Native American broadly describes any Indigenous people in North America and encompasses hundreds of tribes and groups, all with distinct cultures. Native American–style furniture and decor likewise varies widely, from pieces created by Indigenous people to those appropriated by non-native designers.
Indigenous furniture’s rich heritage includes the bentwood boxes of the Northwest Coast carved from cedar for storing household or ceremonial objects. Generations of Native American people have made baskets for holding household items, with those in the Northeast using sweetgrass and those in the Southeast using pine needles and wicker. Artisans in the Plateau region wove watertight pieces like cradles from plant materials. Although these objects were intricately made, they were usually utilitarian rather than decorative.
The colonization of North America and the removal of Indigenous people from their lands led to the suppression of these practices. Many styles that used Native American motifs — such as Southwestern style, which was heavily influenced by the geometric patterns of Navajo textiles — have historically not involved Indigenous creators and, instead, have taken their traditions without their tribal context.
When decorating a home with Native American–style furniture, it is important to do so respectfully, by understanding the origins of motifs and objects and examining who profits from their sale. There are now Indigenous-led companies, such as Cherokee designer Cray Bauxmont-Flynn’s Amatoya and Totem House Design, promoting Indigenous work in furniture and home decor. Supporting Indigenous artists and artisans is essential to confronting the still pervasive issue of cultural appropriation in design.
Find a collection of Native American living room furniture, folk art, rugs and carpets, decorative objects and other items on 1stDibs.
19th Century Northern Plains Hide Painting
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Northern Plains hide painting, buffalo society, pre-reservation. Two buffalo heads, two full body buffalos, two thunderbirds and buffalo sun shield in ...
Other
R. S. Macdonald, 'Raven Stealing the Sun', Framed Drawing, Canada, C.2001
Located in Chatham, ON
R. S. MACDONALD (Unknown/Unidentified Artist) - 'Raven Stealing the Sun' - Aboriginal colored pencil drawing on paper - original metal frame with single matte board and glass - title...
Metal
Framed Surrealistic Drawing by Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Atlanta, GA
Artist: Pedro Friedeberg (Mexican, 1936-) Title:Le Tombeau D'Hemingway Year: 1963 Medium: Ink and watercolor on paper: Size: 14 3/4 x 19 1/2 plus 3 inch frame Mark: upper lef...
Paper
$3,750
H 11.25 in W 4.5 in D 18.75 in
Antique Plains Roach Headdress c.1880 Deer & Porcupine Hair Native American
Located in Denver, CO
This exceptional 19th-century Plains Native American roach headdress, dating to circa 1880, is a rare and visually dynamic example of traditional cerem...
Fur
$2,550Sale Price / set|40% Off
H 4.25 in W 4 in D 10.75 in
Antique 1880s Arapaho Beaded Moccasins, Plains Indian Hide Footwear
Located in Denver, CO
This exceptional pair of antique Arapaho moccasins, dating to circa 1880, represents a rare and highly collectible example of 19th-century Plains Native American artistry. Handcrafte...
Hide, Glass, Beads
$2,250
H 8 in W 2.75 in D 3 in
Native American Cheyenne Beaded Moccasins Tipi Motif Antique Plains 1880
Located in Denver, CO
Exceptional 19th-century Native American Southern Cheyenne beaded moccasins, dating to circa 1880, representing a highly collectible example of Plains ...
Hide, Beads
$4,500
H 15 in W 22 in D 4 in
Antique Sioux Plains Native American Beaded Buckskin and Canvas Possible Bag
Located in Denver, CO
This antique 19th-century Sioux beaded possible bag is a remarkable example of Plains Indian artistry and craftsmanship. Constructed from soft buck...
Hide, Canvas, Beads
Fantastic Original Painted and Carved 19th Century Indian Plaque
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This wonderful original old surface plaque has a great old patina and a hand-carved and painted Indian chief. The Indian is in full original clothes with the feathers in his head. Wi...
Pine
19th C Navajo Indian Weaving Storm Pattern Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th C amazing Navajo Indian weaving bolster large pillow in the storm pattern. The backing is in homespun linen and down & feather fill.
Wool
$695
H 20 in W 7 in D 2.375 in
Native American, Western Great Plains Ceremonial Beaded War Club Circa 1900
Located in Atlanta, GA
This Great Plains beaded war club is formed with a long, tapering handle terminating in a double-cone head, the entire object presenting the purposeful balance and compact striking p...
Stone
Pair of 20th Century Navajo Beaded Moccasins
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of 20th Century Navajo Beaded Moccasins This exquisite pair of 20th-century Navajo beaded moccasins is a fine example of traditional Native American ...
Fur, Leather, Beads
19th Century Siberian Eskimo Pipe, Alaska
Located in New York, NY
Siberian Eskimo people were introduced to tobacco in the 17th century, acquiring it from European traders in exchange for furs. Pipes based on European models, such as this example, ...
Wood, Leather, Hide
$595
H 13 in W 47 in D 1 in
Pair of Native American Rawhide Pom Pom Snowshoes, Late 19th-Early 20th Century
Located in Studio City, CA
A great set of Native American Indian pom pom snowshoes with the traditional bent wood form with woven rawhide feet supports. From a larger collection of Native American artifacts...
Leather, Wood
Antique Italian Landscape Drawing in Gilt Frame
Located in Sheffield, MA
The antique Italian drawing in pen-and-ink and wash pictures a landscape of a stone bridge, archway, trees and people in the Renaissance style. The drawing is set within a two-tone d...
Wood, Paper
Lakota Sioux Painted Buffalo Hide by Merle Locke
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Lakota Sioux warrior painting on buffalo hide by Merle Locke. Paint on contemporary buffalo hide. Painting of 16 warriors riding on horseback, each carrying feathered coup sticks, surrounded by geometric motifs. Captioned "Lakota On Victory" and signed by the artist at lower right corner. Merle Locke is a member of the Oglala Lakota tribe, having grown up in the Porcupine district of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. He is known for his ledger art paintings, evoking the style's origins amongst the Plains tribes in the 1860s. By this time, buffalo had become increasingly scarce, and the older tradition of Plains hide painting...
Other
David Chethlahe Paladin Signed and Framed Art Lithograph, 16/20
Located in Miami, FL
Lithograph by Native American Artist David Chethlahe, 16/20. "David Chethlahe Paladin (1926-1984) is an influential artist in terms of his contributions to the development of contemporary Native...
Paper
"American Indian Triage" by D.J. Lafon
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A very thought provoking etched image of an American Indian with folded United States flag as an eye patch. "American Indian Triage" 1 of limited edition of 10 prints by Oklahoma artist D.J. Lafon, (1929-2011) Professionally framed with black frame and very light grey mat. Signed and numbered. Pictured with Eames wire rocking chair...
Paper
Sold
H 20 in W 25.75 in D 1 in
Original Cheyenne Ledger Drawing "Initiation Day - Cheyenne Bowstring Society"
Located in Denver, CO
Original James black mixed media traditional style ledger drawing depicting Initiation Day for the Cheyenne Bowstring Society. Oil based colored pencil...
Paper