Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
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
1992 Vaillancourt Folk Art Chalkware Father Christmas Santa Claus #1219
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage 1992 Vaillancourt Folk Art chalkware figurine #1219 of Father Christmas or Santa Claus dressed in green and gold with a peaked hood and red gl...
Category
1990s Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Ceramic
Black and Gold Lacquered Thai Elephant Sculpture
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Black and Gold Lacquered Thai Elephant sculpture.
This small elephant sculpture was handcrafted and hand-painted with several coats of glossy...
Category
Late 20th Century Thai Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Fruitwood
Boston Terrier Heavy Cast Iron Doorstop
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sweet faced Boston Terrier cast iron doorstop. This doorstop is very heavy with great patina. The Boston Terrier hasa very soft look due to the wear.
Category
20th Century North American Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Iron
Australian Aboriginal Carved Ancestor Figure with Ochre Paint
Located in Atlanta, GA
Hand-carved wood ancestor figure with surface pictorial carving showing kangaroo hunting and decorated with black and red paint and white and yellow ocher pigment. The figure slightly leans forward as made.
The piece was carved by aboriginal artist...
Category
Early 2000s Australian Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
Lot of Five Vintage Swedish Dala Rooster Chicken by Nils Olsson, Sweden Folk Art
By Nils Olsson
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This offer is for a collection of five Swedish Dala rooster Chicken by Nils Olsson. Each is hand carved painted wood. Nice display item for every room. Th...
Category
1970s Swedish Vintage Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood, Paint
20th C. Hand Carved Egyptian Revival Folk Art Bali Cat Sculpture Statue
Located in Dayton, OH
20th century hand carved folk art wooden cat form sculpture or statue. Features a knockdown design with elegant form. Features pointy claws, curled tale an...
Category
20th Century Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Hardwood, Paint
Very Large Example of a Tonala Cat, Artist Signed
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is an exceptionally large Tonala figure of a cat. The piece is artist signed and most probably dates to the 1960s-1980s. The cat is beautifully mold...
Category
20th Century Mexican Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Clay
19th Century Welsh Folk Art Column Form
Located in London, GB
19th Century Welsh Folk art Column Form
Really quite extraordinary piece of Welsh folk art, "The Marquess of Angleseys Column" dating mid to late 19th Century. Constructed from carv...
Category
Early 19th Century British Antique Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Slate
Rare Large Vintage Swedish Dala Rooster Chicken by Nils Olsson, Sweden Folk Art
By Nils Olsson
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This offer is for a Swedish Dala rooster Chicken by Nils Olsson. It is hand carved painted wood. Nice display item for every room.
Category
1970s Swedish Vintage Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood, Paint
Antique Folk Art Ornately Carved Wooden Picture Frame with Birds & Flowers
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This ornately hand-carved picture frame is unsigned, but presumed to have originated from Eastern Europe, and date to approximately 1920 and done in a Folk Art style. The frame is co...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Softwood
Mid Century Sculptural Hand Carved & Painted Wooden Buddha
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous hand carved & painted 40 inch tall wooden Buddha. Polychrome decorations with Gilt.
Brightly colored and in prayer. Heavy and well executed. In excellent vintage condition ...
Category
1970s Central Asian Vintage Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Hardwood, Paint
Folk Art Carved Panel of Two Brothers Titled: "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother"
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This vintage folk art carved panel is signed in several places by an unknown artist, and presumed to have originated from North America, likely Canada, but possibly the United States...
Category
Mid-20th Century Canadian Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Oak
"Wallace" Skating at the Park, Fine Craft Painted Rabbit, Canada, Circa 1997
Located in Chatham, ON
"Wallace" Skating at the Park - Fine craft raw wood sculpture with a painted finish highlighted with India ink - made from a solid pine branch with...
Category
Late 20th Century Canadian Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Softwood, Paint
Rare Painted Steel Folk / Outsider Art Sculpture by Robert Gilkerson, USA 1982
Located in Hastings, GB
Scarce welded & painted steel sculpture by Robert Gilkerson, a renowned artist in the Folk Art / Outsider Art scene in 1980s USA. Signed RG & dat...
