Folk Art Boxes
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
Swedish Folk Art Hunting Box Dated 1802 in Oak
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A Swedish oak-wood box from the Gustavian period dated 1802. The richly carved box with scenes of a dog hunting a deer, doves flying and black grouses. Decorated with a pattern of ro...
Category
Early 1800s Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Brass, Iron
19th Century American Birds Eye Maple Wood Box
Located in Stamford, CT
19th century birdseye maple box with brass nail head decoration and iron lock plate and hasp. This box is hand crafted with beautiful dovetail joints visible on the corners, evidence...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Brass, Iron
Antique Swedish Forskrin, Folk Art Travel Box from the 1700s, Original Condition
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique folk art box, a so called Forskrin which was used when travelling for storing documents and valuables around the late 1700s. Made in nor...
Category
Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wrought Iron
Folk Art Hand Painted Trinket Box in the Style of Peter Hunt Circa 1940s
By Peter Hunt
Located in Peabody, MA
Primitive hand decorated trinket box in the style of the noted Provincetown folk artist Peter Hunt, ca. 1940s. Humorous interior label indicates it is "four of four of a kind" and ...
Category
1940s American Vintage Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood, Paint
Early 19th Century painted pine blanket box
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Early 19th century painted pine blanket box circa 1828.
Fine example of the traditional method of storage in sweden, utilising the plentiful pine and hand decorating.
Rectangular b...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine, Paint
Victorian Era Tramp Art Chip Carved Trunk/ Box with Additional Glove Box
Located in Waxahachie, TX
2 handmade boxes included.
Rare 1800s Tramp Art Lion Door knocker Hand Carved Storage Box / Jewelry Box / Crimson Velvet with Brass Hardware
With intricate and elaborate decoration, ...
Category
19th Century British Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Brass
Antique Swedish Small Handmade Folk Art Box
Located in Kramfors, SE
Swedish folk art box made by hand in solid Swedish pine. The box is in original condition with the untouched original paint. Made in northern Sweden around the 1860s. It has most lik...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
Wooden Turned Treen Pot, Container or Vide Pouche, England Late 20th Century
Located in London, GB
A skilfully crafted piece of turned treen with an interesting silhouette. The piece opens into two sections leaving an interior space to prize, hide or store a treasure or two. There...
Category
1990s English Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Swedish folk art painted wooden box "Timplåda" with sliding lid
Located in Kvidinge, SE
Painted box with a typical Swedish art work decor, dated 1836.
A 'timplåda' is a traditional Swedish wooden box, handcrafted with care. Popular during the 18th and 19th centuries,
...
Category
1830s Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
Antique Folk Art Box with Carved and Painted Cottage Scenes
Located in Atlanta, GA
Incredible Folk Art hand-carved and painted box with a charming cottage with tiled roof on the hinged lid. Three sides feature scenes of trees behind white fences and the box is rais...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Velvet, Wood, Paint
Whaler Made Bone and Ebonized Wood Round Lidded Box, circa 1850
Located in Stamford, CT
Whaler made antique bone and ebonized wood round box, circa 1850. With pierced bone medallion and delicately carved bone spiral decorative supports on the...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Bone, Wood
Large Swedish Antique Folk Art Hand Made Pine Flour Box
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique Swedish flour box made by hand in solid pine. The box is from northern Sweden and made around the mid 19th century, 1840 to 1850. The box is in untouched original condition w...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
1810 Table Box, Red Floral Painted, Central Europe
Located in Vo', Veneto
Painted table top box/case
Measures: H.30 cm, W.48 cm, D.32 cm
Small hand-painted Tyrolean antique box, with red background. Decorated on all sides...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Fir
Russian Hand Painted Lacquerware Palekh Miniature Table Box
Located in Forney, TX
A rare and exceptional finely painted vintage Imperial Russian lacquerware box.
Exquisitely hand-crafted in the Palekhsky District (Палех) of wes...
