Folk Art Decorative Art
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
Original Antique Print of Quail, 1847 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of quail.
Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames.
Lithograph after Cpt. brown with original hand color.
Published...
Category
1840s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Original Antique Print of Crocodiles, 1847 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of crocodiles and alligators.
Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames.
Lithograph after Cpt. Brown with original ha...
Category
1840s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Original Antique Print of a Rufous Warbler, circa 1880, 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Rufous Warbler
Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames.
Lithograph after Alexander Francis Lydon.
Original ha...
Category
1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Set of 6 Original Antique Reptile Prints, Tallis, circa 1850
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great images of reptiles
Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames.
Lithographs with original color.
Published by Tallis c...
Category
1850s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Large Original Antique Natural History Print, Pigs / Hogs, circa 1835
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of pigs or hogs.
Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames.
Lithograph with original hand color.
Published circa 183...
Category
1830s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Beautiful Black Forest Frame Antique Folk Art with Jesus Child Picture, 1890s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A lovely picture frame made of hand carved wood, made in Germany with a picture of Jesus and a Child. Found at an estate sale in Nuremberg, Germany. It is not marked. A nice addition...
Category
1890s German Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Glass, Wood
Original Antique Print of a Reed Warbler, circa 1880, 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Reed Warbler
Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames.
Lithograph after Alexander Francis Lydon.
Original hand...
Category
1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Original Antique Print of a Dunnock, circa 1880, 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Dunnock
Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames.
Lithograph after Alexander Francis Lydon.
Original hand colo...
Category
1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
American Feltwork Picture of Fruit in a Footed Bowl, Probably New York State
Located in Downingtown, PA
American Feltwork Picture of Fruit in a Bowl,
Probably New York State,
Circa 1890-1910
The large framed American feltwork picture is extremely striking with strong original colors. The feltwork depicts a group of different fruit in an openwork metal footed bowl...
Category
1890s American Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Textile, Felt
Large Original Antique Natural History Print, Sun Birds, circa 1835
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of sun birds
Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames.
Lithograph after Cpt. Brown
Original hand colour
Published ...
Category
1830s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Original Antique Print of A Fern, Circa 1850
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a fern presented in a distressed antique lime-washed pine frame.
Lithograph with original color.
Published, C.1850
Free shipping.
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Original Antique Print of a Nutcracker, circa 1880, 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Nutcracker
Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames.
Lithograph after Alexander Francis Lydon.
Original hand c...
Category
1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Set of 15 Large Original Antique Animal Prints, 1830s
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great set of animal prints
Lithographs after the drawings by Cpt. brown.
Original hand color.
Unframed
The measurement given below is for one...
Category
1830s Scottish Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Large Original Antique Natural History Print, Seagulls, circa 1835
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of seagulls
Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames.
Lithograph after Cpt. Brown and Marechal with original hand co...
Category
1830s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Original Antique Print of an Orphean Warbler, circa 1880, 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of an Orphean Warbler
Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames.
Lithograph after Alexander Francis Lydon.
Original ...
Category
1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Original Antique Print of a White's Thrush, circa 1880, 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a White's Thrush
Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames.
Lithograph after Alexander Francis Lydon.
Original ha...
Category
1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Set of 8 Original Antique Prints of Birds of Prey After Francis Lydon, C.1880
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful set of 8 antique birds of prey prints
Lithographs after the original drawings by Alexander Francis Lydon
Original colour
Publis...
Category
1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
British Sailor's Woolwork Picture with Five Ships in a Bay
Located in Downingtown, PA
British Sailor's Woolwork with Five Ships in a Bay,
Circa 1875
The large sailor's woolwork depicts two large merchant sailing ships sailing in opposite directions to each other in a...
Category
1870s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Wool
Antique 1830 English Sampler by S. Norman, What is Life
Located in Bridgeport, CT
By S. Norman. With a now brown toned background and overall embroidery with birds, trees, flower baskets and architecture. With an English newspaper on the back.
sight 14 3/4 x 12"...
