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.
French Folk Art Floor Lamp, Early 20th Century
Located in Warminster, GB
A folk art floor lamp comprised of antique iron fireplace trammel and firedog, early 20C. Stock ref. #3092 Professionally rewired to UK standards. New tapered calico shade include...
Iron
French Flok Art, Huge Grape Vine Floor Lamp, France, circa 1960
Located in leucate, FR
French Folk Art. Beautiful grape vine floor lamp. Base made with a large vine with several arms, which makes it very stable, a small table is integrated at 26''. For sale without ...
Wood
Large French Folk Art Wrought Iron Floor Lamp
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
One-of-a-kind, large floor lamp, entirely handmade out of iron, which has been wrought into hundreds of spirals then assembled together to form the structure of the lamp.
Wrought Iron
A Novelty Lighthouse Floor Lamp Great fun and the ideal piece for a seaside
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A Novelty Lighthouse Floor Lamp Great fun and the ideal piece for a seaside theme, this one off piece is made in wood and has an old reconditioned brass Nautical Post light at the t...
Brass
Unusual Folk Art, Bespoke Billiard Themed Floor Lamp, 8-Ball, Modernist
Located in Buffalo, NY
Unusual Folk Art, Bespoke Billiard Themed floor lamp.. 8-ball. Modernist, que sticks, Hand crafted, Shade measuring 16" in diameter.
Brass
Hand-Carved Spanish Folk Art Floor Lamp with Original Shade, 1950
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Spanish Folk Art floor standing standard lamp A traditionally turned, carved and painted piece from Spain. This wooden lamp stands on a square ba...
Softwood
Tatupeba Floor Lamp GOLDEN BROWN in Natural Palm Fiber - EU plug typ C
Located in BR
Prized as the best work of its category in the Novos Talentos Brasileiros (New Brazilian Talents) Award in 2020, now comes in a new version as a floor lamp. the Tatubepa lamp is a p...
Sheet Metal
Tatupeba Floor Lamp BLACK in Natural Palm Fiber - EU plug typ C
Located in BR
Prized as the best work of its category in the Novos Talentos Brasileiros (New Brazilian Talents) Award in 2020, now comes in a new version as a floor lamp. the Tatubepa lamp is a p...
Sheet Metal
Hammered Brass Folk Art Modernist Floor Lamp
Located in San Mateo, CA
Amateur craftsman made modernist floor lamp. The lamp is a little arts and crafts, art deco and machine age combined. A great imaginative form, the lamp is made of found brass pieces...
Brass
$3,045Sale Price|20% Off
Impressive Ceramic Floor or Table Lamp in Mystic and Majestic Mayan Style
Located in Doornspijk, NL
This eye catching floor or table lamp in Mayan style truly is an impressive piece. Its foot is a large ceramic statue of a queen and her child, or a king ...
Ceramic, Suede, Velvet
Vintage Boho Hand Painted Female Floor Lamp
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A spectacular and truly one-of-a-kind piece of functional sculpture, this vintage floor lamp is a testament to artistic vision and playful design. Drawing inspiration from Folk Art a...
Fabric, Wood, Paint
Scandinavian Studio Table Lamp in Carved Bone with Symbolic Decoration, c. 1950s
Located in PUTTEN, NL
Scandinavian Studio Table Lamp in Carved Bone with Symbolic Decoration, c. 1950s–1970s A truly singular studio object — a table lamp base carved from a single large bone shaped into...
Bone, Wood
$2,495 / set
H 70 in W 20 in D 20 in
Antique Italian Florentine Hand-Carved & Gilt Finished Floor Lamp & Shade
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique florr lamp is unsigned, but presumed to originate from Italy and date to approximately 1920 and done in a Classical Florentine style. The lamp base is composed of a softwood that have been heavily hand-carved with considerable decorative elements from the top to the base, and has three pull chain light...
Gesso, Softwood
Early 20th Century Carved Wood Floor Lamp, English
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Early 20th century carved wood floor lamp, English. Likely made from a much earlier bed post or torchiere. Mahogany. The shaft well reeded ending in bulbous turnings and disc base. S...
Wood
$3,254
H 51.19 in W 25.6 in D 25.6 in
Swedish Art Deco Floor Lamp of Birch + Brass with Original Shade 1940s
By Paavo Tynell
Located in Silkeborg, Silkeborg
Art deco floor lamp in Swedish Grace style made in the 1940s The stem and base is made of turned birch wood, mounted with brass fittings. The shade is made of an early type of plast...
Brass
Antique Iron Floor Lamp with Original Shade
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Condition: New Linen Shade Materials: Patinated Iron, New Linen Shade
Iron
$1,522 / item
H 47.2 in Dm 15.8 in
Verner Panton 'Fun 1STM' Floor Lamp in Sea Shells and Chrome for Verpan
By Verner Panton, Verpan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Verner Panton 'Fun 1STM' floor lamp in sea shells and chrome for Verpan Verner Panton was one of Denmark's most legendary modern furniture and interior designers. His innovative exp...
Metal, Stainless Steel, Chrome
$12,500 / set
H 80 in W 12 in D 12 in
A great pair of 19th c Italian carved and gilt torchiere floor lamps
Located in Dallas, TX
A great pair of late 19th century Italian carved and gilt torchiere floor lamps . Custom wiring and pleated linen shades.
