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Folk Art Chairs

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
19Thc Children s Windsor Chairs in Original Paint
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19Thc Original Black Painted child's Windsor chairs.These chairs are in fine and sturdy condition.Sold as a pair.
Category

Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Wood

Mid-Century Modern Brutalist Wood Tripod Chair Foot Rest Stool, Spain Vintage
Located in Nuernberg, DE
An interesting brutalist stool with hand carved legs and great patina. Great piece of functional sculpture. It is in great vintage condition and is structurally sound. Nice addition ...
Category

1970s Spanish Vintage Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Wood

Swedish Folk Art Spinning-Chair late 19th century
Located in Farsta, SE
Swedish Folk Art 'Spinning-Chair' late 19th century This chair was partially made from old spinning wheel parts. Made out of pine, featuring old repairs and a beautiful patina. Hei...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Pine

Unusual Northern Swedish Antique Unique Country Folk Art Chair
Located in Kramfors, SE
Unusual primitive country chair in folk art from Northern Sweden. The chair is a one of a kind piece made by hand in solid pine around 1820 to 1840. Old historic paint which has beco...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Pine

Original Blue Painted and Carved Swedish Chair, Dated 1722
Located in Round Top, TX
Original Blue Painted and Carved Swedish Chair, Dated 1722 Early 18th-century Swedish pine chair retaining its original painted and carved decoration, dated 1722. The chair features ...
Category

Early 18th Century Danish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Wood, Pine, Paint

Set of Three Folk / Tyrolean-Style Chairs in Mint Green, Finland c. Early 1900s
Located in Helsinki, FI
A characterful set of three folk chairs in the Tyrolean style, most likely of Finnish origin, dating from the early 1900s. The chairs are painted in a soft mint green, a later coat t...
Category

Early 1900s Finnish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Pine

19th Century Swedish Folk Art Chair
Located in Allerum, SE
19th century Swedish Folk Art chair in it's original condition. Ca 1820 Sweden.
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Pine

Primitive Folk Art Chair Fäbostol ca 1750, Dalarna, Sweden
Located in Farsta, SE
Primitive Folk Art Chair 'Fäbostol' ca 1750, Dalarna, Sweden A primitive birch wood chair with a beautiful patina, smooth surface, and wear consistent with age and use. Heigth: 66....
Category

Mid-18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Birch

Pair of Mid-Century Modern Brutalist Sculptural Wood Tripod Chair, Spain Vintage
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A pair of interesting brutalist wood tripod chairs from Spain, with a trefoil motif adorning all the chair handles. The trefoil is a frequently occur...
Category

1970s Spanish Vintage Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Wood

Pair of Folk Side Chairs, Swiss Alp, Escabelle
Located in Sherborne, GB
A pair of delightful Swiss escabelle, folk art simple side chairs that are from a long tradition in Northern and Eastern Europe. This pair are not exactly the same, but have the same...
Category

Late 19th Century European Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Oak

Mid-Century Modern Brutalist Wood Tripod Chair Foot Rest Stool, Spain Vintage
Located in Nuernberg, DE
An interesting brutalist stool with hand carved legs and great patina. Great piece of functional sculpture. It is in great vintage condition and is structurally sound. Nice addition ...
Category

1970s Spanish Vintage Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Wood

Mid-Century Modern Brutalist Folkart Tripod Chair, Germany Vintage 1950s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Interesting Brutalist wood tripod chair from Germany. the seat was cut out of a tree trunk. Historically used as a chair in the farmhouses in Germany in the 19th Century, this modern...
Category

1950s German Vintage Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Wood

Mid-Century Modern Brutalist Wood Tripod Chair and Foot Rest, German Vintage
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A interesting brutalist wood tripod chair from Germany, with a matching foot rest or table. Great piece of functional sculpture. Stool and foot rest is in great vintage condition and...
Category

1970s German Vintage Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Wood

Pair of Swiss Handmade Farm House Carved Dining Chairs, Horgen-Glarus, 2 pcs
Located in Madison, WI
Absolutely stunning RARE pair of 2 Swiss Solid wood farm house traditional dining chairs, handmade, produced by Horgen-Glarus. Fast, insured Shipping in 7-21 days. Shipped from our ...
Category

1960s Swiss Vintage Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Hardwood

Folk Art Early 20th Century Wood Rustic Four Chairs
Located in Brescia, IT
Four rustic chairs 1900-1910 Hand-carved wood Excellent condition.
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Wood

