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Folk Art Serving Pieces

FOLK ART STYLE

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.

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Style: Folk Art
Collection of 8 Glass And Metal German Tankards
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A collection of 8 pieces of tankards in glass with metal lids from the end of the 19th Century and beginning of the 20th Century. Probably these have been used for beer drinking. Fou...
Category

1890s German Antique Folk Art Serving Pieces

Materials

Metal

Large Oval Mediterranean Ceramic Fish Serving Platter in Blue and Green - Italy
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A large oval ceramic fish motif serving platter in blue, green, and cream. This piece is stamped on the back, "Made in Italy" along with the number 1645. The piece features two blue and cream fish head to tail with textured gils and blue eyes. Placed just on top of each fish is a faux sprig of green parsley. The middle of the platter is cream. The platter will make for a great statement piece at a Spring or Summer dinner party. Imagine serving fish, a side of rice, and lemons on this dish set atop a blue Indian block print tablecloth. Accessorize with blue flowers and a set of our vintage blue wine glasses...
Category

20th Century Italian Folk Art Serving Pieces

Materials

Ceramic, Paint

Antique Stoneware Salt Glazed 9" Round Pottery Crock Pot with Blue Flower
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Stoneware Salt Glazed 9" Round Pottery Crock Pot with Blue Flower. circa 19th century. Measurements: 8" H x 9" Diameter.
Category

19th Century Antique Folk Art Serving Pieces

Materials

Stoneware

Midcentury Folk Art Serving Tray, Handmade of Burnt Matches in Parquetry Pattern
Located in Lisse, NL
Unique midcentury folk art serving tray in superb condition. Folk Art made of burnt matches is rare art and we have never seen a piece of this design, let alone in this amazing condition. This museum quality serving tray has been looked after extremely well, because it is simply in superb condition. The look and feel of this beautifully shaped and finely decorated serving tray...
Category

Mid-20th Century European Folk Art Serving Pieces

Materials

Wood, Walnut

Antique Tall Patinated Brass Turkish Ottoman Spice Coffee Pepper Grinder
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful antique rare pepper coffee spice grinder, hand made an incredible mechanical piece hand hammered one of a kind rare piece with some inscription...
Category

Early 20th Century Turkish Folk Art Serving Pieces

Materials

Brass

Antique English Porcelain Boy in Hat Pepper or Pounce Pot
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A delightful antique English porcelain pounce or pepper pot modelled as a young boy wearing a full length coat and hat dating from the 19th century. This quality pot is very lightly ...
Category

19th Century English Antique Folk Art Serving Pieces

Materials

Porcelain

Primitive Folk Art Wooden Tray
Located in Redding, CT
Primitive Folk Art wooden tray. Most likely Pennsylvania Dutch. All hand carved in the Frisian Chip Cut technique. Intricated detail with geometric designs.
Category

Early 20th Century Folk Art Serving Pieces

Materials

Wood

Mango Wood Indian Artisan Country Tray
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Mango wood Indian artisan country tray. A good honest piece, the tray is made in a marquetry of Mango Wood, it has a raised gallery and inset carrying h...
Category

Mid-20th Century Folk Art Serving Pieces

Materials

Fruitwood

German Antique Handmade Salt Glazed Fruit Patterned Stoneware Bottle
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
An exceptional and unusual antique German salt glazed hand worked stoneware bottle decorated with stylised fruit designs dating from the 19th centur...
Category

1870s German Antique Folk Art Serving Pieces

Materials

Stoneware

Whimsical Ceramic Pink and Green Spring Theme Platter Made in Portugal
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A whimsical round ceramic platter made in Portugal. The decorative plate is decorative in whimsical design of Spring. A rabbit in gray, castle and bird are surrounded by hand painted flourishes and stylized flowers. A braided ceramic...
Category

20th Century Portuguese Folk Art Serving Pieces

Materials

Ceramic, Paint

Middle Eastern Arabic Copper Coffee Pot Dallah
Located in North Hollywood, CA
19th century Middle Eastern Arabian tinned copper Dallah coffee pot. Antique decorative Arabic coffee pot hand-hammered and chased copper with riveted b...
Category

