Folk Art 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.
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Style: Folk Art
Concrete Soldier Statue circa 1900 Chicago Area Garden
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Exceptional 6 ft. tall American Folk Art concrete soldier statue with original paint surface and inset glass 'gem.' Fantastic workmanship. Originally pa...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Concrete
Chinese Carved Wooden Figure of Bearded Immortal Holding a Staff
Located in Asheville, NC
This statue of "Man Who Never Dies" otherwise known as an immortal, his attribute is to hold staff in one hand and the sacred peach in other. It is composed of rose colored Chinese w...
Category
20th Century Chinese Folk Art Sculptures
Wooden Tramp Art Sculpture
Located in Dallas, TX
Wonderful Wooden Decorative Tramp/Outsider Art Sculpture,
In the form of an architectural tower,
made of 100's of interlocking pieces of hand-carved wood,
withou...
In the form of an architectural tower,
made of 100's of interlocking pieces of hand-carved wood,
withou...
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Beautiful Hand Turned Exotic Wood Bowl
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Out of an estate collection of hand turned bowls including some by Edward Moulthrop comes this unique beautiful hand turned bowl out of some exotic wood. ...
Category
1970s American Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Small Sailor Whirligig, circa 1930-1940
Located in Nantucket, MA
Figural standing sailor whirligig, carved from Pine wearing a white hat with metal brim,
a blue sailor’s middy with scarf, striped red and white unde...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Pine
American Carnival Wagon or Band Organ Carved Female Head
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Late 19th century American carnival wagon or band organ female head carving. Very detailed wood carving with great old white painted surface. Presented on a...
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Vintage Leather Parrot by Federico Mexico
Located in Miami, FL
Leather parrot from Mexico. Sitting on a brass perch.
Marked Federico Made in Mexico.
Category
1970s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Brass
Carved Hand Chair after Pedro Friedeberg
Located in NYC, NY
A unique, hand-carved wood chair in the shape of a cupped hand with detailing down to the wrinkles and fingernails. The base whimsically detailed as a shirt cuff with buttons. Solid....
Category
1950s French Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
P. Gomez, "The Cow" Sculpture in Two Parts
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
P. Gomez, "The cow" sculpture in two parts. Sheet metal and various material.
Category
1990s French Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Metal
Carved Wood Folk Art Airplane, circa 1940s
Located in Santa Monica, CA
This carved wood Folk Art airplane has an amazing original paint surface and functional propeller and wheels.
Category
1940s American Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Sheet Metal
Early 19th Century Scandinavian Folk Art Mangle Board
Located in Greenwich, CT
Charming early 19th Century Swedish folk art mangle board having a stylized horse handle, the body with geometric carving and traces of original polychrom...
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Swordfish Weathervane, 20th Century
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large-scale wooden weathervane from Chappaquiddick Massachusetts. Some old paint remaining. Almost eight feet long!
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Scottish Brass and Nickel Silver Horse Hobble, Bide A Blink, Circa 1830
Located in Hollywood, SC
Scottish brass and nickel silver horse hobble with an eagle heads horse shoe handle and resting on the faithful servant creature Bide a Blink. Signature...
Category
1830s Scottish Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Brass, Iron, Nickel
Folk Art Found Object Doll TOTEM by Bill Fink, Bergdorf Goodman
By Bill Fink
Located in New York, NY
Fantastic doll TOTEM sculpture composed of European doll parts, European and American vintage tin tea caddies, fire bell, and topped by a whimsical tin bird...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Metal
American Folk Art Limestone Carving Snake, Shield and Stump
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Detailed American Folk Art limestone carving of a rattle snake wrapped around a tree stump and shield or coat of arms, circa 1870. Found in Tennessee. A very nice heavy and solid piece.
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Limestone
Late 19th Century Painted Articulated Figure with Overalls
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Late 19th century articulated figure with a nicely detailed carved face, navy overalls and red-painted shirt, tie, and shoe.
