Folk Art Animal Sculptures
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.
2
215
13
3
to
29
169
54
231
223
230
2,213
911
728
291
265
237
231
177
88
65
42
30
30
26
24
23
17
7
5
40
170
16
46
59
35
7
3
5
8
4
8
5
10
5
5
Height
to
Width
to
106
65
38
26
24
89
67
65
18
18
8
7
3
2
1
Style: Folk Art
Antique Wood Animal Horse Sculpture, Northern Swedish Folk Art Original Paint
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique wooden horse sculpture from northern Sweden. The horse is from around 1850 and has a body in pine with original paint. The sculpture is made by hand and a one of a kind piece...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Pine
Wonderful Bronze Antelope Sculpture Signed Gorham Founders OGLM on Base
By Gorham CO.
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful patinated bronze of free standing antelope sculpture signed Gorham founders OGLM on rectangular base.
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Moroccan Decorative Fish Sculpture Handbuilt and Handpainted by Potter Houda
Located in Marseille, FR
- Hand built decorative fish sculpture
- made of clay collected from the potter's surroundings.
- decorative motifs painted with a goat hair brush made by the potter to apply natur...
Category
2010s Moroccan Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Clay, Earthenware
Moroccan Decorative Cat Sculpture Handbuilt and Handpainted by Potter Houda
Located in Marseille, FR
- Hand built decorative cat sculpture
- made of clay collected from the potter's surroundings.
- decorative motifs painted with a goat hair brush made...
Category
2010s Moroccan Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Clay, Earthenware
Brass Sculpture of Monkey Holding Business Card Holder, Late 19th Century
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Late 19th Century Brass Sculpture of Monkey Holding Business Card Holder
Category
Late 19th Century European Antique Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Brass
Early 20th Century Folk Art Hand Carved Wooden Eagle
Located in Oakland, CA
Early 20th Century hand carved wooden eagle with a red wash finish. The eagle has out stretched wings and a up right posture resting on a rectangular wooden base. Extensive carving ...
Category
Early 1900s American Antique Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Scrap Wood
Vintage Folk Art Wood Sculpture of a Pig Running into a Tree by R. Harper 1991
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Folk Art Wood Sculpture of a Pig running into a Tree by R Harper 1991
This piece is a handcrafted wooden sculpture by artist R Harper signed and dated 4-91.
This one of a kin...
Category
Late 20th Century American Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Swedish Dala Horse by Grannas Anders Olsson Hemsjöjd
By Nils Olsson
Located in Balen, BE
Vintage Swedish Dala Horse by Nils Olsson for Grannas A. Olssons Hemslöjd, circa 1990s. The horse is in good vintage condition and is hand-painted red with decorative accents.
This D...
Category
1990s Swedish Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Pine, Paint
Small Antique Swedish Red-painted Horse in Wood, 1900th
Located in Stockholm, SE
A peasant sculpture in the form of a small working, red-painted horse with a bushy mane and tail on a painted pedestal, beautifully carved and painted wood.
On the underside, a text...
Category
Early 1900s Swedish Antique Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Wood
20th Century Native American Painted Totem Pole A painted animal totem
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
20th Century Native American Painted Totem Pole
A painted animal totem.
Animal totems are believed to have spiritual significance, watching over Pacific Northwest Indian tribes and...
Category
1960s Vintage Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Beech, Birdseye Maple
Vintage Carved Wood Folk Art Lion
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Eye catching whimsical lion sculpture or figure, hand carved, in a naive style, paint decorated and caught in mid roar.
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Hardwood
Group of Six Vintage Folk Art Painted Metal Pelican Sculptures-Priced per Pair
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Flock of pelicans hand crafted in metal in a charming stylized form, painted and ready for a new environment. Priced per pair.
Category
Late 20th Century American Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Metal
American Folk Art Door Stop in the Form of a Sitting Cat, Early 20th Century
Located in Downingtown, PA
American Folk Art Door Stop in the form of a Sitting Cat,
Early 20th Century
This charming doorstop, crafted in the early 20th century, embodies the spirit of American Folk Art. De...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Iron
Folk Art Carved and Painted Owl Decoy, USA, 1900's
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Folk Art carved and painted owl decoy, USA 1900's
A decorative barn owl carving decoy
Original paint with even wear.
Mounted over a new iron stand.
