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
Period: Early 20th Century
Handmade Miniature Travelling Chess Set Game walnut Inlaid box, circa 1920
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a good quality handmade Miniature or travelling wood chess set game of 32 pieces in its own inlaid hardwood box, which we date to the early 20th century, circa 1920.
This piece is all handmade. The chess set is complete with 32 wood pieces having pegged bases. The jointed box is handmade of hardwood, possibly walnut with line inlays of a lighter wood to the top and the base. The lid is a good fit to the base and the box has brass hinges and a brass fastener to keep the lid securely closed.
The inside of the lid has a fabric pad to keep the chess pieces in position when the lid is closed.
Overall a quality handmade, complete, travelling chess set...
Category
Early 20th Century British Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Brass
Traditional Wooden Artist Mannequin Model Doll Vintage Italy, 1920s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A handmade wooden Artist mannequin model - all joints move as they should. Found on a Estate sale in Verona, Italy.
Shows some wear - but looks beautiful on display! Some scratches a...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Metal
1930s American Hooked Rug ( 5'5" x 7'9" - 165 x 235 )
Located in New York, NY
1930s American Hooked Rug ( 5'5" x 7'9" - 165 x 235 )
Category
1920s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Wool
Original Vintage Hand-Carved Relief Panel Fragment depicting a Bird
Located in Leesburg, VA
Original Vintage Hand-Carved Relief Panel Fragment depicting a Bird
Anonymous
Southern Asia, probably India; first-half of the 20th century
Wood
Approximate size: 7.8 x 2.6 x 9.2 i...
Category
Early 20th Century Indian Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Wood
Original Painted Pine Bench With Storage, Hungary dated 1910
Located in Round Top, TX
Original hand painted folk art pine bench displays traditional brown faux wood background and colorful floral displays within painted panels in back and front.
Hinged bench seat open...
Category
Early 20th Century Hungarian Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Pine, Paint
Swedish Flemish Weave Riding Pad "The Parrot"
Located in Eskilstuna, SE
The Parrot is one of the most characteristic patterns in Scania Weave textiles. This textile Parrot cushion was once woven to be used as a riding pad. It is approximately one century...
Category
1920s Swedish Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Wool
French Tailor's Mannequin, early 20th Century
Located in Berghuelen, DE
French Tailor's Mannequin, early 20th Century
French 20th century tailor's mannequin. Made of paper, fabric and metal. It features a mechanism inside which allows the tailor to adju...
Category
Early 20th Century French Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Metal
American Folk Art Child's Quilt, 1930s
Located in New York, NY
American folk art child's twenty-four star quilt in blue and white, 1930's or later, mounted.
Dealer: S138XX
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Cotton
Set of 4 snuff bottles, filigree glass 1920s tobacco bohemian forest, Germany
Located in Wien, AT
Set of four early glass snuff bottles, very rare from the 1920s, made of one of the glassworks in the Bohemian Forest, Germany.
These are collection items that were made to a master...
Category
1920s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Blown Glass
French Wrought Iron Wall Hanging Rack for Coats and Tack on a Horse Riding Theme
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
French Wrought Iron Wall Hanging Rack for Coats and Tack on a Horse Riding Theme
This is an attractive wall hanging rack with 5 hangers and various other hooks, these are iron and ...
Category
1920s Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Wrought Iron
Oscar Peterson Minnow Decoy Repainted by Jess Ramey, circa 1930
By Oscar Peterson
Located in Nantucket, MA
Oscar Peterson Minnow Decoy repainted by Jess Ramey, Cadillac, Michigan, circa 1930, an early Period II Peterson working ice fishing decoy that recei...
Category
1920s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Wood
1900s Turn of the Century French Tramp Art Mirror with Carved Geometric Motifs
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Tramp Art mirror from the Turn of the Century with protruding corners, raised geometric motifs and dark brown color. This exquisite French Tramp Art mirror, hailing from the...
Category
Early 20th Century French Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Wood
Late 19th Century Folk Art Bumbass instrument
Located in London, GB
Late 19th Century Folk Art Bumbass instrument
A rare example of a late 19th Century folk art Bumbass instrument form, we have only ever uncovered one other example in the past 10 ...
Category
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Brass
Ketch Pond Yacht, c.1900
Located in Savannah, GA
A gaff rigged ketch pond yacht on display stand, circa 1900.
All original paint, riggings and six sails.
