Carnival Midway Sideshow Banner
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Original hand-painted canvas sideshow banner for carnival midway sideshow entrance. Not signed but most likely out of Chicago Tent and Awning's banner shop.
Canvas
Vintage Late 19th Century Canvas Circus Carnival Midway Folk Art Sideshow Banner
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Very early American circus or carnival Sideshow Banner, circa 1890-1900. Fantastic paint detail.
Canvas
Early 20th Century Circus Banner
Located in Brecht, BE
For magician and circus lovers. This early 20th century circus banner. Hand painted on canvas.
Linen
Signed Snap Wyatt Sideshow Banner
By Snap Wyatt
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Fantastic "Plenty For Two" sideshow banner painted by Snap Wyatt. Great manageable size.
Iron
1950s "Prince Buddah" Circus Sideshow Banner
Located in Chicago, IL
1950s "Prince Buddah" circus sideshow banner.
Iron
American Sideshow "Double" Banner by Johnny Meah
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Vividly painted American sideshow banner with larger than life subject matter. Painted by the self-titled Czar of Bizarre, Johnny Meah. Both banners are signed. The Harold huge banne...
Canvas
American Sideshow Wondercade Circus Banner Signed J. Sigler
By Sigler Studios
Located in Santa Monica, CA
A personal favorite! 15 1/2 feet tall. American "Wondercade" sideshow banner. Painted and signed by J. Sigler. One of the great American sideshow banner artists. Death defying! This ...
Canvas
Early Sunshine Studios American Side Show Electric Chair Banner
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Early example of American sideshow banner art. Painted at the Sunshine Studio in Witchita, Kansas by Geo Bellis. Signed by artist on front and studio name on front and back. This ban...
Canvas
O'Henry Fred Johnson Salem Witch Trials Sideshow Spider Girl Banner
Located in Santa Monica, CA
O'Henry Tent and Awning sideshow banner with original shipping tag. Unusual subject matter and fantastic story from the Salem witch trails to Spider Girl. This banner appears to have...
Canvas
Mankillers Circus Banner
By Snap Wyatt
Located in Toronto, ON
Vibrantly colored circus promotional banner featuring python and jungle maidens.
Metal
Circus Peanuts Banner
Located in San Francisco, CA
Wonderful and hugely scaled Circus Peanuts banner from the 40s !
Cotton
Circa 1930 Canvas Astrology Banner
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Circa 1930 hand painted canvas carnival astrology banner with detailed renditions of each of the twelve astrological signs, losses to entire edge, minor field damage, new archival fr...
Canvas, Wood
Vintage Sideshow Banner by Fred Johnson
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage hand painted sideshow banner by Fred Johnson. It is signed.
Leather, Canvas
1950s Circus Sideshow Banner "Prince Buddah"
Located in Chicago, IL
1950s circus sideshow banner "Prince Buddah".
Iron
Vintage Sideshow Banner "Hippolyta" by Snap Wyatt
By Snap Wyatt
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage hand painted sideshow banner "Hippolyta" by Snap Wyatt. It is signed.
Leather, Canvas
Master Hypnotist Banner by Fred G. Johnson
By Fred G. Johnson
Located in Toronto, ON
'Master Hypnotist" Sideshow banner painted by Fred Johnson commissioned by Harold J Potter. Near mint condition. Signed by Johnson.
Metal
Master Mentalist Sideshow Banner by Fred G Johnson
By Fred G. Johnson
Located in Toronto, ON
Large banner by Johnson commissioned by Harold J Potter. Signed by Johnson.
Metal
Veteran Ventriloquist Sideshow Banner By Fred G Johnson
By Fred G. Johnson
Located in Toronto, ON
Veteran Ventriloquist painted banner by Fred G. Johnson commissioned by Harold J. Potter.
Metal
Eccentric Escapeologist Sideshow Banner by Fred G. Johnson
By Fred G. Johnson
Located in Toronto, ON
Large sideshow banner painted by Fred g Johnson, commissioned by Harold J Potter. Signed by Johnson.
Metal
Large Hand Painted Dancing Tent Carnival Banner
Located in Culver City, CA
Hand painted large carnival banner from the dancing tent.
Fabric
Sold
H 105.52 in W 118.9 in D 0.2 in
Huge vintage 1970s / 1980s French painted fairground / carnival banner- makeup
Located in Hastings, GB
Huge late 1970s/ early 1980s French painted fairground / carnival / sideshow banner. Presumably part of an American themed ride or attraction, it's decorated with cool girls, makeup,...