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Signed Bustamante Brass Fireplace Screen / Wall Animal Sculpture
Located in Stamford, CT
Mexican artist, Sergio Bustamante wall sculpture or fireplace screen with a Garden of Eden menagerie of flora and fauna. Lions, giraffes, birds, butterflies, turtle, armadillo, rabbi...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Brass, Copper
Tibetan Sheep Footstool w/ Natural Sheep Horns
Located in Norwalk, CT
The most charming sheep stool/sculpture we have ever seen. Wonderful quality featuring dense Tibetan wool coat, natural sheep horns and natural leather ears. Sheered lambswool covere...
Category
1990s Unknown Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Wool
Bronze Toy Horse
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cast bronze toy horse on four wheels. Reminiscent of early 19th century Indian toys, these pieces were often left as offering in temples for children to find. The gift of the horse t...
Category
Mid-20th Century Indian Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Early 20th century continental decorative carousel horse
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Early 20th century continental decorative carousel horse circa 1900.
Unique continental painted merry-go-round horse circa 1900. Excellent opportunity to own this highly decorative ...
Category
Early 20th Century Swedish Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Oak, Pine, Paint
Arts and Crafts Leather Model of an Elephant Junior Bull
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Arts and Crafts Leather Model of an Elephant
This is a rare and beautiful find from the early part of the 20th Century, it was made for Liberty and is known as “Junior Bull”
This ...
Category
1930s Vintage Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Leather
Japanese Okimono Bronze Figure of a Rat 1950s
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Japanese Okimono Bronze Figure of a Rat.
DIMENSIONS: Height: 6.25 in Width: 4.25 in Depth: 3.5 in.
Hand made in Japan circa 1950s.
A large heavy vintage bronze statue of a rat made i...
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Large 36" Tall Reclaimed Wood Folk Art Sculpture of a Horse
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Very nice wooden horse sculpture made out of multiple reclaimed wood pieces.
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Reclaimed Wood
Moroccan Decorative Horse Sculpture Handbuilt and Handpainted by Potter Houda
Located in Marseille, FR
- Hand built decorative horse sculpture
- made of clay collected from the potter's surroundings.
- decorative motifs painted with a goat hair brush made by the potter to apply natu...
Category
2010s Moroccan Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Clay, Earthenware
PAIR Large Grotesque Dogs earthenware pottery sculptures, 19th Century Italian
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
These are a large PAIR of antique earthenware (or terracotta) pottery Grotesque Dog sculptures, all hand made and dating to the 19th Century, probably made in Italy.
These life-size...
Category
19th Century Antique Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic, Earthenware, Pottery
Tonala Pottery and Brass Fish
Located in Vallejo, CA
A wonderful vintage tonala pottery fish wrapped in brass. Made in Mexico, with beautiful hand painted designs to the pottery and fish scales formed into the brass.
Category
Late 20th Century Mexican Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Brass
"Pig" Found Object Sculpture by Leo Sewell
By Leo Sewell
Located in Wiscasset, ME
Leo Sewell (b. 1945) is an American "found object" artist. His assemblages of recycled material are in over 40 museums and in private collections worldwide.
Sewell was born in Ann...
Category
Early 2000s American Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Metal
Large Elephant Stone sculpture hand made and signed under the foot, Circa 1920
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a large stone sculpture of an elephant, made from a cast or composite stone all hand painted and signed. We date this piece to the early 20th Century , Circa 1920.
This piec...
Category
Early 20th Century British Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Cast Stone
Handcrafted Wood Whale Puzzle Sculpture Signed
Located in San Diego, CA
Handcrafted what sculpture made of solid wood. Amazing design an workmanship. Signed and dated.
Category
1990s American Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Wood
1960s Sculpture of an American Eagle Hand Carved in Seri Ironwood
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Carved Wood American Eagle Sculpture 1960s.
Vintage Sculpture of an American Eagle Carved in Seri Ironwood.
Handmade large carved wood eagle ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Wauja/ Turuza. Monkey Sculpture, 2021, Brazilian exotic wood
Located in PARIS, FR
La sculpture intitulée "Wauja/Turuza. Singe, 2021" est une œuvre d'art réalisée par l'artiste indigène Turuza, appartenant à l'ethnie Wauja du Haut-Xingu, au Brésil. Fabriquée à part...
Category
2010s Brazilian Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Hardwood
1960s Large Hand-carved Iron Wood American Bald Eagle Art Sculpture
Located in North Hollywood, CA
A large hand-carved iron wood eagle perched on a tree stump and surveying the surroundings ready to fly.
