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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 Parrot Crossbill, circa 1880, 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Parrot Crossbill 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 Shore Lark, circa 1880, 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Shore Lark 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 ...
Category

1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Print of a Scarlet Bullfinch, circa 1880, 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Scarlet Bullfinch 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 Long-Tailed Tit, circa 1880, 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Long-tailed 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 c...
Category

1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

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

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

Large Original Antique Natural History Print, Quadrumana, circa 1835
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of Quadrumana, apes 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 han...
Category

1830s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Print of an Aquatic Warbler, circa 1880, 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of an Aquatic 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 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

Pictorial Cats/ Yarn Hooked Rug
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare and unusual pictorial black cats cotton yarn hooked rug/ mounted on black linen and wood frame as wall art/ great pristine condition, great addition to any Folk Art collection.
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Wool

Folk Art Glass Shard Cat Picture
Located in Riverdale, NY
Charming Folk Art glass shard cat picture set within a grey washed handmade wood frame. Made with glass shard mosaics by hand depicting in an image of a ca...
Category

1940s North American Vintage Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Glass

French, 19th Century Iron Shoemakers Shop Sign
Located in Buisson, FR
Original riveted sheet iron shoemakers shop sign. Unique find, France, circa 1800-1850. Traces of red paint visible. Weathered.
Category

19th Century French Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Iron

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

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

Original Antique Print of Crossbills, 1847 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of crossbills 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

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

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

1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Print of a Marsh Warbler, circa 1880, 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Marsh 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 col...
Category

1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Print of a Tree Pipit, circa 1880, 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Tree Pipit 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 ...
Category

1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Print of a Wood Lark, circa 1880, 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Wood Lark 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 ...
Category

1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Ethnographical Print, Figures, New South Wales, Australia, 1809
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful ethnographical print. A copper-plate engraving after Lesieur Published by Sherwood, Neely & Jones. Dated 1809 Unframed.  
Category

Early 1800s 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

Folk Art Hand Hooked Rug with Chickens, circa 1880
Located in Nantucket, MA
Folk Art Hand Hooked rug with chickens, circa 1880, with two grey chicks standing on black and tan patches (respectively) on a white ground, separated by a double chevron band of mul...
Category

1880s American Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Burlap, Wool

Green Turkish Deco Deer Rug
Located in New York, NY
One-of-a-kind hand-knotted Turkish Anatolian rug with 2 deers and 2 other animals on a green ground Measures: 1'9” x 2'3”.
Category

20th Century Turkish Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Wool

Zabihi Collection Modern Persian Souf Kilim
Located in New York, NY
A Modern Souf Persian carpet dpeicting a lion on a neutral field 3'11'' x 5'5'' Souf rugs are very rare technique found as they have a raised low and high pile technique. They are...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Persian Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Wool

Large Original Antique Natural History Print, Flying Lemur, circa 1835
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a flying lemur 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

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

19th Century Original Painted Wall Board Food Plate Folk Art Bavarian German
Located in Epfach, DE
19th Century original painted wall board food plate folk art Bavarian German The typical bavarian plate is labeled with M.L.B. 1882.
Category

Late 19th Century German Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Wood

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

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 conditions, circa 1990 issue 129 "Sancho te encontr'e en la movidita Sancho". 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 circa 20 years, (all the decade of the 1980s and 1990s) to then go downhill and "evolve", so to speak, until they become sexually explicit...
Category

1990s Mexican Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Large Vintage Indian Textile with Custom Frame
Located in Troy, MI
Vintage Indian block printed textiles from the 1940s-1960s have been sewn together in colorful patches with rows of running stitch embellish...
Category

Mid-20th Century Indian Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Fabric, Canvas, Plexiglass, Wood

"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

Botanical Persian Pictorial Rug
Located in New York, NY
An early 20th Century Persian Persian Bakhtiari Pictorial signed Prayer rug. Light enough to use as a wall piece as well Measures: 5'5'' x 8'2''.  
Category

Early 20th Century Persian Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Wool

Zabihi Collection Gray Animal Motif Turkish Fine Sivas Rug
Located in New York, NY
Accent size pictorial Turkish Sivas carpet from the first quarter of the 20th century. The gray field with a flurry of wild and exotic animals, accents in beige and crimson red. A co...
Category

Early 20th Century Turkish Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Wool

Set of Six Black Forest Roe Deer Trophies on Carved Plaques - Germany ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Set of Six Black Forest Roe Deer Trophies on Carved Plaques - Germany ca. 1900s A set of six antique roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) trophies mounted on carved plaques. The trophies ...
Category

Early 1900s German Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Antler, Wood

