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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
Period: Mid-20th Century
Cast Iron Doorstop "Colonial Woman" American, Circa 1930
By Littco
Located in Incline Village, NV
"Colonial Woman" cast iron doorstop was manufactured by the Littco Products Company, Littlestown, Pennsylvania; circa 1930 during the heart of the depression. It was distributed to g...
Category

1930s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Iron

1930s Amish Wool Doll Quilt in Plexy Frame in a Zig Zag Pattern
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a very interesting pattern wool doll quilt. It has the zigzag pattern or streak of lighting within a black and grey one patch through out. The entire quilt is made from the s...
Category

1930s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Other

Swedish Folk Art Pomegranate Embroidery Tapestry by Edna Nihlén, Sweden 1956
Located in Grythyttan, SE
A captivating pomegranate tapestry featuring twisted chain stitch embroidery by Edna Nihlén, crafted in Sweden in 1956. This piece showcases four segments, each displaying either fou...
Category

1950s Swedish Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

Midcentury Folk Art Ashstand with Figure Hand Carved by Paul Emile Caron C1969
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous hand carved ash tray stand by master carver Paul Emile Caron. Totally hand carved with a figure with axe at the base chopping at the tree trunk. ...
Category

1960s Canadian Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Ceramic, Fir

Vintage Bavarian Traditional Costume Jewelry Charivari with Hunting Pendants
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Bavarian Traditional Costume Jewelry Charivari with Hunting Pendants Item e7409 A Bavarian Charivari from the middle of the 20th century. A beautiful piece of historical Bava...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal, Silver

Mid Century Modern Set of three Glass Pendant Light, 1960s Austria
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Gorgeous set of three pendant lights with biomorphic glass. Add a touch of opulence to your home with this charming set of three light pendants! Perfect nickel fixtures hold a big gl...
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal, Nickel

Rare Set of Three Santa Claus Mercury Glass Christmas Ornament Vintage, 1930s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A rare Christmas ornament set of three. Each is made from mouth blown glass, this would be a great addition for your Christmas or feather tree. Size always given for the tallest item...
Category

1930s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wire

Whimsical Animal Human Figurative Turkish Rug
Located in New York, NY
One of a kind whimsical Turkish Animal Human figurative Motif on a fuchsia ground. This rug is from the middle of the 20th century. Elephants, horses, hu...
Category

Mid-20th Century Turkish Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

Folk Art Carved Eagle Chairs
Located in Hanover, MA
Very unusual pair of chairs, hand carved, possibly using a chainsaw as well as other blades, of a fierce looking eagle with unfurled wings, its talons on the feet of a man on all fou...
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Set of 4 Detailed Wood Carving Alpine Gnome Dwarf Faces Austria Alps Folk Art
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Set of four rustic Folk Art carved wood face mountain man. This is a wonderful example of Austrian carving. This can be used as a Wall decoration in y...
Category

1960s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Original Mexican Retablo "Exvotos" Oil on Tin
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this original Mexican ex voto. Made with oil painting signed by Figueroa.
Category

1950s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal

E. MULBE - Vintage Gouache Painting on Panel - Signed - Framed - 20th Century
Located in Chatham, ON
Vintage - E. MULBE - gouache landscape painting on panel - signed lower left - contained in a vintage softwood frame - old Simpson's framing label verso - mid 20th century. Excellen...
Category

Mid-20th Century Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paint

1 of 2 Swedish Vintage Folk Art Handpainted Wooden Candelabra, 1960s
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Large folkoristic wooden hand-crafted candelabra with seven arms attached on thin, slightly adjustable metal rods. Handpainted in Nordic folklore style with burgundy, rose, green and...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal

Marble Camel Sculpture, Zoomorphic Carved Figurine, Morocco 1970s
Located in ROUEN, Normandie
Marble Camel Sculpture, Zoomorphic Carved Figurine, Morocco 1970s Folk Art piece from Morocco made of marble. Hand-crafted object, finely engraved with geometric patterns on both s...
Category

Mid-20th Century Moroccan Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Limestone, Marble, Sandstone

