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Carnival Shooting

Soldier Carnival Shooting Gallery Targets
By King
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Early examples of 'King' soldier shooting gallery targets. Rare shape and extremely thick. King
Category

Early 20th Century American Carnival Art

Materials

Iron

Collection of Three Carnival Shooting Gallery Target Knockover Birds
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Nice collection of three carnival midway knockover shooting gallery targets. Nice chunky pieces
Category

Vintage 1930s American Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Iron

Rare Folk Art Iron Shooting Gallery Carnival Ram Sculpture
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Fabulous folk art freestanding animal sculpture made from found carnival art shooting gallery iron
Category

Antique Early 1900s American Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Iron

Iron Shooting Target of a Pig
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Unique shooting target made from cut steel and iron in the shape of a pig. The piece is quite rusty
Category

Early 20th Century North American Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Steel

Iron Shooting Target of a Pig
Iron Shooting Target of a Pig
H 16 in W 23 in D 5 in
Antique Shooting Club Lodge Target Plaque German 1883, Carnival Folk Art
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Vintage Shooting Lodge Target Plaque 1883. A rare and beautiful wooden shooting target plaque with
Category

Antique 1880s German Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Wood

Vintage Shooting Club Lodge Target Plaque German 1900s, Carnival Folk Art
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Vintage Shooting Lodge Target Plaque 1900s. A rare and beautiful wooden shooting target plaque with
Category

Antique Early 1900s German Folk Art Decorative Art

Materials

Wood, Paper

United's "Carnival Gun" Arcade Game, circa 1954 USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage circa 1954 “Carnival Gun” arcade rifle game manufactured by United Mfg. Large Dale-style
Category

Vintage 1950s American Games

Materials

Metal

Large Original Vintage Poster for the Aufgalopp Faschingsfest Carnival in Munich
By Ludwig Lutz Ehrenberger
Located in London, GB
Original vintage advertising poster for the Aufgalopp Faschingsfest Lent Carnival on 9 January 1937
Category

Vintage 1930s German Posters

Materials

Paper

People Also Browsed

1972, Prefab Nova House by Studio Rochel
By Societé anonyme francaise
Located in Perpignan, FR
Designed in 1972 by architects Michel Hudrisier and M. Roma for Studio Rochel, the Nova House came to fulfill the fantasy of those dreaming of living in space. While that type of arc...
Category

Vintage 1970s French Space Age Architectural Elements

Materials

Metal, Aluminum

1972, Prefab Nova House by Studio Rochel
1972, Prefab Nova House by Studio Rochel
H 157.49 in W 255.91 in D 314.97 in
Terracotta "Indian Pot" by Bauer Pottery
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Terracotta "Indian Pot" by Bauer Pottery, c. 1920's, USA H 8.5" x D 14" FDV-J014 *Wear consistent with age and use. One drainage hole.
Category

Vintage 1920s American Planters and Jardinieres

Materials

Terracotta

Gigantic Antique Indian Brass and Bronze Water Vessel Lota Pot
Located in Asheville, NC
India water vessel also called a Lota Pot was used to store water in India and local regions. It was hand-forged of a bronze and brass alloy. It has marked by artist. Beautiful pati...
Category

Early 20th Century Indian International Style Urns

Materials

Brass

Terracotta "Indian Pot" by Bauer Pottery
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Terracotta "Indian Pot" by Bauer Pottery, c. 1920's, USA H 11" x D 19" FDV-J016 *Wear consistent with age and use. One drainage hole.
Category

Vintage 1920s American Planters and Jardinieres

Materials

Terracotta

Painting of horses and farm animals by Herring the Younger
By John Frederick Herring Jr
Located in London, GB
Painting of horses and farm animals by Herring the Younger British, 19th Century Frame: Height 83cm, width 97cm Canvas: Height 64cm, width 77cm This charming painting is by John Fre...
Category

19th Century Landscape Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Checkerboard Table Clock, "Tempo 21" Tower 2 by George Nelson, 1984
By Howard Miller, George Nelson
Located in Kansas City, MO
Rare postmodern cream, brown, and navy checkerboard table clock by Howard Miller Clock Company. From the 1984 "Tempo 21" collection. Very few signs of wear. Two different shades of c...
Category