Set of Six Black Forest Roe Deer Trophies on Wooden Plaques - Germany
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Set of Six Black Forest Roe Deer Trophies on Wooden Plaques - Germany A set of six old trophies of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), mounted on wooden panels with different styles. Th...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Antler, Wood

Turkish Anatolian Deer Rug
Located in New York, NY
One of a kind hand-knotted Turkish Anatolian rug with stand-alone deer on a blush color ground Measures: 3'3” x 3'11”.
Category

20th Century Turkish Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Wool

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

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

Asian Textile Picture of a Knotted Bamboo Jacket on Linen, Myanmar 1900-1920
Located in Salzburg, AT
Asian textile picture of a knotted bamboo jacket on linen, Myanmar 1900-1920 The finely assembled object made of small bamboo sticks has become a loose jacket. The edges are hemmed...
Category

Early 20th Century Burmese Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Linen, Bamboo, Wood

Pictorial Turkish Deer Bird Square Rug
Located in New York, NY
One of a kind hand-knotted Turkish Anatolian Rug in pale peach, brown, and green accents depicting 3 deers and 2 birds, circa 1940. Square Shape too Measures: 4'6” x 4'8”.  
Category

20th Century Turkish Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Wool

Light Blue Pictorial Traditional Persian Tabriz Rug
Located in New York, NY
19th century Persian Tabriz Pictorial rug in predominant light blue. Light enough to use as a wall hanging as well Measures: 4'6" x 6'3".
Category

19th Century Persian Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Wool

Masonic Sheepskin Man Portrait
Located in London, GB
Masonic Sheepskin Man Portrait We are proud to offer a highly unusual subject matter oil on canvas painting by the recently deceased Cornish artist James Scrase. A fine example from a member of the Royal Society of National Portraits members, trained under the guidance of Italian artist Annigoni in the early 1970s. James produced some wonderful piece of art in many different mediums. The unusual thing about this portrait is not only the fact that the subject sits proud in a sheepskin coat as his best attire, but also the fact that the artist name is hidden in the note painted...
Category

1950s British Vintage Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Canvas

1960’s Mushroom Needlepoint, Framed
Located in Charleston, SC
Here we have a framed piece of cross-stitch art featuring a brightly colored orange and yellow mushroom and a ladybug. The artwork is created using the cross-stitch technique, whe...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Cotton, Wood

Saul Mamakeesick, Protection, Acrylic on Art Paper, 1980, Framed
Located in Warszawa, Mazowieckie
Saul Mamakeesick, Protection, 1980 Acrylic on art paper Number 181/295 The work signed by the artist's signature. Has individual number, title and date. Shee...
Category

1980s Canadian Vintage Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Acrylic, Paper

Folk Art Sign-Maker's Sample Board in Original Paint
Located in Greenwich, CT
A Folk Art two-sided sign maker's sample board in original paint, one side having square color samples with various border treatments, each panel numbered (one through 25), the other...
Category

Late 18th Century English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Wood

Early 20th Century English Fairground Panels
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century English fairground panels We share what we love, and we love this matched pair of charming English metal sheet, hand painted fai...
Category

1920s British Vintage Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Metal

Prune and Floral Print Royale PJ Redoute Print of Fruit and Leaves Unframed
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Beautiful summer fruit print or engraving by Langlois. Featuring ripe purple prunes with bright and dark green foliage. The inscription reads Prune Royale, P.J. Redoute -114 on the ...
Category

Late 20th Century American Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Antique Dutch Dark Blue Glazed Ceramic Tiles
Located in Rijssen, NL
This is an amazing set of dark blue handmade tiles of a Dutch scenery of sailing ships. With 6 different stylized designs. These tiles would be charming displayed on easels, framed or incorporated into a custom tile design. Please note that the price is for a set of 6 tiles...
Category

20th Century Belgian Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Ceramic

Original Chinese Gouache on Mulberry Paper A Mountainous Winter Scene
Located in Miami, FL
An original gouache on mulberry paper depicting a joyful winter scene. It is beautifully presented in a custom frame, measures: 17 5/8" Wide x 21 3/4" High x 1" Deep Very go...
Category

Late 20th Century Chinese Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Wood, Paint, Paper

Mid-Century Rendition of The German Ocean Liner Bishop
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Mid-Century Rendition of The German Ocean Liner Bishop
Category

Mid-20th Century English Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Tin

Antique Papier Mâché Decorative Tray, Hand Painted, Original
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
A charming hand painted 19th century papier mâché tray. The tray is very well painted with a Victorian scene in the centre and gold decoration on the b...
Category

1860s British 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

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

1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

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

1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

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

1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Print of a Missel Thrush, circa 1880, 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Missel 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 col...
Category

1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

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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