Hand carved wood vintage extremely detailed bald eagle perched upon rockery with glass eyes.
Hand carved Ironwood Southwestern seri...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Wood
German Shepard 1950 s Statue
Located in Los Angeles, CA
German Shepard 1950 s gesso Italian vintage statue .
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Gesso
Large Hand-Carved Swan Decoy Sculpture
Located in Kastrup, DK
A full size hand carved and painted wooden swan decoy.
Original paint, white body and reddish beak, glass eyes. In original condition having a wonderful aged patina.
Denmark approx....
Category
Early 20th Century Danish Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Early 1930s Swedish Dala Horse Figurine by Nils Olsson Carved Painted Wood
By Nils Olsson
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
Early ca. 1930s Swedish Dala Horse by Nils Olsson. It is made of hand carved dark blue painted wood with handpainted polychrome decorations. This lovely mid sized figurine would be a...
Category
1930s Swedish Vintage Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Antique 18-19th Century Wooden Horse
Located in Kastrup, DK
A Indian 18-19th century hand-carved wooden horse decorated with polychrome colors.
In original untouched condition with a beautiful age-related patina, showing the antique authentic...
Category
18th Century Indian Antique Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Greenlandica, small sculpture in soapstone. Polar bear and hunter.
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Greenlandica, small sculpture in soapstone. Polar bear and hunter.
Greenland mid-20th century.
In good condition, with a few small chips.
Dimensions: L 8.0 cm x W 4.7 cm x H 5.0 cm.
...
Category
Mid-20th Century Greenlandic Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Soapstone
Folk Art Beautifully Hand Carved and Painted Horse Sculpture, United States
Located in Shippensburg, PA
FOLK ART PAINTED AND CARVED WOOD HORSE
20th century, unsigned, designed to be entirely disassembled
Item # 305FEB10P
An incredibly fun and playful carved and painted folk art horse...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Wood, Paint
Antônio Julião. Wood Sculpture
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
Exceptional sculpture made by artist Antônio Julião, one of the great exponents of Brazilian popular art. This piece of museological importance was made in the 1970's and is one of t...
Category
1970s Brazilian Vintage Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Fully Articulated Artist's Model Of Horse, Signed
Located in Bradenton, FL
Antique hand-carved artist's model of a horse, fully articulated at every level including wooden ears. Has a horsehair tail. Fixed on a brass stem and raised on a wooden base. Artist signed on base as Philippe Leo.
Category
Early 20th Century French Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Large Pink Cast Iron Pig Money Bank or Doorstop with Wings, Denmark
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Danish piggy pink cast iron money bank or doorstopper with wings.
This smiling and charming Lady Pig is newly powder-coated in "pretty pink". She...
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Iron
Greenlandica, Jakob Keke. Sculpture in soapstone.
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Greenlandica, Jakob Keke, Kungmiut, East Greenland.
Sculpture in soapstone.
Approximately from the 1970s.
In excellent condition.
Label.
Dimensions: L 14.5 cm x H 7.5 cm x W 5.5 cm.
Category
1970s Greenlandic Vintage Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Soapstone
Greenlandica, Ortôrak, large sculpture of a lying seal made of soapstone.
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Greenlandica, Ortôrak, large sculpture of a lying seal made of soapstone.
In good condition with signs of use.
Signed and dated 82.
Dimensions: Length 30.0 x Hight 10.0 cm x depth 10...
Category
1980s Greenlandic Vintage Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Soapstone
Mexican Vintage Ken Edwards Tonala Pottery Hand Painted Quail Bird
By Ken Edwards
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Ken Edwards Mexican ceramic quail bird form Tonala Pottery.
Beautiful vintage Mexican hand made and hand painted TONALA Art Pottery.
Deco...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Pottery
Greenlandica, three pieces of soapstone and a black pouch with a keyring.
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Greenlandica, three pieces of soapstone and a black pouch with a keyring.
Features a ptarmigan, seal, and hunter.
Artists : Nem Paamiut, Josef Josefsen.
Signed 76 (ptarmigan) and 20...
Category
20th Century Greenlandic Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Soapstone
Greenlandica, Taki Petersen, lying seal in soapstone. 1977
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Greenlandica, Taki Petersen, lying seal in soapstone.
In excellent condition with signs of use.
Signed and dated 77.
Dimensions: L 19.0 cm x W 7.5 cm x H 9.5 cm.