Category
19th Century Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wire
Hand-Carved and Painted 19th Century Cigar Store Figure
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hand-Carved and Painted 19th Century Cigar Store Figure.
The man is hand carved from one piece of wood. He is probably late 19th century and over pa...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Important Folk Art Trade Sign
Located in Greenwich, CT
A mid 19th Century folk art trade sign of demilune form, depicting a Native American chief holding a peace pipe and tomahawk wearing a headdress of white and red feathers, wearing a decorated tunic, supported by “s” scrolls, possibly a cover for a paddle boat wheel...
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Rare Pair of Fireman's Axe Parade Torches
Located in York County, PA
Rare pair of fireman’s axe parade torches, 1860-1880:
Pair of fireman’s axe parade torches with traditional wooden axe handles and the heads made o...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
Antique Wood Balinese Scarecrow
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large antique wooden scare crow used in a rice field from Bali. Arms swing. A great character and piece of folk art! On custom iron base
Category
20th Century Indonesian Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Iron
Tatyana Nazarenko Life-Sized Painted Wooden Props of a Russian Family
By Tatyana Nazarenko
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Russian artist signed, titled and dated on back, 1996. Painted on 5//8"plywood. Each has a pair of slotted wedges for standing.
Woman and child: 63.25" high by 27" wide
Seated yout...
Category
1990s Russian Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Plywood, Paint
Whimsical Wood Sculpture by Noted NJ Artist Fred Schumm
By Fred Schumm
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A wonderful wood sculpture by the noted NJ artist Fred Scumm. It is inscribed near the base with no date. Likely from the late 1980s or early 1990s. Colorfu...
Category
Late 20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
Carved and Painted Primitive Deer
Located in Nantucket, MA
American carved and painted deer, carved from two pieces of pine
with leather ears and tail and natural antlers.
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Pine, Antler
Blue Glazed Redware Character Jug Signed, 19th Century
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
An antique folk art blue glazed redware pottery pottery jug or flask modelled as a man wears a night gown and night cap with a spout behind the man’s head wi...
Category
Late 19th Century European Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Pottery
Fiberglass Crocodile in White Paint Surface
Located in New York, NY
Modern "Folk Art" crocodile made of cast fiberglass, in distressed white paint surface. Large scale makes this an impressive decorative item, probably circa 1960s. This item is built...
Category
1960s American Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Vintage Carved Wood Articulated Clown Figure
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Chunky hand carving with simple facial detailing a pointed hat. Found in the southern US. Presented on a custom museum stand.
Category
1930s American Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
19th Century Iron Indian Weathervane with Stand
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fantastic and rare original painted surface iron Indian weather vane, worn painted surface. Great original Directional's in iron and attached. This Indian weather vane was found in t...
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Iron
Large Papier Mâché Hippopotamus by Sergio Bustamante
Located in Palm Beach, FL
A very fun and decorative papier mâché hippopotamus by Sergio Bustamante, complete with custom pedestal. Very light and easy to handle, this hippo adds humor and taste to any room. W...
Category
1970s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Papier Mâché
Art Deco Cubist Sculpture, circa 1930
Located in Houston, TX
Whimsical Art Deco patinated metal cubist sculpture, figure, or cardholder, circa 1930s. A fabulous Art Deco Folk Art sculpture!.
Category
1930s Unknown Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Metal
One Pair of Charming Wooden Shoe Moulds Mounted as Bookends Great Character.
Located in Buchanan, MI
One pair of charming wooden shoe moulds mounted as bookends, comes with four leather bound books. Feel free to call with further questions.
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Steel
Fantastic Original Painted and Carved 19th Century Indian Plaque
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This wonderful original old surface plaque has a great old patina and a hand-carved and painted Indian chief. The Indian is in full original clothes with the feathers in his head. Wi...
