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.
French Chestnut Little Nightstand Table Side Cabinet Shooting Star, Late 19th C
Located in Labrit, Landes
Little ightstand table hanging cabinet or cabinet to fit on an other item. Made in the 19th century, it is difficult to be more precise as this piece of furniture is very old. A shoo...
Copper
Antique Swedish Primitive Folk Art Table
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique Swedish primitive table in folk art. The table is a country furniture with a simple construction and a charmingly primitive appearance. The table is made by hand and is not c...
Pine
Ostrich Pedestal Side Table, Taxidermy
Located in Forney, TX
An extraordinarily rare, interesting and highly unusual hand-sculptured Ostrich foot that creates a one of a kind work of both fine taxidermy and American folk art. Exceptionally...
Animal Skin, Organic Material, Wood
Antique Small Charming Northern Swedish Folk Art Table
Located in Kramfors, SE
Small charming country table from northern Sweden. The table is a genuine folk art furniture from around 1790 to 1810. It is made by hand in solid pine. The table is in untouched con...
Pine
Genuine Antique Swedish Handmade Folk Art Pine Rustic Table with Drawer
Located in Kramfors, SE
Handmade folk art table from northern Sweden made around the mid 1800s, circa 1840. The table is made by hand and is in untouched original condition with the original first paint. Th...
Pine
One Drawer Salmon Painted Side Table
Located in Nantucket, MA
One drawer with wooden pull with salmon sponge paint decoration on squared tapered legs. Original paint made of walnut and poplar. Berks County, circa 1820. Measures: 30 ½” x 24” ...
Poplar, Walnut
18th Century Folk Painted Table
Located in Greenwich, CT
Early 18th century Dutch or Flemish folk painted tripod table, the octagonal top decorated with an idyllic scene depicting cottage, maiden, fishermen, dogs and sheep, and mounted on ...
Wood
Antique Indian Carved Wood Elephant Stand or Pedestal
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive antique Indian elephant stand carved from a hardwood featuring a carved character on the top over a fancy saddle with floral carvings, a parcel gilt and paint decorated el...
Stone
$261Sale Price|50% Off
Vintage Wooden Space-Saving Book Coffee Table with Drawers and Compartment
Located in Manzano, IT
Fascinating "book-like" coffee table in authentic Arte Povera style, dating from the 1970s. This cabinet is a perfect example of functional and versatile design: its compact size m...
Wood
Vintage Metal License Plate Accent Side End Table Mexican Car Plates
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Metal License Plate Accent Side End Table Mexican Car Plates. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 20" H x 17.5" W x 17" D.
Metal
Mahogany Single Drawer Side Table
Located in Woodbury, CT
Constructed of solid mahogany, this little side table could find a home just about anywhere-bedside, next to a sofa or wing chair, as a catch-all for keys and gloves in a side hall-a...
Mahogany
Pair of Brancusi Style Steel Pedestal Side Tables
By Brancusi
Located in Stamford, CT
Compelling pair of geometric steel side tables or pedestals very much in the style of Constantin Brancusi. With a soft rust colored patina, these will make great lamp stands or wonderful pedestals for sculpture...
Cut Steel
Charming Cast Cement Side Table with Putti Base
Located in Hopewell, NJ
A marvelous garden or patio end table made of cast concrete having seated Putti as the base in a charming position with one knee bent and holding the pillow shaped top on his head an...
Cement
$1,295
H 29 in W 25.5 in D 19.75 in
Late 19th Century French Carved Walnut Side Table, End Table, Nightstand
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This small scale French Henri II style walnut side table from the late nineteenth century is of hand pegged construction and features a beveled top detailed with an egg and dart moti...
Iron
$2,853
H 26.38 in W 26.19 in D 25.79 in
Antique French Art Deco Octagonal Side Table Geometric Oriental scene 1930 inlay
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Marvelous French Art Deco octagonal table with superb Inlay 1930. This rare Art Deco piece is a stunning display of craftsmanship with numerou...
Wood
Swedish Art Deco Round Golden Elm Pedestal End or Side Table
Located in Atlanta, GA
Swedish Art Deco round pedestal end or side table in golden elm. The table top is paneled and inlaid with intarsia of contrasting Swedish birch wood. Feet and details are made of ebo...
Elm
19th Century French Marquetry Side Table
Located in Norwood, NJ
Elegant French side table dating to the late 19th century, crafted in richly grained wood with fine marquetry inlay throughout. The gently shaped top is centered by a detailed geomet...