Late 19th Century Omani Antique Folk Art Serving Pieces

Materials

Brass, Copper

Vintage 15 Milk, Wine, Bottle Carrier
Located in Napa, CA
Vintage 15 slot metal milk/wine bottle carrier from Belgium with a twine handle. Vintage condition.
Category

Early 20th Century Belgian Folk Art Serving Pieces

Materials

Metal

Related Items
French Faience Blue and White Fish Platter Longwy, circa 1900
Located in Austin, TX
French faience blue and white fish platter signed Longwy, circa 1900. Measures: 21.5" L x 8.5" W x 1.5" H.
Category

1940s French Vintage Folk Art Serving Pieces

Materials

Faience

Antique Sterling Silver Fish Serving Knife
Located in Washington Depot, CT
Antique sterling silver serving fish knife. No monogram. Beautiful heavy serving fish knife with rose design handle, floral, leaf and scroll design on blade. Measures approx...
Category

Early 20th Century Folk Art Serving Pieces

Materials

Sterling Silver

19th Century Salt Glazed Stoneware Crock
Located in Doylestown, PA
19th century two gallon salt glazed stoneware crock, circa 1860s. In the style of H. Weston, the crock features a rounded rim, applied lug handle...
Category

Mid-19th Century North American Antique Folk Art Serving Pieces

Materials

Stoneware

Art Deco 1930's Serving Barware Drinks Tray
Located in Devon, England
A cute size and original 1930's German Art Deco tray featuring a lovely reverse painted design on glass. Condition is very good, no damage, minor signs of age. Very distinctive Deco ...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Folk Art Serving Pieces

Materials

Glass, Softwood, Paint

Collection of 2 Ice Block Glass "Solifleur" Vases, German, 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
An amazing collection of German ice block glass Mid-Century Modern "Solifleur" vases, circa 1960s. These are heavy glass items in clear glass, outside like ice glass. There is a smal...
Category

1960s German Vintage Folk Art Serving Pieces

Materials

Art Glass

Copeland Spode Oval Serving Platter
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fabulous oval porcelain serving platter from the English makers Copeland Spode. Beautiful design and colors. See our collection of Copeland Spode and other fine serveware in our list...
Category

1920s English Vintage Folk Art Serving Pieces

Materials

Porcelain

Copeland Spode Oval Serving Platter
Copeland Spode Oval Serving Platter
H 1.25 in W 15 in D 11.5 in
Collection of 2 Ice Block Glass "Solifleur" Vases, German, 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
An amazing set of two German ice block glass Mid-Century Modern "Solifleur" vases, circa 1960s. These are heavy glass items in clear glass, outside lik...
Category

1960s German Vintage Folk Art Serving Pieces

Materials

Art Glass

Collection of 3 Ice Block Glass "Solifleur" Vases, German, 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
An amazing collection of German ice block glass Mid-Century Modern "Solifleur" vases, circa 1960s. These are heavy glass items in clear glass, outside like ice glass. There is a smal...
Category

1960s German Vintage Folk Art Serving Pieces

Materials

Art Glass

Antique Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain Sweetmeat Dishes
Located in Forney, TX
An antique Qing Dynasty Chinese sweetmeat (confectionery or sweet food) box, dating to the early 20th century, featuring a lacquered and parcel gilt painted box decorated in a stylized naturalistic scene, opening to reveal five-piece polychrome famille rose porcelain sweetmeat dishes...
Category

Early 20th Century Asian Folk Art Serving Pieces

Materials

Porcelain

Vintage Blue Salt Shaker & Pepper Grinder by Enzo Mari
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Originally designed by Enzo Mari (a prolific Italian industrial and furniture design master) for Danese Milano, this set of blue plastic pepper grinder and salt shaker were designed ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Folk Art Serving Pieces

Materials

Metal

Salt and Pepper Shakers
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An unusual and finely crafted pair of salt and pepper shakers of tapering rectangular form attached to solid teak tapered squared handles.
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Folk Art Serving Pieces

Materials

Teak

Salt and Pepper Shakers
Salt and Pepper Shakers
H 5 in W 1.5 in D 17 in
1950s Italian Florentine CC Pepper Mill Grinder Style Parisi
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Hand painted 1950s Vintage Italian Florentine Pepper Mill Brass Grinder made in Italy Ico Parisi Era. Modern design with clean lines diamond sha...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Folk Art Serving Pieces