Category
1980s American Vintage Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Steel
Manuel Sandoval Valez Latin American Figurative Ceramic Sculpture of a Newsboy
Located in Miami, FL
Manuel Sandoval Valez Latin American figurative Ceramic sculpture of a newsboy
Offered for sale is a folk art-style terracotta ceramic sculpture of a newsboy by Manuel Sandoval Va...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Peruvian Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Ceramic, Terracotta
Antique Hand-Carved Folk Art Picture or Mirror Frame with Beaver & Leaves
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique hand-carved frame is unsigned, but originated from Canada and dates to approximately 1880 and done in the period Folk Art style. The frame is composed of solid walnut an...
Category
Late 19th Century Canadian Antique Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Walnut
Folk Art Sculpture of the Head of a Seal, South America, 1930´s
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Folk Art sculpture of the head of a seal. South America 1930´s.
The head is mounted over a brass base, as a way to exhibit it.
The head has several crack as you can see on the pict...
Category
Mid-20th Century Argentine Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Bronze
Early 20th Century Scratch Built Church Model
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century scratch built Church model
We share what we love, and we love this scratch-built pine model of a church. Hand carved detail with gla...
Category
Early 1900s British Antique Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Pine
Vintage Brazilian Hand-Carved Ironwood Sculpture of Whale and a Shark
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Brazilian hand carved Ironwood sculpture of a whale and a shark.
Hand carved Brazilian sculpture hand crafted in amazing detail from one of...
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
David Segel 1970s 3-D Wooden Double Kiot Folk Art Sculpture
By David Segel
Located in Monrovia, CA
David Segel 3-D wooden folk art / Gothic sculpture, signed, titled and numbered ''RIBALD #1
David Segel, well known Artist of Venice, Ca and throughout Paris, France has hand-scul...
Category
Late 20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Metal
Cow Bull Folk Art Speculaas Springerle Cookie or Butter Mold Antique, German
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic late 19th century wooden gingerbread cookie or speculaas springerle mold, circa 1890 (cow bull ox). Made of hand carved wood. Found at an esta...
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
Mid-Century Era Signed West Coast Cedar Haida Indigenous Canadian Totem Pole
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This hand-carved cedar totem is signed by an unknown artist and presumed to have originated from Canada and dating to approximately 1960 and done in the West Coast Indigenous Haida s...
Category
Mid-20th Century Canadian Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Cedar
Folk Art / Pop-Art Comic Strip Papier Mache Teddy Bear Sculpture
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine folk-art papier-mache sculpture.
In the form of a teddy bear.
The papier mache appears to be from various 20th Century Philippine comic books, such as Superkat by L.S. M...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Paper, Plaster
19th Century, English Folk-Art Stick Handle
Located in London, GB
19th Century Folk-art stick handle.
Made from a single piece of hand carved pine, detailing a hand holding a cricket ball, with geometric patterns to the shaft section. Likely to ...
Category
19th Century British Antique Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Pine
Vintage Wood Giraffe Sculpture, c. 1930-1950
Located in Kastrup, DK
A charming vintage wooden giraffe. Hand-carved from hardwood (tropical wood) with brown and black painted surface.
From Africa, c. 50-100 years...
Category
Early 20th Century African Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
Antique Ghanian Ashanti Style Stool with Leopard Carved, Africa
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Carved Antique African Leopard Ashanti Style Stool.
Early 20th Century Ghanaian Ashanti style leopard stool.
Animal leopard stool hand-carved wood from ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Ghanaian Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
Eric Tardif 'Bird' Walnut Wood Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
Eric Tardif (Canadian, b. 1965) bent walnut wood sculpture of an abstracted crane bird with brass eyes, mounted on a black granite stone base, si...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
Early 20th Century Folk Art Fairground Elephant
Located in London, GB
Early 20th Century Folk Art Fairground Elephant
We share what we love, and we love this charming and naively formed early 20th century hand craved fairground ride figure. With a de...
Category
1920s British Vintage Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
19th C Bronze German Sheppard Doorstop
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th C bronze German sheppard doorstop. Great condition.
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Bronze
Tall Floor Standing Brier Ash Tray, by Philippe Fulon
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Tall floor standing brier ash tray, by Philippe Fulon.
