Skip to main content

Folk Art Decorative Art

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.

to
15
173
84
300
2
1
Height
to
Width
to
1,470
947
346
336
242
195
190
116
94
92
68
63
54
45
35
31
28
4
183
113
3
48
33
22
15
2
1
5
2
4
6
4
4
4
151
84
49
37
22
193
149
139
50
49
303
303
303
4
1
1
1
1
Style: Folk Art
Original Antique Prints of A Zebra and An Ass, 1847
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great images of a zebra and a Mongolian ass Unframed. Lithographs after Cpt. Brown with original hand color. Published, 1847. The measurement is for 1 print Free shipping
Category

1840s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Print of Crossbills, 1847 Unframed
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of crossbills Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Cpt. brown with original hand color. Publi...
Category

1840s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Print of an Eagle, 1847 Unframed
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of an eagle 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 Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Framed Antique Silk and Cotton Ikat Fragment, Uzbekistan
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. Tajikstan Ready to go on a wall. Fra...
Category

19th Century Uzbek Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Silk

Beautiful Black Forest Frame Antique Folk Art with Jesus Child Picture, 1890s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A lovely picture frame made of hand carved wood, made in Germany with a picture of Jesus and a Child. Found at an estate sale in Nuremberg, Germany. It is not marked. A nice addition...
Category

1890s German Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Glass, Wood

Peruvian Naylamp Brass Copper Model of a Ceremonial Tumi Knife Wall Hanging
Located in Grythyttan, SE
A brass and copper model of a Tumi or ceremonial knife, with an adorable motif of Naylamp, the founder of the ancient Peruvian Sican culture. ABOUT T...
Category

1960s Peruvian Vintage Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Brass, Copper

Original Antique Print of a Spotted Flycatcher, circa 1880, Unframed
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Spotted Flycatcher Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Alexander Francis Lydon. Origina...
Category

1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Print of a Spine-Tailed Swallow, circa 1880, Unframed
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Spine-tailed Swallow Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Alexander Francis Lydon. Origi...
Category

1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Set of 8 Original Antique Prints of Seabirds After Francis Lydon, C.1880
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful set of 8 antique prints of seabirds Lithographs after the original drawings by Alexander Francis Lydon Original colour Published by John C. Nimmo, Circa 1880. Unframed ...
Category

1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Bird Prints, Trogons and Purple Headed Pigeons. 1847
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great images of trogons and purple headed pigeons Unframed. Lithographs after Cpt. Brown with original hand color. Published, 1847. The measurement is for 1 print Free shipping...
Category

1840s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Print of A Grey Horse, 1847 Unframed
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a grey horse Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after George Stubbs with original hand color. ...
Category

1840s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Naive Oil Painting of Fish Hawkers. C.1950
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Delightful naive painting of possibly fish hawkers or market traders Possibly Italian. Venetian? Amazing colours. Coarse canvas. Artist unknown. Initial A.D to bottom left. Pre...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Canvas

Original Antique Print of Shrike, 1847 Unframed
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of shrike Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Cpt. brown with original hand color. Published...
Category

1840s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Print of Trogons, 1847 Unframed
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of trogons 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. Publishe...
Category

1840s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Print of a Parrot Crossbill, circa 1880, Unframed
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Parrot Crossbill Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Alexander Francis Lydon. Original ...
Category

1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Cover of Mexican Comic "Sensacional De Maestros"
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this amazing original cover painted in gouache in excellent vintage conditions, circa 1990 issue 226 "Pecho a Pechito llegaré a hojalatear tu corazón". About the Sensacional Comics as part of the Mexican Culture: "Sensacional" is the generic name of a handful of Mexican comics published at the end of the 1970s (1979 to be exact) and whose "Boom" remained in force within the Mexican idiosyncrasy for circa 20 years, (all the decade of the 1980s and 1990s) to then go downhill and "evolve", so to speak, until they become sexually explicit...
Category

1990s Mexican Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Print of a Crested Tit, circa 1880, Unframed
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Crested Tit Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Alexander Francis Lydon. Original color...
Category

