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
19thc Stoneware Two Gallon Decorated Crock
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19Thc Original decorated stoneware crock with handles in fine condition.This crock was found in Pennsylvania.Wonderful blue glaze decoration.
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Pottery
$1,160 Sale Price
20% Off
Iconic Pair of Sicilian Ceramic Heads from Caltagirone
Located in Budapest, HU
Fascinating traditional handmade ceramic planters from private collection.
Category
20th Century Sicilian Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
$2,090 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Mid Century Large Motorized Hand Made Chris Craft Cabin Cruiser C1955
By Chris Craft Boats
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous and large cabin cruiser boat model with an untested motor and batteries. 41.5 inches long and sitting on a brand new custom made stand with a nautical theme. In very good vi...
Category
1950s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Metal
19th Century Scandinavian Folk Art Bentwood Tine Box "Svepask", Pine
Rattan
Located in Helsinki, FI
A fine Scandinavian, most probably Swedish, folk art svepask (bentwood box) with lid, late 19th to early 20th century. Crafted in pine with beautiful details, this traditional box is...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Rattan, Pine
Pair of Petite Murano Caged Glass Pendant Light, 1930s Italy vintage
By Seguso
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Gorgeous pair of chandeliers in bubble-wrapped Murano glass with cage. The glass is hand-blown with a amber tint and was created by Giorgio Seguso during the 1930s in Italy.
These M...
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Metal
American Applique Picture of a Basket of Strawberries
Located in Downingtown, PA
American oval shadow box felt picture depicts strawberries in an openwork straw basket with the large long handle rising above. Within an oval gilt frame...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Felt
19th Century Original Blue Painted Swedish Mora Grandfather Clock
Located in Round Top, TX
Antique Swedish Mora Grandfather clock with original blue painted finish. The monogram indicates this clock was likely a wedding or dowry present.
Pine longcase with original folk a...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Pine, Paint
Antique Miniature German Boule Biedermeier Dollhouse Bed Room Furniture 1860-90s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This rare and exquisite miniature antique German wooden Boule Bedroom Furniture set with fine golden transfers, dated about 1860s to 1890s. Made by one of the famous German toy companies. A very lovely Furniture set for antique dolls and for dollhouses. Measurements given in dimensions section refers to the bed. The small Vanity desk...
Category
1890s German Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Wood
20th Century Erzgebirge German Noah’s Ark Putz Toy Set, Vintage Folk Art
Located in Nuernberg, DE
20th century Erzgebirge German Noah’s Ark. A wonderful example of a 20th century Erzgebirge German Noah’s Ark, With 36 assorted hand carved figures. Typically, children played with t...
Category
20th Century German Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Wood
Early 20th Century folk art fairground massacre knock down figure
Located in London, GB
Early 20th Century folk art fairground massacre knock down figure
A folk art / primitive hand-crafted fairground knock down game figure. Constructed from pine and metal, hand painted detail with metal support hinges when the figure is knocked off...
Category
1920s French Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Pine
1900s-1920s Japanese antique 2 tier wooden tansu cabinet w/ openwork wabi sabi
Located in 常陸大宮市, JP
Japanese antique 2 tier small tansu cabinet with sliding doors - made of quality Sugi cedar, finished with persimmon tannin
burnt pine ink.
Product of circa 1900s - 1920s (lat...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Wood, Cypress
Folk Art Framed Vintage Keys on PegBoard
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Vintage keys on a pegboard attached with round head fasteners. This piece was apparently gifted by parents to their child per the message on the back stat...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century Folk Art Signed Framed Oil On Canvas By Helen Strong - Park Scene
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a signed mid-century Folk Art painting by Helen Strong. It is a charming depiction of a park scene.i could not find any information regarding the artist. It is in an ebonized...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Canvas, Wood, Paint
Swedish pair of tree chairs from the early 1900 Folk Art Peasant Seating
Located in Forest, BE
Confortable pair of Swedish hand carved pine trunk seats from the early 1900. Lots of history, patina and traces of time. Very good condition. Could be used to sit on a desk or a ta...
Category
Early 20th Century Swedish Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Pine
$6,526 Sale Price / set
44% Off
Antique Painted Folk Art Farmhouse Bridal Cabinet 1817
Located in OOSTERHOUT, NL
Antique folk art wedding cabinet dating from 1817 from Franconia, southern Germany. This cabinet has a warm appearance and enough details to immediately stand out. Suitable for an in...