Original Pottery Sculpture Head Planter, General Charles De Gaulle
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Original Pottery sculpture head planter, general Charles De Gaulle Political Memorabilia. This original, one-of-a-kind pottery sculpture head is a...
Category

1950s French Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Clay

Collection of Worldwide Traveler's Hand Carved Folk Art Masks
Located in Atlanta, GA
Collection of worldwide traveler's hand carved folk art masks, circa 1940s - 1970s, possibly earlier. We purchased the estate of an Atlanta Coca Cola executive, who traveled the worl...
Category

1950s Balinese Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

African Yoruba Diviner's Red Beaded Sash Panel 1950
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
African Yoruba Diviner's Red Beaded Wall Hanging Panel Sash 1950. This extraordinary beaded wall hanging is a stunning example of Yoruba craftsmanshi...
Category

Mid-20th Century Nigerian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Textile, Beads

African Yoruba Diviner's Red Beaded Panel Sash 1950
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
African Yoruba Diviner's Red Beaded Wall Hanging Panel Sash 1950. This extraordinary beaded wall hanging is a stunning example of Yoruba craftsmanshi...
Category

Mid-20th Century Nigerian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Textile, Beads

Beautiful Vintage Gypsy Oriental Embroidery Pillow Cushion, 1950s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Gorgeous oriental pillow, cushion or seat pillow. Original vintage cushions made from Oriental rugs. Estimated to date from the 1950s/1960s, the cushi...
Category

1950s Turkish Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

Brutalist Set of 3 Stools and 1 Coffee Table, Solid Wood, France, 1960s
Located in leucate, FR
This primitive set was produced by a French craftsman in the 1960s. The stools all have a slightly different shape, the table is of the same construc...
Category

1960s French Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

"Drummer Boy" Tin-wind-up Toy by Louis Marx, New York City, circa 1940's
Located in Incline Village, NV
This 1940's "Drummer Boy" brightly colored lithographed tin wind-up toy capitalizes on the popularity of marching bands, spawned from World War II and the preponderance of patriotism...
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Tin

Grouping of Five Hand-Painted and Carved American Folk Art Fish Decoys
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Group of five Folk Art fish decoys composed of painted tinned iron sheet metal or aluminum fins and tails and carved wooden weighted lead bodies, some with ...
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal, Aluminum

Vintage Bavarian Traditional Folksy Jewelry Pin with Hunting Pendant
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Bavarian Traditional Folksy Jewelry Pin with Hunting Pendant An old Bavarian traditional costume pin. A beautiful piece of historical Bavarian folk art jewelry, a real colle...
Category

1950s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal, Silver

Vintage Studio Pottery Teapot with Gargoyle Handle - Signed - Mid 20th Century
Located in Chatham, ON
Vintage hand-made studio pottery glazed ceramic lidded teapot - applied and articulated terracotta gargoyle face - the tongue of the beast forming ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Canadian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Bali Hindu Textile Framed 'Kamasan' Painting, Indonesia C. 1950
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
This striking vintage Balinese Kamasan painting, rendered on handwoven cotton, beautifully captures the timeless elegance of classical Wayang-style st...
Category

1950s Balinese Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Cotton, Paint

Vintage Indonesian Kain Batik Tulis, Solo (Surakarta), Java, 1950
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Vintage Indonesian Kain Batik Tulis, Solo (Surakarta), Java, 1950. A traditional meticulously hand drawn wax resist painting by canting on cotton of a spirited phoenix pattern inters...
Category

1950s Javanese Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Cotton

1950's Papier mâché french theatre head
Located in Diest, BE
A 1950's rare original James Ensor style papier mâché theatre head. This item was obtained via a private collection (France).
Category

1950s French Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Paper

Open Round Nantucket Lightship Basket by Sherwin Boyer
By Sherwin P. Boyer 1
Located in Nantucket, MA
With a dark rich patina. Made with oak staves, handle and a mahogany base. In excellent condition. Attributed to Sherwin Porter Boyer (1907-1964). Measures: 6”.    
Category

Mid-20th Century North American Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Brass