1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Light Blue Pictorial Traditional Persian Tabriz Rug
Located in New York, NY
19th century Persian Tabriz Pictorial rug in predominant light blue. Light enough to use as a wall hanging as well Measures: 4'6" x 6'3".
Category

19th Century Persian Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Wool

Original Antique Print of Golden Oriole, 1847 Unframed
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of golden oriole. 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. P...
Category

1840s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Print of a Wryneck, circa 1880, Unframed
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Wryneck Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Alexander Francis Lydon. Original color Pu...
Category

1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Framed American Folk Art Sandpaper Drawing After Thomas Cole, 1840s
Located in Hudson, NY
This is one of the most highly detailed marble dust or sandpaper drawings I have ever seen. The meticulously executed in details and the subtlety of the buildings in the background i...
Category

1840s American Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Print of Baboons, 1847 Unframed
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of baboons 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. Publishe...
Category

1840s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

1829 Needlepoint Pictorial Sampler of Flowers and Quote by 12-year old Girl.
Located in Soquel, CA
Wonderful 1820's needlepoint by 12 year-old Ellen Roberts (American, b. 1817 - ?) of New York with flower boarder and quote: Count that day lost whose low descending sun. ...
Category

1820s American Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Linen, Thread

Set of 6 Original Antique Natural History Prints, 1847
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful set of 6 natural history prints. Original hand colored lithographs. After drawings by Cpt. Brown. Published by Fullarton, 1847 Unframed.
Category

1840s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Hungarian Full Moon Village Scene Modern Wall Sculpture Signed Cseko 1970s
Located in Miami, FL
More known as Cseko, Csekovszky Arpad 1931-1997, the noted Hungarian artist was famous for these ceramic or pottery wall hangings in relief of village scenes. Their three dimensional...
Category

1970s Hungarian Vintage Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Ceramic, Pottery

Original Antique Print of a Rook, circa 1880, Unframed
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Rook Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Alexander Francis Lydon. Original color Publi...
Category

1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Print of a Tree Sparrow, circa 1880, Unframed
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Tree Sparrow Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Alexander Francis Lydon. Original colo...
Category

1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Print of a Twite, circa 1880, Unframed
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Twite Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Alexander Francis Lydon. Original color Publ...
Category

1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Framed Original Antique Print of A Brown Bear, circa 1900
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a brown bear Copperplate photogravure engraving by Walter L. Colls. Good quality wove paper Published C.1900 In an antique oak frame
Category

Early 1900s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Print of a Red-Throated Pipit, circa 1880, Unframed
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Red-throated Pipit Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Alexander Francis Lydon. Origina...
Category

1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Print of a Long-Tailed Tit, circa 1880, Unframed
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Long-tailed Tit Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Alexander Francis Lydon. Original c...
Category

1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

German Polychrome Wax Painting 19th Century With Dancing Figures of Musicians
Located in Milano, MI
Tanzgruppe mit Dudelsackpfeifer -dance group with bagpipes. Ceroplast From the 1800s Of Nordic Origin polychrome wax composition depicting a genre scene with four figures dressed in ...
Category

Mid-19th Century German Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Stucco

Original Antique Print of an Aquatic Warbler, circa 1880, Unframed
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of an Aquatic Warbler Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Alexander Francis Lydon. Original ...
Category

1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Antique Folk Art Reverse Painted and Foil Exhibition Sign in Gilt Frame
Located in Nantucket, MA
Folk Art exhibition sign, reverse painted glass with reserved text backed in gold and silver crinkled foil reading "Exhibition / of / Paintings / on / Glass / By Edgar F. Curtis" E...
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Foil

Original Antique Print of a Shore Lark, circa 1880, Unframed
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Shore Lark Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Alexander Francis Lydon. Original color ...
Category

1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Print of a Wall Creeper, circa 1880, Unframed
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Wall Creeper Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Alexander Francis Lydon. Original colo...
Category

1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Print of a Chough, circa 1880, Unframed
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Chough Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Alexander Francis Lydon. Original color Pub...
Category

1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Print of a Scarlet Bullfinch, circa 1880, Unframed
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Scarlet Bullfinch Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Alexander Francis Lydon. Original...
Category

1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Bullfighting Print, Dated 1805
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of bullfighting Copper-plate engraving Published 1805 Unframed.
Category