Category
19th Century English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Fabric, Glass, Wood
Framed Original Antique Print of a Marsh Club Moss . C.1840
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of Marsh Club Moss
In a cream painted frame
Lithograph with hand written inscription
Original colour
Published, circa 1840.
Category
1840s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Wood, Paper
Sailor's Woolwork of The British Ship Gold Finder on her voyage to Australia
Located in Downingtown, PA
Sailor's Woolwork Nautical Picture,
Inscribed:The British Ship Gold Finder on her voyage to Melbourn, August 2, 1864. Worked by T.J. Francis,
Circa 1864
This sailor's woolwork depicts aportside view of the the Gold Finder. The Gold Finder was a 3-masted iron ship built in 1863 by J. Laing of Sunderland. There is a detailed inscription below including the maker's name- T.J. Francis.
A notice in the Liverpool Mercury on Tuesday May 3, 1853......This ship is expected to sail very fast, has all her passenger arrangements on a novel and peculiar plan, affording an amount of light and ventilation such as no other passenger ship ever possessed. The ships bell has recently been acquired by the Merseyside Maritime Museum. It seems though that the ship's description involved a degree of hyperbole as she was in fact laid down as a coal ship and converted to passenger accommodation later to meet the demand for the Gold Rush in Australia.
Dimensions: Framed: 28 3/10 inches high x 31 inches wide (72cm x 79 cm).
The Australian gold rush started after Edward Hargraves found the precious metal in New South Wales in 1851. He was not the first to discover gold but is credited with launching the stampede when thousands tried their luck at unearthing wealth - and some succeeded. Hargraves (1816-1891), a former hotelier and cattle farmer, played a small part in the California gold rush of 1849. He didn't get rich but met people who knew about gold and where it could be found - they pointed out similarities between California and New South Wales. Hargraves headed back to Australia to test these theories and stake a claim for a Government reward for the discovery of viable gold fields. Despite initial setbacks, he organised fellow prospectors in the quest for gold which was successful. Hargraves was granted massive rewards of more than pounds 12,000 and later a pension of pounds 250 a year.
He was born in Gosport, Hampshire, the son of an army officer, and educated at Lewes and Brighton Grammar School. Hargraves joined the merchant navy before arriving at Sydney in 1832 and marrying Eliza Mackie four years later.
Publicity about the gold rush prompted many migrants to sail from Liverpool to seek their fortunes - the first licence was issued in Victoria on 21 September 1851. Australia's population boomed as the emigrants...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Wool
Zabihi Collection Ivory Square Size Persian Kashan Rug
Located in New York, NY
An early 20th Century Persian Kashan rare square size small rug
Measures: 3'4'' x 3'7''.
Category
Mid-20th Century Persian Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Wool
Set of 6 Original Antique Natural History Prints, 1847
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful set of 6 natural history prints.
Original hand colored lithographs.
After drawings by Cpt. Brown.
Published by Fullarton, 1847
Unframed.
Category
1840s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Vintage Shooting Club Lodge Target Plaque German 1900s, Carnival Folk Art
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Vintage Shooting Lodge Target Plaque 1900s. A rare and beautiful wooden shooting target plaque with inscriptions. This rare kings plaque was issued by a ...
Category
Early 1900s German Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Wood, Paper
Set of 20 Original Antique Prints of Swedish and Norwegian Costumes, C.1850
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Charming set of 20 prints of Swedish and Norwegian costume
Lithographs by Schlachter & Seedorff
Published by Sigfried Flodins, Stockholm, C.1850
Unframed.
The measurement...
Category
1850s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Pair of Large Original Antique Natural History Prints, Shells, circa 1835
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great images of shells
Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames.
Lithograph after Cpt. Brown, Gilpin and Edwards with origin...
