This thesis aims to take a small body of folk art material and place it in its broadest social, economic and cultural context. The items on which this discussion is based are the domestic folk textiles of Crete. This material was chosen for several reasons; Crete has always been a cross-roads in the Mediterranean and as a result of its varied history it is likely to show clearly any influence which historical and social background may have on folk art. The thesis begins with a discussion of folk art in general and Greek folk art in particular. It is suggested that folk art is above all the product of the environment in which it was produced and that it is made in essentially traditionalr ural societiesb y thoseb y whom it will be used. This theory is then applied over five chapters to Cretan folk textiles, beginning by taking the objects in their broadest possible context and homing in on the more specific aspects of their function and use. First the varied history of Crete is examined and it is deduced that the foreign governors of Crete during the Modem period exercised considerable control over the native population, their influence permeating throughout society. The origin of the raw materials involved in the production of textiles is then examined with special reference to the availability and movement of the materials concerned. They are found to come predominantly from very close to their site of use. The textiles are examined as artefacts in their own right and found to serve practical, decorative and social functions. In the last case they appear in large quantities as dowry goods and as such are capable of representing skill, wealth and status. Finally, the techniques and designs on both weavings and embroideries are examined. The result is a combination of native and foreign devices, together with many of those features which are found on folk art all over the World. In this way it is argued that folk art is reflection of its environment in its broadest sense and to remove such artefacts from their context is to risk misunderstanding their character, function and appearance.