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Folk Art Furniture

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
Handmade Leather Mexican Carrying Case, C.1900-1940
Located in San Francisco, CA
About An all leather handmade carrying case from Mexico with incised leather on both sides and intact leather strap. The leather strap is woven throug...
Category

Early 20th Century Mexican Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Leather

Vintage Americana Mid-Century Neon Barber Shop Sign
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Fantastic 13.5 foot long Mid-Century vintage neon barber shop sign. Total statement piece. Unusual three dimensional channel letters. Many layers of r...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal

Original Antique Print of a Whale, 1847 Unframed
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a whale. 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. Publish...
Category

1840s English Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Paper

Dowry Box, Lombok Indonesia, Cowrie, Painted Palm Bamboo 1950’s
Located in London, GB
Dowry Box, Lombok Indonesia, Sasak, Cowrie & Painted Palm 1950’s Handwoven and richly adorned, this 1950’s Sasak dowry box from Lombok, Indonesia, captures the ceremonial artistry o...
Category

1920s Indonesian Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Other

Original Painted Pine Bench With Storage dated 1873 from Romania
Located in Round Top, TX
Antique hand painted pine bench dated 1873 is embellished with traditional Eastern European folk art painting with blue accents and red flower bouquets all set against a brown backgr...
Category

Late 19th Century Romanian Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pine, Paint

Amish All Wool Lancaster Co. Pa Diamond in A Square Quilt
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This amazing rare Amish all wool Lancaster County,Pennsylvania Diamond in a square quilt comes from a thirty year old private quilt collection.The condition is very mint with no moth...
Category

1920s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

Professionally Framed Silk and Cotton Ikat Fragment, Uzbekistan, E 20th C.
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. E 20th C. Uzbekistan. Ready to go on a wall. Fram...
Category

Early 20th Century Uzbek Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Silk

Vintage Santa Claus Belsnickel Wax Candle German Christmas 1930s or older
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A beautiful German Belsnickle / Santa Claus Candle. Was probably made before World War two in Germany. Scattered wear due to age. It is made of wax and is hand-painted. Nice addition...
Category

20th Century German Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Other

Original Antique Print of Couroucoui, 1847 Unframed
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of Couroucoui 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 Furniture

Materials

Paper

Early 19thc Scrimshaw and Walnut Hand Carved with Heart Cutlery Caddy
Located in Savannah, GA
Scrimshaw is the art of carving bone, ivory, or other materials. It was a popular pastime for whalers in the 19th century, who created decorative and utilitarian objects. This very u...
Category

1820s American Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Bone, Walnut

Antique Real Skull of a Rabbit, Germany ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Real Skull of a Rabbit, Germany ca. 1900s An antique taxidermied skull of the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) mounted on an ebonized wooden tur...
Category

Late 19th Century German Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Bone, Wood

West Germany Mercury Glass Santa in Fireplace Large 5" Christmas Tree Ornament
Located in Clifton Forge, VA
Such a cute and hard to find large Christmas Tree ornament with the embossed image of Santa with his gold bag on his back coming through the fireplace. This ornament is in good condi...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Mercury Glass

Set of Two Sponge Ware Pitchers -2
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19Thc Sponge ware pottery pitchers in two different sizes and in good condition.Sold as a group of two. Large pitcher measures 7.5d x 7.5h x 5w smaller pitcher measures - 4.5w x 7d ...
Category

Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pottery

Tonala Mexico Set of 5 Animal Figurines Folk Art Hand-painted 1960s
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Charming vintage Tonala pottery animals and birds figurines are decorated with hand-painted traditional decor. The set consists of 3 smaller bird sculptures and 2 larger animal scul...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Ceramic, Pottery

Herón Martínez Mendoza Barro Negro Three-Handled Vessel with Applied Birds
By Heron Martinez
Located in Minneapolis, MN
Here is a rare and striking vase or vessel by Mexican artist, Herón Martínez Mendoza (1918-1990). This is a handmade piece that, although is considered folk art, has a very modernist...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Clay