Vintage 1980s North American Post-Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Aluminum

1920s French Art Deco Pink Planet Saturn Shooting Stars Table Lamp Signed Sprat
By SPRAT
Located in Opa Locka, FL
c1920's French Art Deco Pink Sandblasted Art Glass Table Lamp Signed by Sprat. Featuring shooting stars, planet Saturn. Iron Base. This is a rare treasure.
Category

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Table Lamps

Materials

Art Glass

Rustic 19th Century elm pig bench
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Rustic 19th century elm bench circa 1860. Known as a pig bench, this bench made from 1 solid piece of elm offers and excellent opportunity to work as a coffee table. Rectangular to...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Swedish Rustic Benches

Materials

Elm

Rustic 19th Century elm pig bench
Rustic 19th Century elm pig bench
H 21.25 in W 63.75 in D 22.25 in
Sally Morgan Signed Australian Aboriginal Art Original Painting Marble Bar Pool
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderful, large original acrylic painting on canvas by Australian Aboriginal artist/author/ activist/dramatist Sally Morgan titled "Marble Bar Pool." The work is signed, dated (...
Category

1990s Australian Folk Art Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Paint

19th Century Portrait of Tiziano and Rembrandt Couple of Paintings Oil on Canvas
Located in Milan, IT
19th century Portrait of Tiziano Vecellio and Rembrandt Measures: (2) Oil on canvas, 25 x 18.5 cm Frame 46 x 37 cm The two portraits depicting the artists Tiziano Vecell...
Category

Antique 19th Century Italian Paintings

Materials

Canvas

Haeger Navy Blue Abstract Rounded Vase, Postmodern
By Royal Haeger
Located in New York, NY
Postmodern Haeger navy blue vase, medium size. This piece has a wide front silhouette with a narrow depth, very striking. In great condition, no crazing, chips or cracks. Beautiful o...
Category

Vintage 1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vases

Materials

Ceramic, Pottery

Early 20th Century Jigger Doll
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century jigger doll We are proud to offer an early 20th century hand carved jigger doll. Made for a light pine wood, with hand carved detail across its face and lovely Ch...
Category

Vintage 1930s British Folk Art Toys

Materials

Pine

Early 20th Century Jigger Doll
Early 20th Century Jigger Doll
H 11 in W 3 in D 2 in
Paula Meizner "Standing Figure" Wood Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
Paula Meizner (American, born Poland, 1904-1990) "Standing Figure" Constructivist wooden assemblage sculpture. Provenance: From the estate of Paula Meizner. Dealer: S138XX
Category

20th Century American Other Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Wood

Early 20th Century Carnival Carousel Funhouse Architectural Columns
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Fun antique architectural elements from carnival carousel or funhouse ride. Layers of beautiful original park paint. Great scale for wall art or to act as a frame for something else....
Category

Antique 1890s American Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Wood

Antique Marksman Shooting Target Plaque with Soldiers
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Marksman Shooting Target Plaque with Soldiers An antique wooden shooting target plaque with a handpainted illustration of two soldiers of the Victorian age, a Prussian and a...
Category

Early 20th Century German Black Forest Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Wood

The toy seller
By Federico del Campo
Located in Roma, RM
Federico Del Campo (Lima 1837 - Venice 1923), The Toy Seller (1877) Oil painting on panel 22 x 37 cm signed Campo on the left, on the back is an old label from Williams and sons ga...
Category

1870s Academic Landscape Paintings

Materials

Board, Oil

Recent Sales

Carnival Shooting Gallery Sculpture
Located in San Francisco, CA
Hand forged shooting arcade amusement now mounted on a steel plinth. "It's a Hit
Category

American Carnival Art

Materials

Steel, Iron

Shoot The Chicken Thief
Located in Pasadena, CA
Target from Carnival shooting range. Considered high tech in its day. Carved from wood and mounted
Category