A good Atisanal piece made in brier with turned base and ash tray holder, the ash tray comes ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
Sergio Bustamante Early Lion Papier-mâché Sculpture Hand-painted, 1975
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Sergio Bustamante (20th century, Mexican) life sized paper mache lion from the early years of his Family Workshop Studio in Tlequepaque, Jalisco, Mexi...
Category
Late 20th Century Mexican Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Paper
Hand Carved & Hand Painted Rooster Sculpture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hand carved & hand painted rooster sculpture. Very folky rooster.
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
Folk Art Hand-Made Iron Rooster
Located in Chicago, IL
A mischievous 20th century American folk art rooster sculpture with a wonderful disposition, and beautiful rusted finish. Perfect indoors or out!
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Iron
Antique Gnome Sculpture "Digging For Gold" Original Paint
Located in South Burlington, VT
Digging For Gold- Rare Form
Gardener's Best Friend - As American as Apple Pie
An American garden friendly elf or gnome- hand cast double sided form and hand painted. Imagine this fellow going about his business digging in your garden - perhaps burying gold treasure...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Iron
Early 19th Century Religious Folk Art Scene
Located in London, GB
Early 19th century religious folk art scene
We share what we love, and we love this early 19th century folk art hand carved example of a painted shepherd religious scene. Detailed on pine base with a cow, angel, house, and shepherd holding a walking stick. Naïve in construction yet a piece of religious art in our opinion. Likely to have been part of a religious display...
Category
1820s Spanish Antique Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Pine
Early 20th Century, Circus Balancing Balls
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century circus balancing balls.
We share what we love, and we love these rare early 20th century hand crafted wood and glass mirror English circus balancing balls. Each section is hand crafted using pins...
Category
1920s British Vintage Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Mirror, Wood
English fairground panel
Located in London, GB
English fairground panel
We share what we love, and we love this very well carved turn off the century fairground rounders panel/frieze, depicting a...
Category
19th Century British Antique Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
Jeri Summers Folk Art Sculptures, Set of 3
Located in Saint Paul, MN
Naive in nature, this set of 3 figures by Ohio artist Jeri Summers is reminiscent of tribal sculptures that decorate Parisian interiors. Each sculpture is...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Concrete, Metal
20th C. South Indian Life Sized Carved Peacock Sculpture Statue Folk Art
Located in Dayton, OH
20th century South Indian carved and painted peacock statue. A Folk Art sculpture hand carved on a plinth base. Features bright colors of yellow, green,...
Category
20th Century Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Hardwood, Paint
Wall Mounted Found Objects Sculpture by Mayer Spivack Dated 1975
Located in Peabody, MA
We recently acquired a collection of mid to late 20th century sculptures by the Newton, Massachusetts artist, psychotherapist and inventor Mayer Spivack. A lifelong innovator and cre...
Category
1970s American Vintage Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Metal
Sculpture in Burnt Wood 'Ofrenda I' by Carmworks
Located in Paris, FR
Sculpture in burnt wood 'Ofrenda I' by Camilo Andres Rodriguez Marquez (aka CarmWorks)
Solid oak or cedar / burnt wood or natural
Signed and numbered by the artist.
--
Cami...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Colombian Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Cedar, Oak
Vintage Signed Quebec Folk Art Carved Burlwood Wall Sculpture of a Bearded Man
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This folk art wall sculpture is signed by Noel Guay a Quebec wood carver of Canada and dates to approximately 1960 and done in the Quebec folk art styl...
Category
Mid-20th Century Canadian Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Pine
Mexican Terracotta Articulated Doll Figure, 1920's
Located in Stamford, CT
Amusing Mexican terracotta doll figure with articulated limbs. Since it is solid terracotta it is likely this is a mold from which other dolls were made. As a folk art sculpture it i...
Category
Early 20th Century Mexican Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Terracotta
Contemporary Hunting Dog Painted Iron Sculpture by José Jerónimo
Located in Coimbra, PT
Hunting Dog by José Jerónimo single piece of art.
Iron sculpture with use of tools and other objects.
Dimensions 22,00 x 10,00 x 42,00 cm
Private collection.
Category
Late 20th Century Portuguese Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Metal, Iron
Vintage Sculpture of an American Eagle Carved in Seri Ironwood
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Sculpture of an American Eagle Carved in Seri Ironwood.
