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.
Primitive Rustic Folk Art Trestle Dining Table, Classic Swedish Genuine Antique
Located in Kramfors, SE
Primitive rustic trestle table in folk art. This table can be used as a dining table and is a classic Swedish folk art table that has never been painted. The clean and raw wooden sur...
Pine
Antique Swedish Folk Art Authentic Pine Hand-Crafted Trestle Table, Dining Table
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique Swedish dining table in folk art from the early 1800s. The table is a so called trestle table with a heavy table top on a sturdy l...
Pine
Antique Swedish Folk Art Dining Trestle Table Fit for 4-6 People in Solid Pine
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique dining trestle table fit for 4-6 people. This folk art, trestle table is from northern Sweden and made around 1830. Made by hand in solid pine and never painted. The table to...
Pine
$3,840Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Nantucket Ship's Wheel Dining Table
By Nancy Chase
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique ship's wheel dining table from Nantucket Island, made by the renowned Scrimshaw artist Nancy Chase (1931-2016). Nancy bought this Late 19th Century Ship's Wheel from an antiq...
Glass, Wood
Folk Art Swedish Antique Drop-Leaf Dining Table with Drawers and Rustic Paint
Located in Kramfors, SE
Folk art dining table from northern Sweden. Antique drop-leaf table with one leaf on each side and two gates for each leaf which makes it a stable and steady table. Can be used with ...
Pine
Mid-20th Century Mixed-Metal Nautical 'Anchor' Dining Table
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This monumental dining or card table features a surface of inlaid mixed-metal including brass, sheet metal and copper. The top is mounted to a cast steel 'anchor' base, the depth of ...
Brass, Copper, Steel, Sheet Metal
Table Dining Trestle Table Swedish 19th Century Dark Brown Paint Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Trestle table dining table made during the 18th century in Sweden. Repainted in a distressed dark brown finish. Seats 6 comfortably with 2 extra seats on the short ends.
Wood
$13,037Sale Price|25% Off
A Unique Carved Horse Wood Dining Table
Located in London, GB
A remarkable Carved Trunk Wood Dining Table, meticulously carved from a single section of tree by a skilled artisan over the course of twelve months. This exquisite piece exudes a ri...
Glass, Wood
19th Century Swedish Folk Art Work or Dining Table
Located in Kramfors, SE
Swedish work or dining table in folk art from the early 19th century, around 1820. The table is a Swedish antique, genuine and honest with a solid frame and simple design. The propor...
Pine
Mid 19th century rustic hand painted pine kitchen table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 19th century rustic painted pine kitchen table circa 1850. Good quality traditional Swedish pine table with associated top. Thick 4 plank top surface with expected surface mark...
Pine, Paint
Table Pine Dining Desk Classical Leg Vernacular Folk
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
Pine farmhouse table with a single plank top Rare to find a piece of vernacular or folk furniture with sophisticated features like the leg turnings on this table Length 206cm 81...
Pine
19th Century Rustic Farmhouse Trestle Dining Table
Located in Round Top, TX
19th Century Rustic Farmhouse Trestle Dining Table 19th-century farmhouse trestle dining table crafted in hardwood with a traditional trestle base supported by two runners. The table...
Hardwood
Antique Spanish Renaissance Revival Walnut Trestle Dining Table
Located in Astoria, NY
Late 19th century Spanish Renaissance Revival walnut trestle table, sourced in Provence, France. The rectangular top is crafted from solid walnut with a rich warm finish, its surface...
Walnut
Pine Dining Table by Yngve Ekström for Swedese, Sweden, 1960s
By Axel Einar Hjorth, Yngve Ekström
Located in Dronten, NL
A distinctive Scandinavian Modern dining table designed by Yngve Ekström and produced by Swedese in the 1960s. Crafted in solid pine, the table exemplifies Ekström’s commitment to fu...
Pine
Mahogany Dining Table. 20th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Rectangular dining table with turned legs recalling columns and secured by a chambrana that starts from the union of the same. Both the line and the decoration centered on the legs t...
Mahogany
$3,426
H 28.75 in W 44.89 in D 45.67 in
19th Century Swedish antique Folk Art Drop leaf table with original paint
Located in Boden, SE
Folk Art drop-leaf table in painted pine. The table is in a very unusual model with a drawer and a door at the front. Nice storage inside.Untouched original condition with original ...
Pine
$6,390
H 28.55 in W 48.82 in D 86.62 in
Antique Victorian Mahogany Extending Dining Table, Wind Out Oval Dining Table
Located in Suffolk, GB
A handsome antique mahogany wind out dining table with a lovely rich colour and well figured top. The table is raised on elegant turned and reeded legs with the original brass and ce...
