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.
Enamelled ceramic centerpiece, France, 1930
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Glazed ceramic centerpiece, made in France in the 1930s. This handcrafted piece, with its naive charm, features a hand-painted design of stylized birds surrounding a central face in...
Ceramic
Antique Hand-Carved Cork Bowl, French Folk Art, Circa 1900
Located in Forest, BE
Folk art French bowl in cork, hand carved by a peasant circa 1900. Some traces of use. Different shades of brown with a fantastic patina. Lots of history and a warm feeling.
Cork
Oversized Blue and White Mexican Talavera Glazed Ceramic Bowl
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Authentic oversized very fine blue and white Mexican Talavera de la Reina glazed ceramic bowl. Huge blue and white Mexican Talavera pottery handcrafte...
Ceramic
Large Italian Hand Carved Folk Art Wooden Centre Piece Dish
Located in Milan, IT
LArge Italian Hand-Carved Folk Art Wooden Centre Piece Dish
Wood
Antique Handcrafted Folk Art Hat Mold, Hardwood, France, 1900
Located in Forest, BE
Hand crafted Swedish massive wooden hat mold circa 1900. Some traces of use. Different shades of brown and beige with a fantastic patina. Lots of history and a warm feeling. Looking ...
Hardwood
$795Sale Price|33% Off
Arts & Crafts Metalware Centerpiece Folk Art Stand
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Arts & crafts metalware centerpiece Folk Art stand Highly decorative stand made from copper and all hand worked with applied enamel paints and script motif...
Postmodern Gray Ceramic Braided Woven Abstract Centerpiece Bowl
Located in New York, NY
Stunning woven braided ceramic centerpiece bowl glazed in a wonderful shade of gray with some blue tones. Great size for a coffee table or entryway. Very unusual abstract shape, plea...
Ceramic
Fos Ceramic Centerpiece
Located in New York, NY
FOS Ceramiche was founded from an IDEA of Piero Mazzotti and Andri Ioannou as a manufacture of art and design in Faenza, a city that is synonymous with M...
Ceramic
Large Seguso Murano Blue Conch Seashell Centerpiece Bowl
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Large eye-catching seashell or conch shaped Seguso Murano Sommerso Italian glass bowl centerpiece. Thick handblown rich blue colored glass...
Glass
Oval Pedestal Resin Bowl, White and Pearl by Paola Valle
By Paola Valle
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
Our oval pedestal bowl is great for holding fruit, plants, decorative objects, faux succulents and specially everyone's attention. You can have it on display on a kitchen counter or ...
Resin
Hand Carved Alabaster Horse Centrepiece Sculpture, Italy, 1970s
Located in Rome, IT
Centerpiece in the shape of a horse in hand carved alabaster. Made in Italy, 1970s.
Alabaster
XL Footed Resin Bowl Centerpiece in White and Pearl by Paola Valle
By Paola Valle
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
An elegant XL round bowl that is supported by four half spheres that make a fun, bold and unique piece great for holding fruit, plants and specially everyone's attention. You can hav...
Resin
$2,612
H 2.64 in Dm 6.42 in
Large Cenedese Italian Asymmetric Blue Sommerso Murano Glass Bowl, Dish, Ashtray
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Antonio da Ros (attributed) for Cenedese large & heavy vintage midcentury Italian Murano glass geode bowl, serving dish or ashtray, circa 1965-1975. Utilizing the Sommerso technique ...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
$2,089Sale Price|20% Off
H 2.17 in W 6.07 in D 6.11 in
Large Cenedese Italian Asymmetric Blue Sommerso Murano Glass Bowl, Dish, Ashtray
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Antonio da Ros (attributed) for Cenedese large & heavy vintage Italian Murano glass bowl, serving dish or ashtray, circa 1965-1975. Utilizing the Sommerso technique this large, heavy...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
$2,612
H 2.37 in W 6.89 in D 6.11 in
Large Cenedese Italian Asymmetric Blue Sommerso Murano Glass Bowl, Dish, Ashtray
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Antonio da Ros (attributed) for Cenedese large and heavy vintage Italian Murano glass bowl, serving dish or ashtray, circa 1965-1975. Utilizing the Sommerso technique this large, hea...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
$300 / item
H 6.89 in Dm 9.65 in
Geometric Pedestal Bowl in White and Pearl Marbled Resin by Paola Valle
By Paola Valle
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
Our decorative geometric pedestal bowl is great for holding fruit, plants, decorative objects, faux succulents and specially everyone's attention. You can have it on display on a kit...