Superb Ammi Phillips American Folk Art Portrait Painting, circa 1840
By Ammi Phillips
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Superb Ammi Phillips American Folk Art Portrait painting, circa 1840 We are proud of our acquisition of this authentic masterpiece by Ammi Phillips (1788-1865). The finely rendered portrait depicts an attractive young girl in a delightful lifelike quality. The pretty face is a refreshing change from the stern expressions of most of the paintings showing mature female or male sitters. Phillips palette is dark with a strikingly dramatic use of light to her face. The painting, on its original stretchers, is in untouched condition. The frame is period. This painting is unsigned, as are most of his works, but bares the unmistakable characteristics of a Phillips painting. Portrait of a young girl holding a book and wearing a golden whistle. From the New England estate of the renowned Folk Art Collector and scholar, John Bauer...
Category

19th Century American Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Canvas

Hand-Crafted Folk Art Primitive Elm Stool Sculptural Rustic Form
Located in London, GB
Hand-Crafted Folk Art Primitive Elm Stool Sculptural Rustic Form This charming primitive stool embodies the honest beauty of hand-crafted English folk art. Made in England from sol...
Category

1930s English Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Elm

Antique Sailor’s Valentine Shellwork in Octagonal Wooden Case
Located in Sarasota, FL
Traditionally associated with Barbados in the West Indies, this late 19th-century Sailor’s Valentine is a finely preserved example of shellwork folk art. Composed of hundreds of natu...
Category

Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Shell, Velvet, Glass, Wood

Antique Brass Jam Pan. English 19th Century
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great rustic accessory for the country kitchen Country house condition. Original patina to brass and irusty iron handle. Not re-polished. Free UK shipping
Category

1870s English Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Brass, Iron

Vintage Pond Yacht
Located in Norwell, MA
Wooden pond yacht with natural finish and painted white above the waterline. Linen sails, blue deck. 70" long x 11 1/2" wide x 78" ...
Category

Early 20th Century British Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Brass, Lead

Pair Of Scandinavian Rococo Folk Art Wooden Paintings
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Pair of early Swedish Rococo Folk Art wooden paintings or table tops.
Category

Mid-18th Century Scandinavian Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Antique Embroidery from Fez Morocco, Early 20th Century.
Located in Istanbul, TR
Fez embroidery was among the most sophisticated textile arts of Morocco, practiced by women in domestic settings and highly prized as part of marriage furnishings. The geometric patt...
Category

Early 20th Century Moroccan Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Silk

Mid 19th century hand painted Swedish oak coffer
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 19th century hand painted Swedish oak coffer circa 1852. Beautiful dome top coffer made from solid oak.  Hand painted using traditional methods in a green, brown and yellow sche...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Oak, Paint

Antique American Primitive Handmade Gliding Rocking Hobby Horse
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique American primitive handmade gliding rocking hobby horse Additional information: Materials: Iron, Leather, Wood Color: Antique White Period: 19th Century Styles: Ameri...
Category

19th Century Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Iron

Antique Saint Nicholas Belsnickle Santa Christmas Chocolate Mold, France 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A gorgeous chocolate mold. Made of metal, marked with name and mold number. Beautiful and ready to use or display, with nice patina. The 1890s to 1920s were the golden age of Chocola...
Category

Early 1900s French Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal

Quirky American Folk Art Human Form Chair
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Have a seat! One of a kind human form chair. Wonderfully carved muscles, toes, clenched fists for support. Looks like the chair is ready to go crawling ac...
Category

1940s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Original Mexican Retablo "Exvotos" Oil on Tin
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this original Mexican Retablo "Exvotos" oil on tin, circa 1920.
Category

1920s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal

Zinc and Gold Horse Head Butchers Trade Sign Flemish 1860
Located in Hastings, GB
19th century Flemish gilt zinc horse head trade sign. This beautiful hand made sign was used by a Flemish butcher and dates to circa 1860. There are still remnants of the beautiful g...
Category

1860s Belgian Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Zinc

French 1900s Hand Carved Tramp Art Mirror with Raised Diamond Motifs
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French rectangular Tramp Art hand carved wooden mirror from the early 20th century, with raised diamond motifs and X patterns. Created in France during the Turn of the Century whic...
Category

Early 20th Century French Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood, Mirror

Antique Germany Chip Hand Carved House Catchall Box Tramp Folk Art 1880s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A petite German late 19th century Tramp Folk Art Secret Chamber Cabinet Box. This petite Folk Art piece, circa 1890 comes from Germany and features a finel...
Category

Late 19th Century German Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Alpine Kitchen Diorama
Located in Greenwich, CT
A large hand-made model of an Alpine kitchen circa 1910, in a walled surround with canted corners and turned feet, having exquisitely detailed furniture, appliances and fittings craf...
Category

