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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 a Bee-Eater, 1847 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a bee-eater 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. Publ...
Category

1840s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Professionally Framed Silk Ikat Fragment, Uzbekistan, Early 20th Century.
Located in Istanbul, TR
First the fragment has been hand backed on a linen fabric, then stretched over a wooden stretcher and finished with a wooden frame. Early 20th C. Uzbekistan. Ready to go on a wall. ...
Category

Early 20th Century Uzbek Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Silk

Professionally Framed Silk and Cotton Ikat Fragment, Uzbekistan, E 20th C.
Located in Istanbul, TR
First the fragment has been hand backed on a linen fabric, then stretched over a wooden stretcher and finished with a wooden frame. E 20th C. Uzbekistan. Ready to go on a wall. Fram...
Category

Early 20th Century Uzbek Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Silk

Professionally Framed Antique Eastern European Sleeve, Bulgaria, 19th C.
Located in Istanbul, TR
First the fragment has been hand backed on a linen fabric, then stretched over a wooden stretcher and finished with a wooden frame. Late 19th C. Bulgaria. Ready to go on a wall. Fra...
Category

Late 19th Century Bulgarian Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Silk

Large Antique Renaissance Style Carved Wood Picture Frame. English, 19th Century
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful carved wood frame in renaissance style I particularly like the Greek key ornament Carved tropical hardwood Chipped to one of the corners The measurement given below is ...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Wood

Original Antique Print of a Fruit Crow, 1847 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a fruit crow 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

Set of 8 Original Antique Prints of Monkey's, circa 1780
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful set of 8 copper-plate engravings of monkeys after De Seve I particularly like the naivety of the drawings. Published C.1780 Unframed. Free shipping.
Category

1780s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Print of Snakes, 1847 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of snakes. 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. Publishe...
Category

1840s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Print of a Hereford Bull, 1847 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Herefordshire bull. Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph with original hand color. Published 1...
Category

1840s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Vintage Beatrix Potter Print. Peter Rabbit And Friends C.1905
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Lovely image by Beatrix Potter Rescued from an early edition of " The Tale of Two Bad Mice " Possibly a 1st edition from 1904 The measurement given is the paper size not the actua...
Category

Early 1900s British Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Print of a Blue Tit, circa 1880, 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Blue Tit Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Alexander Francis Lydon. Original color P...
Category

1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Large Original Antique Natural History Print, Whales and Dolphins, circa 1835
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of whales and dolphins 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 wit...
Category

1830s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Persian Qajar Dynasty Ceramic Polychrome Framed Mosaic Tile Panel 26"
Located in Dayton, OH
A beautiful set of four Qajar Dynasty polychrome glazed tiles. The tiles are set within an iron frame with hanger on the back for displaying along the wall. Features two figures with...
Category

Early 20th Century Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Ceramic

18th Century Dutch Delft Tile Painting of a Cat with Mouse
Located in Stamford, CT
18th Dutch century tile painting of a cat with holding a mouse in it's mouth. Depicted right after the catch, with paw lifted showing exposed claws. The yellow and manganese striped ...
Category

18th Century Dutch Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Ceramic

Swedish Folk Art Panel
Located in Greenwich, CT
Early 19th Century Swedish folk painted wall decoration depicting flowers and plants, painted on re-purposed home spun cloth, in wonderful blues, golds and grey tones.
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Fabric

British Sailor's Large Woolwork of a Royal Navy Ship Under Full Sail
Located in Downingtown, PA
British Sailor's large woolwork of a royal navy ship under full sail, circa 1875 The sailor's woolie or woolwork depicts a starboard ...
Category

Mid-19th Century English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Wool

Vintage Jerusalem Ceramic Tile Handcrafted in Palestine Wall Decor
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Jerusalem Ceramic Tile Handcrafted in Palestine. Decorative Hand-painted Jerusalem ceramic tile with colorful floral ornament, olives and leaves in a Naif design style. A gla...
Category

Mid-20th Century Palestinian Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Ceramic

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

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

Professionally Framed Ottoman Embroidery Fragment, Turkey, E 20th Century.
Located in Istanbul, TR
First the fragment has been hand backed on a linen fabric, then stretched over a wooden stretcher and finished with a wooden frame. E 20th C. Ottoman Turkey Ready to go on a wall. ...
Category

Early 20th Century Turkish Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Silk

Sailor's Woolwork of Royal Navy Five-Masted Ship under Steam, Minotaur Class
Located in Downingtown, PA
Sailor's Woolwork of Royal Navy Five-masted Ship under Steam, HMS Minotaur or HMS Agincourt, Minotaur Class Broadside Ironclad, circa 1880 The sailor's woolie depicts a portsi...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Wool

Tonala Folk Art Pottery Plate Hand Painted with Birds, Mexico, circa 1960's
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

