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.
Early 20th Century Turkish Folk Art Furniture
Silk
20th Century American Folk Art Furniture
Shell, Mirror, Wood
1950s Swedish Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Wool
21st Century and Contemporary American Folk Art Furniture
Metal
1980s Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Hardwood
20th Century African Folk Art Furniture
Wood, Hardwood
1970s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Leather, Wood
1920s British Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Brass, Copper
1840s English Antique Folk Art Furniture
Paper
Early 1900s Italian Antique Folk Art Furniture
Wood
20th Century Moroccan Folk Art Furniture
Brass, Steel
Late 20th Century English Folk Art Furniture
Paper
Late 20th Century American Folk Art Furniture
Canvas
Early 1900s German Antique Folk Art Furniture
Composition
Early 1800s Dutch Antique Folk Art Furniture
Delft
Late 19th Century German Antique Folk Art Furniture
Wood
Mid-20th Century Moroccan Folk Art Furniture
Limestone, Sandstone, Marble
1730s Antique Folk Art Furniture
Pine, Paint
1960s Swedish Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Wood
1910s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Iron
Early 1900s German Antique Folk Art Furniture
Porcelain, Fabric
Mid-20th Century Balinese Folk Art Furniture
Silk
Early 20th Century East Asian Folk Art Furniture
Wood
1970s African Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Afghan Folk Art Furniture
Wool
Mid-20th Century Persian Folk Art Furniture
Wool, Cotton
1920s Belgian Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Oak
20th Century American Folk Art Furniture
Wood
Late 18th Century German Antique Folk Art Furniture
Earthenware
20th Century African Folk Art Furniture
Leather, Straw, Raffia
Mid-20th Century Balinese Folk Art Furniture
Silk
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Pine
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Birch, Pine
1920s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Tin
1970s Indian Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Wood
1840s English Antique Folk Art Furniture
Paper
19th Century Turkish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Silk
Mid-20th Century Folk Art Furniture
Wool
1880s Bajan Antique Folk Art Furniture
Shell
Mid-20th Century German Folk Art Furniture
Metal
20th Century American Folk Art Furniture
Sterling Silver
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Furniture
Wood
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Furniture
Brass, Copper
Early 1900s Dutch Antique Folk Art Furniture
Pine
1920s French Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Reclaimed Wood
20th Century American Folk Art Furniture
Shell, Clay
1980s Indonesian Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Glass, Wood
1970s Indian Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Fabric, Wood, Paint
Late 20th Century Unknown Folk Art Furniture
Blown Glass
19th Century British Antique Folk Art Furniture
Glass, Wood
20th Century Folk Art Furniture
Cotton
1840s English Antique Folk Art Furniture
Paper
Mid-18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Metal
1880s English Antique Folk Art Furniture
Paper
20th Century Japanese Folk Art Furniture
Wood, Cedar
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Iron
1880s American Antique Folk Art Furniture
Pine
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Copper