Category
20th Century Russian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Lacquer
Folk Art Geometric Inlaid Wood Small Hinged Box
Located in West Chester, PA
Hand made geometric inlaid wooden hinged xox with red enameled interior.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Swedish Folk Art 19th-Century Bentwood Box - Svepask
Located in Kvidinge, SE
An old original Bentwood Box from the late 19th century
A beautiful piece full of history in oval shape with amazing patina and style with traces of age and use
"Svepask" was used ...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine, Bentwood, Wood
19th Century Swedish Provincial Spice Box
Located in Allerum, SE
Charming 19th century Swedish provincial spice box in its original condition with two sliding doors and one drawer. The interior contains eight compartments intended for different dr...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
Vintage Hand-Painted Wooden Jewelry Trinket Box - Folk Art Style
Located in Seattle, WA
This charming vintage wooden jewelry box features hand-painted floral designs in a traditional folk art style. With vibrant, delicate flower...
Category
1970s Vintage Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Vintage Handcrafted and Carved Wood Box House Motif, Trinket Box, Keepsake Box
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage handmade beautifully carved wooden trinket box, jewelry box or keepsake box.
Depicting a village scene with Houses & Palm Trees.
Folk Art ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Peruvian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood, Walnut
19th Century Original Grey Painted Large Candle Box from New England
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fantastic 19th century original grey painted handmade large scale candle box from New England .This wonderful slide top box has such great personality and great construction. It is e...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
Handcrafted Antique Tinned Copper Metal Betel Box, India
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Beautiful handcrafted antique tinned copper decorative octagonal betel box with with lid, handle and brass latch.
The metal is delicately and int...
Category
Early 20th Century Indian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Tin, Copper, Brass
Moroccan Berber Tuareg Metal Tribal Flask Overlay
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Great decorative Moroccan Berber Tuareg metal brass powder flask. African decorative brass with front richly decorated with Moorish embossed brass ocverlay. Moroccan tribal powder fl...
Category
20th Century Moroccan Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Brass
Rare Swedish Antique Blue Folk Art Box
Located in Kramfors, SE
Rare antique blue box in folk art from Sweden made during the mid 1800s. The box is an attractive size and can be used for anything from storing doc...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
Swedish Folk Art, Large Vessel, Pine, Sweden, 19th Century
Located in High Point, NC
A pine, large vessel or container produced in Sweden, 19th century.
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
Furniture > Decorative Objects > Boxes > Decorative Boxes
Located in North Hollywood, CA
African Moroccan Wood and Leather Flask 19th century wood and tooled leather.
A North African Moroccan wood and tooled leather powder flask finely with brass nails.
are antique 19th century handmade leather and brass flask.
Rare late 19th century powder flask box from the Rif, Northern Morocco with a drum-shaped body hand carved wood with ethnic motifs, nice geometric carvings and very fine patina.
Collector large carved wooden vessel with brass studded in the shape of a turtle with a long neck.
Designed with practicality in mind, this flask features two robust metal rings on the side, perfect for securely attaching it to a belt or satchel, making it an ideal companion for hunting. The upper, narrower section includes a precisely drilled hole, providing easy access to the powder inside, underscoring the flask's functional yet artistic design.
This wood gunpowder flask...
Category
Late 19th Century Moroccan Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Leather, Wood
19th Century Blue Swedish Folk Art Chest or Box
Located in Kramfors, SE
Blue folk art chest or box from Sweden. The chest is in untouched original condition with the first layer of original paint. Hand wrought hardware in iron with functional lock and key.
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
1960s Vintage Asian Large Hand Carved Wooden Humidor Footed Box
Located in North Hollywood, CA
1950s Vintage Asian Large Hand Carved Wooden Humidor Box.
Hand-carved Kashmiri style Mid 20th century wood box richly decorated overall with s...
Category
Mid-20th Century Indian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Danish 19th Century Wooden Folk Art Bible Box "Forget Me Not"
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Mid-19th century wooden box designed to look like a Bible. Text engraved with monogramme.
The four words in the corners are quite cute and charming:
Danish: "FOR - GLEM - MIG - EJ"...
Category
19th Century Danish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Swedish 19th Century Wooden Folk Art Box With Shaving Knives
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A Swedish original painted Folk Art box. From the beginning of the 19th century, used to keep shaving knives and similar supplies. Included 3 knives with the razor blades in English ...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Shell Encrusted Rectangular Keepsake Box with Green Silk Lid
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Long rectangular shell encrusted box. Carefully applied shells decorate the top and bottom edges of this green board box in a variety of colors. ...