68 ½ inches wide by 12 inches deep by 62 inches tall
Category
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Canvas, Wood
1930s American Hooked Rug ( 6' x 8'4" - 183 x 254 )
Located in New York, NY
1930s American Hooked Rug ( 6' x 8'4" - 183 x 254 )
Category
1920s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Wool
Small Heavy Hand Forged Iron Bucket This is a lovely small bucket
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Small Heavy Hand Forged Iron Bucket
This is a lovely small bucket, this charming piece has a rounded shape and a hanging ring in the handle
The cauldron is in good well aged con...
Category
Early 1900s Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Iron
Large Whimsical Antique Hand Carved Wooden Horse Sculpture
Located in Forney, TX
A large antique hand carved wooden horse sculpture on stand. Most likely from Southeast Asia, (Indonesian, Burmese, Thai) early 20th c...
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Wood
Hand Block Printed Anatolian Quilt, Early 20th C
Located in Istanbul, TR
Hand Block printing is one of the land marks of Western Anatolian material culture. These quilts have been used either as prayer mats of wall hangings.
Category
Early 20th Century Turkish Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Cotton
Swedish Folk Art bridge bookshelf, designed by Petrus & Sture Lundström 1925
Located in London, GB
A wonderful and skilfully executed piece of Swedish Folk Art. In 1925 readers of the Swedish family magazine Allérs familj-journal, would have found instructions for building this im...
Category
1920s Swedish Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Copper
A four mast 18th century ship in a bottle, English folk art circa 1920
Located in Central England, GB
This very good example has been hand built in a smaller sized square bottle than normally seen. It contains a large four mast 18th century ship fully rigged and with open sails leaving the shoreline which has high cliffs and buildings whilst about to pass a lighthouse. The scale and detail are very good and it has been very nicely hand painted. These rare folk art bottles...
Category
Early 20th Century British Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Glass
Decorative and Mid Century African Hand Made Wooden and Hide Tribal Drum, 1900s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare and beautiful handmade drum in painted wood and hide produced i Africa early 1900s / 20th century. In original condition.
Very decorative and genuine and works well with many c...
Category
Early 20th Century Kenyan Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Hide, Wood
Zabihi Collection Chinese Blue Scatter Size Rug
Located in New York, NY
Scatter-size Chinese Peking rug in blue from the 2nd quarter of the 20th century.
Measures: 2'6" x 4'2''
Category
Early 20th Century Mongolian Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Wool
c1920's French Folk Art/ Carved Wood Figural Breton Couple Wall Sconces
Located in Opa Locka, FL
Pair 1920's French Folk Art Carved Wood Breton Figural Wall Sconces. I saw these and I thought that they would look good in a country setting.
Category
1920s French Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Wood
Vintage Mexican Talavera Mave Multicolored Floral Decor Ceramic Vase
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Handmade Mexican Talavera Mave ceramic vase delicately decorated by hand. Floral, organic decor in blue, green and dark yellow on a creamy light yello...
Category
Early 20th Century Mexican Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Stoneware, Pottery
Custom Framed Antique Herbarium Botanical Specimens - Set of Four
Located in Pearland, TX
Beautiful custom framed antique herbarium floral specimens, collected in Sweden, circa 1900. Handwritten Latin scientific and common names in lovely script. Specimens include raphani...
Category
Early 20th Century Swedish Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Glass, Wood, Paper
Custom Mounted Display of Antique Child's Baseball Gloves
Located in West Hartford, CT
A collection of 9 rare small antique childs baseball gloves circa 1920's -1960's. Custom displayed in a cabinet grade black painted maple shadow box with custom made steel stands.
T...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Leather, Wood
Large Antique German Chocolate Mold with Bunnies and Chickens
Located in Redding, CT
Large Antique German Chocolate Mold with Bunnies and Chickens. Nice hinged double door German chocolate mold. The molds themselves have ...
Category
Early 20th Century German Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Tin
Antique Thai Woven Wicker Bamboo Baby Carrying Basket Backpack 20"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique folk art tribal woven wicker and bamboo baby carrying basket from Thailand.
Dimensions:
9.5” x 9” x 19.5” (Width x Depth x Height)
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Bamboo, Wicker
Small French Tramp Art Turn of the Century Mirror with Wavy Patterns, circa 1900
Located in Atlanta, GA
A small French Tramp Art Turn of the Century mirror from circa 1900 with wavy patterns and dark brown patina. An alluring melange of artistry and timeworn charm, this small French Tr...
Category
Early 20th Century French Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Wood
Pair of early 20th century English estate made folk art decoy pigeons
Located in London, GB
Pair of early 20th century English estate made folk art decoy pigeons
Obtained from an Estate sale in Cornwall earlier this month, hand carved pine working pair of folk-art pigeon d...
