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.
$1,036Sale Price|20% Off
19Thc Child's Walnut Rocker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19Thc Walnut child's rocking chair upholstered in a suede leather.The condition is very good and sturdy.
Leather, Wood
$956Sale Price|20% Off
1920s Bar Harbor Robin Egg Blue Wicker Rocker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Bar Harbor wicker rocker with blue paint over the original mustard paint. Stripped custom made seat cushion
Wicker
Bar Harbor Wicker Rocking Chair W/ Leather Seat Cushion and Backing
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Original old surface wicker rocker with leather cushion Bar Harbor style and signed on base with a metal plaque.Condition is very good and sturdy.Wonderful old surface.It has been co...
Leather, Wood
1960s Folk Art Rustic Hand Carved Monumental Rocking Horse Chair
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
On offer on this occasion is one of the most stunning, full rocking horse chair you could hope to find. This is an ultra-rare opportunity to acquire what i...
Leather, Upholstery, Wood
$956Sale Price|20% Off
19Thc Bent Wood / Twig Child's Rocking Chair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fine hand made rustic bentwood rocking chair has a suede seat cushion and is in fine condition.It is a very sturdy rocking chair.
Suede, Wood
Orange Painted 1930s Signed Old Hickory Barrel Back Rocker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1930s signed old hickory barrel back rocker in orange paint. Stamped on back of leg as shown in the images. Strong And sturdy frame.
Wood
19Thc Original Paint Decorated Rocking Chair From New England
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19Thc Original paint decorated New England rocking chair in pristine condition.This fine rocking chair has a mustard painted surface with black decorated splash.
Wood
19thc Child's Green Rocking Chair Original Paint
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century child's rocking chair. hand made and hand painted this chair has a beautiful floral design through out the rocker with a beautiful patinaed green background. Great stabi...
Wood
19thc Oyster Painted Wooden Rocking Chair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This folky 19thc original oyster painted rocking chair is in fine as found condition.It has all original slatted seat and backing from when it was made.
Wood
Folk Art Oakwood Rocking Chair by Cabinetmaker Hans Dau, Denmark, 1930s
Located in Odense, DK
Wonderful rocking chair in solid oakwood by Danish Cabinetmaker Hans Dau (1871-1956). Original embroidered fabric upholstery the seat. Hans Dau was a renowned master carpenter who ha...
Oak
Windsor Paint-Decorated Comb-Back Rocking Chair
Located in Branford, CT
Fine Windsor paint decorated comb-back rocker chair. New England, circa 1820. Original paint and condition. H 42" W 20-3/4" D 24" SH 15-1/2".
Wood
$2,268Sale Price|20% Off
H 42.52 in W 25.01 in D 33.47 in
Antique Rocking Chair, English, Walnut, Armchair, Rocker, Victorian, Circa 1880
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique rocking chair. An English, walnut framed armchair rocker, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1880. Relax and soothe the day...
Textile, Walnut
$1,475
H 38.5 in W 29 in D 32 in
1800s Antique Heywood Wakefield Large Wicker Rocking Arm Chair with Springs Seat
Located in Germantown, MD
1870s Heywood Wakefield Victorian Wicker rocking arm chair. Ultra comfortable and in very good condition. Seat cushion upholstery in great shape, ver...
Metal
Mid-Century Rocking Chair, Germany, 1960s
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Rocking Chair, Germany, 1960s
Fabric, Wood
$350
H 26 in W 16 in D 20 in
Antique Eastlake Victorian Walnut Small Child's Folding Rocker Rocking Chair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Eastlake Victorian Walnut Small Child's Folding Frame Rocker Rocking Chair with Needlepoint Tapestry Upholstery. Circa Late 19th Century. Measurements: Folded: 31" H x 15" W ...
Walnut
$3,800
H 33.5 in W 30 in D 34.5 in
Heywood-Wakefield Wicker Rocking Chair, French Green Finish, C. 1920
Located in Nashua, NH
A beautiful close woven wicker rocking chair beautifully woven and decorated from all sides as pictured in a French green finish with black and red accent trim. This American made, C...
Upholstery, Wicker, Reed, Wood
Child’s Thonet Rocking Chair
By Thonet
Located in New York, NY
Stylish child’s bentwood rocking chair attached to Thonet. This example is in very good original condition showing only light wear normal and consistent with age. Measures: Total H ...
Cane, Bentwood
$535Sale Price|30% Off
H 35 in W 24.5 in D 32 in
Antique Windsor Farmhouse Style Maple Stat Back Rocking Chair & Cushion Rocker
Located in Dayton, OH
A lovely rocking chair from the first half of the 20th century. Made from maple with a combination of Windsor and farmhouse styling. Features a contoured crest rail, slat back and ...
