Folk Art Boxes
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
Antique Swedish Folk Art Tea Caddy in Hand-Carved Wood, 19th century
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A fine hand-tooled and ebonized wooden tea canister of Swedish origin - circa 1850-1890. Folk art piece made by an unknown artisan.
Measurements: H: 18 cm, Diameter: 15 cm.
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Oak
Victorian Treenware Hanging Salt Box, 19th Century.
Located in Hannover, DE
I present to you a set of beautiful hanging salt box from the 19th century. The two are made out of wood, rich in colour and patination, They can be left standing but the intention b...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
$429 Sale Price / item
20% Off
Antique Swedish Wooden butter storage box 1800
s Handmade Folk Craft
Located in Forest, BE
Swedish antique pine and birch wooden butter storage box . Fine quality of bentwood. It is a true piece from the early 19 century. Painted blue and faded trough time. Nice addition...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Birch, Pine
19th Century English Tobacco Jar
Located in Chicago, IL
A piece that bridges the line between function and quiet artistry, this 19th-century English tobacco jar carries the charm of something handmade, meant to be lived with. Its barrel f...
Category
19th Century English Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Maple, Walnut
Vintage Fedoskino Russian Lacquer Hinged Box Folk Art By Pike
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
Beautiful Fedoskino Russian lacquered box depicting a fisherman with a Pike from the Russian Fairytale By Pike. Nicely finished with high gloss lacquer with red lacquer interior. Br...
Category
20th Century Russian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Lacquer
Maranao Silver Inlaid Betel Box, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Decorated with silver inlay and cloaked in an antique patina, this curious brass case is an early 20th century betel nut box, attributed to the Maranao people of the island of Mindan...
Category
Early 20th Century Philippine Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Brass, Silver
African Tuareg Hand-Tooled Black Leather Box
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Hand tooled black leather box from Africa.
Very fine workmanship with tribal traditional African symbols on black leather.
African Tuareg style probably ...
Category
Early 20th Century Mauritanian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Leather
Antique Swedish Wooden barrel early 1800
s Handmade Folk Craft great condition
Located in Forest, BE
Swedish antique pine hand carved wooden barrel. Made to be used as a grain storage. Fine quality of wood. It is a true piece from the early 19 century. Beautiful patina on the inside...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
Mid 19th century Swedish folk art painted box
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 19th century Swedish folk art painted box circa 1865.
Good quality Swedish pine metal bound box. Decorated with original ragwork paint and blue painted strap work. Hand painte...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Steel
Petite Chinese Rice Measure, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This rustic, wooden container is an early 20th century rice measure, used to portion out servings of dry rice and other grains. In keeping with the larger rice measures used at marke...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
Asian Burmese Carved Wood Temple Offering Lidded Box
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Burmese bamboo temple offering lidded box, basket.
This kind of wooden basket is used to transport and display offerings to Buddhist temples, in Asia....
Category
Early 20th Century South Asian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Bamboo
Old Wooden Tramp Art Box Jewelry Box Trinket Folk Art
Located in Poperinge, BE
Beautiful old tramp art box, jewelry box or trinket, trinket box, made in the first half of the 20th century, Belgium.
Beautiful form of folk art, anyone could make a tramp art obje...
Category
1920s Belgian Vintage Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Glass, Wood
19th Century Large Store Tea Tin Hand Painted Parnall
Sons Bristol, England
By Parnall
Sons
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous and large store tea tin by Parnall & Sons who were the people to see for outfitting your store and much more as the company grew from 1830. Hand painted showing a girl servi...
Category
Mid-19th Century British Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Metal
Vintage Hand Carved
Painted Soapstone Tiger Box - Unsigned - Late 20th Century
Located in Chatham, ON
Vintage hand carved and painted soapstone lidded box - taking the form of a seated tiger - unsigned - country of origin unknown - late 20th century.
Excellent vintage condition - cl...