Category
1910s European Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Pine
Pipe Smoking Resting Vintage German Yard or Garden Gnome Statue, 1920s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A gorgeous character ceramic figural gnome statue. This character statue has been made in Germany, in the 1920s or older. Absolutely gorgeous item with lo...
Category
1920s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Earthenware
Carved Wooden Milliners Head, Vintage Austria, circa 1910s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Adorable unique wood carved head. Austria, 1910s. Ideal decoration item, used in the displaying and making of hats. Hand carved from wood. Nice display piece in any room. Found at an...
Category
1910s Austrian Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Wood
French Turn of the Century Carved Tramp Art Mirror with Unusual Shape
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Tramp Art carved wooden mirror from the Turn of the Century with unusual shape. This exceptional French Tramp Art carved wooden mirror, dating back to the Turn of the Centur...
Category
Early 20th Century French Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Wood
Large french tramp art folk mirror 1900's
By Tramp Art
Located in BELFORT, FR
Large french tramp art folk mirror, 1900's. Very beautiful.
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Wood
Pipe Smoking Standing Vintage German Yard or Garden Gnome Statue, 1920s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A gorgeous character ceramic figural gnome statue. This character statue has been made in Germany, in the 1920s or older. Absolutely gorgeous item with lo...
Category
1920s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Earthenware
Early 20th Century carved hand painted decoy
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Early 20th century carved hand painted decoy circa 1920.
Hand painted Scandinavian decoy duck, black and white paint scheme with yellow eyes. Fine example of how things used to be...
Category
Early 20th Century Swedish Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Pine, Paint
Swedish Craft, Vase, Earthenware, Sweden, 1900
Located in High Point, NC
An unglazed terra-cotta earthenware vase designed and produced in Sweden, c. 1900.
Category
Early 1900s Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Earthenware
Classic Swedish pine chairs set of 4 in solid pinewood Early 1900
Located in Forest, BE
Set of 4 classic, minimal and elegant lightweight comfortable pinewood chairs from Sweden around 1900. These are massive pine that shows a nice warm patina. We did not touch anything...
Category
Early 20th Century Swedish Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Hardwood, Pine
Early 20th Century Ventriloquists dummy attributed to Herber Brighton
Located in London, GB
Early 20th Century Ventriloquists dummy attributed to Herber Brighton
A rare example of an early 20th century ventriloquists dummy attributed to Herber Brighton. In sailors’ uniform...
Category
1920s British Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Paper
Swedish Craft, Vase, Earthenware, Sweden, 1900
Located in High Point, NC
A yellow-glazed earthenware vase designed and produced in Sweden, c. 1900.
Category
Early 1900s Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Earthenware
Swedish Craft, Bowl, Earthenware, Sweden, 1900
Located in High Point, NC
A glazed terracotta earthenware vase with hand-painted green details, produced in Sweden, c. 1900.
Category
Early 1900s Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Earthenware
American American Painted Cast Iron "Old Salt" Maine Fisherman Doorstop
Located in Downingtown, PA
American Painted Cast Iron "Old Salt" Maine Fisherman Doorstop or Bookend,
Hubley Manufacturing Company,
The 1920s.
The two larger figures depict an old salt fisherman standing ...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Iron
Zabihi Collecton Animal Pictorial Soumac Pillow
Located in New York, NY
One-of-a-kind Pillow made from a flat-weave Persian early 20th-century soumac flat-weave consisting of an animal pattern.
19'' x 19''
Category
Early 20th Century Persian Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton, Foam
Rustic Folk Art Cabinet, France, Early 20th Century
Located in Antwerp, BE
Folk Art; Art Populaire; Cabinet; Sideboard; Buffet; Rustic; Early 20th Century;
Folk art cabinet in a fascinating shade of green, a perfect blend of functionality and aesthetics. B...
Category
Early 20th Century French Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Wood
German Tinplate Clockwork Wind Up Toy by the Lehman Co. "Balky Mule" Circa 1909
Located in Incline Village, NV
Perhaps the wildest action of all the Lehman toys, said to resemble Ernest Paul Lehman's temperament (founder of the company), "Balky Mule" was first manufactured in 1897 in Berlin (Brandenburg), and had a multi decade run; this example is from around 1909 (see image with markings to the rear of the carriage). The toy is catalogued as "EPL #425" and documented on page 59 and 60 of the book "Lehman Toys" by Jurgen & Marianne Cieslik, published in 1982.
To operate the toy; wind up the attached clockwork key on the underneath of the carriage and place the toy on the floor. Do not over-wind and be gentle, as the toy is aggressive and over 100 years old. The toy will go backwards and forward, and the clown will pop up and down as the cart goes in several different directions across the floor until it winds down (see video accompanying the listing for guidance).
