Set of Eight Folk Art Carnival Punks / Knockdown Dolls
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Folk Art carnival punks / knockdown dolls composed of canvas forms lined with cotton fur supported
Canvas, Cotton, Wood
Vintage 1940s Celluloid Carnival Kewpie Doll--6 Available
By Rose O'Neill
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
and the only place to go is in your arms. Kewpie is a brand of dolls and figurines that were conceived
Kewpie Doll W/ Teddy Bear Iron Door Stop
By Hubbly
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fun and folky Kewpie girl cast iron doorstop is quite rare and in original painted surface.Notice she is holding a teddy bear.So amazing to find one like this in undisturbed sur...
Iron
1920s Antique Double-Sided Hand-Painted Game/Carnival Wheel, New York
Located in Buffalo, NY
1920s antique double-sided hand-painted game/carnival wheel. Aranee Doll Co. New York, Nice bright
Bronze, Steel
Carnival Figures of Punch and Judy
Located in Essex, MA
Wonderful carved and painted carnival knockdown dolls of Punch and Judy
Antique Folk Art Carnival Attraction Hand Painted Sign circa 1940's
Located in Douglas Manor, NY
1677 Hand painted carnival sign world's tallest man and Tom tump In a pediment frame
Hardwood, Paint
$3,550
H 17.33 in W 16.15 in D 7.88 in
Mexican Arbol de la Vida Tree Life Dolls ColorFolk Art Ceramic Clay Candelabra
By Marco Antonio Castillo
Located in Queretaro, Queretaro
This colorful tree of life (árbol de la vida) with a toy like aspect is a unique piece by Marco Antonio Castillo, son of renowned artist Alfonso Castillo. Hand made with natural clay...
Ceramic, Clay
$228,108Sale Price|33% Off
H 51.19 in W 55.12 in D 201.58 in
Rare Victorian Firescreen with Taxidermy Hummingbirds by Henry Ward
By Henry Ward
Located in Amsterdam, NL
England, third quarter of the 19th century On two scrolling foliate feet with casters, above which a rectangular two-side glazed frame, with on top a two-sided shield with initial...
Other
Original Wood Carved Carnival Midway Poster Letterpress
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Set of three original hand-carved letterpress made by the Neal Walters Poster Company. Fantastic carnival midway scene. Games, carnival rides and acrobats. Carved with incredible det...
Wood, Paint
American Folk Art Cowboy and Horse Whirligig
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Tall one of a kind cowboy and horse spinning whirligig American Folk Art piece. Most likely from a larger folk art environment. Sheet steel construction on a large spoked farm wheel ...
Iron, Sheet Metal
Carved American Carnival Head, circa 1890s
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Finely featured carved man's head found in the southern United States. Most likely a late 19th century carnival head featured in a ball or ring toss game.
Wood
$1,996Sale Price|20% Off
H 27 in W 27 in D 2 in
Highly Unusual American Folk Art "Yale vs. Harvard" Spinning Wheel Game C. 1900
Located in Atlanta, GA
American, circa 1900. A highly unusual American folk art game board. Hand designed and painted likely in New England by an Ivy Leaguer which features a 4 corner "Yale Vs. Harvard" d...
Wood, Paint
Collection of Worldwide Traveler's Hand Carved Folk Art Masks
Located in Atlanta, GA
Collection of worldwide traveler's hand carved folk art masks, circa 1940s - 1970s, possibly earlier. We purchased the estate of an Atlanta Coca Cola executive, who traveled the worl...
Wood
Carousel Day of the Dead Ceramic Mexican Folk Art by Familia Castillo
By Marco Antonio Castillo
Located in Queretaro, Queretaro
Beautiful folk art piece made by La Familia Castillo. Handmade in clay and painted with acrylic paint. Day of the Dead theme. Created by master artisan Soledad Martha Hernández and...
Ceramic
Collection of Handmade Mexican Folk Art Masks
Located in Atlanta, GA
Collection of Handmade Mexican Folk Art Tin Masks, Mexican, circa 1950s. Each mask is unique and extremely detailed. The largest mask measures 21"H x 13"W. The smallest mask measures...
Copper, Tin
Antique American Carousel Horse Carnival Ride Attrib Charles Dare
Located in Forney, TX
A charming antique, circa 1920, American track machine carousel horse amusement ride attributed to legendary carver Charles W. Dare Company (United States), now mounted on a custom r...
Wood, Paint
1930s Amusement / Carnival Motorcycle Ride, Carousal, Merry-go-round
Located in Buffalo, NY
1930s Antique midway amusement park wooden motorcycle ride is one of the earliest produced for carousels and merry-go-rounds. Wonderful aged patina, two sided, original paint. Leathe...
Metal
1950s American Hand-Painted Carnival Ride Panel
Located in Chicago, IL
1950s American hand-painted carnival ride panel.
Mirror, Wood
$650
H 9.85 in W 11.03 in D 3.94 in
Rare Jaguar Wood Figure Found in Chilapa, Guerrero, Southern México, ca. 1940
By NONO
Located in Guadalajra, Jal
This vintage hand carved and hand painted Tiger, is presumed to have been made in or near Chilapa, Guerrero in circa 1940 in a Folk Art style. The carving has been made in a naive st...
Wood
$7,500
H 88 in W 28 in D 9 in
Early Carnival Midway 7.5 Foot Tall Game Wheel Monterey with Gooseneck Light
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Fantastic giant carnival game wheel with applied scenic Monterey theme. All original surface paint. Chunky turned stand. Measures: 7 foot . Really unique gooseneck lamp for illuminat...
Wood
Colorful Painted Carousel Style Rocking Horse
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A remarkable large scale painted rocking horse decorated in the manner of a carousel horse. The white horse with brown mane and tail wears a red saddle on a blue blanket. The rump is...
Wood
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.
At Waddesdon Manor, artist Joana Vasconcelos has installed a three-tiered patisserie inspired by the narrative tile work of her homeland. We take a look at the cake sculpture and how Portuguese tiles have been used in architecture from the 17th century to today.
The streets of fin-de-siècle Paris were set aglow with colorful poster ads, thanks to the printing techniques invented by Jules Chéret. Now, the Milwaukee Art Museum is celebrating this undersung talent in America's first solo show dedicated his exuberant works.
Expert Jeff Bridgman explains the history and meaning behind the twinkling constellations that have graced Old Glory.
The iconoclastic style setter displayed African and Oceanic art, as well as works by indigenous peoples of the Americas, alongside pieces by such major modernists as Pablo Picasso and Jackson Pollock.
Perfect for July 4th weekend, a new show at Philadelphia's Museum of the American Revolution displays an array of antique red, white and blue flags.
Designers are beginning to see this enigmatic form of folk art in a whole new light.