Swedish Folk Art Painted Panel
Located in Greenwich, CT
Good early 19th century Swedish folk painted wall panel depicting a flowering urn with perched bid, surrounded by several scroll-painted borders, all in pleasing blues, grays and ora...
Category

1840s Swedish Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Canvas

Set of 6 Large Scale Original Antique Prints of Bats, circa 1900
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Amazing images of bats. Copperplate photogravure engravings by Walter L. Colls. Good quality wove paper Published C.1900 Free shipping.
Category

Early 1900s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Astronomy Print. C.1900
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of the solar system Unframed. Chromo-lithograph Published, C.1900 The measurement is the paper size of the print Free shipping.
Category

Early 1900s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Large Original Antique Natural History Print, Rhinoceros, circa 1835
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of an Indian and a lesser two horn rhino Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Cpt. brown with ...
Category

1830s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Vintage Beatrix Potter Print. Peter Rabbit And Friends C.1905
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Lovely image by Beatrix Potter Rescued from an early edition of " The Tale of Two Bad Mice " Possibly a 1st edition from 1904 The measurement given is the paper size not the actua...
Category

Early 1900s British Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Hand Crafted Kuba Cloth Wall Hanging from D.R. Congo, 1960's
Located in Grythyttan, SE
The Kuba cloth (velours du kasai) is a captivating piece of textile art hailing from the Kasai Region in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Crafted by hand in the 1960s, this Kuba cloth wall hanging is a testament to the rich cultural heritage and artistic traditions of the Kuba people. The textile features a meticulous process of handweaving and embroidery using raffia palm fibers, showcasing intricate geometric patterns. The use of natural pigments in the dyeing process adds an earthy and authentic touch to the piece. As a vintage item, this Kuba Cloth is not only a stunning decorative element but also a tangible link to the past, carrying with it the history and craftsmanship of the Kuba people. Its authenticity is underscored by the fact that each Kuba cloth is one of a kind, reflecting the unique artistic expression of the weaver. Whether displayed as a wall hanging, used as a textile accent, or incorporated into interior design, the Kuba cloth invites a sense of cultural richness and historical significance. Embrace the beauty of this vintage, authentic artifact...
Category

1960s Congolese Vintage Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Raffia

Original Antique Bullfighting Print, Dated 1805
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of bullfighting Copper-plate engraving Published 1805 Unframed.
Category

Early 1800s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Framed Set of Four Herbaria
Located in Houston, TX
Framed set of four vintage herbaria, (circa 1930-1949, Sweden). Each herbarium (botanical) measures: 15.75 inches high x 9.5 inches wide and floats within a...
Category

1930s Swedish Vintage Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Glass, Wood, Paper

Original Antique Bird Print, the Savi's Warbler, circa 1870
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a savi's warbler Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph with original hand color. Published,...
Category

1870s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Persian Kashan Rug
Located in New York, NY
An early 20th Century Persian Kashan rug Measures: 1'3'' x 2'6''.  
Category

Mid-20th Century Persian Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Wool

New England Quilt Drunkards Path Pattern Circa 1885
Located in Hudson, NY
Striking and beautiful New England quilt in the drunkards path pattern. Excellent condition with a highly modern design pattern. Found in Maine, this quilt made from blue and red pri...
Category

1880s American Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Cotton

Original Antique Print of a Wryneck, circa 1880, 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Wryneck Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Alexander Francis Lydon. Original color Pu...
Category

1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

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

Large Original Antique Natural History Print, Gerbils, circa 1835
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of gerbils 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 col...
Category

1830s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

German Folk Art Naïve Military Painting, circa 1870
Located in London, GB
A wonderful example of a circa 1870 German Folk Art naïve military scene in townscape annotated to celebrate a soldier. In ceremonial regalia in watercolou...
Category

1870s German Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

1829 Needlepoint Pictorial Sampler of Flowers and Quote by 12-year old Girl.
Located in Soquel, CA
Wonderful 1820's needlepoint by 12 year-old Ellen Roberts (American, b. 1817 - ?) of New York with flower boarder and quote: Count that day lost whose low descending sun. ...
Category

1820s American Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Linen, Thread

"De Laval" Tin Advertising Sign, American, circa 1905, Near Mint
Located in Incline Village, NV
Having started in Sweden, the company opened up in America in 1888 as the "De Laval Cream Separator Company" in New York City, with a production plant ...
Category

Early 1900s American Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Tin

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

1 of the 100 Unique Antique Relief Tiles, circa 1920 S.A. Pavillions
Located in Rijssen, NL
Several pcs. exceptional antique wall tiles, Société des Pavillions, Florennes (S.A. des Pavillions). Beautiful quality. The dimensions per tile a...
Category

1920s Belgian Vintage Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Ceramic

