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.
Handmade Indigenous Wool Rug from Northern Argentina, Framed Professionally
Located in North Miami, FL
This shadow box all acrylic framed handwoven wool rug with rich and vibrant colors. This is a Signed piece by H. Ocampos, renowned for his technique and mastery of indigenous scenes ...
Wool, Acrylic
Vintage Gujarat Saurashta Ethnic Beaded Textile India Framed
By Rajhastani
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage hand made Gujarat Saurashta Ethnic beadead textile India. Hand Beaded Guarat Indian panel textile framed in a lucite box. Amazing work of hand beading by Chakla Indian, Gujarat state, Saurashtra or Kutch region. Such a nice piece of visual interest, and a beautiful acquisition for any textile lover. Vintage Chakla hand-embroidered wall hanging, Rabari of Gujarat Beadwork, Patchwork. The method of work is a tri-bead system (tran moti-no thansiya), worked row-by-row, three beads being taken up at each stitch; on the return row, the stitching of the beads moves forward one position, so that as the work progresses row-by-row a close rhomboid network is formed.The beadwork is set into a frame of applique silk material Manufacturing Process: Handmade Materials: Cotton, silk. Period: Late 19th/ early 20th century. Most native beadwork...
Fabric
Custom Mounted Collection Of 100 Antique Child's Wooden Spinning Tops.
Located in Stamford, CT
A custom made display of 100 antique wooden child's spinning tops made between 1880's and 1960's. Multiple colors shapes and sizes. The spinning tops can be arranged however you desi...
Wood
Pair of Framed Antique Intaglios
Located in East Hampton, NY
Pair of Antique intaglios newly framed on camouflage burlap.
Burlap, Glass, Plaster, Wood
Framed Antique Embroidery Chinese Textile Qing Dynasty Provenance
Located in Atlanta, GA
A piece of beautiful antique textile fragments from China, circa 19th century Qing dynasty, artistically displayed in a giltwood frame with co...
Silk, Giltwood
$357
H 9.06 in W 24.81 in D 2.17 in
Antique Butterfly Collection Glass Shadow Box Wall Decoration, Spain, 1970
Located in Madrid, ES
Shadow box made in wood and glass containing a butterfly collection.
Glass, Wood
Framed Antique Japanese Silk Embroidery Fukusa Textile Panel
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Japanese Fukusa Panel with tassels displayed in a gilt frame circa Meiji Period. Fukusa is a traditional Japanese textile art used as a...
Silk, Wood
$1,100
H 29.53 in W 16.54 in D 1.58 in
Professionally Framed Antique Suzani Fragment , Tajikstan, Central Asia
Located in Istanbul, TR
The suzani fragment on the frame is from a 19th C. Suzani. It is hand backed on linen and streched over a strecher and finish with a wooden frame. Ready to go on any wall. The item ...
Silk
Taxidermy Wall Decoration Collection of 3 Butterflies, Spain, 1950s
Located in Grythyttan, SE
Taxidermy Wall Decoration Collection of 3 Butterflies, Spain, 1950s This exquisite framed butterfly collection features three beautiful specimens. The bodies antennas are switched to paper dummys, but the wings appears to be real. Vintage butterfly taxidermy...
Glass, Wood
Chinese Dragon, Framed Silk Textile Surcoat Embroidery
Located in Soquel, CA
Late 19th century Chinese silk embroidery rank badge textile, with a finely detailed dragon along with other various symbols embro...
Silk
$10,866Sale Price / item|20% Off
W 90.56 in L 118.12 in
CC Tapis Stage Mindscape Handmade Rug in Wool and Silk by Mae Engelgeer
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mindscape by Mae Engelgeer The Mindscape rugs imagining a tranquil space, another universe,? an escapism, a spiritual discovery and staircase to a cosmic scenography. Measures: 7.5'x...
Wool
$5,000
H 40.25 in W 27.5 in D 2.25 in
Brazilian Kayapó Tribe Indigenous Feather Headdress "Cocar" from the Amazon
Located in Miami, FL
Brazilian Kayapó Tribe Indigenous Feather Headdress/"Cocar" from the Amazon Offered for sale is an original Brazilian ritualistic feather Indigenous headdress, known in Portuguese ...