Category
1830s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Antique 1832 Sampler, Jane Peacock Age 8, Friendship
Located in Bridgeport, CT
By Jane Peacock age 8. With a Friendship poem along with embroidered birds, squirrels, and a charming house in the country with a dog in the yard. A pretty floral vine border on all ...
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Fabric, Glass, Wood
Large Original Antique Natural History Print, American Bison, circa 1835
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of an American bison etc.
Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames.
Lithograph after Cpt. Brown with original ha...
Category
1830s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Original Antique Print of Dolphins, 1847 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of dolphins.
Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames.
Lithograph after Cpt. brown with original hand color.
...
Category
1840s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Delft Ceramic Decorative Tile Featuring a Man on Horse
By Delft
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Delft tile featuring a noble man riding a horse.
This characterful Delftware tile a man on horseback in expressive blue coloring on a whit...
Category
Early 20th Century Dutch Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic, Clay
Tonala Folk Art Pottery Plate Hand Painted with Birds, Mexico, circa 1960's
By Ken Edwards
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Handcrafted Ken Edwards ceramic plate Tonala Mexico Folk Art Pottery.
Vintage Ken Edwards Mexican ceramic birds and flowers from Tonala Pottery.
...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
Vintage Linda Fowler Post Modern Abstract Expressionist Textile Quilt Art Framed
Located in Dayton, OH
"Vintage original handstitched textile art by Ohio quilt artist Linda Fowler, showing a bold pink spiral over an abstract backdrop resembling a landscape in...
Category
Late 20th Century Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Textile
Large Original Antique Print of Hornbills, circa 1835
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of Hornbills
Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames.
Lithograph after Cpt. Brown with original hand color.
...
Category
1830s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Still Life with Flowers, Oil Painting on Canvas by American-Italian Artist
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Artwork from US born Italian artist Emanuele Laustino (Pittsburgh 1916-Asti 1988). Laustino was the son of immigrants from Asti´s countryside in Northern Italy, and moved to the Unit...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Canvas, Wood
Original Antique Print of An English Sporting Dog, 1847 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a sporting dog, a bloodhound.
Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames.
Lithograph after Cpt. Brown with orig...
Category
1840s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Original Antique Print of a Desert Wheatear, circa 1880, 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a desert wheatear
Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames.
Lithograph after Alexander Francis Lydon.
Orig...
Category
1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Original Antique Print of a Fieldfare, circa 1880, 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Fieldfare
Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames.
Lithograph after Alexander Francis Lydon.
Original h...
Category
1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Original Antique Print of Leopard Seals, C.1890
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of Leopard-Seals
Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames.
Chromolithograph after the original artwork by P.J Smit...
Category
1890s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Tamar Markova Folk Art Painting, 1970s
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
Tamar Markova Folk Art painting, 1970s.
Category
20th Century Unknown Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Canvas, Paint
Vintage Boho Folk Art Blade Sign
Located in west palm beach, FL
An extraordinary vintage blade sign. A chic Folk art pieces from the early 20th century. Acquired from a prominent folk art collector.
Category
Early 20th Century North American Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Wood
Original Antique Bird Print, Kittiwake and Common Tern, circa 1850
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a kittiwake and a common tern
Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames.
Lithograph...
Category
1850s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
19th Century American Folk Art Oil Painting Landscape with Horses and River
Located in Stamford, CT
A 19th century oil painting on artist board depicting four horses in a bucolic setting on the banks of a river. The primitive style and naive perspective give this piece of Americana a real charm. In the original carved and painted frame. With the label of the renowned 19th century New York City purveyor of paints and art supplies...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Paint
Original Antique Print of Lions and Tigers, 1847 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of lions.
Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames.
Lithograph after Cpt. Brown with original hand color.
Pub...
Category
1840s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Old Vintage Fun Wooden Hand Painted Sign 'No Parking' Decorative Wall Shelf Art
Located in Llanbrynmair, GB
A fun hand painted wooden sign reads ‘NO PARKING THIS MEANS YOU’ – Definitely some British humour!