Category
1810s German Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Pine, Paint
Large Vintage 2 ft Tall African Hand Carved Wood Wall Mask
Located in Bochum, NRW
Large vintage hand-carved from one piece of solid wood African Tribal mask richly decorated with intricate tribal motifs.
Beautifully hand carved, painted details, it has a hook, re...
Category
1990s African Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Wood
Vintage Brown Nautical Sailing Ship Wood Box with Hinged Lid
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A vintage nautical theme jewelry or trinket box. This small rectangular brown box will be a great accent on a coffee table, dressing table, or on a bookshelf. It is created from wood...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Metal
Swedish country chair
Located in Kastrup, DK
Swedish country chair, untouched original, in very fine condition.
Made of pine with remnants of the original dark brown paint and the original bast seat.
A highly decorative chair.
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Cane, Pine
$1,053
Lot of sixteen Cookie Marzipan Backing Molds Antique Austria, 1910s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A gorgeous set of sixteen molds for your Christmas Bakery. Made of metal. Beautiful and ready to use or display, with nice patina.
Fantastic piece for each collector. Found at an est...
Category
1910s Austrian Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Metal
Vintage Handmade Rajasthani Patchwork Tapestry, India
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Vintage Rajasthani Patchwork Tapestry, handcrafted, of several small irregular embroidered “patches” heavily embroidered with gold and silver paper-wrapped threads couched down in a multitude of colors, some with reflective mirror...
Category
20th Century Indian Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Cotton
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 20th Century Turkish Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Silk
19thC Animal Themed Lithographed Alphabet Children
s "Learning Blocks" Ca. 1880
Located in Incline Village, NV
Lovely complete set of 19th century Victorian alphabet and word learning blocks; fully intact and colorful lithography to the top and bottom sides with domestic, zoo, and wild animal...
Category
1880s American Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Wood, Paper
Large 19th Century Polychromed Statue of a Burmese Nat Temple Dancer
Located in Silvolde, Gelderland
Hand-carved wooden sculpture representing a traditional guardian or deity figure, often referred to as the "Lady of Popa," originating from Vietnam or Southeast Asia. This striking p...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Teak
$1,425 Sale Price
20% Off
Three Antique Grulich Christmas Nativity Scene Landscape Parts for Decoration
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Rare Antique Grulich Nativity Scene Decoration parts — Late 19th Century
This rare and culturally significant nativity figure scene parts originates from the historic Krá...
Category
Late 19th Century Czech Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Wood
German bridal cabinet, dated 1852
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A beautiful cabinet from rural southern Germany, dating from 1852. It was originally given as a wedding gift. Crafted from solid pine, it is hand-painted in vibrant colors. It has it...
Category
1850s German Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Pine
19Thc Pennsylvania Tulips Applique Quilt
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19Thc Pennsylvania applique quilt from Lancaster County,Pennsylvania in fine condition.This amazing applique quilt comes from a very special folk art & quilt collection. The double tulips applique is quite unique and found in Pennsylvania folk art...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Cotton
French Hand-Carved Tramp Art Mirror with Star Accents, circa 1900
Located in Atlanta, GA
A compact yet visually impactful example of French Tramp Art, this mirror dates to around 1900 and features a deeply carved frame with the signature layered notching technique. The f...
Category
Early 20th Century French Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Wood
American Folk Art Painted Pine Teal Bookcase on Casters with Removable Shelves
Located in Brooklyn, NY
American folk art bookcase retaining its original teal and orange paint (ca. 1920, USA).
Features five removable shelves and the original caster wheels for easy mobility.
A unique pi...
Category
1920s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Metal
Mid-Century Nautical Buoy From the S.S. Normandie The French Line
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Very special piece with alot of history behind it.
Looks to be accurate from many perspectives, physical appearances show it was repainted over what was the original coat of paint wi...
Category
1930s French Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Canvas, Rope, Paint
Antique Swedish Wooden bowl 1800
s Handmade Folk Craft nice details
Located in Forest, BE
Swedish antique birch hand made wooden bowl. Made to be used as a dining dish / plate. Fine quality of handwork. this is are true piece from the early 19 century. Beautiful patina o...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Birch
Large french tramp art folk mirror 1900
s
By Tramp Art
Located in BELFORT, FR
Large french tramp art folk mirror, 1900's. Very beautiful.
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Wood
Collection of 3 Vanity Fair Sport Themed “Spy” Prints A rare collection
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Collection of 3 Vanity Fair Sport Themed “Spy” Prints
A rare collection of original coloured lithograph prints the earliest dating from 1896 to 1904, mounted and glazed in Black fra...