Vintage 1940s Carnival Art

Materials

Metal

Shoot The Chicken Thief
Shoot The Chicken Thief
H 19 in W 5 in D 4 in
Antique shooting target
Located in Ramatuelle, PACA
Unusual German shooting target
Category

Antique 19th Century German Carnival Art

Blacksmith Made Duck Shooting Target
Located in Sheffield, MA
Blacksmith made steel target in the shape of a duck. From a gun club in the Buffalo, New York vicinity. Three available.
Category

Early 20th Century American Carnival Art

Blacksmith Made Duck Shooting Target
Blacksmith Made Duck Shooting Target
H 11.88 in W 13.25 in D 3 in
Rare Cat Shooting Gallery Target
Located in Sheffield, MA
Strong, early arcade target of cat form. Another example pictured in American Vernacular, Maresca/Ricco, page 88. ex collection Richard and Valerie Tucker.
Category

Vintage 1930s American Carnival Art

Rare Cat Shooting Gallery Target
Rare Cat Shooting Gallery Target
H 20.75 in W 12 in D 5.5 in
Pair of Mangels Shooting Gallery Targets
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare pair shooting gallery targets showing ten racks of birds on each of the target frames with
Category

Vintage 1930s Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Iron

Blacksmith Made Wild Boar or Pig Shooting Target
Located in Sheffield, MA
Blacksmith made shooting target used in upstate New York gun club. Two available.
Category

Early 20th Century American Carnival Art

Pair of Cast-Iron Cowboy Shooting Gallery Targets
By William F. Mangels Co. 1
Located in New Hope, PA
A fabulous and rare pair of cowboy shooting gallery targets attributed to William F. Mangels
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Iron

Stars, Birds, Sun and Moon Shooting Gallery Targets
By H.C. Evans & Co.
Located in 3 Oaks, MI
Great graphic arcade shooting gallery spinner targets mounted on a horizontal rod made by H. C
Category

Vintage 1950s Folk Art Carnival Art

Fabulous Gorilla Carnival Shooting Gallery Target
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Chunky gorilla shooting gallery target made by Evan's gaming company. Superb park paint surface
Category

Vintage 1930s American Carnival Art

Materials

Iron

Vintage 1920's Duck Carnival Shooting Target
Located in Wiscasset, ME
Vintage targets displayed on a custom stand
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Steel

Nice Midsize Antique Cast Iron Carnival Shooting Gallery Target
Located in Stamford, CT
A very nice freestanding antique cast iron shooting gallery target with its original patriotic red
Category

Vintage 1920s American Rustic Carnival Art

Materials

Iron

Carnival Midway Coyote Shooting Gallery Target
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Found on a carnival shooting gallery in New Jersey. Most likely made by the Evan's gaming company
Category

Early 20th Century American Carnival Art

Materials

Iron

Carnival Midway Shooting Gallery Targets
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Found on a carnival shooting gallery in New Jersey. Most likely made by the Evan's gaming company
Category

Vintage 1930s American Carnival Art

Materials

Iron

Antique American Carnival Elephant
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Antique cast iron elephant from carnival shooting arcade, atop contempoary iron base
Category

Antique 19th Century American Carnival Art

Materials

Iron

Vintage Cast Iron Clown Shooting Gallery Target Original Paint Surface
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Rarely seen red nose cast iron clown carnival shooting gallery target. Layers of fantastic original
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Iron

Carnival Portable Shooting Gallery Game
Located in Garnerville, NY
used as the bullets. It was used at church carnivals in the 1960s and 1970s.
Category

Vintage 1960s American Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Paint, Plywood

Carnival Portable Shooting Gallery Game
Carnival Portable Shooting Gallery Game
H 28.5 in W 40 in D 7.75 in
Carnival Midway Shooting Gallery Target Rack
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Great birds and stars shooting gallery knock over targets. Thick and heavy, they would have been
Category

Vintage 1930s American Carnival Art

Materials

Iron

Carnival Midway Shooting Gallery Target Rack
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Great shooting gallery knock over targets. The four dove targets have multiple layers of white
Category