1910s Swiss Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Professionally Framed Antique Ottoman Turkish Embroidery
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. Ottoman Turkey Ready to go on a wall....
Category

Early 19th Century Turkish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Silk

Large Mid-Century Hand-Carved Burlwood Bowl, Finland
Located in Karis, Nyland
A large, hand-carved Finnish burlwood bowl with a sculptural, irregular form that celebrates the natural character of the material. The undulating edges and deeply polished surface r...
Category

Mid-20th Century Finnish Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood, Burl

Spanish Green Ceramic Jug Vase, 1950s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Eye-catching Andalusian Handled Jar or Vessel in Green Glazed Ceramic. Spain, 1950s This outstanding jar vase has engraved geometric details thorough creating a beautiful pattern. Si...
Category

20th Century Spanish Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Ceramic, Majolica

British Sailor s Woolwork of Named HMS Atalanta Coming into Port
Located in Downingtown, PA
Large and Historically Significant Sailor's Woolwork of HMS Atalanta, British, Circa 1880. This large and impressive sailor's woolwork, or "woolie," is a richly colored and wonderf...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

Half moon tables, marbled table tops, Allmoge /Swedish provincial style, 1860s.
Located in Stockholm, SE
A pair of half moon / demi lune tables with original marbled top (painted to look as marble, typical for Allmoge), Swedish provincial style / Allmoge. Size as round table: diam 120...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

1980s Sculptural Hand Crafted Painted Faux Golf Club Display Cabinet
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
On offer on this occasion is one of the most stunning and rare, sculptural faux golf club cabinet you could hope to find. Outstanding design is exhibited throughout. The beautiful go...
Category

1980s Asian Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal

Set of Five Embossed Candleholders Clips Santa Belsnickel Antique German 1890s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A rare Christmas candleholder clip set off five. Each is made from thin cheet metal, this would be a great antique addition for your Christmas or feather tree. These are out of the ...
Category

1890s German Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wire, Sheet Metal

Zabihi Collection Modern Persian Lion Souf Kilim
Located in New York, NY
A Modern Souf Persian carpet depicting a lion on an abrashed gray and ivory colored field Details rug no. j3780 size 3' 10" x 4' 5" (117 x 135 cm) Souf rugs are very rare technique...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Persian Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

19thc Original Painted Blue Pantry Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This early original blue painted panty box from New England has early hand made nails.The condition is very good and great undisturbed paint.
Category

Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Block Printed Lumbar Pillow Cover from Western Anatolia, Turkey, 1st Half 20th C
Located in Istanbul, TR
It does not come with an insert but a bag made from a plain cotton fabric to accommodate insert materials. Linen in the back. Zipper closure. Dry Cleaning is recommended Anatol...
Category

Early 20th Century Turkish Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Cotton

Small Shell Encrusted Owl, Philippines
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A small shell encrusted owl created by hand from seashells. This piece depicts a bird, sitting upon a perch, with small eyes and plumage decorated from different color seashells. ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Philippine Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Shell

Vintage Bavarian Traditional Costume Jewelry Brooch, Bavaria ca. 1950s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Bavarian Traditional Costume Jewelry Brooch, Bavaria ca. 1950s An old Bavarian traditional costume brooch, handmade from 835 silver. A beautiful piece of historical Bavarian...
Category

1950s German Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal

18th Century Folk Art Wall Shelf, Island of Amager, Denmark
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
18th century Folk Art wall shelf, Island of Amager, Denmark Shelf is decorated with carved figures.
Category

Late 18th Century Danish Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Antique Set of Mexican Papier-Mâché Masks 2
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1960. We offer this antique set of 5 Mexican papier-mâché masks 100% handmade and paited with anilina (natural pigments).
Category

1960s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Paper

Early 20th Century Folk Art Scratch Built Ship
Located in London, GB
Early 20th Century Folk Art Scratch Built Ship Without doubt, one of the nicest examples of an early 20th Century English folk art ship model named Victoria. Amazing detail and charm...
Category

1920s British Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Brass

Japanese Mashiko Mingei Bamboo Art Pottery Plate in the Manner of Shoji Hamada
Located in Studio City, CA
A quite beautiful and expertly crafted Japanese Mashiko Ware Mingei (folk craft/folk art) bamboo decorated pottery plate/low bowl quite similar to the works of master potter Shoji Ha...
Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Pottery, Stoneware