Category
Late 20th Century Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Soapstone
Antique Swedish Wooden storage box 1865 Handmade Folk Craft
Located in Forest, BE
Swedish antique pine and birch wooden storage box. . Fine quality of bentwood. It is a true piece from the 19 century. Initials are hand painted on the top 1865 and hand engraved und...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Birch, Pine
$524 Sale Price
20% Off
19th Century Swedish Wabi-Sabi Oak Lidded Box with Hand-Carved Patina
Located in Stockholm, SE
A soulful 19th-century lidded box handcrafted in Sweden from solid oak, showcasing the quiet beauty of the wabi-sabi aesthetic. This simple, round form reveals a deep, weathered pati...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Oak
Pair of 19th-century Limewood Carvings of Romantic Tyrolean Scenes
Located in San Francisco, CA
Romance is in the air—make that Alpine air—with these two hand carved wood plaques. They depict a pair of romantic, bucolic scenes, and likely originated from Switzerland or the Tyro...
Category
19th Century Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
18th Century Swedish Folk Art Box Dated 1752 with Sliding Lid
Located in Stockholm, SE
An exceptional 18th-century Swedish folk art box, dated 1752, showcasing traditional rural craftsmanship. Carved from solid wood, the box features a finely fitted sliding lid and dis...
Category
18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Birch
19thC Antique Folk Art Treenware Carved Turned Wood Tea Caddy Box Handpainted
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
This striking antique 19th-century treenware tea caddy is a beautiful example of folk art craftsmanship. Skillfully hand-carved and turned from wood, this charming caddy features a r...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Antique Swedish Wooden basket 1800
s Handmade Folk Craft natural color
Located in Forest, BE
Swedish antique pine and birch wooden storage box. It was left with the natural wood who now have a charming patina. Fine quality of bentwood. It is a true piece from the early 19 ce...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Birch, Pine
19th Century Original Grey Painted Large Candle Box from New England
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fantastic 19th century original grey painted handmade large scale candle box from New England .This wonderful slide top box has such great personality and great construction. It is e...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
$1,180 Sale Price
20% Off
Vintage Handcrafted and Carved Wood Box Leaf Motif, Jewelry Box, Keepsake Box
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage handmade beautifully carved wooden box, jewelry box or keepsake box.
The Inside has 2 compartments which measure 3.38 x 3.38 inches.
No makers mark.
A-916-335
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood, Walnut
Antique Swedish Wooden butter st1orage box 1800
s Handmade Folk Craft
Located in Forest, BE
Swedish antique pine and birch wooden butter storage box . Fine quality of bentwood. It is a true piece from the early 19 century. Hand graved 1882 inside the lid. Nice addition in...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Birch, Pine
18th Century Swedish genuine country Folk Art box with original paint
Located in Boden, SE
A very beautiful folk Art box from Burträsk ,Västerbotten Northern Sweden.
A very decorative original painting that is typical of that region.
Nice salmon pink original painting ins...
Category
1890s Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
French Tramp Art Hand-Carved Wooden Box with Diamond Motifs, circa 1890
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Tramp Art wooden box dating to circa 1890, intricately hand-carved with the layered, notched construction characteristic of the style. The rectangular form is richly ornamen...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Early Swedish 19th Century Wooden Folk Art Box with Originally Paint
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A Swedish original painted Folk Art box. From the beginning of the 19th century, most likely used to keep writing supplies and office materials.
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
Vintage Round Ethnic Hand-Tooled Tuareg Leather Box African Folk Art Mauritania
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Hand-Tooled Tuareg Leather Box – Vintage African Folk Art, Mauritania
This exquisite vintage round leather box showcases the artistry of West African craftsmanship, likely Tuareg in ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mauritanian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Leather
Antique Wooden and Cardboard Apothecary Pharmacy Storage Jar for Valerian Root
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic early 1900s wooden and cardboard apothecary pharmacy storage jar or box for Valerian Root. Nice addition to your room or just for use it on your desk. Found at an estate sale...
Category
Early 1900s German Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Plywood, Paper
Antique Swedish Wooden basket backpack 1800
s Handmade Folk Craft
Located in Forest, BE
Swedish antique pine and birch wooden backpack storage box. It was use to pickup the berries in the woods. Fine quality of birch bentwood. It is a true piece from the early 19 centur...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Birch, Pine
Antique Swedish Wooden Kitchen Cabinet 1846 Handmade Folk Craft great condition
Located in Forest, BE
Swedish antique pine hand build wooden kitchen cabinet. Made to be used as a dough plater storage to the left side and a storage to the right side. Fine quality of wood. It is a true...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
Swedish
Timplåda
Wooden Box, dated 1824
Located in Farsta, SE
Swedish 'Timplåda' Wooden Box, dated 1824
A 'timplåda' is a traditional Swedish wooden box, handcrafted with care. Popular during the 18th and 19th centuries, these boxes were used ...