Vintage 1930s American Carnival Art

Materials

Iron

Carnival Midway Cast Iron Spinning Disc and Duck Shooting Gallery Target
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Large-scale carnival midway cast iron spinning disk and knock over duck shooting gallery target. A
Category

Vintage 1930s American Folk Art Carnival Art

Carnival Midway Cast Iron Spinning Disc and Rabbit Shooting Gallery Target
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Large-scale carnival midway cast iron spinning disk and knock over rabbit shooting gallery target
Category

Vintage 1930s American Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Iron

Cast Iron Carnival Midway Shooting Gallery Monkey Target Original Park Paint
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Fantastic carnival midway monkey or gorilla target. Perfect original multi-color park paint.
Category

Vintage 1920s Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Iron

c. 1920's Carnival Midway H.C. Evans Gorilla Shooting Target
Located in Santa Monica, CA
H.C. Evans gorilla shooting gallery target with layers of original park paint. Established in
Category

Early 20th Century American Carnival Art

Materials

Iron

Streamline Shooting Gallery Machine Gun
By Keeney Arcade Co. 1
Located in Peekskill, NY
I grew up in Coney Island so these early arcade items really bring back memories. This is one of the rare 1939 Keeney Arcade Anti-Aircraft Machine Guns… very high style Deco. We moun...
Category

Early 20th Century American Art Deco Carnival Art

Early 'KING' Squirrel Shooting Gallery Targets
By King
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Early examples of 'KING' Squirrel shooting gallery targets. Rare shape and extremely thick. King
Category

Early 20th Century American Carnival Art

Materials

Iron

Brass Disneyland Indian Shooting Gallery Targets
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Late 1950's brass Indian shooting gallery targets from one of the original 22 caliber shooting
Category

Vintage 1950s American Carnival Art

Materials

Brass

Large Cast Iron Shooting Gallery Target
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Vintage large cast iron shooting gallery target with original paint surface and shotgun bullet hole.
Category

20th Century American Carnival Art

Materials

Iron

Fairground Lion Shooting Target, circa 1910
Located in London, GB
Antique fairground lion tamer shooting target unusually large and very rare and decorative item
Category

Antique Early 1900s British Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Metal

20TH C. FRENCH FOLK ART TARGET SHOOT
Located in Los Angeles, CA
WONDERFUL AND WHIMSCAL DOUBLE FACED FOLKY 20TH C. TARGET SHOOT. ORIGINAL PAINTED IN VIBRANT COLOR.
Category

20th Century French Carnival Art

Materials

Metal

Fantastic Shooting Gallery Knock Over Target Rack
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Great shooting gallery knock over targets. Collection of birds and stars with very thick original
Category

Vintage 1930s Carnival Art

Cat and Dog Carnival Midway Spinner Target
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Great cat and dog spinner shooting gallery target with black paint and traces of yellow paint
Category

Early 20th Century American Carnival Art

Materials

Iron

Cat and Dog Carnival Midway Spinner Target
Cat and Dog Carnival Midway Spinner Target
H 10.5 in W 3.25 in D 3.25 in
Amazing Early 20thc Cowboy on Horse Target Shoot
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This early 1900's bucking bronco horse and rider was probably used at a early carnival .The
Category

Early 20th Century American Carnival Art

c. 1920's Cast Iron H.C. Evans Shooting Gallery
Located in Santa Monica, CA
This c. 1920's H.C. Evans shooting gallery has 36 birds on the six racks, all with original paint
Category

Early 20th Century American Carnival Art

Early 20th Century Scratch Built English Fairground Shooting Target Gallery
Located in London, GB
English fairground shooting target We are proud to offer a rare scratch built English fairground
Category

Vintage 1920s British Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Metal

Thick Pair of Heavy Sheet Iron Cowboy Shooting Gallery Targets Original Paint
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Great folk Art Form. Pair of carnival midway shooting gallery cowboy target forms. Both with a red
Category

Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Iron

Fantastic Collection of Three 19th Century Cast Iron Foxes - Target Shoot's
Located in Los Angeles, CA
These amazing 19thc cast iron fox target shoot's are mounted on iron rods and cement blocks . They
Category