A very old sign, probably dates back to Mid 20...
Category
20th Century British Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Pine
British Sailor's Large Woolwork of HMS Brunswick
Located in Downingtown, PA
British Sailor's large woolwork of HMS Brunswick,
Circa 1865
The large sailor's woolwork depicts an image of a Royal Navy Second Rate Battleship. By repute she is the HMS Brunswick ...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Wool
Sailor's Woolwork of Royal Navy on Checkerboard Sea
Located in Downingtown, PA
Sailor's Woolwork of Royal Navy on Checkerboard Sea,
circa 1865
The British sailor's woolie depicts a port side view of a three-masted ship with trapunto white sails on a rough s...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Wool
Vintage Cat Block Print
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A vintage handmade block print of a cat in a warm wood frame is a charming and unique addition to any home. This delightful piece of art captures the pla...
Category
Late 20th Century American Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Wood, Paper
Set of 4 of Original Antique Prints of Fossils and Dinosaur Bones, 1847
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful images of fossils and dinosaur bones.
After Cpt. Brown
Lithographs. Original hand color.
Published 1847
Unframed.
Free shipping.
Category
1840s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Vintage Majolica Deruta Raffaellesco Decorative Ceramic Wall Plate 14'75 inches
Located in North Hollywood, CA
A large vintage Deruta Raffaellesco decorative wall plate with scalloped rim.
Majolica hand-painted with magnificent detailing and artwork, extraordina...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
Original Antique Print of a Stonechat, C.1880, 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Stonechat
Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames.
Lithograph after Alexander Francis Lydon.
Original h...
Category
1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Original Antique Print of a Rock Dove, circa 1880, 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a rock dove.
Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames.
Lithograph after Alexander Francis Lydon.
Original ...
Category
1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Original Antique Print of a Chinese Actor in the San Francisco Theatre
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Chinese actor in the San Francisco Theatre
Woodcut engraving
Text on verso
Published circa 1890
Free shipping.
Category
1890s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Original Antique Print of a Crossbill in an Ebonized Faux Bamboo Frame
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a crossbill presented in an ebonized faux bamboo frame
Lithograph after Francis Lydon
Original hand colour
Published, circa 1880.
Category
1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Paper, Wood
Block Print in Unique Samuel Peck Co. Negative Printing Contact Frame
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Discover a unique blend of art and history with this captivating block print of an animal. Set against a soothing green matte, this vintage piece stands as an intriguing dialogue bet...
Category
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Wood, Paper
Antique Porcelain Humpback Double Sided NYC Street Sign
Located in Redding, CT
Antique porcelain humpback double sided NYC Street Sign, circa early 1900s. Cobalt blue enamel and white enamel. Sign says Sedgwick Ave & Dickinson Ave...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Enamel
Original Antique Ethnographical Print, Native Americans, circa 1810
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful ethnographical print.
Copper-plate engraving
Published circa 1810
Unframed.
Category
Early 1800s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Sailor's Woolwork of a Confederate & British Ship Passing on the High Seas
Located in Downingtown, PA
Sailor's Woolwork of A Confederate & British Ship Passing on the High Seas,
Circa 1861
The small British sailor's woolwork depicts two ships under...
Category
1860s Antique Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Wool
Vintage Crane Stained Glass Panel
Located in Dallas, TX
Vintage framed stained glass panel featuring a crane with palm trees. Some cosmetic imperfections with frame (pictured) but no breaks in glass, good...
Category
1970s Vintage Folk Art Decorative Art
Materials
Stained Glass, Wood
Folk Art decorative art for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique folk art decorative art 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 decorative art created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include wall decorations, decorative objects, folk art and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, fabric and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art decorative art made in a specific country, there are North America, United States, and Africa pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original decorative art, popular names associated with this style include Familia Lorenzo , and hettler.tüllmann. 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 decorative art differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $300 and tops out at $2,931 while the average work can sell for $1,300.
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