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Pine
Monumental Carousel Rooster Figure
Located in New York, NY
Carousel style (19/20th Cent) carved walnut monumental rooster figure on iron stand with brass pole
Category
19th Century Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Iron, Brass
Brass Sculpture Inspired by Tribal Chinese Miao Hook Talisman
Located in New York, NY
A vintage brass sculpture, influenced by Miao Hook tribal talismans of China. It consists of two tightly wound coils connected with a stylized ...
Category
20th Century Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Brass
19th Century Finely Carved and Gilded Scotsman Counter-Top Tobacco Trade Figures
Located in Nantucket, MA
Mid-19th Century carved and decorated counter-top Tobacconist’s Trade figures, circa 1850. Each with striking detail and beautiful patina, with the original gilding rubbed well into ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Unknown Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Rare Early 18th century Irish Carved Folk Art Talbot
Located in Greenwich, CT
Very rare carved and painted wood talbot, a now extinct breed of dog often found in heraldic devices in both England and Ireland, this example in original painted surface and possess...
Category
18th Century and Earlier Irish Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Pine
Folk Art Copper Finial Set
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Designer: Unknown.
Manufacturer: Unknown.
Period or Model: Early 1920s.
Specs: Copper.
Condition:
This Folk Art copper finial set are in used ...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Copper
German Hand Carved Wood and Painted Carousel Horse with Saddle Seat 19th Century
Located in Hollywood, SC
German hand carved wood and decorative painted carousel horse with flowing mane, hairy tail, upholstered saddle seat, original glass eyes, and mounted on a wrought iron scrolled brac...
Category
19th Century German Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood, Paint
One-of -a-Kind Rooster Sculpture - France, Circa 1960s
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Impressive and characterful unique cockerel sculpture made of very heavy iron pieces.
Category
Mid-20th Century French Folk Art Sculptures
19th Century African Bronze Sculpture From Vienna Tobacco Museum
Located in Copenhagen, K
Rare bronze sculpture of native African smoking a large pipe
Provenance: Vienna Tobbacco Museum. This scultpure is pictured in the Kinsky Vienna auction catalog as # 467 or 468.
Category
19th Century Belizean Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Hand-Carved Wooden Folk Art Figures
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Kenneth Anthony Krogmeir carvings. Mr. Krogmeir was a dairy farmer from Fort Madison, Iowa. He also owned a small sawmill that he operated for personal use and for milling wood for n...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Late 19th Century Fiske Foundry Cast Iron Dog
Located in Santa Monica, CA
J.W. Fiske foundry attributed cast iron Whippet dog. Incredible white paint surface with many different layers of white paint.
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Iron
Pair of Black Smith Art Sculptures of a Bicyclist and a Hunter, circa 1900s
Located in New York, NY
Fabulous pair of hand-forged iron sculptures from a black smith, circa 1900s of man on a bicycle with a cigar and a hunter with his dog, bird and gun. T...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Iron
Wire Airplane Sculptures
Located in Darnestown, MD
Wire sculptures of two matching monoplanes. These were made by the same hand as the bicycles listed as item #U120310916064 and automobiles U120310916065. The planes measure 10 1/2" ...
Category
1930s Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wire
Direct Wood Carving of a Nude Woman
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A uniquely stylized direct wood carving of a nude woman. Unfortunately I cannot find any signature. Well executed.
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Fred Schumm Lifesize Whimsical Painted Wood Sculpture of a Nude
By Fred Schumm
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A great whimsical colorfully painted lifesize wood sculpture of a nude. The base has been re-painted black. It is signed on the leg Schumm, 1995.
The artist's statement from a 2007 article follows;
Fred Schumm does not view life through rose-colored glasses.
He doesn't have to.
Schumm, Rowan University's artist-in-residence, is a former U.S. Marine who lived through some of the most horrific battles of World War II. He served at Peleliu -- two months of carnage on a tiny Pacific atoll where 12,000 perished - and then four long months on the bloodied isle of Okinawa.
Since then, Schumm, 82, has mostly tried to see life's beauty. It's sort of like how sunlight, warm but ordinary to the naked eye, is refracted into myriad, impossibly beautiful combinations of color when viewed through a kaleidoscope.