Materials

Gold Leaf

Previously Available Items
Hand-Painted Ceramic Serving Plate with Blue Aquatic Scalloped Details
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Capture the essence of European summer in your dining space with this hand-painted ceramic serving plate. Boasting a rustic brown base enhanced with cobalt blue scalloped details, th...
Category

Late 20th Century Folk Art Serving Pieces

Materials

Ceramic

Big Early 19th Century Copper French Tankard
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A very big French copper serving tankard from the end of the 18th. Century/beginning of the 19th Century. This large metal tankard is according our sources from a big farm in the reg...
Category

Early 1800s French Antique Folk Art Serving Pieces

Materials

Copper

Round Blue-Painted Swedish Bread Board
Located in Houston, TX
Round blue-painted Swedish breadboard, circa 1860-1890.
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Serving Pieces

Materials

Wood, Paint

Round Blue-Painted Swedish Bread Board
Located in Houston, TX
Round blue-painted Swedish breadboard dated 1903.
Category

Early 1900s Swedish Antique Folk Art Serving Pieces

Materials

Wood, Paint

Round Blue-Painted Swedish Bread Board
Round Blue-Painted Swedish Bread Board
H 1 in W 25.75 in D 30.75 in
Mexican Hand-Hammered Copper Bowl
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this beautiful Mexican hand-hammered copper bowl with wonderful patina, circa 1960.
Category

1960s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Serving Pieces

Materials

Copper

Mexican Hand-Hammered Copper Bowl
Mexican Hand-Hammered Copper Bowl
H 4.34 in W 12.8 in D 12.8 in
Yorkshire Pottery Combed Slipware Bread Dish, Harwood Stockton for John Harwood
Located in Downingtown, PA
Yorkshire pottery combed slipware bread dish, Harwood Stockton for John Harwood of Stockton-on-Tees, circa 1840   The deep oval bread dish is decorated with a combed slipware w...
Category

1840s English Antique Folk Art Serving Pieces

Materials

Pottery

Antique French Round Bread Board
Located in Houston, TX
Antique French round bread board (or dough board), circa 1880-1910. Large round stripped pine bread board, under-girded with two cross slats to prevent war...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Folk Art Serving Pieces

Materials

Pine

Antique French Round Bread Board
Antique French Round Bread Board
H 0.5 in W 26.5 in D 32 in
Antique French Round Bread Board
Located in Houston, TX
Antique French round bread board (or dough board) circa 1880-1910. Large round stripped pine bread board, under-girded with two cross slats to prevent warp...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Folk Art Serving Pieces

Materials

Pine

Antique French Round Bread Board
Antique French Round Bread Board
H 0.63 in W 23.13 in D 29 in
Wood and Pearl Condiment Dish Serving Set with Spoons and Tray, Philippines
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A wonderful set of wood and Cadiz shell pearlized condiment bowls. This lovely set features three condiment dishes. Each dish has one scalloped edge. T...
Category

20th Century Philippine Folk Art Serving Pieces

Materials

Shell, Wood

Antique French Round Bread Board
Located in Houston, TX
Antique French round bread board (or dough board), circa 1880-1910. Large round stripped pine bread board, under-girded with two cross slats to prevent war...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Folk Art Serving Pieces

Materials

Pine

Antique French Round Bread Board
Antique French Round Bread Board
H 0.75 in W 23.5 in D 29 in
Antique French Round Bread Board
Located in Houston, TX
Antique French round bread board (or dough board), circa 1880-1910. Large round stripped pine bread board, under-girded with two cross slats to prevent war...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Folk Art Serving Pieces

Materials

Pine

Antique French Round Bread Board
Antique French Round Bread Board
H 0.75 in W 24 in D 29.75 in
Swedish Folk Art, Unique Organic 19th Century Serving Plate, Wood, Signed
Located in High Point, NC
An antique and unique organic and early farmers wooden serving platter. With highly appealing patina and sculptural appeal, Produced in Sweden, ...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Serving Pieces

Materials

Wood

Folk Art serving pieces for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique folk art serving pieces for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage serving pieces created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, folk art, asian art and furniture and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art serving pieces made in a specific country, there are Europe, Asia, and West Asia pieces for sale on 1stDibs. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for serving pieces differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $150 and tops out at $3,287 while the average work can sell for $475.

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