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.
American J-Class Racing Sloop Model
Located in Chicago, IL
There is an old saying among sailors: The Sea remembers everything. Every clever tack, every reckless jybe, every victory won by inches rather than miles. Perhaps that is why models ...
Canvas, Mahogany, Black Walnut
Large Mahogany Antique Boat Model
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Inspired model of a boat or skiff expertly crafted in mahogany, probably by a boat builder, having a graceful form and has acquired a well earned patina only time can give.
Mahogany
Large Folk Art Wood 4 Drawer Jewelry Box Chest of Drawers
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Folk Art Jewelry Box or Miniature Tabletop Sized Chest of Drawers. This vintage wood piece with four drawers has lots of character and patina. Each drawer features a hand painted lea...
Wood, Paint
$1,390Sale Price|20% Off
Amazing English Architects Model, circa 1920
Located in London, GB
Architects Model circa 1920 We are proud to offer a unique circa 1920s architects model of a timber-clad colonial style house in original paint. An a...
Wood
Set of 8 Antique Christmas Putz Houses, , Christmas Decorations
By Leo Putz
Located in Buffalo, NY
8 Antique Christmas Putz Houses Here we have from the local estate of the original owner a VERY Rare group of 8 Large Putz Houses in their original b...
Paper
20th Century Diorama Folk Art Three Mast Model Ship in a Bottle English, C 1930
Located in Central England, GB
A fine Diorama Folk Art Model ship in a bottle This skilfully made diorama of a three-mast early 19th century sailing ship at harbour with a raised landscape behind and cottages set...
Glass
French Hand-Painted Lady Sculpture Door Stop in Solid Cast Iron
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Late 19th century door stop, France, circa 1880. This lady sculpture is made in heavy solid cast iron and is in it original hand-painted colors.
Iron
Jim Rose Legacy Collection - Chest of Drawers, Solid Cast Iron Miniature
By Jim Rose
Located in Chicago, IL
This Chest of Drawers Maquette (2003) offers a concentrated and revealing insight into Jim Rose’s legacy, capturing his approach to furniture as both sculptural inquiry and domestic ...
Steel
Emile Deyrolle 19th Century Plaster, Wire and Wood Didactic Germination Models
Located in Buffalo, NY
LES FILS D'EMILE DEYROLLE, PARIS. Extremely rare set of four 19th century French painted plaster, wire and wood Didactic models depicting progression, ANATOMIE VEGETALE, beautifully ...
Wire
$2,201Sale Price|20% Off
English Folk Art Church Model
Located in London, GB
Folk Art Church Model We are proud to offer a wonderful example of a mid-20th Century folk-art church model. Built from scratch using various material...
Wood
19th Century French Nautical Musical Automaton, circa 1860
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique French Nautical Automaton, likely from Marseilles, circa 1860, a glass domed diorama with windmills and cottages on hillside, overlooking harbor with ship rocking on waves to a musical tune. The interior of glass dome has a hand painted landscape with trees, village and expansive sky; the diorama features a carved or molded cottage and windmill with figures winding along path down to the water's edge; a paper or papier-mache barque rides on a blue tissue paper sea; a pull-string activated mechanism plays music, rocks the ship on the sea...
Clay, Glass, Paper
$10,793Sale Price|20% Off
English Early 20th Century Amazing Scratch Built Locomotive
Located in London, GB
Amazing scratch built locomotive We are proud to offer one of the best examples of English early 20th century scratch built Folk Art examples. Modelled on an English steam locomot...
Metal
Wood Carved American Folk Art Muscle Car
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Hand carved Folk Art American Muscle car. Wood carved with original paint surface.
Wood
A painted model of a famous English medieval house built from matchsticks C1910
Located in Central England, GB
This superb highly detailed English folk art model dates to the early 20th century and depicts a complicated half timbered and thatched famous Hereford property entitled “The Old Hou...
Other
Model gypsies caravan, handmade and painted, folk art, English circa 1900
Located in Central England, GB
This superb and ultra rare early folk art scale model of a gypsy or traveller’s caravan is over one hundred years old. It has been beautifully hand made and finely painted. It has gl...
Wrought Iron
Midcentury Era Folk Art Made Collection of Miniature Antique Farm Implements
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This framed collection of over two dozen handcrafted miniature antique farm implements are all unsigned, but presumed to have been made in Canad...
Leather, Softwood
Vintage Wood 2 Drawer Spool Jewelry Box Chest of Drawers, 1920's
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Charming antique spool cabinet, also known as a thread cabinet or country store cabinet. These cabinets were used in general stores and haberdash...