Fabric, Glass, Wood, Feathers
Framed Preserved Butterflies
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Framed Set of Preserved Ethically Raised, Non-Endangered Butterflies. North America, circa 2000.
Animal Skin, Glass
Midcentury Handmade Wool Tapestry, 1960s
Located in Praha, CZ
- Handmade - circa 1960s - Probably Czechoslovakia.
Wool
Antique Chinese Embroidered Silk Panel, Framed Textile Art, 1890s
Located in Morristown, NJ
A finely mounted antique Chinese embroidered silk panel, composed of robe fragments carefully stitched and presented as a vertically oriented decorative textile. The central field d...
Silk, Glass, Wood
American shadow box diorama of a ship, 1890-1910
Located in Kenilworth, IL
Half ship diorama of a two masted sailboat on a painted plaster sea, which is set against a sky of painted clouds. The work is mounted in a painted wood shadow box and fitted with pe...
Glass, Plaster, Wood, Paint
Sold
H 17 in W 20 in D 3.75 in
Nautical Shadowbox of the Ketch "Grace Darling" built by Capt George Bolt
Located in Nantucket, MA
Vintage Nautical Shadowbox of the Ketch "Grace Darling" built by Capt George Bolt in 1961, having a beautifully and accurately carved half model of ...
Wood
Authentic Nautical Signal Flag from 1940's Framed Professionally
Located in North Miami, FL
This flag represents the Preparative Signal - according to the international flags and pennants chart. The flag is the largest scale pennant in vibrant green and yellow. Hardware is ...
Fabric, Maple
Mid-Century Modern Framed Diorama of Swedish Ship Condor
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
The Diorama is hand carved and painted by a sailor, circa 1950's. A Diorama can either refer to a 19th-century mobile theatre device, or, in modern usage, a three-dimensional full-si...
Glass, Wood, Masonite
Professionally Framed Large Vintage WWII Nautical Signal Flag
Located in North Miami, FL
This flag represents the numeral seven (7), according to the international flags and pennants chart. The flag is the largest scale pennant in vibrant yellow and red. Hardware is galv...
Fabric, Maple
Round Sailor’s Valentine
Located in Nantucket, MA
Sailor's shellwork valentine with an arrangement of shells of various shapes and colors centering with a heart and a rosette. Framed in a round deep gilded regency style bullseye sha...
Shell
Diorama of a Sailboat on a Lake, Dated 1933
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Vintage diorama of a red sailboat on a choppy lake carved and painted on a wood panel in a naive folk style, presented in a wood frame decorated with a...
Hardwood
Sold
H 20 in W 20 in D 4.5 in
Carved and Painted Double Diorama of a Whaleship and Whaleboat by Frank Finney
By Frank Finney
Located in Nantucket, MA
A carved and painted double diorama by master carver Frank Finney. The top half with a red whaleboat, the lower half with a whaleship under sail. The background painted with water an...
Bone, Wood, Paint
19th-20th Century Ship Diorama of a Schooner Against a Village Scene
Located in Nantucket, MA
A late 19th-early 20th century Folk Art diorama with a schooner in the foreground. A lighthouse stands along the shore in front of a Hillside village ...
Paint
Folk Art Shadowbox Ship Diorama of a Three Masted Schooner
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Stunning ship diorama of a three mast schooner with carved wooden hull, sails, and masts, mounted in a deep mitered wood frame with painted putty sea and background of the sky. #4...
Glass, Wood
Folk Art Nautical Shadowbox, circa 1920
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique Folk Art nautical shadowbox, circa 1920, with a gaff-rigged schooner under full sail, passing a lighthouse set with a rhinestone beacon; mou...
Wood
Folk Art Nautical Shadowbox, circa 1900
Located in Nantucket, MA
Early 20th century (or earlier) Folk Art scratch built marine shadowbox, circa 1900, with a great variety of handcrafted ships including a large brig with attending tugboat, a Barken...
Wood