Folk Art Wall Decorations
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
Bali Hindu Textile Framed 'Kamasan' Painting, Indonesia C. 1920
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
A mid-20th century 'Kamasan' cotton textile painting from Bali, Indonesia. The hand-painted image has great detail and depicts Balinese Hindu mythology. Key features of this image ar...
Category
1950s Balinese Vintage Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Cotton, Paint
Nantucket Whaling Scene, by Red Tordoff, (Anglo-American: b. 1939), circa 1980
Located in Nantucket, MA
Nantucket Whaling Scene, by Red Tordoff, (Anglo-American: b. 1939), circa 1980, an oil on plywood panel depicting two whale ships in the Arctic, with two whale boats lowered, one app...
Category
1980s Vintage Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Plywood
Framed Original Antique Print of A Brown Bear, circa 1900
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a brown bear
Copperplate photogravure engraving by Walter L. Colls.
Good quality wove paper
Published C.1900
In an antique oak frame
Category
Early 1900s English Antique Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
19th Century Cast Iron Bust Portrait Plaque of Explorer Vasco da Gama, 1460-1524
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
19th century cast iron bust portrait plaque of explorer Vasco da Gama 1460-1524
Cast iron bust portrait plaque of the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gam...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Iron
Naive Oil Painting of Fish Hawkers. C.1950
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Delightful naive painting of possibly fish hawkers or market traders
Possibly Italian. Venetian?
Amazing colours.
Coarse canvas.
Artist unknown. Initial A.D to bottom left.
Pre...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Canvas
American Miniature Folk Art Portrait Of a Young Gentleman
Located in Hudson, NY
Stunning little american folkhart water color of a young gentleman. Sitting with his arm over the back of what appears to be a tiger maple chair of the period. In the lower right corner we can see what is a tiger maple table...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Wood, Paper, Paint
Folk Art Maine Rocky Coast Seascape, by D. A. Fisher, circa 1900
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique Folk Art Maine rocky coast seascape, by D. A. Fisher (1867 - 1940), circa 1900, an oil on board seascape with gentle combers breaking on rocks on the foreground, with two sloops sailing in the background, signed lower right. The reverse retaining the label for Frost & Adams Academy Boards, Artists' Tube Colors, etc. , dealers in fine art materials in Boston from 1869 to 1921. There is also a label from The Thomas Co, Picture Framing, Washington D.C.
D.A. Fisher lived in Portland Maine and was a prolific painter of primarily marine landscapes, with subjects focused primarily in southern Maine, but also Massachusetts and New Hampshire. While his work is quite similar and sympathetic with "The Brushians," a group of about 16 artist from Portland that painted on outings around Casco Bay...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Other
Zabihi Collection Unusual Latin American Zapotec Tapestry
Located in New York, NY
Hand-dyed wool on cotton warp; A bold and expressive handwoven wool tapestry from the Zapotec weaving tradition of Teotitlán del Valle, Oaxaca. This pi...
Category
Late 20th Century Central American Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool
African Ethiopian Tribal Folk Art Painting 20th Century Battle Scene on Canvas
Located in Milano, MI
African Ethiopian painting imported to Italy by a diplomat during the Italian occupation of Ethiopia, in the late 1930s. This tribal folk art painting depicts a battle scene and the canvas is mounted on a parallelogram-shaped frame.
It is a large battle painting...
Category
Mid-20th Century Ethiopian Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Canvas
Framed Korean Folk Painting of General Guan Gong
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Korean folk Shamanism watercolor on textile matted with woven brocade and presented in a wood frame with an oriental style metal hanging hardware. The painting was estimated to be from early 20th century circa 1910-1930s. It depicts Guan Yu (160-220AD), a legendary Chinese warrior and general from Eastern Han Dynasty. Long worshiped in China as a deity, across all three major religions, Guan Gong...
Category
Early 20th Century Korean Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Textile, Brocade
Naive Ethiopian Genre Painting, 1970s
Located in Budapest, HU
Naive Ethiopian Genre painting, 1970s
oil on canvas
with Ge'ez language inscriptions.
Category
1970s Ethiopian Vintage Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Canvas
Keiko Minami Signed Etching with Aquatint on Bfk Rives Wove 'Fishes' Japanese
Located in Norwich, GB
Keiko Minami, 1911-2004 - 'Fishes' Aquatint On BFK Rives Wove. Signed and numbered 41/75 in pencil. Circa 1977.
Delivery is INCLUDED for all areas in MAIN...
Category
Late 20th Century Japanese Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
The Forties As Reported By The New York Times
Located in North Hollywood, CA
The Forties: As Reported By The New York Times
By Keylin, Arleen; Cohen, Jonathan.
Title
The Forties: As Reported by the New York Times
Author Keyli...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
Kuna Mola Appliqué Brightly Colored Bird Wall Tapestry, Central America
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A large brightly colored fabric appliqué collage tapestry of a bird with fish in its mouth. This dramatic fabric piece features carefully cut geometri...