Category
20th Century English Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Shell, Fabric, Paper
Antique Tramp Art Box with Mirrors Folk Art Collectible
Located in Poperinge, BE
Beautiful antique tramp art box with mirrored panels on the sides and top, pointed feet and a triangular lid, partly covered with green velvet inside and decorated with a small mirro...
Category
Early 20th Century European Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Mirror, Wood
Mahogany Jewelry Box with Mirror
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Mahogany box with inlaid mother of pearl and mirror, on small round brass feet.
Category
Early 19th Century Danish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Mahogany, Mother-of-Pearl
Faux Malachite Leather Decorative Indian Maharaja Box
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A beautiful unique Indian motif box with a lid. This piece would be fantastic for storing cigars, tv remotes, or miscellaneous items on a dresser or coffee table. The top of the box ...
Category
20th Century Indian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Leather, Faux Leather, Paint
Russian Lacquered Palekh Firebird Folk Art Keepsake Trinket Box USSR 5.5"
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage USSR Russian Firebird folklore / fairy tale keepsake trinket box featuring hinged lid, footed base and red interior.
Palekh
Zhar-Ptitsa (Slavic Firebird)
Chernishova (last n...
Category
Mid-20th Century Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Hardwood, Lacquer
Shell Encrusted Rectangular Keepsake Box with Red Silk Lid
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Long rectangular shell encrusted box. Carefully applied shells decorate the top and bottom edges of this red board box in a variety of colors. At...
Category
20th Century English Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Shell, Silk, Paper
Superb Antique Folk Art Parquetry Casket Styled Writing Box or Lap Desk
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This exquisite antique parquetry writing box or lap desk is unsigned, but presumed to have been made in Canada in approximately 1900 in a Folk Art style. The box itself, including th...
Category
Early 20th Century Canadian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Softwood
Folk Art 1930 Mechanical Desk Barrel Box In Polychromate Wood
Located in Miami, FL
Folk art desk barrel box.
Very unusual piece of folk art, created around the 1930. This is a mechanical desk barrel box carved in wood and decorated with painting. Shown a man dre...
Category
1930s American Vintage Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood, Paint
Antique Trap Art Keepsake Layered Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Decorated with multiple geometric layers of hand cut wood, featuring a hinged lid opening to a spacious storage with lock (included).
Small mirror inside under the lid.
Velvet gree...
Category
Early 19th Century European Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Mirror, Wood
Antique Tramp Art Diamond 2 Tier Hinged Wood Jewelry Presentation Box
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Tramp Art Diamond 2 Tier Hinged Wood Jewelry Presentation Box. Item features stunning work and carving, hinged lid with interior mirror, moha...
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Folk Art, Hand Executed Modernist, Art Deco Airplane /Trinket Box
Located in Buffalo, NY
Folk Art, hand executed modernist, Art deco Airplane sculpture with hand built and painted trinket box.
Category
1940s American Vintage Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Asian Burmese Carved Wood Temple Offering Lidded Box
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Burmese bamboo temple offering lidded box, basket.
This kind of wooden basket is used to transport and display offerings to Buddhist temples, in Asia....
Category
Early 20th Century South Asian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Bamboo
Antique Swedish Wooden Kitchen Cabinet 1846 Handmade Folk Craft great condition
Located in Forest, BE
Swedish antique pine hand build wooden kitchen cabinet. Made to be used as a dough plater storage to the left side and a storage to the right side. Fine quality of wood. It is a true...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
Antique Tramp Art Box / Jewelry Box Carved Brass 1893 Chip Carved War Decoration
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Gorgeous Tramp Art box / Jewelry box marked 1893 and decorated with brass.
The box contains multiple guns & pike helmets and a lions head holding a brass ring to open the chest.
...