Mahogany
Vöeg Dining Table, Figured Black Walnut, Ready To Ship
Located in Calgary, AB
The Vöeg table in solid wood features just that....solid wood, no screws, metal or other. This particular table was handcrafted from matching boards in some...
Wood, Walnut
$16,721
H 30.12 in W 98.04 in D 47.64 in
Unique Antique Victorian 1860 Ships Refectory Dining Table Phosphor Bronze Feet
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning and very rare original Ships Pitch Pine Refectory dining table with Phosphor Bronze feet and fittings A truly sublime p...
Pine
Midcentury Drop-Leaf Dining Table with Rattan Base
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Danish style Mid-Century Modern drop-leaf dining table featuring an unusual gate leg base that has been covered with split rattan, giving the table an or...
Brass
Swedish Drop Leaf Gate Leg Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Classic Swedish style gate leg table with one drop leaf. The top can be separated from the base by pulling out a peg on each end. Table is 28.5" tall, 40" long and 36" wide when open...
Pine
Mid 20th Century French Provincial Walnut Extension Dining Table
Located in Germantown, MD
A Mid 20th Century French Provincial Walnut Extension Dining Table with two leaves. Tables with two leaves measures 84" in width, 42" in depth and stands 29.5" tall. Each leaf is 12"...
Walnut
Swedish Table in Solid Pine
Located in Karlstad, SE
A charming and sturdy dining table, crafted in pine and manufactured in Sweden during the 1950s, possibly designed by Göran Malmvall for the esteem...
Pine
Sold
H 30.12 in W 60.24 in D 34.26 in
Northern Swedish Antique Solid Pine Handmade Trestle Desk, Dining or Work Table
Located in Kramfors, SE
Swedish antique dining table or work table. The table is a genuine trestle table from northern Sweden made around 1820. The table has a large solid table top on a leg frame with beve...
Pine
Swedish Folk Art Dining Table Painted Pine, Sweden 1860’s.
Located in Valby, 84
This charming Swedish Folk Art dining table, crafted from pine and dating to the 1860s, is a striking example of rustic Scandinavian craftsmanship. With its original painted finish, ...
Pine, Paint
Sold
H 30.12 in W 45.67 in D 32.68 in
Antique Swedish Folk Art Handmade Dining or Work Table, Trestle Table in Pine
Located in Kramfors, SE
Swedish folk art table from the early 1800s. The table is a so called trestle table, meaning it's an early primitive type of table with a loose table top on a leg frame. Made by hand...
Pine
Rare 17th century Swedish Vernacular Farmhouse Dining Table
Located in Allerum, SE
Rare 17th century Swedish vernacular farmhouse dining "hedna" table with thick twin plank top and well patinated original surface. ca 1690 Sweden. Seats six people very comfortably. ...
Pine
Sold
H 29.53 in W 59.06 in D 32.88 in
Antique Genuine Northern Swedish Folk Art Pine Dining or Work Trestle Table
Located in Kramfors, SE
Folk art trestle table, dining or work table from northern Sweden. The table is a genuine antique and made unusually sturdy and charming. The ta...
Pine
Vintage Mexican Tile Dining Table
Located in San Antonio, TX
Custom-made vintage large tile top dining table, welded iron frame, featuring inlaid tile, with repeating abstract blue and purple design, block metal legs and can easily sit 6; Mexi...
Metal
Early 19th Century Swedish Trestle Table
Located in Allerum, SE
Fine early 19th century Swedish trestle table, ca 1800 Sweden.
Pine
Antique Swedish Pine Folk Art Trestle Table
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique Swedish trestle table from Northern Sweden made during the mid 1700s. The table is solid and primitive with a simple construction...
Pine
17th Century
Located in Allerum, SE
Rare 17th century Swedish vernacular farmhouse dining table with twin plank top, spice grinding cavity and well patinated original surface. Lite...
Pine
Large Round French Faux Bois Table
Located in Chireno, TX
Large round French faux bois table circa 1950-1969. Table hand-sculpted in a naturalistic manner to resemble live wood with bark-textured surfaces.
Concrete, Steel, Iron
Exceptional Early 19th Century Swedish Trestle Table
Located in Allerum, SE
Exceptional early 19th century Swedish Folk Art trestle table from the Gustavian period in it's original marbleised painted legs and trestles. Ca 1800.
Pine
Country House Trestle Table from Northern Sweden
Located in Kramfors, SE
This farm table is from the early 1800s, around 1800 to 1820, and has the rustic patina of a genuine never-painted antique. The table would work well as both a worktable or dining ta...
Pine