Wood
Traditional Wooden Artist Mannequin Model Doll Vintage Italy, 1920s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A handmade wooden Artist mannequin model - all joints move as they should. Found on a Estate sale in Verona, Italy. Shows some wear - but looks beautiful on display! Some scratches a...
Metal
$1,663Sale Price|20% Off
Early 20th Century Scratch Built Church Model
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century scratch built Church model We share what we love, and we love this scratch-built pine model of a church. Hand carved detail with gla...
Pine
$4,400Sale Price|26% Off
"Woodie Wagon Brooklyn Taxi" Sculpture by Paul Jacobsen
By Paul Jacobsen
Located in Wiscasset, ME
Custom sculpture constructed of painted wood. Paul Jacobsen used everyday objects, such as chairs, cars, airplanes, trains, motorcycles and puzzles, all built from scratch and turns...
Wood
Antique Wooden Mallet Wood Carver or Auctioneer Tool, Vienna, Austria, 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Antique Wooden Mallet, Early 1900s or Earlier – Vienna, Austria A beautifully aged wooden mallet, discovered at an estate sale in Vienna, Austr...
Wood
Rare Pug Bulldog Dog Celluloid Figurine vintage, France 1920s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A rare pug or bulldog Figurine bought in Liege France. It is made of Celluloid and very delicate, this would be a great addition for your Toy or Bulldog collection. It is in nice con...
Wire
Early 20th Century Folk Art Hand-Carved and Painted Wooden Airplane Weathervane
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Handmade Folk Art mounted airplane weathervane/whirligig with a functional, spinning propeller (ca. Early-20th Century, USA). Hand-carved and painted wood with cast aluminum and meta...
Metal, Aluminum
Traditional Wooden Artist Mannequin Model Doll Vintage Italy, 1920s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A handmade wooden Artist mannequin model - all joints move as they should. Found on a Estate sale in Verona, Italy. Shows some wear - but looks beautiful on display! Some scratches a...
Metal
Cast Iron Piggy Bank Advertising Wm Moland's Sons Quaker City Hams
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Cast Iron Piggy Bank Advertising Wm Moland's Sons Quaker City Hams A Great cast iron money box, Pig coin bank. This a copy of a very desirable and collect...
Iron
19th Century Frisian Oak Chip Carved Watch Holder Miniature Grandfathers Clock
Located in Stamford, CT
19th century Frisian oak watch stand in the form of a grandfather's clock. The very fine chip carved geometric designs are a signature of Frisian style...
Oak
Late 20th Century Scale Model of the Historic Fallasburg Covered Bridge
Located in Chicago, IL
Meticulously hand-built at 1:20 scale, this late 20th century American cedar frame model captures the elegant engineering of the historic Fallasburg covered bridge in Lowell, Michiga...
Cedar
19th Century Diorama of Sailing Ship ‘Eleanor’
Located in Dublin 8, IE
19th Century diorama of the sailing ship ‘Eleanor’ in original glazed case. Painted antique shadowbox diorama of a three-masthead clipper ship alo...
Glass, Wood
$760Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century Miniature Chest of Drawers in Original Paint
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century miniature chest of drawers in original paint.
Wood
Monumental and Unusual Folk Art Stage Coach Figure and Horses, 1927
Located in Buffalo, NY
Monumental and unusual Folk Art stage coach figure and horses, 1927. All hand executed, amazing detail, working lamps, velvet interior on coach.
Leather, Velvet, Plaster
Bronze Yacht Anchor, Desk Ornament This is a lovely piece a working miniature
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Bronze Yacht Anchor, Desk Ornament This is a lovely piece a working miniature The Yacht Anchor is fully articulated and lends itself yo making a useful. Paper weight for the Yach...
Bronze
$515Sale Price|35% Off
Large Antique German Chocolate Mold with Bunnies and Chickens
Located in Redding, CT
Large Antique German Chocolate Mold with Bunnies and hens. Nice hinged double door German chocolate mold. Wonderful Patina to this beaut...
Tin
Artificial Smoked Ham Country Kitchen Folk Art Decoration Vintage Belgium 1950s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A vintage Belgium Decorative Item nice to display in your country style home or kitchen. Found at an Estate Sale in Brussels, Belgium.
Plastic, Rubber
Artificial Pepperoni Sausage Country Kitchen Folk Art Decoration Vintage 1950s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A vintage Belgium Decorative Item nice to display in your country style home or kitchen. Found at an Estate Sale in Brussels, Belgium.