Canvas
C. 1930s American Sideshow Phrenology Banner
Located in Santa Monica, CA
"We Tell You All"! Fantastic carnival midway sideshow banner. Great subject matter and very manageable size for a carnival banner.
Hand-Painted Carnival Sideshow Banner
Located in Peekskill, NY
If you collect this type of banner then you already know how well done this original is. The quality of the painting is as good as they get. We could not find a signature but can gue...
American Carnival Sideshow Banner "CRIME" c. 1920's Chicago
Located in Santa Monica, CA
CRIME banner from American carnival midway sideshow. Appropriately painted by the Driver Brothers banner company in Chicago.
Leather
Rare "Cheating At Poker" Carnival or Circus Sideshow Banner
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Early 20th century sideshow banner with an extremely unusual subject matter. Painted and signed by E. J. Hayden & Co Inc, Studios, 106-110 Bway, Bklyn, NY.
Iron
Jumbo London Zoo Sideshow Banner
Located in Pease pottage, West Sussex
Wonderful late 19th-early 20th century sideshow or advertising banner, oil on thick oilcloth canvas, depicting Jumbo the elephant. With the flying banner saying London Zoo Circus, We...
"Bengal Tiger" Circus Banner, circa 1940s
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Rare side show banner from 1940s circus - large scale "Bengal Tiger" Hand painted oil on heavy canvas with original wooden stretcher and Signed by artist Fantastic patina.
Canvas
"Jungle Killers" Circus Banner, circa 1940s
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Gigantic Side Show Banner from 1940s Circus - "Jungle Killers" Hand painted oil on heavy canvas with original wooden stretcher with signature from artist. Wonderful patina Mea...
Canvas
Flea Circus Canvas Banner, circa 1950s
Located in Gloucester, GB
Flea circus canvas banner, circa 1950s - Hand painted on heavy canvas - English, 1950s - Measures: 212 cm wide x 85 cm tall Condition report Some age marks and loose threa...
Canvas
Original Coney Island Sideshow Banner Millard & Bulsterbaum
By Hillard Bulsterbaum
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Original Coney Island side show banner from Sam Wagners World Sideshow c. 1930's. "Voltess - the girl who defies electricity" sideshow act. This side show was said to have drawn cr...
Canvas Fortune Teller Sideshow Banner, circa 1950s
Located in Gloucester, GB
Canvas fortune teller sideshow banner, circa 1950s - Hand painted on wax canvas - Mustard yellow background - Red lettering - English, 1950s - Measures: 66cm wide x 92cm tall...
Canvas Escape Artist Sideshow Banner, circa 1950s
Located in Gloucester, GB
Canvas escape artist sideshow banner, circa 1950s - Hand painted on wax canvas - Mustard yellow background - Red lettering - English ~ 1950s - 66c m wide x 92cm tall. Cond...
Gigantic "Rubber Girl" Circus Banner, circa 1940s
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Gigantic Side Show Banner from 1940s Circus - "The Indian Rubber Girl" Hand painted oil on heavy canvas with original wooden stretcher. Lots of expected wear due to age. "Be...
Canvas
God Save The King Coronation Banner, 1937
Located in Pease pottage, West Sussex
Large English 1937 Coronation banner used on the 12th May 1937 during the coronation of George vi. Wonderful vibrant colors, as expected some blemishes. British Made stamped. Hung fr...
Vintage Johnny Meah Sideshow Banner "A Tidal Wave Of Fun"
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Miss Peggy's day at the beach....forever immortalized by Johnny Meah....one of the great master sideshow banner artists. This beauty is big and bold!
Iron
Sold
H 96 in W 360 in D 0.5 in
Monumental 1940s Americana Painted Circus Banner by O. Henry Tent & Awning
By O. Henry Tent and Awning Co., Fred G. Johnson
Located in Queens, NY
Thirty foot-long American painted side show circus banner depicting a colorful array of different circus performers. The banner is signed by Fred Johnson-O Henry Tent & Awning, Chicago.
Canvas
Sold
H 1.23 in W 0.95 in L 1.23 in
1930s American Painted Circus Canvas Carnival Strange Girls Freakshow Sideshow
Located in Haarlem, NL
Antique American hand painted circus carnival canvas or banner to announce a sideshow with "Strange Girls".
Leather, Canvas
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.