Category
20th Century Panamanian Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Fabric
Set of 8 Original Antique Prints of Seabirds After Francis Lydon, C.1880
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful set of 8 antique prints of seabirds
Lithographs after the original drawings by Alexander Francis Lydon
Original colour
Published by John C. Nimmo, Circa 1880.
Unframed
...
Category
1880s English Antique Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
Folk Vintage Necklace from Nagaland on a Wooden Panel
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Folk vintage Nagaland necklace - ceramic, metal and bone.
Nagaland is in India, near Birmania.
I've mounted on wooden panel cm. 55 x 55, like a sculp...
Category
Mid-20th Century Indian Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Ceramic
Professionally Framed Kaitag Embroidery Fragment, Daghestan, Late 19th 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.
Late 19th C. Kaitag, Daghestan.
Ready to go on a w...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Silk
Set of 4 Original Antique Prints of Woodpecker's C.1880
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful set of 4 prints.
Lithographs after the original drawings by Alexander Francis Lydon
Original colour
Published by John C. Nimmo, Circa 1880...
Category
1880s English Antique Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
Original Antique Bird Prints, Quails and Partridge. 1847
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great images of quails and partridge
Unframed.
Lithographs after Cpt. Brown with original hand color.
Published, 1847.
The measurement is for 1 print
Free shipping
Category
1840s English Antique Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
Original Antique Bird Prints, Parakeet. 1847
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great images of parakeet
Unframed.
Lithographs after Cpt. Brown with original hand color.
Published, 1847.
The measurement is for 1 print
Free shipping
Category
1840s English Antique Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
Original Antique Bird Prints, Shrike and Fruit Crows. 1847
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great images of shrike and fruit crows
Unframed.
Lithographs after Cpt. Brown with original hand color.
Published, 1847.
The measurement is for 1 print
Free shipping
Category
1840s English Antique Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
Original Antique Bird Prints, Owl and Hoopoe. 1847
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great images of an owl and a hoopoe
Unframed.
Lithographs after Cpt. Brown with original hand color.
Published, 1847.
The measurement is for 1 print
Free shipping
Category
1840s English Antique Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
Original Antique Bird Prints, Trogons and Purple Headed Pigeons. 1847
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great images of trogons and purple headed pigeons
Unframed.
Lithographs after Cpt. Brown with original hand color.
Published, 1847.
The measurement is for 1 print
Free shipping...
Category
1840s English Antique Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
Original Antique Bird Prints, Toucans and Woodpeckers. 1847
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great images of toucans and woodpeckers
Unframed.
Lithographs after Cpt. Brown with original hand color.
Published, 1847.
The measurement is for 1 print
Free shipping
Category
1840s English Antique Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
Original Antique Prints of Shells, 1847
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great images of shells
Unframed.
Lithographs after Cpt. Brown with original hand color.
Published, 1847.
The measurement is for 1 print
Free shipping
Category
1840s English Antique Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
Original Antique Prints of an Elephant and a Jaguar, 1847
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great images of an elephant and a jaguar
Unframed.
Lithographs after Cpt. Brown with original hand color.
Published, 1847.
The measurement is for 1 print
Free shipping
Category
1840s English Antique Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
Original Antique Animal Prints, Lions and Tigers, 1847
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great images of Lions and tigers
Unframed.
Lithographs after Cpt. Brown with original hand color.
Published, 1847.
The measurement is for 1 print
Free shipping
Category
1840s English Antique Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
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 Wall Decorations
Materials
Metal
Professionally Framed Indian Kashmir Shawl Fragment, India, 19th 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.
19th C. India
Ready to go on a wall.
Framed Item ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Indian Antique Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Wool
Original Antique Print of Cranes, 1847 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of cranes
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 Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
Original Antique Print of a Bat, 1847 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a bat.
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 Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
Antique Circa 1900 Gouache Painting of Great Lakes Lighthouse Steamships, signed
Located in Centennial, CO
A charming and historic antique circa 1900 gouache on board painting, signed "Tully", of the United States Lighthouse Tender (USLHT) Steamship Fleet. The ships ran supplies (tended)...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Glass, Birdseye Maple, Paint
Martin Jonas "Peasant Primitive" Painting D. 1962
Located in Peabody, MA
An early Slavic folk school oil by the artist and farmer Martin Jonas (1924-1996), who is considered one of the founders of the world famous naive “peasan...
Category
1960s Serbian Vintage Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Paint
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 Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
19th Century Folk Art Mechanical Clock Painting
Located in Allerum, SE
19th century Folk Art Mechanical Clock Painting with a view of a square in a little town. Painted on wood panel in a gilded frame. Clock maker and artist unknown. Ca 1830 - 50, proba...
Category
19th Century Swiss Antique Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Wood, Giltwood
The Spirit of New England Hardcover 1991 by Paul Nolan
Located in North Hollywood, CA
The Spirit of New England Hardcover – June 9, 1991 by Paul Nolan.