Category
1820s Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Birch
$810 / item
Antique Swedish Wooden barrel 1800
s Handmade Folk Craft great condition
Located in Forest, BE
Swedish antique pine and birch hand painted wooden barrel. Made to be used as a washing basin. Fine quality of bentwood. It is a true piece from the early 19 century. Beautiful patin...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Birch, Pine
Scandinavian 18th Century Folk Art Hat Or Wick Box
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Large Danish wooden hat or wig box of wood with original painting.
Category
Mid-18th Century Danish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Unusual "Stamp" Rose in Box
Located in Riverdale, NY
Unusual "Stamp" rose in box handcrafted "Rose" made of hundreds of French stamps, circa 1950s. Unusual French novelty in its own glass and brass framed casket.
...
Category
1950s French Vintage Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Swedish antique rustic Folk Art Wooden box with original color
Located in Boden, SE
19th century Swedish folk art wooden box from Piteå, Norbotten Northern Sweden
The wooden box has untouched original color.
The box is stable in construction.
Nice storage inside.
Ha...
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Iron
Petite Indonesian Brass Betel Box, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This petite brass box was originally part of an early 20th century betel box set from Indonesia, one of several small containers that held the individual ingredients of a betel quid....
Category
Early 20th Century Indonesian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Brass
Folk Art Jewelry Box from the 1940s in Copper with Women Nude
Located in Berlin, DE
This charming jewelry box from the 1940s was made out of copper
and is hand-dented.
It shows a nudist art of a woman. It is in a beautiful original condition.
A unique piece whic...
Category
1940s German Vintage Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Copper
$419 Sale Price
20% Off
VintageScandinavian Folk Art Hand Towel Box in Mixed Woods, 1970s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Ornate and decorative paper towel box in handcrafted and lacquered wood: teak, oak, mahogany, cherry, walnut etc. It is very practical and offers a cheap ref...
Category
1970s Scandinavian Vintage Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Box
Located in Chicago, IL
A fascinating and truly unique early 20th century American Folk Art box with the most wonderful Greek temple design with eight blue painted Doric columns around the perimeter and wit...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Shell Encrusted Rectangular Keepsake Box with Red Silk Lid
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Long rectangular shell encrusted box. Carefully applied shells decorate the top and bottom edges of this red board box in a variety of colors. At...
Category
20th Century English Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Shell, Silk, Paper
Scandinavian hand painted 19th century pine strong box
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Scandinavian hand painted 19th century pine strong box circa 1840.
Good example of traditional rustic Swedish woodwork. Painted in a russet red paint with hand painted cream drags....
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Metal
Vintage Indian Handcarved Wooden Decorative Box
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Handcarved wooden trinket box with carved geometric shapes, small handmade ornamental indentations and cream white decor on the lid. Rustic organic ...
Category
20th Century Indian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Metal
Petite Indonesian Brass Betel Box, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This petite brass box was originally part of an early 20th century betel box set from Indonesia, one of several small containers that held the individual ingredients of a betel quid....
Category
Early 20th Century Indonesian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Brass
Antique French Folk Art Keepsake Box
Located in Charleston, SC
This beautiful hand decorated keepsake box has a beautiful green velvet on the outside. The top shows a metal cross with shell decorations. The inside is Lined with a silk green on t...
Category
Early 20th Century French Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Metal
Antique African Moroccan Tribal Wood Flask 19th C.
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Antique North African Moroccan tribal wood flask.
Rare late 19th century powder flask box from the Rif, Northern Morocco with a drum-shaped body hand carved wood with ethnic motifs, nice geometric carvings and very fine patina.
Collector large carved wooden vessel with brass embossed in the shape of a turtle with a long neck.
Dimensions: 11"L x 3" H x 5" diameter.
Designed with practicality in mind, this flask features two robust metal rings on the side, perfect for securely attaching it to a belt or satchel, making it an ideal companion for hunting. The upper, narrower section includes a precisely drilled hole, providing easy access to the powder inside, underscoring the flask's functional yet artistic design.
This wood gunpowder flask...