Resin
White Glazed Ceramic Basket of Fruit, Mrs Henry Ford II Estate italy 1940s
Located in Stamford, CT
A white glazed ceramic basket of fruit, probably Italian. The pineapple stem has been repaired with a small loss. The leaf of another fruit has two two areas of mismatched filling. A...
Ceramic
$1,295Sale Price|20% Off
H 3.35 in Dm 11.23 in
Large Aldo Londi Bitossi Rimini Blue Glazed Ceramic Centerpiece Bowl, 1950s
By Aldo Londi, Bitossi
Located in Barcelona, ES
Italian midcentury Aldo Londi Bitossi Rimini blue ceramic centerpiece bowl, Italy, 1950-1960s. Unusual large scale 14,17 in diameter Mid-Century Modern blue glazed ceramic (Rimini Bl...
Pottery, Terracotta, Ceramic
Sculptural Organic Wood Centerpiece Bowl
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
For sale is a large, freeform organic wood bowl. This unique piece features a one-of-a-kind design and is perfect for use as a centerpiece in any roo...
Wood
Swedish 1900 Hand Carved Green Marble Mortar, Folk Art
Located in Forest, BE
This mortar was found in sweden. It was handcrafted around 1900. It was definitely used as you can see some traces. Made of green marble. Perfect as mortar, planter or decorative obj...
Marble
Swedish 1900 Hand Carved Dark Green / Grey Marble Mortar, Folk Art
Located in Forest, BE
This mortar was found in sweden. It was handcrafted around 1900. It was definitely used as you can see some traces. Made of dark green / grey marble. Perfect as mortar, planter or de...
Marble
Swedish 1800 Hand Carved Wooden Bowl, Folk Art
Located in Forest, BE
Folk art Swedish bowl in hardwood, hand carved by a peasant circa 1800. Some traces of use. Different shades of brown and green with a fantastic patina. Lots of history and a warm fe...
Hardwood
Swedish 1800 Hand Carved Wooden Bowl, Folk Art
Located in Forest, BE
Folk art Swedish bowl in hardwood, hand carved by a peasant around 1800. Some traces of use, a tiny hole drilled on one upper side probably lo hang it. Different shades of brown with...
Hardwood
Rare and Antique Carved Piece of Wood
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1940. We offer this Rare and Antique Carved Piece of Wood, it can have multiple uses, as a fruit bowl or to carry candles.
Wood
Early Wooden Sculpture Of Basket-Carrying Lady
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Early 20th Century sculpture of basket-carrying Lady
Wood
Sold
H 4 in W 24 in D 14 in
Zebra and Leopard Decorative Dish or Bowl by Ardmore Ceramics, South Africa
Located in New York, NY
One of a kind zebra and leopard decorative dish/bowl/centrepiece by Ardmore Ceramics, South Africa. Ardmore ceramic art was established by Fée Hals...
Ceramic
Very Large Sable Tureen Centrepiece by Ardmore Ceramics from South Africa
By Sabelo Khoza, Mandla-Enkosi Ngwenya
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional sculpture by Ardmore Ceramics of South Africa. This Sable tureen centerpiece was sculpted by Sabelo and painted by Mandla. Ardmore ceramic art was established by Fée Hals...
Ceramic
19th Century Pewter and Brass Samovar
Located in Copenhagen, K
Amazing samovar in partly yellow cold-painted pewter and brass faucet.
Pewter
French 19th Century Fireplace Candelabra
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Five-armed wrought iron candelabra for a fireplace or countryside kitchen. Great patina and traces of oil paint
Wrought Iron
19th Century Folk Art Centerpiece of Moose
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Swedish wooden table centerpiece of running moose and bird sitting on a branch
Wood