Beautiful Folk Art Wood Carved Chair Foot Rest Stool, Vintage German 1920s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
An interesting brutalist stool with hand carved legs, seat and great patina. Great piece of functional sculpture. It is in great vintage condition and is structurally sound. Nice add...
Category

1920s German Vintage Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Wood

Antique Folk Art Handmade Wooden Twig Branch Adirondack Small Childs Chair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Folk Art Handmade Wooden Twig Branch Adirondack Small Childs Chair. Circa Late 19th Century. Measurements: 32.5" H x 16" W x 17" D x 11" Seat Height.
Category

Late 19th Century Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Wood

1970’s Indian Tripod Female and Male Chairs
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Pair of Indian hand carved and painted wood male and female chairs. This were purchased in India in the 1970’s. In beautiful original condition...
Category

1970s Indian Vintage Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Wood

Antique Finnish Folk Art Rustic Pine Chair
Located in Karis, Nyland
Finnish folk art chair made during the late 1800s. The chair is hand-crafted from pine with beautifully sculptured seat and backrest. The legs, seat and vertical backrest have a intr...
Category

Late 19th Century Finnish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Pine

Swedish Stump Chair late 1700 century
Located in Farsta, SE
Exceptional Swedish Stump Chair ca 1650–1700 Crafted from driftwood sourced in Dalarna, Northern Sweden, this remarkable chair is made from a sing...
Category

1690s Swedish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Pine

Rare Norwegian Kubbestol, circa 1850, Origin Telemark, Norway
Located in New York, NY
Rare Norweigen Kubbestol, circa 1850, origin: Telemark, Norway Rosemaling and acanthus carvings in this extraordinary Kubbestol indicate it is most likely from Telemark, Norway, a region known for this exact carving and painting. A Kubbestol is a traditional Scandinavian chair carved from a single log...
Category

19th Century Norwegian Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Fir, Paint

Pair of Small Early Painted Folk Art Chairs or Side Tables
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Set of Two Smaller Folk Art Chairs or Side Tables With Original Paint and Patina.
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Wood

19th Century Swedish Folk Art Chair in Higly Decorative Shapes
By Craft and Folk Art Museum
Located in Hillringsberg, SE
Folk art made in Sweden at its best. This chair with highly appealing shapes and patina. Made in the late 19th century this chair is a given piece to any modern home that wants to ha...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Birch

Vernacular Green-Painted Swedish Stool
Located in Houston, TX
Vernacular green-painted Swedish stool with back, dating to 19th century. True folk art piece constructed in pine circa 1860-1879. Green painted finish on upper part of chair is larg...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Pine

Set of Four 19th Century Primitive Swedish Folk Art Pine Chairs
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Rustic set of four 19th century primitive country Swedish hand-carved folk art farmhouse chairs crafted from pine. The set features a well-worn and weathered patina with a gracefully...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Pine

Antique Swedish Folk Art Stump Chair
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique Swedish stump chair in folk art. The chair has a round shape and is made from a hollowed pine tree stump. The chair is in untouched conditi...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Pine

Artist-Made Studio Craft Twig Chair + Woven Checkerboard Seat
Located in Round Top, TX
Artisan crafted, sculptural birch twig chair with woven checkerboard seat. We love this unique, one-of-a-kind chair. Procured from an eclectic estate in Northern Colorado, this speci...
Category

Late 20th Century American Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Textile, Twig

Swedish Rustic Folk Art Primitive Chair
Located in Kramfors, SE
Rustic folk art chair from Northern Sweden. The chair is unique and hand-made into a primitive example of an antique chair. The pine has never been pa...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Pine

Primitive Swedish Pine Log Chair or Kubbestol
Located in Houston, TX
Primitive Swedish pine log chair, or kubbestol, from Dalarna circa 1770-1789. Flip-seat for storage inside chair. Steamed bentwood banding. Fine, dry pale patina. The flip-seat has b...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Brass

Antique Folk Art Swedish Rustic Kubbstol
Located in Kramfors, SE
Folk Art rustic Kubbstol from northern Sweden. A Kubbstol is a chair made of a single piece of wood that's been hewn out to form the seat, back and frame. It's a primitive constructi...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Pine

18Thc Hudson River Valley Ladder Back Chair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
18thc Hudson River Valley ladder back arm chair in fine condition with an amazing surface or patina.The seat is original to the chair and in fine sturdy condition.Rare to find a earl...
Category