Category
19th Century Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Paper
Large Wooden Tramp Art Box Folk Art Gold 20th Century
Located in Poperinge, BE
Large tramp art box with lid and brass handle, folk art object made of layered pieces of gold, partly gold colored, from the late first half of the 20th century.
Beautiful form of f...
Category
1940s European Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Wood
Large Hand Carved Bear
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fine large hand carved brown bear has amazing details in the carving.The condition is very good.This came from a log cabin collection.
Category
1930s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Wood
$1,160 Sale Price
20% Off
Silk Ikat Chapan, Tajikstan, Late 19th Century.
Located in Istanbul, TR
Chapans are probably the most famous Central Asian fashion garments made from mostly ıkats, either pure silk and lined with cotton, or silk war and cotton weft , again with a cotton ...
Category
Late 19th Century Tajikistani Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Silk
Folk Art Pottery Charger - Hand Painted Flowers
Swirls - Mexico - Circa 1980
s
Located in Chatham, ON
Mexican folk art terra cotta charger or plate - large size - hand made and featuring hand painted flowers and elaborate border with swirls (all cold painted) - unsigned - Mexico - ci...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Outsider Painting in Acrylic of a Humpback Whale on Blue
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
This is a great example of outsider art. This painting of a black humpback whale is painted on a masonite board. At the center is a black humpback whale with an open mouth and beady ...
Category
Late 20th Century American Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Masonite, Paint
Early 20th Century Hand Painted Duck Decoy Antique, German
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Found in Germany at an estate sale, this hand carved and hand painted duck decoy is perfect for the collector. Well used by a previous hunter the paint ha...
Category
Early 20th Century German Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Wood, Paint
Very Decorative Antique Ship Model with Beautiful Wear and Tear
Located in Beerse, VAN
Beautiful antique ship model made of different types of painted wood.
It was most likely made as a toy as we can tell by the less detailed construc...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Wood
Gypsy Caravan Circa 1900 - Built by Watts of Bridgewater
Located in Bagshot, GB
Now I know we all wish to have that barn find, but this truly is a great barn find!!!
45 years it has been dry stored, and you can see from the condition that this original Gypsy Ca...
Category
Early 20th Century British Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Wood
Rare Vintage "Rolly Dolly" Musical Toy; Germany, Circa 1895
Located in Incline Village, NV
Vintage and rare "Rolly Dolly" Musical Toy by unknown German manufacturer; circa 1895; contemporaneous with early Schoenhut toys, it depicts a "Well Dres...
Category
1890s German Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Composition
Swedish Folk Art Midcentury Hand Carved Wall Cabinet
Located in New York, NY
Swedish mid-20th century Folk Art wall cabinet of carved pine, painted in “mahogany” red. The motif depict a man in a horse pulled carriage, various animals including a snake, crayfi...
Category
Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Wood, Paint
1940
s Southwestern-Style Yeibichai-Figure Kilim Rug
By Navajo
Located in Dallas, TX
77768 Vintage Southwestern style Kilim Yeibichai Rug, 02'11 x 04'04. Yeibichai Southwestern style Kilims are a distinctive type of Southwestern style weaving that depict figures from...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Wool
Mexican Muralists by Desmond Rochfort
Located in Bradenton, FL
Mexican Muralists by Desmond Rochfort. Softcover book published in 1998 by Chronicle Books of San Francisco. Printed in Hong Kong, illustrated, 240 pages.
Category
1990s Hong Kong Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Paper
Carved Wooden African Head
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A wonderful hand carved head of Hardwood. A stunning sculpted and carved piece. A stand alone decorative piece or can be used as a large book end. Trul...
Category
20th Century African Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Wood, Hardwood
STELIO MOLA - Hand Painted Majolica Sardinian Figure - Italy - Mid 20th Century
By Mola
Located in Chatham, ON
STELIO MOLA - Vintage hand painted majolica figure of a Sardinian gentleman - medium size - featuring elaborate hand crafted and hand painted details throughout - signed on the base ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Italian 1930s beautifully hand-crafted oak mountain armchair
Located in Milan, IT
Italian 1930s beautifully hand-crafted oak mountain armchair
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Wood
British Sailor
s Woolwork of Royal Navy Ship in Bay with House
Located in Downingtown, PA
British Sailor's Woolwork of Royal Navy Ship in Bay,
Circa 1860-75
This meticulously crafted sailor's woolwork, often called a "woolie," is rendered in Berlin wool and portrays a Ro...