Plastic, Rubber
Artificial Smoked Parma Ham Country Kitchen Folk Art Decoration Vintage 1950s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A vintage Belgium Decorative Item nice to display in your country style home or kitchen. Found at an Estate Sale in Brussels, Belgium.
Plastic, Rubber
Artificial Smoked Ham Country Kitchen Folk Art Decoration Vintage Belgium 1950s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A vintage Belgium Decorative Item nice to display in your country style home or kitchen. Found at an Estate Sale in Brussels, Belgium.
Plastic, Rubber
$1,441Sale Price|20% Off
Early 20th Century English Folk-Art Farmer and His Wife Model
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century folk-art farmer and his wife model We are proud to offer an unusual hand carved folk-art model of a farmer and his wife sat on a cart pulled by two oxen. This ite...
Pine
Antique hand made wooden scale model of an 18th century farm cart circa 1920
Located in Central England, GB
This very fine meticulously constructed wooden scale model copies the design of a late 18th or early 19th century full sized working example. It dates to circa 1920. This cart is we...
Wood
$1,441Sale Price|20% Off
Early 20th century barbers point of sale hair comb and brush
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century barbers point of sale hair comb and brush We share what we love, and we love this rare example of an oversized point of sale barbers hair...
Plastic, Wood
Carved Wood Folk Art Airplane, circa 1940s
Located in Santa Monica, CA
This carved wood Folk Art airplane has an amazing original paint surface and functional propeller and wheels.
Sheet Metal
Sailing Ship Model, Three-Masted Pearwood Maritime Model, Circa 1890
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A remarkable antique handcrafted pearwood model of a three-masted sailing ship, dating to circa 1890. Beautifully constructed and exceptionally decorative, this late 19th-century ma...
Pearwood
Staffordshire Pearlware Long Case Clock
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Staffordshire Pottery pearlware model which features a long case clock, stood on a marbleised base. Decorated 'in the round' - decoration to front and ...
Pottery
Ship in a bottle diorama, English, folk art design signed and dated 1922
Located in Central England, GB
A rare and highly unusual early 20th-century folk art ship-in-a-bottle diorama, depicting a remarkably elaborate coastal village and harbour scene. The composition features multiple...
Glass
White Carrara marble nativity scene - made in Italy
Located in Tarquinia, IT
Christmas decorations, Nativity, nativity scene, Christmas nativity scene, Italian marble nativity scene, marble nativity scene, white carrara marble, carved nativity scene, Italian ...
Carrara Marble
Pair of Mid-Century Folk Art Leather and Paper Mache Big Cat Figures
Located in Charleston, SC
For your consideration we have 2 mid-20th century era “big cat” leather wrapped animals. One being a panther who seems to be slowly approaching ...
Leather, Paint, Parchment Paper
Antique Indian Carved Wood Folk Art Walking Stick
Located in London, GB
Antique Indian carved wood folk art walking stick Indian, Late 19th Century Height 82cm, diameter 6cm Handcrafted in late 19th century India...
Wood
Collection of Treen Kitchenalia, Butter Marker This is a great little Collectio
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Collection of Treen Kitchenalia, Butter Marker This is a great little Collection of Treen Kitchenalia, a Butter Marker, this has a naive cow carving, a lemon squeezer and a turned sycamore egg cup A good set for the collector, a bit of historical wood worm on the butter Stamp...
Sycamore
Emile Deyrolle 19th Century Plaster, Wire and Wood Didactic Germination Models
Located in Buffalo, NY
Les Fils D'Emile Deyrolle, Paris. Extremely rare set of five 19th century French painted plaster, wire and wood Didactic models depicting progression, Anatomie Vegetalf, beautifully ...
Wire
Folk Art Steamship of Large-Scale
Located in Buchanan, MI
Charming Folk Art steamship of impressive scale.
Wood
Vintage Boho Staffordshire Boxing Figurine
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Step back into the spirited world of 19th-century pugilism with this charming Vintage Boho Staffordshire Boxing Figurine. Featuring the famous bare-knuckle boxing rivals Tom Spring a...
Ceramic
Vintage Hand-Carved Wooden Ram Figurine
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This sculptural vintage wooden ram is hand-carved with bold, stylized curves and a strong, compact form. Its abstracted shape highlights the dramatic arc of the horns, balanced by a ...
Wood
Late 19th Century Carved Wood Folk Art Walking Stick
Located in London, GB
Late 19th century carved wood folk art walking stick Continental, Late 19th Century Height 89cm, width 6cm, depth 4cm This antique walking stick, intricately hand-carved from w...
Metal