Mexican Indian Weaving Black Bear Pillow
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large black bear Mexican Indian weaving bolster pillow.The backing is in black suede leather.The insert is down feather fill.
Category

20th Century American Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

Petite Devil Krampus Hand Puppet Toy, Antique Vintage Germany
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This is a wonderful depiction of Krampus or the devil puppet. The item is approximately 16 inches tall and has a fabric body to slip in with your hand. Height was measured from foot ...
Category

1930s Austrian Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Composition

Antique Southern/Mid-Atlantic 1/2 Gal Blue Decorated Salt Glazed Stoneware Crock
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine, diminutive 19th Century blue decorated salt glaze stoneware crock. With a cylindrical body, a slightly tapered neck, squared lip, and blue underglaze stylized tulip decorati...
Category

19th Century American Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Stoneware

Stephen Huneck Carved Wooden Dog Footstool
By Steven Huneck
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Huneck hand carved wooden dog footstool. Perfect as a foot stool, ottoman or playful sculpture. Dimensions 7" width x 20" depth x 15" height. Condition Good vintage condition.
Category

Late 20th Century American Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

19th Century Sailor s Woolie with Ship at Anchor Within Oval Cartouche, ca 1850
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th Century Sailor's Folk Art Woolie with Ship at Anchor Within Oval Cartouche, ca 1850, depicting a square-rigged single decker warship under furled sails, anchor chain leading off...
Category

Mid-19th Century English Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

Antique White Maple Pencil Post Bed with Hand Carved Folk Art Bird Finials
Located in Tiverton, RI
Our Sunnybrook four poster pencil post bed featuring four hand carved Folk Art inspired bird finials is shown as a Queen in our Antiqued Maple finish. Shown are a Tufted Titmouse, a Red Breasted Nuthatch, a Black Capped Chickadee and an American Goldfinch...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wood

Framed Antique Kalamkari Fragment, Late 19th C
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. India. Ready to go on a wall. Framed...
Category

Late 19th Century Indian Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Cotton

A vintage kinetic balance object of a small rowboat/Vintage iron balance toy
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This unique iron balancer appears to have been manufactured overseas. It depicts a man wearing a hat paddling a small boat. This delicately balanced piece sways back and forth thanks...
Category

Late 20th Century Dutch Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Iron

Gilt Ceremonial Thai Head dress
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Ceremonial Thai headdress usually worn for wedding or religious ceremonies. Hand-crafted in Thailand. Gilt Thai Ceremonial Headdress circa ...
Category

20th Century Thai Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Giltwood

Vintage 1960s Mexican Folk Art Large Papier-Mâché Hand Painted Angel Candelabra
Located in St. Louis, MO
Impressive 1960s large Mexican folk art hand painted papier-mâché angel with 5 arm candelabra. Hand painted details over white robe, include hair, face, gold gilt rope collar, pink a...
Category

1960s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Metal

Large 18th Century Italian Oil On Canvas Painting Of Christ
Located in London, GB
A large scale (life size) 18th Century Italian oil on canvas. 'THE BODY OF THE DEAD CHRIST IN THE TOMB' after Hans Holbein the Younger, showing Christ lying in the tomb. His head re...
Category

18th Century Italian Antique Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Canvas, Paint

Marble Solitaire Game 10 inch Hardwood Board 35 mixed Stone Marbles, circa 1945
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a very attractive complete game of Marble Solitaire with a hardwood circular board and 35 mixed stone marbles, probably French. The circular turned board is made of polished hardwood, with a good grain figure. The board has 32 equi-spaced holes with an additional one in the centre and a gallery to the outer perimeter. Three small circular pads have been attached to the base of the board to protect the surface it sits on. It comes complete with a full set of 35 (32 Plus 3 spare) handmade playing marbles of mixed stone, clay and agate and of different colours. Some of the clay marbles...
Category

20th Century French Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Stone

Pictorial Animal Human Turkish Rug, Mid 20th Century
Located in New York, NY
Eclectic Vintage Turkish Pictorial rug from the middle part of the 20th century. 2'2'' x 3'6''
Category

20th Century Turkish Folk Art Furniture

Materials

Wool

Folk Art furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique folk art furniture 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 furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include folk art, decorative objects, wall decorations and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art furniture made in a specific country, there are Europe, North America, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original furniture, popular names associated with this style include Berber Tribes of Morocco, Mosche Bianche, Jim Rose, and Nils Olsson. 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 furniture 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 $225,000 while the average work can sell for $1,252.

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