Victorian green & gold Cast Iron Christmas Tree Stand, Vintage, German, 1890s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This beautiful Art nouveau green and golden color cast iron Christmas tree stand, was made in Germany, in the 1910s. A nice addition for your Christmas decoration. It holds a stem up...
Category

1890s German Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal, Iron

Scandinavian Folk Art Wine, Alcohol Oak Cask, 19th Century
Located in Bochum, NRW
Scandinavian Folk Art oak cask, crafted in the 19th century and steeped in rustic tradition. Constructed from robust oak staves and secured with authentic iron banding, this piece e...
Category

1850s Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Iron

19th Century Antique Painted Pine Cabinet, Italian Cabinetmaker, Made in Tuscany
Located in Odense, DK
This charming 18th-century painted pine cabinet, crafted by an Italian cabinetmaker in Tuscany, is a rustic masterpiece. Made from sturdy pine, it showcases the traditional Arte Pove...
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pine

Hand Carved & Hand Painted Rooster Sculpture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hand carved & hand painted rooster sculpture. Very folky rooster.
Category

20th Century American Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Pair of Petite Murano Caged Glass Pendant Light, 1930s Italy vintage
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Gorgeous pair of chandeliers in bubble-wrapped Murano glass with cage. The glass is hand-blown with a amber tint and was created by Giorgio Seguso during the 1930s in Italy. These M...
Category

1930s Italian Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal

Mid-20th Century Handmade Persian Kurd Pictorial Lion Throw Rug
Located in New York, NY
A vintage Persian Kurd throw rug handmade during the mid-20th century with a folk pictorial depiction of a lion. Measures: 3' 6" x 4' 9" P...
Category

Mid-20th Century Persian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

Pair Of Antique Tole Hand Painted Pagoda Form Tulip Vases Mounted As Lamps
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A colorful and stylish lamp pair. Pair of weighty tole lamps in pagoda form with multi-port openings for flowers, now mounted as lamps. The lamps decorated in red, blue, green with B...
Category

19th Century Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal

Antique Burmese Carved Wood Panel of a Court Scribe.
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Antique Burmese Carved Wood Panel of a Court Scribe. The standing heavenly being holds a manuscript with a brush in the right hand writing scriptur...
Category

Late 19th Century Burmese Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

Vintage Splint Bamboo Rattan Woven Storage Ikebana Basket
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
The vintage basket features square base and rounded top. The top is reinforced with bent bamboo, wrapped and braided with splints; two carved wooden legs are attached to the wooden ...
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Bamboo, Wicker

Japanese Signed Mashiko Mingei Art Pottery Plate in the Manner of Shoji Hamada
Located in Studio City, CA
A quite beautiful, expertly crafted, sumptuously glazed large Japanese Mashiko Ware Mingei (folk craft/folk art) pottery plate/ charger quite similar to the works of master potter Sh...
Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pottery, Stoneware

Antique balance toy Galloping Cowboy Moving , handpainted forged iron, 19th C.
Located in Bilzen, BE
An antique balance toy showing a cowboy on it's horse when it balance is the head and tale of the horse moving like also the cowboy This is totale han...
Category

Late 19th Century Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wrought Iron

Mid 18th century hand painted traditional Swedish pine chest
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 18th century hand painted traditional Swedish chest/box circa 1750. Stunning traditional Swedish box hand painted in the original paintwork.   Decorated on all sides with swags ...
Category

Mid-18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Iron

Zabihi Collection 20th Century Turkish Slithering Snake Anatolian Rug
Located in New York, NY
A mid 20th Century Turkish Rug depicting 2 slithering snakes on an ivory field Details rug no. r5744 size 4' 3" x 6' (130 x 183 cm)
Category

Mid-20th Century Persian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

19th Century American Blanket Chest With Original Paint Decoration
Located in Wiscasset, ME
Fantastic original paint decoration on this early 19th century pin blanket chest. Probably from the Manheim, Pennsylvania area c. 1835. Featuring a two-board top opens on square hinges over a dovetailed well containing a lidded till. Raised on ball feet, with amazing unrestored paint decoration and including key. Measures 43.5" x 22.5" x 24.5". Provenance: Bradbury Antiques...
Category

1830s American Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pine, Paint

Coastal Oval Sea Shell Encrusted Wall Mirror
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A shell encrusted mirror that will bring the beach indoors. A perfect reminder of the beach, this mirror is oval in form and created from wood. Shells are painstakingly placed throug...
Category

20th Century American Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Shell, Mirror, Wood

Carved Wooden African Head
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A wonderful hand carved head of Hardwood. A stunning sculpted and carved piece. A stand alone decorative piece or can be used as a large book end. Trul...
Category

20th Century African Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood, Hardwood

1930's American Handwoven Tall Market Basket
Located in Red Lion, PA
This charming 1930s American handwoven tall market basket is a beautiful example of early 20th-century craftsmanship. Woven from natural splint materials and framed with firm bentwoo...
Category

1930s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Bentwood

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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