Early 20th Century Folk Art French Weather-Vane Plane
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century Folk Art French weather-vane plane. For sale in this lot is an early 20th century handmade Folk Art French weather-vane plane. Th...
Category

1940s British Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Vintage Turned Wood Lamp Mahogany Maple and Walnut
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
Beautiful turned wood lamp made of mahogany, maple and walnut. Wonderful graphics and artistry. Urn shaped body exposing varying wood grains and colors with a thin red piping. 37.5"...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Antique Set of Mexican Papier-Mâché Masks 3
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1960. We offer this antique set of 6 Mexican papier-mâché masks 100% handmade and paited with anilina (natural pigments).
Category

1960s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Paper

"Boy Riding An Alligator" Vintage Wind-Up Toy by J. Chein Co., N.J., Circa 1935
Located in Incline Village, NV
Manufactured circa 1935 by The J. Chein Company in Harrison, New Jersey, this vintage tin toy, when wound up, depicts a young boy in islander garb, trying to ride an alligator who da...
Category

1930s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Tin

Deer Vintage Turkish Mini Square Rug
Located in New York, NY
Mid-20th Century turkish rug depicting 2 deers on a brown field Measures: 2'1" x 2'9''.
Category

Mid-20th Century Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool, Cotton, Foam

Greenlandica, Five Figures, Polar Bear, Seal and Three Inuits, Mid-20th Century
Located in København, Copenhagen
Greenlandica, five figures. Polar bear, seal and three Inuits. Four figurines in soapstone and a ceramic piggy bank (polar bear). Mid-20th century. I...
Category

Mid-20th Century Greenlandic Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Soapstone

Zabihi Collection Chicken Rooster Vintage Turkish Square Rug
Located in New York, NY
mid 20th century turkish rug depicting a chicken and rooster on a brown field Measures: 2'10" x 2'10''.
Category

Mid-20th Century Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Cotton, Foam, Wool

Easy Rider Chopper Tanks
Located in San Francisco, CA
Vintage custom painted chopper tanks with steel mounting brackets. First is a Classic heavy metallic flake purple and silver painted Harley Davidson tank with navy blue flame patte...
Category

1960s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal

Vintage Bavarian Traditional Costume Jewelry Charivari with Hunting Pendants
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Bavarian Traditional Costume Jewelry Charivari with Hunting Pendants A Bavarian Charivari from the middle of the 20th century. A beautiful piece of historical Bavarian folk ...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal, Silver

African Nigerian Benin Yoruba Warrior Oba King Bronze Head Bust Sculpture
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderful, bronze bust/head sculpture of the Benin warrior Oba King, the first ruling King Father of the 16th century Kingdom of Benin (in present-day Nigeria) which was one of Afr...
Category

Mid-20th Century Nigerian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Vintage Carnival Midway Wood Ring Toss Game
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Great vintage carnival midway ring toss game. Perfect wall art. Wood with original park paint surface. These appear to be one of a kind carny made pieces for...
Category

1950s Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Antique Chinese Rug
Located in New York, NY
Full Pile Chinese rug in predominantly blue with vase design in orange and coral from the 2nd quarter of the 20th century. A conversation piece....
Category

1930s Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

Large Sperm Whale Carving by Clark Voorhees
By Clark Voorhees
Located in San Mateo, CA
Large size sperm whale wall plaque by Clark Voorhees. This carving is just under three feet long. The whale is signed on the back with the artist's monogram and name. The lower jaw ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Eye and Glasses Window Display Trade Sign
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Eye and Glasses Window Display Trade Sign The sign is made in presses tin, it seems to be hand painted with the slogan Eye Glasses Sold Here The sign is a ...
Category

1930s Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Tin

Rare Set of Four House, Teddy Bear and Fish Christmas Ornament Vintage, 1930s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A rare Christmas ornament set of four. Each is made from mouth blown glass, this would be a great addition for your Christmas or feather tree. Size alwa...
Category

1930s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wire

Original Mexican Retablo "Exvotos" Oil on Tin
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this original Mexican ex voto, due to the effects of time, the writing has been erased.
Category