Vintage hand carved Ironwood Southwestern seri sculpture of an Eagle.
Dimensions: 5.5" x 3.5". circa 1970.
Ironwood hand carved eagle or falcon...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
Sergio Bustamante 1970's Paper Mache Giraffe
Located in Guadalajara, Jalisco, MX
Beautiful hand-crafter paper mache bust sculpture of a Giraffe by Mexican Artist Sergio Bustamante from his 1970's period.
Overall great condition, t...
Category
1970s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Paper
Antique Folk Art Horse Sculpture
Located in Sheffield, MA
Wonderfully charming hand-carved 19th Century American folk art horse sculpture on stand. Pay special attention to its face and the carved details to appreciate this fine specimen. ...
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
Terracotta Articulated Doll Santos Figure
Located in Stamford, CT
Amusing Mexican terracotta doll figure with articulated limbs. Since it is solid terracotta it is likely this is a mold from which other dolls were made. As a folk art sculpture it i...
Category
Early 20th Century Mexican Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Terracotta
Folk Art Tree Branch Tabletop Easel
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Tabletop easel composed of tree branches nailed together (ca. Mid-20th century, USA).
Wonderful American Folk Art craft in the Adirondack / Rustic styl...
Category
1950s American Vintage Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Metal
Hand Carved and Painted Large Vintage Wood Duck Decoy, Early 20th Century
Located in Studio City, CA
A fantastic early to Mid-20th Century handmade duck or mallard decoy with a swivel neck and glass eyes.
Would be a great addition to any collection o...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood, Paint
Collection of Nine Vintage Swedish Dala Horses by Nils Olsson, Sweden Folk Art
By Nils Olsson
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This offer is for a collection of nine Swedish Dala Horses by Nils Olsson. These are hand carved painted wood. The largest one is approximate 10 1/2...
Category
1970s Swedish Vintage Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood, Paint
Large Oceanic Gope Carved Wooden Ancestor Spirit Board
Located in Forney, TX
An Oceanic "Gope" Papuan ancestral spirit board, 20th century, collected from the Gulf Province, Papua, New Guinea, Kerewa or Hohao village tribe.
Hand...
Category
20th Century Papua New Guinean Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Metal
Chinese Lanzhou Gourd Carving with Macrame Cord on Root Stand Sculpture
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Chinese Lanzhou Gourd carving with macrame cord on root stand sculpture.
Early 20th century large engraved and carved Chinese Lanzhou gourd. Dramatic des...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
Mid-Century Quebec Folk Art Carved & Polychrome Pahined Robed Clergyman & Child
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This hand-carved wooden sculpture is unsigned, but presumed to have originated from Quebic Canada and date to approximately 1950 and done in the period Folk Art style. The sculpture ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Canadian Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Pine
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Carved Wood Chain
Located in Chicago, IL
Don't let your eyes fool you, you're not looking at a boring iron chain. This is a stunning early 20th century American Folk Art fourteen foot long wooden chain...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
Carved Basswood Basset Hound Dog Sculpture Statue John Garton JD Adkins
Located in Dayton, OH
"Hand carved and painted basswood seated basset hound by John R Garton and Joe D. Adkins of Petersburg, West Virginia, USA, circa 2014.
John R. Garton picked up a carving tool in...
Category
Late 20th Century Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Hardwood, Paint
Early 20th Century French Folk Art Model
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century folk art model
'EST-CE UN PIETON OU UNE VOITURE?' (IS IT A PEDESTRIAN OR A CAR?)
An Early 20th century French hand carved folk art model, depicting a police...
Category
Early 20th Century French Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
Grand Scale Hand Carved Wood Giraffe Sculpture on Base circa 1970's
Located in St. Louis, MO
Grand scale African folk art hand carved wood giraffe, with charred black stained spots. Appears to be carved from log. In fine vintage condition. Unsigne...
Category
1970s African Vintage Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
Folk Art sculptures and carvings for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique folk art sculptures and carvings 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 and carvings created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include folk art, decorative objects, 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 and carvings 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 and carvings, popular names associated with this style include Mosche Bianche, Jim Rose, Nils Olsson, and Benin People. 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 and carvings 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 $38,000 while the average work can sell for $1,340.
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