Late 18th Century American Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Wood

Pair, Mid 19th Century Swedish Carved Folk Art Chairs
Located in Round Top, TX
Pair of Swedish folk art carved chairs. This “allmoge style" (Swedish term for folk art) reflects a design tradition rooted in everyday life, where local craftsmen created functional...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Wood, Paint

English Ladder Back Armchair, Early 19th Century
Located in London, GB
English Ladder back armchair, Early 19th Century A country-made early 19th century ladder back armchair. Made in Ash with great patina and origi...
Category

Early 19th Century English Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Ash

Rare Folk Art Chair
Located in Vlimmeren, BE
This mysterious chair will surely catch the attention of any visitor. We can’t say much about the age, but this chair could certainly be 200 years old. It is for sure an European cha...
Category

19th Century Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Wood

Antique Colliapsible W.S. Tubbs SnoShu Folding Canoe Chair c.1900
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT Turn of the century Snowshoe chair with Ash frame, rawhide lacing and steel brackets. These lightweight, portable chairs were used in canoes for...
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Leather, Wood, Ash

Hand Painted Feline Motif Upholstered Leopard Print Wood Chair in Green Orange
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A whimsical hand painted wooden chair with upholstered leopard print cushion. The back of this piece is wood, with a stylized carved design in or...
Category

20th Century Portuguese Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Wood, Paint

Scandinavian Wooden Barrel Chair Made in the 19th Century
By Craft and Folk Art Museum
Located in Stockholm, SE
Scandinavian wooden barrel chair made in the 19th century. A circular, beautifully wooden chair with patina and soft edges hollowed out from a natu...
Category

1890s Swedish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Pine

Black Forest Childs Chair Late 19th Century
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Exquisite Black Forest Carved Musical Side Chair, circa 1880–1900 A superb example of late 19th-century Swiss/German craftsmanship. This delightful late 19th-century Black Forest chi...
Category

Early 20th Century Swiss Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Walnut

Folk Art Wabi Sabi Chair, France, 19th Century
Located in Antwerp, BE
Folk art hearth chair, a captivating piece from 19th-century Auvergne, France. This unique chair seamlessly combines the functions of a side chair and a focal point near the fireplac...
Category

19th Century French Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Wood

Primitive Swedish Pine Log Chair from Dalarna
Located in Houston, TX
Primitive Swedish pine log chair from Dalarna dated 1760. Steamed bentwood banding. Fine, dry pale patina. Note: Original/early finish on antique and vintage metal will include some...
Category

Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Pine

Early 19th Century Scandinavian Folk Art Chair
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Large 19th Century Scandinavian Folk Art chair in the form of a Kubbestol (log chair). A wonderful piece of rural Scandinavian heritage. Seat r...
Category

Early 19th Century Scandinavian Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Pine

Rustic Bench, circa 1920, France
Located in Girona, Spain
Rustic bench Made with chestnut structure and hand woven rattan cord seating. Solid, sturdy and comfortable Circa 1920, France Very good vintage condition.
Category

Mid-20th Century French Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Chestnut, Cord

Antique Swedish Folk Art Country Carver Chairs in Kurbits Faux Wood Grain
Located in Lewes, England
Swedish Kurbits Folk Art pair of carver chairs in hand-painted faux wood grain with excellent level of detail and Kurbits hand-painted Folk Art motifs featuring feathers and swirls ...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Birch

Charming Folk Child Feeding Chair, Pine, Finland 1800s
Located in Helsinki, FI
A charming 19th-century Finnish child’s feeding chair in solid pine, crafted in the traditional folk style of rural Finland. This type of chair was typically made in small village wo...
Category

Late 19th Century Finnish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Pine

Set of Four 19th C Original Painted Pennsylvania Plank Bottom Chairs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
These chairs were found in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and are in very good and sturdy condition. Beautiful set of four mauve colored hand painted plank bottom chairs...
Category

19th Century American Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Tulipwood

Finnish Handmade Folk Art Burl Wood Chair, Mid-20th Century
Located in Karis, Nyland
Expressive hand-carved burl wood chair, crafted in Finland in the mid-20th century. This striking piece of folk art furniture has been sculpted from large burls, showcasing the organ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Finnish Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Wood, Burl