1930s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal

Pair Carved Wood Carousel Pigs, mid 20th century , France
Located in Buffalo, NY
Add a touch of whimsy to your space with these charming antique carousel figure's.. featuring a carved wooden pigs. Crafted with precision and mounted on a sturdy vintage industrial ...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

A Statue of Saint Martín de Porres Velázquez OP A Statue of Saint Martín
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A Statue of Saint Martín de Porres Velázquez OP A Statue of Saint Martín de Porres Velázquez OP was a Peruvian lay brother of the Dominican Order who was beatified in 1837 by Pope G...
Category

1930s Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Plaster

Antique Persian Heriz Runner
Located in New York, NY
Geometric early 20th Century Persian Heriz Runner Measures: 2'9'' x 9'5''.
Category

1930s Persian Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

Vintage Moroccan Silver Fibula Collectible Ethnic Jewelry Talisman
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Moroccan Silver Fibula Collectible Ethnic Jewelry Talisman. Circa 1960's. Beautiful vintage Moroccan fibula. Nice Folk Art. A fibula was used t...
Category

Mid-20th Century Moroccan Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal

Hand Woven Bessarabian Kelim with Floral Pattern, 1940
Located in Vienna, Austria
A beautiful hand woven wool kelim rug . Woven in to the black wool background are stylised variations of plants in bright colours.Produced in Beserarabia, in south-eastern Europe on...
Category

1940s Moldovan Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

Early Vintage Chein Company All Tin Toy Wind-Up Limousine, American, Circa 1930
Located in Incline Village, NV
This is one of the earlier, New York City based, J. Chein Company, tin toy pieces. They started doing lithography in 1930. This toy wind-up sedan was made circa 1930 and is brightly ...
Category

1930s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Tin

1950s Folk Art Sculpture Group Of Drunk Swedes At Bar Scene
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
1950s Folk Art wood carving of a group of drunk Swedes at a bar scene with fish and alcohol fermentation.
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pine

Mid-Century Era Signed West Coast Cedar Haida Indigenous Canadian Totem Pole
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This hand-carved cedar totem is signed by an unknown artist and presumed to have originated from Canada and dating to approximately 1960 and done in the West Coast Indigenous Haida s...
Category

Mid-20th Century Canadian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Cedar

Carved Ebony "Star" Vide Poche, France 1950's
Located in New York, NY
Delicately carved solid Ebony vide poche on a pedestal base decorated with points around the edge.
Category

Mid-20th Century French Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Ebony

Original Mexican Retablo "Exvotos" Oil on Tin
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this original Mexican ex voto. Michoacán México 1958 J. Jesus Huaracha Orejel da gracias a dios nuestro señor que por intersección de San Nic...
Category

1950s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal

Antique Set of Mexican Papier-Mâché Masks
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1960. We offer this antique set of 6 Mexican papier-mâché masks 100% handmade and paited with anilina (natural pigments).
Category

1960s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Paper

Rare Jaguar Wood Figure Found in Chilapa, Guerrero, Southern México, ca. 1940
By NONO
Located in Guadalajra, Jal
This vintage hand carved and hand painted Tiger, is presumed to have been made in or near Chilapa, Guerrero in circa 1940 in a Folk Art style. The carving has been made in a naive st...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Vintage Folk Art Oil Painting of a Cat
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Charming French oil painting on canvas of a tabby cat staged with curtains and tassels, executed in a naive style that captures the enigmatic feline nature. With "CHAT" written on th...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Paint

R.B. Kitaj, Civic Virtue All Over The Floor, 53/100, Screenprint, 1967
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT R.B. Kitaj, Civic Virtue All Over The Floor Screenprint, Serigraphy. Edition of 100. 53/100. Signed in pencil lower left. Unframed. CREATOR R.B. Kitaj, United Kingdom. ...
Category

Mid-20th Century British Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Paper

Vintage Hand Painted Rocking Horse
Located in New York, NY
Vintage hand painted carved horse.
Category

1940s Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

English Folk Art Church Model
Located in London, GB
Folk Art Church Model We are proud to offer a wonderful example of a mid-20th Century folk-art church model. Built from scratch using various material...
Category

1940s British 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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