Early 1800s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Large Original Antique Natural History Print, Camels, circa 1835
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of camels Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Cpt. Brown and Marechal with original hand colo...
Category

1830s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Large Original Antique Natural History Print, Rhinoceros, circa 1835
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of an Indian and a lesser two horn rhino Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Cpt. brown with ...
Category

1830s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Print of a Melodious Willow Warbler, circa 1880, Unframed
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Melodious Willow Warbler Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Alexander Francis Lydon. O...
Category

1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Print of an English Sporting Dog, 1847
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a bloodhound presented in a distressed antique gilt frame. Lithograph after Cpt. brown with original hand color. Published, 1847.
Category

1840s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper, Gesso

Set of 4 Original Antique Prints of Woodpecker s C.1880
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful set of 4 prints. Lithographs after the original drawings by Alexander Francis Lydon Original colour Published by John C. Nimmo, Circa 1880...
Category

1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Print of a Tree Pipit, circa 1880, Unframed
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Tree Pipit Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Alexander Francis Lydon. Original color ...
Category

1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Print of a Rufous Warbler, circa 1880, Unframed
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Rufous Warbler Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Alexander Francis Lydon. Original ha...
Category

1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Print of a Marsh Warbler, circa 1880, Unframed
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Marsh Warbler Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Alexander Francis Lydon. Original col...
Category

1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

"Grape Nuts" Self Framed Tin Sign, circa 1912
Located in Incline Village, NV
"Grape Nuts" self framed tin sign is one of the most sought after advertising signs by collectors, especially in this near mint condition with bright colors...
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Tin

Original Antique Bird Print, the Savi s Warbler, circa 1870
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a savi's warbler Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph with original hand color. Published,...
Category

1870s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Large Original Antique Natural History Print, Quadrumana, circa 1835
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of Quadrumana, apes etc. Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Cpt. Brown with original han...
Category

1830s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

British Sailor s Large Woolwork of HMS Brunswick
Located in Downingtown, PA
An Icon of Steam and Sail: Sailor J.H. Miller's Woolwork of HMS Brunswick Circa 1860 This monumental and intricately crafted woolwork, a testament to the folk art tradition of 19th-...
Category

Mid-19th Century English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Wool

Mid-Century Rendition of The German Ocean Liner Bishop
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Mid-Century Rendition of The German Ocean Liner Bishop
Category

Mid-20th Century English Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Tin

Original Antique Ethnographical Print, Figures, New South Wales, Australia, 1809
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful ethnographical print. A copper-plate engraving after Lesieur Published by Sherwood, Neely & Jones. Dated 1809 Unframed.  
Category

Early 1800s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Large Original Antique Natural History Print, Gerbils, circa 1835
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of gerbils Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Cpt. Brown and Marechal with original hand col...
Category

1830s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Print of a Nutcracker, circa 1880, Unframed
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Nutcracker Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Alexander Francis Lydon. Original hand c...
Category

1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Print of a Dunnock, circa 1880, Unframed
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a Dunnock Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Alexander Francis Lydon. Original hand colo...
Category

1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Print of an Orphean Warbler, circa 1880, Unframed
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of an Orphean Warbler Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Alexander Francis Lydon. Original ...
Category

1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Print of a Desert Wheatear, circa 1880, Unframed
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of a desert wheatear Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Alexander Francis Lydon. Orig...
Category

1880s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

French Faience Nautical Pattern Plate, circa 1900
Located in Austin, TX
Large 19th French decorative plate with nautical pattern (boats, fishs baskets, lighthouse), circa 1900.
Category

Early 1900s French Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Ceramic

Large Original Antique Natural History Print, Ostriches, circa 1835
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of ostriches 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. ...
Category

1830s English Antique Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Folk Art decorative art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique folk art decorative art 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 decorative art created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include wall decorations, decorative objects, folk art and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, fabric and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art decorative art made in a specific country, there are North America, United States, and Africa pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original decorative art, popular names associated with this style include Familia Lorenzo , and hettler.tüllmann. 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 decorative art differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $300 and tops out at $2,931 while the average work can sell for $1,300.