Antique Swedish Charming Folk Art Chair, Original Condition with Genuine Patina
Located in Kramfors, SE
Swedish folk art chair, an antique so called höstol. Chairs like this would often stand in the hallway and during the winter hay or straw was stored in the drawer which was then used...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Pine

19th Century Swedish Folk Art chairs with original paint
Located in Boden, SE
A pair of similar 19th century Swedish country chairs. Very slight difference with great patina ,see pictures Scraped by hand to its beautiful blue original color. Such nice ext...
Category

Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Pine

18th Century Rustic country Primitive Folk Art Stool
Located in Boden, SE
18th Century Swedish Primitive Folk Art Chair from Northern Sweden. This charming chair is a true piece of history. It was made by hand in No...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Pine

Collection of Four 18thc 19thc Extended Arm Windsor Chairs -4
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This group of accumulated 18th & 19thc early Windsor chairs mix and match quite wonderfully ! Sold as a collection of four together.All in very good as found condition. These balloon...
Category

Late 18th Century American Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Wood

Three Folk Style Chairs Handcarved in Solid Beech.
Located in Renens, CH
These charming three-legged beech folk style chairs embody a timeless aesthetic that effortlessly bridges the gap between rustic simplicity and enduring craftsmanship. Handcrafted wi...
Category

1660s European Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Beech

Hand-Carved Folk Art Log Chair, Sculptural Design, USA, 1970s
Located in Round Top, TX
Folk Art, Primitive sculptural log chair. Carved from a single wood log, with hand tools and with a particular orientation, dimensionality and wonderful hand-feel. Created after the ...
Category

Late 20th Century American Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Wood

19th Century Original Painted and Carved Swedish Child s Kubbestol Log Chair
Located in Round Top, TX
Antique carved and painted child's kubbestol, a traditional Scandinavian log chair (in a smaller scale). The lovely original hand-painted flourishes are exceptional, hues of green, y...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Wood, Paint

Late 18th Century Folk Art Chair, Norway 1790’s
Located in Valby, 84
An exceptional Scandinavian folk art chair dating to circa 1790, originating from the border region between Norway and Sweden. Hand-carved from solid wood, this remarkable piece embo...
Category

1790s Norwegian Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Wood, Paint

A Set of 6 BRUTALIST Handcrafted RUSTIC MID-CENTURY-MODERN Chairs, France 1960
Located in PARIS, FR
A set of 6 surprising tripod chairs, Modernist, Brutalist, Folk Art, Tribal Art, sculpted in massive wood, with beautiful floral organic motifs, to be attributed, France 1950. This ...
Category

1950s French Vintage Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Wood

Antique German Leather Wood Armchair with Brass Nailhead Details
Located in Nuernberg, DE
beautiful lounge arm chair made of wood and leather with nailhead details. We think this example is from the 1910s, good condition. Minor patina and scratches on the leather, gives t...
Category

1910s German Vintage Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Leather, Nutwood

Four Renaissance Style Pine Chairs, Painted in Browns Greens, Finland 1950s
Located in Helsinki, FI
A beautiful set of 4 hand made and painted folk chairs from the 1950s. The chairs are made with the traditional Finnish folk renaissance style used in the 1700-1800s and are coloured...
Category

1950s Finnish Vintage Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Pine

Antique 19th Century Primitive Wabi Sabi Mountain Chair
Located in OOSTERHOUT, NL
This antique mountain chair is a beautiful example of traditional South German craftsmanship from the early 19th century. Crafted from solid pine, it is assembled entirely with morti...
Category

Early 19th Century German Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Pine, Paint

19th Century Swedish Antique rustic Stamp chair folk Art " Kubb "chair
Located in Boden, SE
Swedish "Kubb "chair from the 18th-19th century. The "Kubb"chair is an old type of furniture, and is probably the first chair. It is found on depictions from the Viking Age...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Pine

Antique Norwegian Kubbestol (Stump chair), with Carvings, 1800s.
Located in Asaa, DK
Antique Norwegian Kubbestol (Stump chair), with Carvings, 1800s. Rare and charming Norwegian kubbestol circa 1850. These hollowed out chairs are traditionally from Sweden and Norway...
Category

Mid-19th Century Norwegian Antique Folk Art Chairs

Materials

Pine

Folk Art chairs for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique folk art chairs 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 chairs created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating, 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 chairs 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 chairs, popular names associated with this style include Bobby Falwell, and Luteca Furniture. 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 chairs differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $390 and tops out at $12,400 while the average work can sell for $2,400.

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