Harris, Bill., Portland House, 1991,
1st U.S. Edition 1st Printing,
cloth with gilt spine titles,
160 pp, colo...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
Large Antique Birds Eye Maple Picture Frame. English, 19th Century
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Lovely birds eye maple frame
Totally original patina. A delightful colour
With the original gilt slip frame
Good condition. No chips to the veneer
The measurement given below is ...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Birdseye Maple, Giltwood
Bali Hindu Textile Framed 'Kamasan' Painting, Indonesia C. 1950
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
This striking vintage Balinese Kamasan painting, rendered on handwoven cotton, beautifully captures the timeless elegance of classical Wayang-style storytelling. Featuring intricate ...
Category
1950s Balinese Vintage Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Cotton, Paint
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.
Publi...
Category
1840s English Antique Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
Antique Carved Architectural Wooden Figural Plaque, 17th Century
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A carved architectural wooden panel mounted on a pedestal base dating from the 17th century. The hard wood panel is carved in deep relief from three pieces of wood. The three figures...
Category
17th Century European Antique Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Wood
Original Antique Print of Beetles, 1847, 'Unframed'
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of beetles.
Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames.
Lithograph after Cpt. brown with original color.
Published, 1...
Category
1840s English Antique Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
Early Watercolor View of a Sailor with Pet Bird, circa 1800
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique watercolor view of a sailor with pet bird, circa 1800, a lovely detailed painting of a sailor seated in rough chair, tenderly spoon feeding a finch pe...
Category
Early 1800s English Antique Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
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 Wall Decorations
Materials
Stained Glass, Wood
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 Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
Pair of Wall Plaques Modelled as an Old Couple
Located in Montreal, QC
Pair of terra cotta wall plaques modelled in high relief and painted, portraying an old couple looking out the window.
Category
19th Century Austrian Antique Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Terracotta
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 Wall Decorations
Materials
Ceramic
Flemish Oil on Board Love Scene. Holland 17th century.
Located in Madrid, ES
Love scene oil on board of Flemish origin. Holland, 17th century. Circa 1680
Category
17th Century Dutch Antique Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Wood, Paint
Large Original Antique Natural History Print, American Bison, circa 1835
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of an American bison and Indian ox.
Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames.
Lithograph after Cpt. Brown and Marech...
Category
1830s English Antique Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
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 226 "Pecho a Pechito llegaré a hojalatear tu corazón".
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 Wall Decorations
Materials
Paper
Antique Danish Wooden Mangle Board Wedding Love Gift with Horse Dated 1814
Located in Silkeborg, Silkeborg
Danish mangle board (clothing and bedding press) dated 1814.
It is made from oak wood which is hand carved and richly decorated abstract geometric flowers and branches with leaves a...
Category
1810s Scandinavian Antique Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Wood
American Folk Art Elk Head
Located in Northport, MI
An exceptional and rare example of 19th-century American carved folk art, this monumental elk head is mounted on a striking polychrome shield plaque. Dating to circa 1890 and origina...
Category
1890s American Antique Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Antler, Glass, Wood
Folk Art Cork Collection
Located in Seattle, WA
Folk Art Cork Manufacturer's Display piece with samples of all sizes and shapes of cork available for sale. Corks are arranged in geometric shapes and mounted on a velvet-covered bo...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Cork, Velvet, Wood
Turkoman Patchwork Textile, Tapestry or Armchair Upholstery
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Nice Turkoman patchwork textile with light colors, suitable for tapestry, headboard, armchair upholstery. They are all embroideries applied on a rein...
Category
1990s Turkmen Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Cotton
Quirky Persian Animal Kilim Wall Hanging
Located in New York, NY
Late 20th Century Persian Kilim with 2 small birds and 2 mini horses
Measures: 2'8'' x 3'5''
This was originally belonging to a private Persian collec...
Category
Late 20th Century Folk Art Wall Decorations
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 Wall Decorations
Materials
Paint
Framed Antique silk Embroidered Delhi Shawl Half, early 20th Century.
Located in Istanbul, TR
It is finely embroidered in silk on a cotton background. It is lucky to have the tassels intact.
Category
Early 20th Century Indian Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Silk
1970s Zebra Needlepoint Wall Hanging
Located in Fairfield, CA
A vintage handmade needlepoint embroidery. Features the image of a zebra in the front with trees and leaves. Lovely attention to detail. Mounted in a wood frame. Signed on the back a...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Dan Gauthier Stoneware Slip Decorated Mashiko Iron and Enamel Decorated Charger
By Gauthier
Located in Mobile, AL
I corresponded with Don in Kansas City and he identified it as his work from the early 80's. He shifted to furniture making in the 90's and has prominently exhibited at the Grovewood Gallery at the Grove Park...
Category
1980s Vintage Folk Art Wall Decorations
Materials
Pottery
Folk Art wall decorations for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique folk art wall decorations 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 wall decorations created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include wall decorations, folk art, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with paper, fabric and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art wall decorations made in a specific country, there are Europe, North America, and United Kingdom pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original wall decorations, popular names associated with this style include Berber Tribes of Morocco, Purvis Young, Alejandro Rangel Hidalgo, and Arthur Nevin. 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 wall decorations differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $20 and tops out at $48,000 while the average work can sell for $949.