Category
Late 19th Century Moroccan Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Antique Swedish Forskrin, Folk Art Travel Box from the 1700s, Original Condition
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique folk art box, a so called Forskrin which was used when travelling for storing documents and valuables around the late 1700s. Made in nor...
Category
Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wrought Iron
Asian Black and Red Round Box Lacquer Offering Vessel Urn
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
South Asian Burmese black and red lacquer box, offering vessel urn with compartment for storage.
This round lacquer ware box from Burma is made from bamboo and lacquer.
In Burma (now...
Category
Late 20th Century Burmese Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Bamboo
Petite Indonesian Brass Betel Box, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This petite brass box was originally part of an early 20th century betel box set from Indonesia, one of several small containers that held the individual ingredients of a betel quid....
Category
Early 20th Century Indonesian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Brass
Small mid 19th century Swedish painted pine decorative box
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Small mid 19th century Swedish painted pine strong box circa 1842.
Beautiful small Scandinavian strong box, presented with scraped back paint to reveal original. Feintly still bari...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Metal
Indonesian Brass Betel Tray, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This open brass box was originally the case of an early 20th century betel box set from Indonesia, filled with small containers that held the individual ingredients of a betel quid. ...
Category
Early 20th Century Indonesian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Brass
Javanese Solid Teak Storage Box with Engravings Mid-20th Century
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
This teak storage box comes for the Island of Java, Indonesia. Dating to the Mid-20th Century it was crafted from a single block of teak. It features ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Indonesian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Teak
Antique Swedish Hand-Made Folk Art Pine Flour Box
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique hand-made flour box from Sweden made in folk art during the second half of the 19th century, around 1860 to 1870. These boxes were either hung on the...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
Colorful Semi Precious Stone Rectangular Jewelry or Trinket Box with Lid
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A beautiful colorful decorative box with a lid created from Carrara marble and inlaid with a variety of semi-precious stones. The sides are inlaid with a variety of stones in abstrac...
Category
20th Century Indian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Stone, Jade, Carrara Marble
Moroccan Brass Berber Tribal Flask
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Great decorative Moroccan Tribal flask..
African decorative brass with front richly decorated with embossed brass and overlay.
The valve stem turns and open.
Truly a conversation mu...
Category
Early 20th Century Moroccan Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Brass
Swedish Folk Art, Large Vessel, Pine, Sweden, 19th Century
Located in High Point, NC
A pine, large vessel produced in Sweden, 19th century.
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
Vintage Hand-Painted Wooden Jewelry Trinket Box - Folk Art Style
Located in Seattle, WA
This charming vintage wooden jewelry box features hand-painted floral designs in a traditional folk art style. With vibrant, delicate flower...
Category
1970s Vintage Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Swedish 19th Century Wooden Folk Art Box With Shaving Knives
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A Swedish original painted Folk Art box. From the beginning of the 19th century, used to keep shaving knives and similar supplies. Included 3 knives with the razor blades in English ...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Faux Malachite Leather Decorative Indian Maharaja Box
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A beautiful unique Indian motif box with a lid. This piece would be fantastic for storing cigars, tv remotes, or miscellaneous items on a dresser or coffee table. The top of the box ...
Category
20th Century Indian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Leather, Faux Leather, Paint
Hand Made Dovetailed Pyrography and Inlaid Lid Keepsake Box with Photo Album
Located in Ferndale, MI
Beautifully made keepsake box. Hinged lid and spine are intricately inlaid with mother of pearl, exotic wood, beads. Backside has pyrographic image burned in. All nicely joined with dovetail detail. Not sure on country of origin. Backside image does show local dress for the area. Vintage photo album...
Category
Mid-20th Century Finnish Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Brass
Pennsylvania Sponge Decorated Box On Later Stand
Located in Essex, MA
Square form with hinged lid with original brass bail handle. Faux bois decoration. The matt black painted wood base with square section legs and H form stretchers.
Category
1840s American Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
Folk Art boxes for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique folk art boxes 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 boxes created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, folk art, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, softwood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art boxes made in a specific country, there are Europe, Scandinavia, and Sweden pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original boxes, popular names associated with this style include Berber Tribes of Morocco, Anthony Redmile London, Arthur Court, and Frank Finney. 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 boxes differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $95 and tops out at $4,600 while the average work can sell for $848.
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