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.
Mid-20th Century Guatemalan Folk Art Furniture
Pine
Mid-20th Century Balinese Folk Art Furniture
Wood
1970s Indian Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Wood
1940s Indonesian Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Wood
Mid-20th Century Congolese Folk Art Furniture
Wood, Bamboo
Mid-20th Century Thai Folk Art Furniture
Bronze
Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art Furniture
Ceramic
1950s Indonesian Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Other
Early 20th Century Indian Folk Art Furniture
Silk
Mid-20th Century British Folk Art Furniture
Glass
20th Century Thai Folk Art Furniture
Metal
Early 20th Century Burmese Folk Art Furniture
Teak
1930s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Wire
Early 1900s German Antique Folk Art Furniture
Metal
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Furniture
Wood
1910s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Composition
Early 20th Century Moroccan Folk Art Furniture
Silk
1990s Kenyan Folk Art Furniture
Bone, Horn, Wood, Olive
Mid-20th Century African Folk Art Furniture
Natural Fiber
1950s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Wool
Late 20th Century American Folk Art Furniture
Paint
1990s Balinese Folk Art Furniture
Wood
1930s Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Wood
1970s English Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Beech
Early 20th Century Moroccan Folk Art Furniture
Silk
Early 20th Century German Folk Art Furniture
Mercury Glass
1940s Finnish Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Birch
1930s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Composition
1940s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Wood
Early 20th Century Uzbek Folk Art Furniture
Silk
Late 20th Century Persian Folk Art Furniture
Wool
20th Century American Folk Art Furniture
Canvas
Mid-20th Century Unknown Folk Art Furniture
Brass
Mid-20th Century English Folk Art Furniture
Wool
Early 1900s French Antique Folk Art Furniture
Metal
20th Century Austrian Folk Art Furniture
Composition
Early 1900s German Antique Folk Art Furniture
Tin
20th Century Thai Folk Art Furniture
Metal, Brass, Bronze
Early 20th Century Italian Folk Art Furniture
Fir
Early 20th Century Indian Folk Art Furniture
Brass, Copper, Tin
1910s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Wire
Early 1900s German Antique Folk Art Furniture
Porcelain, Fabric
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Furniture
Wood
1960s Swedish Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Wood
1910s Swedish Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Iron
20th Century African Folk Art Furniture
Zebra Hide, Wood, Paint
20th Century American Folk Art Furniture
Wood
Early 20th Century Hungarian Folk Art Furniture
Pine, Paint
Early 20th Century Turkish Folk Art Furniture
Silk
Mid-20th Century Folk Art Furniture
Cotton, Foam, Wool
Mid-20th Century French Folk Art Furniture
Fruitwood
1930s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Wire
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Furniture
Iron, Wrought Iron
1920s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Wool
Mid-20th Century Japanese Folk Art Furniture
Bronze
Early 20th Century Persian Folk Art Furniture
Wool
1970s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Fabric
1970s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Iron
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Furniture
Marble
Early 20th Century Persian Folk Art Furniture
Wool