The toy is found broken and/or inoperable, more often than not, because of the rough action, and typical abuse by children (after all, it was a toy).
This example is in very nice original condition and works well. The lithography and hand paint is bright and original with no touch up or repaint. The hand paint is; flesh tones to the face of the clown, red trousers, orange hair, and grey paint to the seat of the carriage. The clothing to the clown figure is still intact and all original. The lithography to the wheels features brightly colored clowns and a German marking logo. What is really unusual is the fact that the donkey still has all four of its loosely attached original legs, considering the aggressive action of the toy. The metal on the donkey is actually treated with "fabric like" paint, to simulate fur.
All in all this is a really cool toy and a "must have" for the collector of tin toys, or someone who simply wants a wonderful example of an early, "turn of the century" iconic wind up toy.
Provenance: Recently acquired from a prominent toy collection in Los Angeles, California
Dimensions: 7 1/2" long x 3" wide x 5" high
Note: After 40 plus years of dealing and collecting toys, I am justly qualified to guarantee and present the authenticity of antique and vintage toys and children's playthings; important considering the fakes and reproductions in the marketplace
it would behoove an enterprising collector, dealer, or decorator to take advantage of the opportunity to buy as many of the vintage tin...
Category
Early 1900s German Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Tin
Pig & Chimney Sweep Lucky Charm, Candy Secret Chamber Container, Antique, 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A beautiful golden pig candy container or container with secret chamber. Made from white metal, hand painted with cold paint like the bronze Vienna minia...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Metal
Amazing Scratch Built Locomotive English Folkart Model
Located in London, GB
Amazing Scratch Built Locomotives
One of the best examples of English scratch built folk art models we have uncovered. Modelled on an steam locomotive this item has been constructed ...
Category
1920s British Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Metal
Two Roe Deer Antler Mount Trophy on Black Forest Carved Wood Plaque from Austria
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A set of two vintage Black Forest deer antler trophies on hand carved, Black Forest wooden plaques. I think they are from the early 20th Century. Measurement'...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Antler, Wood
Fish Dolphin Chocolate Mold Antique 1890s, Anton Reiche, Dresden, Germany
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A gorgeous chocolate mold. Made of metal, marked Anton Reiche, Dresden. Beautiful and ready to use or display, with nice patina.
The 1890s to 1920s were ...
Category
1910s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Metal
Folk Art Dresser Top Vanity Mirror in Original Paint
Located in Ferndale, MI
Early 20th century Folk Art dressing table mirror in the original paint - teal green over black with white trim. The distressed surface paint reveals the black underneath creating a ...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Brass
Fully Articulated Artist's Model Of Horse, Signed
Located in Bradenton, FL
Antique hand-carved artist's model of a horse, fully articulated at every level including wooden ears. Has a horsehair tail. Fixed on a brass stem and raised on a wooden base. Artist signed on base as Philippe Leo.
Category
Early 20th Century French Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Wood
Early 20th Century English Metal Fairground Crown Light
Located in London, GB
Early 20th Century English Metal Fairground Crown Light
A unique example of an early 20th Century metal scratch-built fairground light in the shape of a c...
Category
1920s British Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Metal
Swedish Craft, Bowl, Pine, Sweden, c. 1900
Located in High Point, NC
A pine bowl produced in Sweden, c. 1900.
Category
Early 1900s Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Pine
Large Painting 0f Jesus, Original Oil On Canvas, Circa 1900
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Antique Original Oil on Canvas Painting of Jesus in a nice wooden frame.
Unsigned but executed in a confident and competent manner.
I would date this to the 1900. The painting was fo...
Category
Early 20th Century Hungarian Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Canvas, Pine
Rare and Antique Mexican Carousel Horse
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1920. We offer this wonderfully charming Carousel Horse from Mexico. Handmade caved from wood with fabulous patina.
Category
1910s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Wood
Collection of Three Pig in Pot Lucky Charm Figurines Antique German 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A beautiful collection of golden pig lucky charm figurines. Made from china porcelain. Such items are given away as good luck charms on New Year's Eve. Nice...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Composition, Metal
English Standing Butler with Serving Tray
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Dapper art deco standing butler with brass tray crafted in hardwood and paint decorated with cliched high collar, boutonnieres, tails and spats, faithfully ready to serve.
Category
Early 20th Century English Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Hardwood
Early 20th Century Unusual Ceremonial Stick
Located in London, GB
Early 20th Century Unusual Ceremonial Stick
An unusual early 20th Century hand carved ceremonial stick or sorts with open palm hand symbol. Throughou...
Category
1910s Unknown Vintage 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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