Category
1890s American Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Brass
Large Tramp Art Hinge Lid Box
Located in Mt Kisco, NY
A handcrafted Tramp Art box or small chest. A detailed design on four tapered feet. The interior is lined with white quilted fabric and the lid is fitted with a large finial. The bot...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
19th Century Scandinavian Folk Art Carved Oak Table Top Chest
Located in Norwich, GB
A lovely 19th century oak lidded-top table chest with hand carved leaf scrolls and roundel carvings, having swivel carrying handles to the sides.
The chest has a rustic charm and sh...
Category
19th Century European Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Oak, Pine
Hand-Painted Folk Art Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Modern folk meets old-school charm. This hand-painted farmhouse-style box features a slanted, hinged lid, a lower drawer, and all the sweet details—hearts, tulips, scallops—that nod ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
French 19th Century Folk Art Leather Box
Located in Buisson, FR
Beautiful weathered Folk Art box made out of wood and covered with leather. Working lock and key.
France, circa 1850
Weathered, small losses.
Category
19th Century French Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Leather, Wood
Small Round Swedish Original Painted Folk Art Box Dated 1792
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A small Swedish 18th century Folk Art box with original paint.
The box is most likely used to keep jewelry and other precious items. Box is carved with inscription "ANNO 1792 DEN 27...
Category
Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
African Tuareg Hand-Tooled Black Leather Box
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Hand tooled black leather box from Africa.
Very fine workmanship with tribal traditional African symbols on black leather.
Tuareg style probably Maurit...
Category
Early 20th Century Mauritanian Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Leather
Decorative Wood Carved Tramp Art Keepsake Box or Sailors Valentine with Heart
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A superb Folk Art sailors valentine Tramp Art keepsake box. Wide in form, this beautiful Primitive wood carved box features the letters S and M with a heart between on both sides. Tw...
Category
19th Century English Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Metal
Collectible spectacular rare big box, casket, tramp art, folk art, 1890, Austria
Located in Wien, AT
This incredibly rare box is made in the famous austrian tramp art around 1890 to 1900, its a extraordinary richly decorated example of these boxes.
The object is rectangular in shap...
Category
1890s Austrian Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Brass
19th Century Swedish Table Top Box
Located in Allerum, SE
Charming 19th century table top box in it's original finish, ca 1850 Sweden.
Category
19th Century European Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
Decorated Box with Overlays
Located in Nantucket, MA
Stained pine with hinged top, decorated with geometric design out of recycled piano keys. The interior with a removable organizing drawer. Illegible names with numbers are faintly wr...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine
19th Century Original Folk Art Painted Chest of Drawers
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
19th Century original Folk Art painted chest of drawers.
A Very attractive painted pine chest of drawers, it is decorated with flowers on the top and sides, the drawer fronts and ...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Paint
Special Tramp Art Box of Drawers
Located in Mt Kisco, NY
An especially sweet four-drawer hand-carved "tramp art" box. The top is decorated with a symbolic heart and arrow, a common design element in Tramp Art. The drawers are embellished with porcelain knobs. Carved ladies boots...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Vintage Hand Carved Nut Woodenware Catchall, 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Found in Austria at an estate sale, this hand carved nut catchall is perfect for the collector. Nice Mid Century collectible to display in your home. Made by Talarico about 1960s.
Category
1960s American Vintage Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood
Early 19th century Swedish hand painted pine blanket box
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Early 19th century Swedish painted blanket box circa 1816.
Traditional rag painted Swedish box which is initialed and dated 1816. Flat top lid which makes it ideal for doubling up ...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Pine, Paint
Decorative Marquetry Box, Folk Art Late 19th Century, France
Located in ROUEN, FR
Decorative Marquetry Box, Folk Art Late 19th Century, France
Beautiful vintage marquetry box for small chest.
Folk Art from the 1890s, it features an inlaid star motif on the lid a...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Folk Art Boxes
Materials
Wood, Fruitwood, Nutwood
Folk Art boxes for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique folk art boxes for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage boxes created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, folk art, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, softwood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art boxes made in a specific country, there are Europe, Scandinavia, and Sweden pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original boxes, popular names associated with this style include Berber Tribes of Morocco, Anthony Redmile London, Arthur Court, and Frank Finney. 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 boxes differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $95 and tops out at $4,600 while the average work can sell for $848.