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.
Vintage Articulated Life-Size Wooden Man Sculpture Modular Coffee Table, Bar
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage articulated wooden human figure sculpture made in Germany, circa 1970s, crafted from solid 1.5” thick wood with a rich, warm patina developed over decades. This rare, fully j...
Pine
American Folk Art Console Table
Located in Chicago, IL
Brimming with charm and personality, this 20th-century American Folk Art garden room table is a delightful mix of whimsy and craftsmanship. Crafted from solid oak and painted in a ri...
Oak
Folk Art Inspired Carved Walnut Fish & Shell Motif Console Table W/ Marble Top
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a late 20th century folk art inspired console table with Italian marble. The frieze is carved with a fish and shell motif. The joints are nice, and the four tapered legs are ...
Marble
Early 20th century wooden farm console brutalist folk art
Located in STRASBOURG, FR
French folk art console table typical of early 20th century farm furniture, made in nailed solid pinewood. The bottom part can be used to store wine bottles. In great condition for i...
Pine
Original Painted Swedish Console Dated 1849
Located in Round Top, TX
This Swedish console retains its remarkable original painted pine base in dark blue, red, yellow, and white. Three front panels feature faded florals, birds, borders, and a central d...
Pine
Early 20th Carved Ebonised Elephant heads/trunks Console Table
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
An early 20th century hardwood side table hand carved with beautiful elephant heads/trunks to create the legs of the table. Originally carved in South East Asia, it has a beautifully...
Wood, Hardwood
19th Century Folk Art Brutalist Highly Carved Wood Figurative Console Table
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Indulge in the timeless elegance of this exquisite hand crafted folk art table, dating back to the early 19th Century. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, the versatile glas...
Iron
Art Deco Console Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
Deco style Hyedua veneered console table, the rectangular top supported by two offset pewter Argento panels hand-painted with flying cranes and with acrylic bases and capitals, on a ...
Wood
Large Art Deco Console Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
This table features a smooth, off-white wooden tabletop that sits atop a slender black iron frame. The eight iron legs boast subtle ornamental accents that hark back to traditional c...
Iron
$3,230
H 27.96 in W 33.47 in D 19.69 in
Antique Swedish Console Table with Original Paint and Gustavian Carved Decor
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique console table in gustavian style dated September 24th 1852. Straight tapered legs, apron with period-typical gustavian carved leaves. Original thin paint which is slightly wo...
Pine
Gilt Chinoiserie Console Table or Bar
By James Mont
Located in Atlanta, GA
Gilt Chinoiserie Console Table or Bar, probably Chinese, circa 1960s. This piece is constructed of gilt wood with an inset black granite top. The low maintenance granite makes it a g...
Granite
$3,534
H 26.38 in W 34.65 in D 11.82 in
Spanish Console Table with Turned Legs and Carved Drawers, Early 20th Century
Located in BÉTERA, ES
Elegant Spanish console table crafted in solid wood, featuring turned legs and two finely hand-carved drawers with original iron ring pulls. The drawer fronts display geometric and l...
Wrought Iron
$3,975
H 31.11 in W 43.31 in D 15.16 in
Early 20th Century Catalan Spanish Carved Walnut Console Table with Two Drawers
Located in Miami, FL
Early 20th Century Catalan Spanish Carved Walnut Console Table with Two Drawers
Walnut
$3,400
H 31.3 in W 41.15 in D 17.52 in
Early 20th Century Spanish Carved Console Table with Turned Legs
Located in Miami, FL
Early 20th century carved Spanish console with turned legs and a drawer with hardware This table with character is of rare narrow depth. It is characteristic of Spanish Baroque furn...
Walnut
Lovely Early 20th Century Marble Top Console Table
Located in Dublin, IE
A lovely quality early 20th Century marble top mahogany console table. The shaped and moulded Rosso Levante marble top raised over panelled frieze with applied flowerhead paterae, eg...