Original Wood Carved Carnival Midway Poster Letterpress
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Set of three original hand-carved letterpress made by the Neal Walters Poster Company. Fantastic carnival midway scene. Games, carnival rides and acrobats. Carved with incredible detail, please see photos. The colors are the original ink used during the three color posted printing process. Circus and...
Category

1930s American Vintage Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Wood, Paint

Three Antique Silhouette Portrait Busts With William Henry Brown
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Comprised of a larger on panel, marked as being by American artist, William Henry Brown (American, 1808 - 1883). Together with two smaller silhouettes. All framed and glazed. Con...
Category

19th Century Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Glass, Wood, Paper

Advertising Tin Sign "The Delaware Insurance Company of Philadelphia" Circa 1885
By The Delaware Insurance Company of Philadelphia
Located in Incline Village, NV
This is a very rare and early (circa 1885) tin advertising sign, commissioned by the Delaware Insurance Company, located and founded in Philadelphia in 1835. It was probably made by noted late 19th century sign maker, Sentenne & Green, of New York City, established in the 1870's. With an Indian motif, the sign features a Native American Indian, front and center, decorated in a brown and green headdress; with red, cream and aqua clothing and a large gold medallion...
Category

Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Tin

Easy Rider Chopper Tanks
Located in San Francisco, CA
Vintage custom painted chopper tanks with steel mounting brackets. First is a Classic heavy metallic flake purple and silver painted Harley Davidson tank with navy blue flame patte...
Category

1960s American Vintage Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Metal

Original Cover of Mexican Comic "Sensacional de Maestros"
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this amazing original cover painted in gouache in excellent vintage condition, issue 291 "Al gato y al ratón jugabas con mi chon", circa 1990. About the Sensacional Comics as part of the Mexican Culture: "Sensacional" is the generic name of a handful of Mexican comics published at the end of the 1970s (1979 to be exact) and whose "boom" remained in force within the Mexican idiosyncrasy for around 20 years, (all the decade of the 80's and 90's) to then go downhill and "evolve", so to speak, until they become sexually explicit...
Category

1990s Mexican Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Acrylic

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

Set of 6 of Total 120 Dutch Blue Glazed Ceramic Tiles by Le Glaive, 1930
Located in Rijssen, NL
This is an amazing set of Dutch blue handmade tiles. A beautiful and color. With 6 different stylized designs. We offer 20 tiles from the same design. In total 120 tiles...
Category

1930s Belgian Vintage Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Ceramic

Set of Three Folk Art Straight Edge Razor Trade Signs
Located in Stamford, CT
Three whimsical American folk carved wood art trade signs in the form of straight edge razors. Used by barbers as interior advertisements. Two have...
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Wood

Gold Framed Embroidered Needlepoint Floral and Peacock Wall Hanging
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A lovely square framed hand embroidered wall hanging of a peacock and roses. This beautiful piece has been cross stitched by hand in a variety of bright and bold colors. A peacock ta...
Category

20th Century American Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Fabric, Thread, Wood

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

English fairground panel
Located in London, GB
English fairground panel We share what we love, and we love this very well carved turn off the century fairground rounders panel/frieze, depicting a...
Category

19th Century British Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Wood

Original Antique Print of a Grasshopper Warbler, circa 1880, 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Grasshopper Warbler Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Alexander Francis Lydon. Origin...
Category

1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Delft Ceramic Decorative Tile Featuring a Man on Horse
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

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

Set of 6 of Total 120 Dutch Blue Ceramic Tiles by Gilliot Hemiksen, 1930s
Located in Rijssen, NL
This is an amazing set of Dutch blue handmade ceramic tiles. Manufactured by Gilliot Hemiksen, 1930s. With 6 different stylized designs. We offer 20 tiles from the same design. In total 120 tiles...
Category

1930s European Vintage Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Ceramic

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

Mid 19th Century Sailor's Elaborate Woolie
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique Sailor's elaborate woolwork, circa 1855, with a photograph of the sailor held in a woolwork frame set on the British flag on a cruciform reserve; with the "Honi Soit Qui Mal ...
Category

1850s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Wool

Rustic Figures in a Farmyard, in the Manner of Jack Kampmann, C.1950.
By Jack Kampmann
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Charming painting of 2 female farm labourers Unsigned. In the style of Jack Kampmann Oil on board. Possibly Faroe Islands Presented in an antique whi...
Category

1950s Faeroese Vintage Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paint

18th Century Wax Butter Mold with Habsburg Imperial Coat of Arms
Located in Milano, MI
18th century dark wax butter mold with habsburg imperial coat of arms, diameter 20 cm with engraved inscription IG S and M S 1737. Good age related condition, this lovely Mittle-...
Category

Mid-18th Century Austrian Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Other

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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