20th Century American Carnival Art

Rare Ring the Bell Shooting Target Painted Cast Iron Great Patina
Located in Wiscasset, ME
This looks to be an early custom-made carnival shooting target. I have seen the figure form as a
Category

Antique Early 1900s American Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings

c. 1920's HC Evans Cast Iron 22 Caliber Shooting Gallery Target
Located in Santa Monica, CA
This impressive shooting gallery was originally ordered for a Hotel in Chicago to go in their
Category

Early 20th Century American Carnival Art

Materials

Iron

Double Sided Wood Cowboy Gun
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
Vintage double sided painted wood cowboy. Originally from a carnival shooting gallery it is a great
Category

Late 20th Century Wall-mounted Sculptures

Double Sided Wood Cowboy Gun
Double Sided Wood Cowboy Gun
H 46 in W 19 in D 1 in
Original Fairground Art Large Double Sided Target
Located in Nottingham, GB
shoot. Technical Details Height 900 mm Width 900 mm Opening 480mm x 250mm Colour Original
Category

Vintage 1940s English Industrial Carnival Art

Materials

Metal

French Mid-20th Century Fairground Target Animated Scratch Built Panel
Located in London, GB
Fairground target panel We are proud to offer a hand painted fairground shooting target scratch
Category

Vintage 1950s French Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Wood

Wooden Carnival Panel Shooting Gallery
Located in Antwerp, BE
Vintage hand-painted wooden decorative panel of shooting gallery. "Buy 100 bullets , hit the right
Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Decorative Art

Materials

Wood

Wooden Carnival Panel Shooting Gallery
Wooden Carnival Panel Shooting Gallery
H 19.69 in W 70.87 in D 1.07 in
Carnival wheel
Located in Sheffield, MA
there. During the summer of 29 the park had bumper cars, whip ,penny arcade , shooting galleries,fun
Category

Early 20th Century American Game Boards

Materials

Metal

Early 20th Century Passe Boule
Located in London, GB
shoot at in either a tavern or carnival environment. A wonderful piece of wall art with lots of
Category

Vintage 1940s French Toys and Dolls

Materials

Pine

Early 20th Century Passe Boule
Early 20th Century Passe Boule
H 14 in W 7.5 in D 0.2 in
Carnival Clown Shooting Gallery Target
By Macglashan Air Gun Co.
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Sheet iron carnival shooting gallery target in the shape of a clowns head. Not marked, but thought
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Iron

Rare Antique Cast Iron Large Cat Carnival Shooting Gallery Target
Located in Stamford, CT
A rare large antique cast iron cat shooting gallery target with original strike plate. Only the
Category

Vintage 1930s American Folk Art Mounted Objects

Materials

Iron

Carnival Midway Shooting Gallery Knockover Bird Targets
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Quirky vintage carnival bird knockover target from a midway shooting gallery. Priced individually
Category

Vintage 1930s American Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Iron

Flying Goose Carnival Midway Shooting Gallery Target
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Very large and thick vintage iron goose target with heavily patinated original white paint surface.
Category

20th Century American Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Iron

Antique Cast Iron Carnival Spinning Shooting Gallery Targets, circa 1930s
Located in Stamford, CT
Custom mounted on a steel stand is this rack of antique carnival birds and stars spinning shooting
Category

Vintage 1920s American American Classical Carnival Art

Materials

Iron

Antique Shooting Gallery Target
Located in Sheffield, MA
Rare antique cast iron shooting gallery target in the shape of a lion still attach to the base that
Category

Antique Late 19th Century American Carnival Art

Materials

Iron

Antique Shooting Gallery Target
Antique Shooting Gallery Target
H 8.25 in W 12 in D 4.5 in
Soldier Shooting Gallery Target
Located in Santa Monica, CA
These soldier shooting gallery targets are fun, bold and graphic, circa 1940s. Priced
Category

Vintage 1940s American Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Iron

Early Carnival Wood Duck
Located in Peekskill, NY
This is a very early carved wood duck. It was a decorative item atop a shooting gallery booth. The
Category