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood, Walnut, Ebony, Pearwood
Antique American Folk Art Wood Spool Table, Circa 1900
Located in Rochester, NY
Antique American folk art wood spool table in the most beautifully aged original worn dry white painted surface. Measures 24" h x 24" w x 16" d and 15" h x 16" w x 12" d to floating ...
Wood, Paint
Late 19th Century Octagonal Side Table
Located in High Point, NC
Very unusual late 19th century oak side table from England. The table is a great form. It has an octagonal top, which is beveled and carved around the edge, and is surrounding a ha...
Oak
Swedish "Funkis" Side Table
Located in New York, NY
"Funkis" is the Swedish term describing the "Funktionell Stil" of the 1930's and 40's. All pieces of furniture from the most impressive Sofa to a modest side table were designed to be "smart" elements of the home or office. This simple golden birch side table with a shelf...
Birch
$907Sale Price / set|30% Off
H 22 in W 22 in D 26 in
White Furniture French Country Two-Drawer Maple Side Tables
Located in Germantown, MD
White furniture French country two-drawer maple side tables in good vintage condition. Two roomy dovetailed drawers close and open smoothly. Measure...
Maple
Mid-19th Century Italian Side Table
Located in Round Top, TX
A charming mid-19th century side table from Northern Italy in painted wood. Fabulous finish and patina. A lovely shape with splayed legs, one drawer and centre shelf.
Wood
Hexagonal Tramp Art Style Inlaid Occasional Table
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Hexagonal tramp art style ? walnut, maple, rosewood and mother of pearl inlaid occasional table. With a hexagonal inlaid top with mother of pearl inlay on side edges, an inlaid apron...
Mother-of-Pearl, Maple, Rosewood, Walnut
Swedish Craft, End Table, Pine, Sweden, c. 1900
Located in High Point, NC
An adjustable pine end table, designed and produced in Sweden, c. 1900.
Pine
Charming Rare Round Wooden Rice Bin End Table
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Charming and one of a kind hand painted antique wooden rice bin that makes a wonderful end table. The rustic piece has lovely folk art primitive paintings of swans...
Wood
Swiss Naturalistic Root Wood Base Side Table
Located in Chireno, TX
Swiss naturalistic root wood base side table hand-carved circa 1890-1919. Round top raised upon naturalistic root wood base. Subtle primitive carv...
Wood
Quirky Oak Low Table
Located in Chireno, TX
Quirky oak low table with “boot” feet circa 1880-1910. Originally served as low lamp table or book stand in rustic home in Virginia. Today, it’s perfectly sui...
Steel
Distressed Leather Top Side Table
Located in Raleigh, NC
Likely European, maybe Belgian, small scale side tables. Simple scroll design with carved hardwood frame and leather top. Each show heavy wear b...
Leather, Hardwood
Low Cricket Table as Side Table or Small Coffee Table
Located in Chireno, TX
Low cricket table as side table or small coffee table. Georgian cricket table, circa 1740-1760, with thick single piece walnut table raised upon...
Oak, Walnut, Pine
Primitive Octagonal Top Oak Cricket Table
Located in Chireno, TX
Primitive octagonal top oak cricket table raised upon three simple octagonal legs. Circa 1860-1880, England.
Oak
Sold
H 30.25 in W 22 in D 27.5 in
French Painted Tole Folk Art Style Side Accent Pedestal Table Plant Stand
Located in Dayton, OH
French inspired accent entry side table. Features a tole style finish over a baluster base.
Hardwood, Paint
Sold
H 20.08 in W 24.41 in D 22.05 in
Pair English 18th Century Rustic Folk Elm Cricket Tables End Tables, C.1760
Located in London, GB
A pair of Antique 18th century English cricket tables. Crafted in the second-half of the 18th century, C.1750. Constructed from elm and oak wood. A Charming example of sculptural...
Elm, Oak
Sold
H 27.96 in W 20.08 in D 16.54 in
Table Cricket Tree Top Thick Clover English Oak Folk Vernacular Naive
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
Rare, 19th century, English, Oak Folk/Vernacular/Naive tree trunk top cricket table on stick legs • Characterful, signature piece injecting charm and tacticity into contemporary, ...
Oak
Folk Art Grotto or Cockle Shell Side Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A wonderful table perfectly suited for many rooms or spaces and especially those near the sea side or with an ocean theme. The tables legs are covered entirely with Cockle shells and...
Shell, Wood, Beech, Scrap Wood