Category
1860s Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Wool
19th Century Italian Farm Table.
Located in Allerum, SE
Large 19th century Italian provincial / country pine wood table with one drawer. ca 1850 - 90, Italy.
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Pine
Lot Three Large Vintage Antique Mercury Glass Christmas Tree Topper German 1920s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A rare set of three feather tree glass Christmas tree topper from Germany. Each is made from mouth blown glass, would be a great antique addition for your Christmas or feather tree. ...
Category
Early 20th Century German Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Glass
Rare 1923 Wurlitzer Calliola Orchestral Band . "Old Time Circus Calliope
By Wurlitzer
Located in Buffalo, NY
Wurlitzer Calliola is a specific type of large, elaborate, self-playing musical instrument, essentially a grand carousel or band organ, often with a beautiful wooden case, designed ...
Category
1920s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Metal, Iron
Barbed Wire Collection / Display Mounted on a Texas Shaped Plaque
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Barbed Wire Collection / Display Mounted on a Texas Shaped Plaque.
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Steel
$156 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique Ottoman Inkwell Qalamdan and Pen Case in Brass, Turkey
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Antique Turkish Brass Pencil Case Qalamdan and Inkwell From The Ottoman Empire
The interior of the brass case is divided into compartments to ho...
Category
Mid-19th Century Turkish Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Brass
$364 Sale Price
43% Off
Antique German Folk Art Cabinet, circa 1850
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A pine cabinet from rural southern Germany, dating from around 1850. The cabinet was probably given as a wedding gift. This cabinet is made of solid pine and is hand-painted in earth...
Category
1850s German Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Pine
Set of Four Swedish Folk Art Rooster Candle Holders, 1980s
Located in Frederiksberg C, DK
Set of Four Swedish Folk Art Rooster Candle Holders, 1980s
Charming set of four Swedish folk art candle holders, crafted in the 1980s and shaped as stylised roosters. Made from soli...
Category
1980s Swedish Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Wood
African Ethiopian Tribal Folk Art Painting 20th Century
Located in Milano, MI
Ancient Ethiopian painting imported to Italy by a diplomat during the Italian occupation of Ethiopia, in the late 1930s. This genre scene painting is divided into eighteen squares bordered by a black frame and divided into three lines. The scene depicts the story of a couple with three children through the stories of their domestic life and their rural activity; each box has a caption written in the Amharic language. In the first line: they grind; they drink; …illegible… while they spin; they bring water.
In the second line: comb, cut your hair; treats your teeth; grind; they bring the wood; they bring water.
In the third section: they prepare beer; they prepare bread; they cook bread; they prepare lunch; while they eat; while they drink. This canvas is painted in shades of ocher and is mounteed on a ebonized frame. Dates back to the late 1930s. The canvas show minimal tears and signs of wear but we can customize a restoration.
The human figures are characterized by unrealistic proportions of the head and body and depicted in static positions. This sense of fixity and the narration in successive chapters in domestic environments make the paintings easily intelligible and suggestive.
A particularly fascinating aspect of Ethiopian art...
Category
Mid-20th Century Ethiopian Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Canvas
Assortment of Five Small Indian Repoussé Brass Decorative Dish Bowls
Located in Yonkers, NY
An assortment of give unique Indian brass bracelets from the 19th century that could be used as ashtrays or candy dishes. Charming our eyes with their intricate designs, this assortm...
Category
19th Century Indian Antique Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Brass
Harry V. Shourds Signed Vintage Antique Wood Duck Decoy Sculpture
Located in Studio City, CA
A fantastic hand-carved and painted wood duck decoy (possibly a New Jersey Bluebill) by Harry V. Shourds.
The piece is signed/branded on the underside.
Would be a great additio...
Category
20th Century Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Wood, Paint
August 1987 Hawaiian Raku Vase by Kate
Will Jacobson
By Kate
Will Jacobson
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
August 1987 Raku Vase by Kate & Will Jacobson, Hawaii A stunning "naked raku" example, the Jacobsons are often credited with originating. "This firing technique reveals the unadorned...
Category
1980s American Vintage Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Clay
Vintage Bavarian Traditional Costume Jewelry Cufflinks
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Bavarian Traditional Costume Jewelry Cufflinks
A pair Bavarian cufflinks from the middle of the 20th century. A beautiful piece of historica...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Folk Art Furniture
Materials
Metal, Silver
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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