Antique Early 1900s Unknown Carnival Art

Early Carnival Wood Duck
Early Carnival Wood Duck
H 14 in W 16 in D 9 in
W. Wurfflein Large Scale Shooting Gallery Target
By W. Wurfflein
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Fantastic and large W. Wurfflein shooting gallery target. Great substantial target. This was one
Category

Early 20th Century American Carnival Art

Set of 3 English Fairground Shooting Targets
Located in London, GB
Set of 3 English fairground shooting targets We are proud to offer a set of 3 English hand painted
Category

Vintage 1950s British Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Sheet Metal

Shooting Gallery Target, Stan Laurel, Early 20th Century
Located in Antwerp, BE
Antique Figural Shooting Gallery Target : Stan Laurel, a big Icon in the Film Industry . This
Category

Early 20th Century European Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Iron

Six Early Original Iron Shooting Gallery Targets
Located in Peekskill, NY
This is a nice desk top display. There are six targets Mounted as a single display. All still have the original paint and patina.
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Carnival Art

Collection of Five Evans Cast Iron Shooting Gallery Targets
By Evans Gaming Company
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Great collection of five knock-over targets from a carnival midway shooting gallery found in New
Category

Vintage 1930s American Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Iron

Mid-20th Century English Folk Art Shooting Target
Located in London, GB
Mid-20th century English folk art shooting target We are proud to offer a rare example of an
Category

Vintage 1940s British Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Wood

Late 19th Century English Fairground Shooting Gallery Target
Located in London, GB
We are proud to offer a rare working example of a late 19th century fairground shooting gallery
Category

Antique Early 1900s British Victorian Carnival Art

Materials

Sheet Metal

Antique Cast Iron Spade Card Suit Shooting Gallery Target
Located in Stamford, CT
A custom mounted antique cast iron shooting gallery target in the form of a spade. Raised
Category

Vintage 1930s American Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Iron

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Carnival Shooting For Sale on 1stDibs

Find many varieties of an authentic carnival shooting available at 1stDibs. A carnival shooting — often made from metal, iron and wood — can elevate any home. Whether you’re looking for an older or newer carnival shooting, there are earlier versions available from the 19th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 20th Century. A carnival shooting made by Folk Art designers — as well as those associated with Art Deco — is very popular. You’ll likely find more than one carnival shooting that is appealing in its simplicity, but Keeney Arcade Co. produced versions that are worth a look.

How Much is a Carnival Shooting?

Prices for a carnival shooting can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $175 and can go as high as $22,500, while the average can fetch as much as $1,400.

Finding the Right carnival-art for You

The collection of original antique and vintage carnival art on 1stDibs includes paintings and posters that promoted traveling carnivals and circuses of years past as well as masks, sculptures and other works of folk art associated with widespread public celebrations that mark the start of harvest season or are rooted in religion.

The concept of “Carnival” is linked to an event that precedes Lent, the season of preparation before Easter for Christians (it may also have roots in Ancient Rome’s pagan Saturnalian festival), while the modern traveling carnival that we know — i.e., amusement fairs — existed during the 19th century in North America. The Chicago World’s Fair in 1893 was pivotal to these traveling amusement fairs.

Some of the most famous celebrations of Carnival around the world include Karneval in Germany, Carnival in Brazil and Mardi Gras in the United States. Carnival in Barbados is a traditional harvest festival. The bright colors, the caricatured masks and floats and the over-the-top nature of Carnival continue to enthrall millions across the globe.

Carnivals have always given way to impressive displays of creativity and folk art. Folk art is art created by people who are not classically trained for either utilitarian or decorative purposes. With respect to visual art in folk art, it refers to work that is reflective of a community’s culture and usually handmade by craftspeople working within a popular tradition.

Carnival art reflects the way different cultures celebrate or mark an important community event. Some examples of Carnival art include fabric dolls and marionettes that are used to tell stories and capture your imagination. Antique dolls make for striking collectibles positioned for display on any shelf in your home, while carnival masks make a bold statement as wall art. A collection of masks could create an elevated accent wall in a living room or dining room.

Browse 1stDibs to find unique antique and vintage carnival art for your space today.