Category
1970s Greenlandic Vintage Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Soapstone
Vintage Hand Carved Hard-Wood Elephant Sculpture
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage hand carved hard wood elephant sculpture.
Large heavy ebony dark wood hand carved Anglo Indian elephant sculpture.
Gorgeous vintage black hand carv...
Category
Mid-20th Century Indian Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Hardwood
Primitive Horse Carving
Located in Nantucket, MA
A Folk Art carved wood and gesso painted standing horse
with painted cloth saddle and horse hair tail
Mounted on a later made black painted platform.
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Paint, Gesso, Pine
Beautiful Sculpture of Goat carved in wood by Israeli Artist
Located in Mexico, DF
Beautiful robust sculpture of a Goat carved from a solid mahogany block by an Israeli artist (the signature in Hebrew letters is illegible).
The goat is st...
Category
Mid-20th Century Israeli Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Mahogany
American Copper Full Bodied Pig Directional Weathervane on Stand, circa 1880
Located in Hollywood, SC
American Copper full bodied pig directional weathervane resting on squared iron stand, late 19th century.
Category
1880s American Antique Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Copper, Iron, Zinc
Vintage Cape Dorset Inuit Stone Carving of a Seal, Unsigned, Canada, C.1960's
Located in Chatham, ON
Vintage Cape Dorset Inuit soapstone (also called Steatite) carving of a seal - featuring fine simplified carving and details accentuating the form of the a...
Category
Mid-20th Century Canadian Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Stone
Vintage White Marble Mughal Jeweled Elephant Sculpture Paper Weight
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage white marble Mughal Jeweled elephant sculpture paper weight.
Finely hand painted animal sculpture of an elephant with colorful gold, pink and red color paint.
Collectible ceremonial hand...
Category
Mid-20th Century Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Marble
Americana Folk Art Brass Rooster Weathervane
Located in New York, NY
Americana Folk Art brass weathervane in the form of a rooster perched atop an arrow, with incised details. 22" H x 25.25" W.
Category
20th Century Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Brass
Unusual Antique Hand Carved African Fertility Primate / Baboon, Gorilla
Located in Buffalo, NY
Unusual Antique Hand Carved African Fertility Primate / Baboon, Gorilla,, Extremely well executed,, all hand carved,, remnants of original hair, bone eyes and teeth detail.
Category
1910s Cameroonian Vintage Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Bone, Wood
Sculpture, statue, garden, wirework, sheep, life-size, folk art, animal, unique
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
A Pair of Contemporary, Folk Art, Life-Size, Sheep, Wirework, Garden Sculptures
Hand-sculpted using multiple layers of painted galvanized wire in white and black. Each sculpture is...
Category
2010s English Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Wire
Mid-Century Owl Sculpture on Stand
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Vintage ceramic owl sculpture on stand with glass eyes.
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Cast Stone
Pair of Large Vintage Carved Wooden Panthers
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Stunning Pair of Life Size Vintage Carved Hardwood Panthers in a seated pose. Each cat is intricately carved with expressive faces and glass eyes. These are Southeastern Asia in orig...
Category
Mid-20th Century Asian Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Hardwood
Malachite Bird Sculpture with Inset Quartz & Bone
Located in New York, NY
Malachite hardstone sculpture depicting a hen chicken, inset with rock crystal quartz accents and bone beak.
Dimensions: 5" H x 7.75" W x 2" D.
Dealer: 95371
Category
Late 20th Century Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Malachite
Antique English Folk Art Toy Horse
Located in London, GB
Utterly charming one of a kind wooden folk art horse. Totally scratch built from glorious elm and oak with leather bridle. Made in England during the early part of the 20th century. ...
Category
Early 20th Century English Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Hardwood, Elm, Oak
Fourteen Birds by Guy Taplin
Located in Maidstone, GB
An original piece of English folk-art sculpture by the acclaimed British sculptor Guy Taplin (b. 1939). Eight individual wooden birds carved and painted, th...
Category
1990s British Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Driftwood
Folk Art animal sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique folk art animal sculptures 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 animal sculptures created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, folk art, asian art and furniture and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art animal sculptures made in a specific country, there are North America, Europe, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original animal sculptures, popular names associated with this style include Tonala Pottery, Victor Anicet, Sergio Bustamante, and Nils Olsson. 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 animal sculptures differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $38 and tops out at $55,000 while the average work can sell for $1,516.