Maple
Midcentury Rare Rocking Chair Uluv, Czechoslovakia, 1960s
Located in Praha, CZ
- Very comfortable - Rare type.
Fabric, Beech
$4,500
H 30 in W 58 in D 30.25 in
American Wooden Bench Rocker, circa 1890, Hand-Painted by Lew Hudnall
By Lew Hudnall
Located in Houston, TX
American wooden rocking bench in the Hitchcock style, circa 1890s. Designed to be a cradle rocker combination to cradle and rock your baby to sleep. There is a slat that can be raise...
Wood
Antique Victorian Renaissance Revival Barrel-Back Rocking Chair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Condition: Original Vintage Condition Materials: Mahogany, Original Upholstery Style: Victorian Renaissance Revival Crafted in the 1920s, this antique barrel-back rocking chair em...
Upholstery, Mahogany
$630Sale Price|30% Off
H 32 in W 30 in D 24 in
Antique Late Victorian Carved Quartersawn Oak Barrel Back Rocking Chair Rocker
Located in Dayton, OH
Late Victorian Rocking Chair. Attributed to Stomps Burkhardt of Dayton, Ohio. Made from quartersawn oak with a heart shaped back, carved and pierced...
Oak
A Very Rare Wicker Rocker, Musical Motif, Wakefield Rattan, C.1890s
Located in Nashua, NH
A very rare musical string instrument style wicker rocker by the Wakefield Rattan Company, Wakefield Massachusetts, C. 1890s in wonderful condition. This rocker is part of a matching...
Wood, Cane, Wicker
Sold
H 27.56 in W 23.63 in D 33.08 in
Rocking Chair "Svensk Hemslöjd" Sheepskin & Pinewood, Sweden, Early 20th Century
By Axel Einar Hjorth, Svensk Hemslöjd, Torsten Claeson
Located in Odense, DK
Unique rocking chair handmade by a Swedish cabinetmaker in the early 20th century.. Made in solid Scandinavian dark stained pinewood with a deep patina. Carved decorations. The chair is in good condition and the original cushion has been reupholstered in organic golden sheepskin from Gotland. The association Svensk Hemslöjd ("Swedish handicrafts") was founded in 1899 to preserve and document traditional handicrafts from all over Sweden. This chair is a typical example of the types of furniture produced in this period and also points forward towards the Sportstuga style as popularized by Torsten Claesson...
Pine, Sheepskin
19th Century Scottish Turned-Bobbin Rocking Chair
Located in Chireno, TX
19th century Scottish turned-bobbin rocking chair in various woods. Constructed circa 1850-1889 and originates from Scotland, near the Northwest b...
Wood, Ash, Fruitwood, Pine
19th Century Appalachian Rocking Chair
Located in Chireno, TX
19th century Appalachian rocking chair constructed from twigs, bentwood and an oak seat. Faint remnants of old paint. Excellent condition and...
Oak, Bentwood
Sold
H 42.5 in W 33.5 in D 23 in
Antique American Windsor Folk Art Painted Stencil Back Boston Rocking Arm Chair
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique 19th century Boston rocker. Features a black painted finish with hand stencilled fruit and flower deisgns. Includes a contoured rail over a pierc...
Hardwood, Paint
Rustic Rocking Chair Attributed to Rev. Ben Davis of Blowing Rock, NC
Located in Stamford, CT
Rustic rocking chair attributed to Rev. Ben Davis of Blowing Rock, North Carolina. Chip carved decor & incised leaf & floral heart motif back, early 20th century.
Wood
Sold
H 42 in W 25 in D 33.5 in
Bentwood Rustic Armchair-Rocker with Plank Seat & Traces of Early Black Paint
Located in Stamford, CT
Bentwood rustic armchair-rocker with plank seat & traces of early black paint, American, early 20th century.
Bentwood
19th Century Appalachian Rocking Chair
Located in Chireno, TX
19th century Appalachian rocking chair constructed from twigs, bentwood and an oak seat. Faint remnants of old paint. Excellent condition and...
Oak, Bentwood
Sold
H 43.71 in W 27.76 in D 31.5 in
20th Century Swedish Dalarna Folk Art Painted Scandinavian Rocking Chairs, Pair
Located in Sherborne, Dorset
A wonderful Folk Art pair of traditional Swedish rocking chairs, perfect for lounging beside the fire, in a conservatory or on the veranda! These Beech rocking chairs date from the e...
Fabric, Beech
Amish Bentwood Rocker and Footstool
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Handcrafted, signed and dated by the maker in 1995, this rocker and footstool are classic examples of excellent Amish craftsmanship. Original lacquered pine and twig construction and...
Wood
19th c. Pennsylvania "Delaware Valley" Rocking Chair
Located in Chicago, IL
Original surface with a very dark rich patina. Woven seat not original.