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.
Set of Four Hand-Carved Wooden Pictures, Folk Art, Austria, 1980s
Located in Barntrup, DE
An adorable set of four wooden pictures depicting scenes of cute children in Four Seasons. Masterfully hand carved and hand painted. South-Tyrol, 1980s. Dimensions (one picture): he...
Wood
Americana Antique Store Hand Carved Wooden Sign
Located in Redding, CT
Antique Store Hand Carved Wooden Sign. Clover shaped solid wooden hand painted sign that reads Antiques Open. Lovely hand carved wooden bird as the centerpiece . Great piece of Ameri...
Wood, Paint
$285Sale Price|36% Off
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...
Ceramic, Pottery
$1,196Sale Price|20% Off
Dan Gauthier Stoneware Slip Decorated Mashiko Iron and Enamel Decorated Charger
By Gauthier
Located in Mobile, AL
I corresponded with Don in Kansas City and he identified it as his work from the early 80's. He shifted to furniture making in the 90's and has prominently exhibited at the Grovewood Gallery at the Grove Park...
Pottery
A Pair Of John Bauer Wooden Carved Wall Sculptures
By John Bauer
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A pair of wooden carved and hand painted birch wood panels representing a moose and a troll with a child. These figures were taken from the famous Swedish painter and illustrator Joh...
Birch
Horse Memorial Folk Art Carving, c.1890
Located in Savannah, GA
A folk art carved wood horse memorial plaque with the Norwegian word “Erindring” meaning rememberance, circa 1890. Looks to have originally held a work on canvas or textile art. T...
Wood
Unique Wall Sculpture in Ceramic and Textile, France
Located in BORGO, FR
Large-scale contemporary wall sculpture composed of repurposed materials, combining ceramic elements—originally electrical insulators—with braided textile sections crafted from threa...
Ceramic, Textile
Mid Century Folk Art Organic Mixed Media Wall Sculpture by Wilma Halliburton
Located in Troy, MI
27x37 Vintage Modern Folk Art Organic Mixed Media Wall Hanging Sculpture Very cool mixed media assemblage by Wilma Halliburton of Michigan 1969 Titled Birds Under the Trees Comprise...
Metal
Mixed Media Assemblage Titled “Baby” on Vintage Violin
By Fay Sciarra
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Imaginative wall sculpture created on a vintage violin where the instrument’s shape suggests a baby’s figure wrapped in lace diaper with huge diaper pin, hollow pocket watch where th...
Porcelain, Fabric, Wood
Australian Aboriginal Carved and Painted Spear from Melville Island
By Patrick Freddy Puruntatameri
Located in Atlanta, GA
Title: A ceremonial spear with clan design paint Artist: Patrick Freddy Puruntatameri DOB: 19/04/1973 Medium: Ocher paint on ironwood carving DOC:...
Wood
Unique 18th Century English Carved Panel of Two Kings
Located in Greenwich, CT
Unique carved Folk Art panel, dated 1768, depicting a double portrait of mythological kings, whimsically portrayed in miniature stature with protruding...
Folk Art Carved Panel of Two Brothers Titled: "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother"
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This vintage folk art carved panel is signed in several places by an unknown artist, and presumed to have originated from North America, likely Canada, but possibly the United States...
Oak
Antique Hand Tooled Leather Moroccan Bag Wall Decor
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Antique leather African Moroccan satchel bag with flap decorated with traditional Moorish embroideries. Hand-tooled in Marrakech, this is an old antique shoulder slim bag, merchants in Morocco when traveling used this bag under their coat to put their money and valuables and medicine. This messenger shoulder leather African bag...
Leather
Charming Set of 3 Vintage Carved Wood Gingerbread Molds
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Charming collection of vintage gingerbread molds carved into rustic wooden planks. The boards have hooks on the back and make a wonderful artf...
Wood
Vintage Signed Quebec Folk Art Carved Burlwood Wall Sculpture of a Bearded Man
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This folk art wall sculpture is signed by Noel Guay a Quebec wood carver of Canada and dates to approximately 1960 and done in the Quebec folk art styl...
Pine
Large Carved Black and Gold-Painted Sunburst
Located in New York, NY
Exuberantly carved sunburst mounted on a black roundel. Provenance: From the Collection of Mario Buatta, New York, NY.
Wood
Pair of Antique Folk Art Hand-Carved Wooden Circular Wall Plaques
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This pair of antique folk art carved wall plaques are unsigned, but believed to have originated from Greece in approximately 1920. These circular wall plaques are done with a softwoo...
Softwood
Antique Large Hand-Carved & Polychrome Painted Southeast Asian Mask or Sculpture
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This large antique tribal mask or sculpture is unsigned and undocumented, but presumed to have originated from Southeast Asia and done in a folk ar...
Softwood
$3,700
Folk Art Cork Collection
Located in Seattle, WA
Folk Art Cork Manufacturer's Display piece with samples of all sizes and shapes of cork available for sale. Corks are arranged in geometric shapes and mounted on a velvet-covered bo...
Cork, Velvet, Wood
An Austrian pottery wall hanging candelabra in the form of a monk circa 1910
Located in Central England, GB
This most interesting and decorative Austrian pottery wall candelabra is made in the form of a monk wearing a burgundy habit. He is reaching out from the wall with white arms and han...
Pottery
19th Century Cast Iron Bust Portrait Plaque of Explorer Vasco da Gama, 1460-1524
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
19th century cast iron bust portrait plaque of explorer Vasco da Gama 1460-1524 Cast iron bust portrait plaque of the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gam...
Iron