Giltwood
20th Century Murano Glass Floor Lamp
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
A beautiful 20th Century Murano glass floor lamp. With gold powdered internal decoration to the glass. Metalwork is satin brass. Fully rewired to UK standards.
Murano Glass
$6,000
H 51.19 in W 28.75 in D 13.98 in
Unusual Fine French Art Deco Reading Floor Lamp by Jean Perzel
Located in Long Island City, NY
With a bronze leg and a pivoting ivory-lacquered arm supporting a brass and glass shade. Ideal next to a sofa or a writing table (the opening in the base is designed to accommodate a...
Brass
Wrought Iron Floor Lamp
Located in Antwerp, BE
Revival wrought iron floor torchieres. On top feature five lights. Measures: Height 178 cm. Width 56 cm. Depth 50 cm.
Brass, Wrought Iron
$3,371
H 54.73 in W 23.63 in D 23.63 in
Danish Modern Floor Lamp in Teak with Hand Folded Le Klint Shade, 1950s
By Kaare Klint, Le Klint
Located in Odense, DK
Beautiful and elegant Danish Modern floor lamp in teakwood adjustable shade. The lamp foot is made from grey lacquered iron. It is is mounted with a vintage hand folded acrylic Le Klint shade...
Iron
$9,800
H 82.5 in W 22 in D 19 in
Antique Italian Figural Standing Candelabra Floor Lamp, Early 20th Century
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique Italian Figural standing candelabra floor lamp. It features a standing figure on a plinth with a candelabra stemming from his head. Additional information: Materials: Li...
Wood
'Timberline' Floor Lamp for GUBI
By Gubi
Located in Los Angeles, CA
'Timberline' Floor Lamp for GUBI Originally designed by Mads Caprani in the 1970s, this authorized GUBI re-edition is executed in oak, birch, canvas on a cast-iron base. Like the or...
Iron
1990's Whimsical Folk Art MacKenzie-Childs Ceramic Floor Lamp
Located in Burbank, CA
Vintage folk art floor lamp for sale. Manufactured by the unique and fabulous MacKenzie-Childs, and is a one-of-a-kind. It was hand painted by the artists and is signed and dated 199...
Ceramic
Folk Art Faucet Motif Mixed Metal Floor Lamp
Located in Astoria, NY
Folk Art Faucet Motif Mixed Metal Floor Lamp, with perforated bucket lampshade atop copper piping terminating in four faucet form feet. Overall: 59.75" H x 15" Diameter. Provenance: ...
Metal, Copper
Fine Hand-Forged Iron Floor Lamp Pair
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A particularly noteworthy pair of iron floor lamps with delicate traditional form standing on tripod bases having a primitive three-toe foot. The upper portions with scrolled iron el...
Iron
Folk Art Industrial Wood Floor Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Unique Folk Art floor lamp, constructed of a 19th C factory gear piece, later mounted and wired as a floor lamp. The lamp features a vertical center post which is threaded like a scr...
Wood
Art Deco Era Folk Art Floor Lamp
Located in Fulton, CA
An Art Deco era floor lamp comprised of scrap pieces of various woods. A one-of-a kind Folk Art creation. Stands 69.63 inches tall. Original finish and condition. Vintage lamp shade ...
Scrap Wood
Sold
H 97 in W 32 in D 36.5 in
Giant 8-Foot Tall Tree Trunk Mushroom Floor Lamp with Burl Knot Wood Shade
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Well Alice, you chased that white rabbit and it brought you here, to this colossal floor lamp where logic and proportion have fallen sloppy dead. Nearly beyond description, but these three words come close. Magical, mystical, whimsical. This truly one-of-a-kind masterpiece is going to be excruciatingly hard to let go. Everyone at FMV is already getting depressed and sentimental just thinking about it being sold and taken away. The prehistoric looking lampshade is actually a 3-foot wide, solid burl knot. This naturally formed, bell shaped wood formation...
Metal
Dachshund English 1960s Floor Lamp
Located in London, GB
Lovely folk art sausage dog floor lamp, great detail to the features. Rewired with bronze rope twisted silk flex. Delightful vintage light. Made in England in the 1960s.
Wood
Vintage Cholla Cactus Skeleton Floor Lamp
Located in Forney, TX
A unique and interesting cholla cactus skeleton turned floor lamp, freestanding, hand-crafted, this charming piece of American Southwest folk art is sure...
Organic Material
1930s Austin 10 Grille with Lucas King of the Road Head Lights
By Herbert Austin
Located in Søborg, DK
1930s Austin 10 Grille with Lucas King of the road head lights. Mounted onto a cast iron base and converted with LED lights. Original paint and with an overa...
Brass, Chrome, Iron
Tall Unusual French Conservatory Painted Toleware Floor Lamp
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A tall unusual French conservatory painted toleware floor lamp. The theme of this lamp is a bamboo tree, and it will give a pleasant light and l...
Large 19th Century Blue And White Delft Floor Lamp
Located in Copenhagen, K
Large 19th Century Blue And White Delft Floor Lamp Delft floor lamp on wooden base. Probably converted from a candelabra into floor lamp.
Delft, Wood
Sold
H 44 in W 10.5 in D 10.5 in
Colorful French Broken Plate "Pique Assiette" Mosaic Floor Lamp, circa 1940
Located in Houston, TX
Curious and colorful one of a kind, handmade lamp made from pieces of vintage and antique china and figurines. Round centre post on a square base. Has figural and animal statues atta...
Ceramic, Pottery