And, like sunlight, he finds art everywhere.
"Inspiration is all around but mostly I'm inspired by the ancients," Schumm said recently. "I love Prehistoric African carvings, the works of ancient Greeks, Japanese and Chinese. I especially love Eskimo work."
The celebrated sculptor loves Eskimo work so much he once hitchhiked from his home state of Colorado to Alaska just to see native carvings.
"I wanted to see the TOTEM poles," he said. "The Alaskan Indians were fantastic artists."
Schumm, artist-in-residence since 2003, works with various hardwoods, stone, even metals. A studio in which he works at Westby Hall has pieces in various stages of completion, from an eight-foot-tall, stainless steel sculpture he calls "Aviary" to a solid, six-foot log of black locust...
Category
Late 20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
19th Century French Carousel Ride, Carved Wood Sparrow with Metal Body
Located in New York, NY
19th C. painted wood French Carousel ride, with the "body" made of iron rods. The bird figure has only one wing, as originally the other side had a spoke which connected to the cente...
Category
19th Century French Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Metal
Jill Johnston Hand-Turned Maple Vessel
By Jill Johnston
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A beautiful hand-turned maple vessel signed on the base Jill Johnston N245 3-99 and maple. It has a ring of inlaid decoration.
Category
Late 20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Maple
Rare 19th Century Cast Iron Court Jester Folk Art Hanging Sculpture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fantastic 19th century wall hanging folk sculpture of the English court jester, looks like the joker. This folky cast sculpture looks like it was somethi...
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Iron
Nude glass male dancer
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A great looking glass sculpture of a male nude dancer with incredible detail. Please see the work in the hands and feet.
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Glass
Chubac Albert, Large Painted Sculpture, Signed, Dated and Numbered
Located in Nice, Cote d' Azur
Chubac Albert (1925-2008), Sculpture,
Large iron sculpture painted in primary colors,
Signed, dated 1991 and numbered 3/3, France.
Measures : Hei...
Category
1990s French Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Iron
A Wooden Doll for a Religious Procession
Located in Washington, DC
A Wooden Doll for a Religious Procession.
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Large 19th Century Carousel Figure of a Scotsman
Located in New York, NY
Large nineteenth century large carved and painted wooden figure representing a Scottish Highlander wearing a traditional plumed cap and uniform wit...
Category
19th Century Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood, Paint
Dama a la Noche 1985 ceramic by Gadu
By Gadu
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A very unusual ceramic or terracotta with hollow eyes that bears a copper plaque on the base that reads "Dama en la Noche" Gadu. I believe the translation is lady in/of the night. It...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta
Assembly Line Folk Art Whirligig
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Amazing eight man assembly line whirligig. Attributed to an auto worker in Detroit. Fantastic original dry paint surface. Crank turns and figures move pe...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Folk Art Hunter Carving, circa 1930s
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Hand-carved wooden Folk Art hunter with a sheet metal hat. Original red, white and black paint surface.
Category
1930s American Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Sheet Metal
Quirky American Folk Art Human Form Chair
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Have a seat! One of a kind human form chair. Wonderfully carved muscles, toes, clenched fists for support. Looks like the chair is ready to go crawling ac...
Category
1940s American Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Vintage Carved Wooden Door Panels
Located in Napa, CA
Beautifully carved Pakistani wood doors from the 17th Century. Doorway consists of 3 panels.
Category
17th Century Pakistani Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Iron Boot Scraper with Ram's Head Finial
Located in Greenwich, CT
A generous iron boot scrape with twisted shaft handle and bronze finial of a ram's head mounted on a heraldic helmet. Decorative scrolled base imprinted with "1928". In the manner...
Category
Early 20th Century English Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Iron, Bronze
Folk Art sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique folk art 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 sculptures 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, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art 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 sculptures, popular names associated with this style include Jim Rose, Tonala Pottery, Victor Anicet, and Royal Doulton. 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 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 $225,000 while the average work can sell for $1,404.