Marble
$2,200Sale Price|20% Off
H 30.5 in W 27.5 in D 20 in
Swedish Gustavian Blue Painted Hall Console Table with Carving
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Painted Hand Carved Entry Hall Console Table Hand painted and hand distressed in authentic Scandinavian colors. This table has been painted in blue with ...
Wood, Paint
1960s Vintage Wooden Console with Lower Shelf
Located in Marbella, ES
A light and functional console table made of solid wood, ideal for hallways or entryways. Its elongated, simple top is complemented by a lower shelf with bars that provides additiona...
Mahogany
$3,400
H 30.32 in W 55.12 in D 15.75 in
20th Century Spanish Console Fold Out Farm Table with Wood Stretcher
Located in Miami, FL
20th century Spanish console fold out farm table Works as both a dining table and console. Measure extended : 31.49 in.
Iron
$2,940
H 30.32 in W 47.25 in D 13.19 in
Early 20th Century Spanish Carved Light Walnut Console Table with Fluted Legs
Located in Miami, FL
Early 20th century carved Spanish console with fluted legs and a two drawers with hardware This table with character is of rare narrow depth. It is characteristic of Spanish Baroque...
Walnut
Chinese Interlocking Coin Offering Table
Located in Chicago, IL
This rustic, four-drawer altar coffer balances modern simplicity with humble, timeworn materials. Attributed to artisans of Xinjiang province in Western China, the sideboard is craft...
Pine
Sold
H 29.14 in W 30.71 in D 14.97 in
Antique Northern Swedish Rustic Game Table in Pine with Distressed Black Paint
Located in Kramfors, SE
This hand-crafted side table is from northern Sweden and made during the late 1700s. It features a solid pine frame and a rustic, distressed surface with original black paint. The wo...
Pine
Swedish Craftsman, Console Table, Wood, Sweden, 19th Century
Located in High Point, NC
A carved wood console table produced in Sweden, 19th century.
Wood
Swedish 19th Century Trestle Table
Located in Allerum, SE
Honest late 19th century provincial Swedish trestle table with an iron base and great patination. Ca 1880 Sweden
Iron
Antique Swedish Small Folk Art Console Table
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique country console table in folk art from Sweden. The table is a genuine Swedish country house furniture from around 1790 to 1800. The tab...
Pine
19th Century Spanish Provincial Desk Table
Located in Allerum, SE
19th century Spanish provincial bleached walnut desk table with one drawer and great patination to the surface. Ca 1820 Spain.
Walnut
19th Century Swedish Provincial Table
Located in Allerum, SE
Honest and good 19th century Swedish provincial table with three drawers, two on the front and one on the left side. The left front drawer is only d...
Pine
Massive 18th Century Swedish Vernacular Folk Art Table
Located in Allerum, SE
Massive and very rare 18th century Swedish vernacular folk art table. Ca 1750. Two plank top sitting on two wooden posts. Originally used in two ways, the wooden posts where used for...
Pine
Sold
H 27.25 in W 16.25 in D 11.5 in
Signed Southwestern Folk Art Carved Sculptural Plaster Pedestal Column Table 80s
Located in Miami, FL
American Southwestern Style Folk Art hand-carved plaster center table, pedestal, column or console table. Beautifully crafted and depicting Southwestern scenes all around. Can be us...
Plaster
Vintage French Faux Bois Garden Console
Located in Houston, TX
Vintage French faux bois garden console table covered in green lichen.
Concrete
Swedish Wabi Sabi Rustic Console Side Table in Pine, Late 1800s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare console table in a wabi sabi antique style produced in Sweden in the late 1800s. In good vintage condition with lot of character, patina and feel from age and use.
Pine
Fine Antique Oak Marble Top Apothecary Cabinet
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Fashioned out of oak, this sturdy, antique apothecary cabinet has a fine and rarely seen form with dove-tailed drawers. It's set with 13 pull out drawers of varying size with fine shell form brass bin...
Marble, Brass