Folk Art Primitives
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.
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Primitives
Wrought Iron, Iron
20th Century American Folk Art Primitives
Shell, Wood
Late 20th Century Turkish Folk Art Primitives
Wool
Early 20th Century Nepalese Folk Art Primitives
Wood
Mid-20th Century Ethiopian Folk Art Primitives
Hardwood
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Primitives
Copper, Iron
Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Primitives
Pine
1950s American Vintage Folk Art Primitives
Pine
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Primitives
Oak
1950s American Vintage Folk Art Primitives
Spruce
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Primitives
Burl
1950s American Vintage Folk Art Primitives
Metal
1870s Moroccan Antique Folk Art Primitives
Metal
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Primitives
Oak, Paint, Reed
Late 19th Century North American Antique Folk Art Primitives
Iron
Early 20th Century French Folk Art Primitives
Brass
1920s Malaysian Vintage Folk Art Primitives
Wood
Early 20th Century Hungarian Folk Art Primitives
Fruitwood
1810s English Antique Folk Art Primitives
Brass
19th Century Italian Antique Folk Art Primitives
Iron
Mid-20th Century Cameroonian Folk Art Primitives
Wood
Mid-20th Century Turkish Folk Art Primitives
Wool
Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Primitives
Pine
Late 19th Century Antique Folk Art Primitives
Brass
2010s Italian Folk Art Primitives
Chrome
1940s New Zealand Vintage Folk Art Primitives
Wood
Early 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Primitives
Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century Hungarian Folk Art Primitives
Fruitwood
Early 20th Century Folk Art Primitives
Metal
1890s American Antique Folk Art Primitives
Tin
1810s American Antique Folk Art Primitives
Paper
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Primitives
Wood
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Primitives
Wood
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Primitives
Pine
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Primitives
Birch
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Primitives
Pine
Early 20th Century North American Folk Art Primitives
Rattan, Oak, Walnut
Late 19th Century North American Antique Folk Art Primitives
Mahogany, Oak, Rattan
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Primitives
Pine
Early 20th Century North American Folk Art Primitives
Pine