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
1960s Dutch Papier Mache Poodle Face Carnival Parade Head
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mid-Century unique and wonderfully fun large painted papier mache carnival head. This "Poodle Face" head resembles a poodle with a brown fur collar.
Paper
1960s Dutch Papier Mache Curious Grandpa Carnival Parade Head
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mid-Century unique and wonderfully fun large painted papier mache carnival head. This "Curious Grandpa" head resembles a man with white hair and curious facial expression, sadly the ...
Paper
1960s Dutch Papier Mache Blue Bulldog Carnival Parade Head
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mid-Century unique and wonderfully fun large painted papier mache carnival head. This "Blue Bulldog" head resembles a very grumpy little cartoon bulldog with a studded collar and loa...
Paper
1960s Dutch Papier Mache Extra Large Jovial Rasta Woman Carnival Parade Head
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mid-Century unique and wonderfully fun large painted papier mache carnival head. This extra large Jovial Rasta Woman head has an infectiously happy yet devious face.
Paper
1960s Dutch Papier Mache Extra Large Sea Devil Carnival Parade Head
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mid-Century unique and wonderfully fun large painted papier mache carnival head. This extra large "Sea Devil" head with a seahorse sticking out of the top and an eel going through th...
Paper
1960s Dutch Papier Mache Green Monster with Pipe Carnival Parade Head
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mid-Century unique and wonderfully fun large painted papier mache carnival head. This "Green Monster" head resembles a sea creature or swamp monster who enjoys smoking from his tobac...
Paper
1960s Dutch Papier Mache Blue Monster Carnival Parade Head
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large hand-painted fiberglass carnival head depicting a grumpy blue demon monster character, complete with red hair, wide-set brown eyes, yellow tusk-like protrusions, and an open ci...
Paper
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.
Wood
Mid-Century Era Molded Fiberglass Carnival Clown Head or Midway Game Component
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This formed clown head was likely a part or cover for an air tank or a component of a carnival midway game.
Fiberglass
1950's Papier mâché french theatre head
Located in Diest, BE
A 1950's rare original James Ensor style papier mâché theatre head. This item was obtained via a private collection (France).
Paper
Antique 1930s Judge Theatre Papier Mâché Head from Paris
Located in London, GB
Antique 1930s judge theatre papier mâché head from Paris This lot is a rare original 1930s papier mâché French theatre heads. This item was obtained via a private collection in Ly...
Paper
Vintage Papier-mâché Carnival Funhouse Character Head
Located in Dekalb, IL
Large hand-painted papier-mâché carnival or funhouse mask depicting a grinning male character with exaggerated facial features including a long pointed nose, wide blue eyes, black ha...
Paper
$2,320Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century Wooden Carnival, Fair or Advertisement Head of the Strongest Man
Located in Haarlem, NL
This is a very cool guy, it's a wooden head of a 19th century 'the Strongest Man of the World' attraction on a carnival or fair.
Wood
Large Early 1900's Paper Mache Carnival Head
Located in Chicago, IL
Early 1900's hand painted paper mache carnival head.
Papier Mâché, Paper
Large Early 1900's Paper Mache Carnival Head
Located in Chicago, IL
Large early 1900's hand painted paper mache carnival head.
Papier Mâché, Paper
Czechoslovakian "Oh My Deer" Papier Mache Carnival Head
Located in Charleston, SC
Hand made Czechoslovakian Papier-mâché Deer head with original inside label.
Large Vintage Carnival Clown Head Game
Located in Chicago, IL
Large vintage carnival clown head game by Game Time Company. Original paint.
Metal
Antique American Copper Unicorn Head Carnival Ride
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique American copper unicorn head carnival ride. Original finish.
Copper
Original American Early 20th Century Carnival Game Head
Located in Chicago, IL
Original early 20th century carnival game head.
Costume Head, Rooster
Located in Clear Spring, MD
A molded paper costume head from a shop in Missouri. Colorful and fun! Great for display and obviously can be worn!
Carousel Horse Head with Iron Base
Located in Middleburg, VA
A charming and whimsical carousel horse head on base. Original paint with fantastic color, patina and great character.
Lot of 20 19th Century Marionette Wooden Heads
Located in Warsaw, PL
Original collection of 20 pieces of wood marionette heads from the 19th century. Sculptured - Eastern Europe - Poland or the Czech Republic. Handmade of wood, hand painted. Head hei...
Wood
That'll Do Mule, That'll Do....
Located in Charleston, SC
Adorable carnival Mule/Horse head made of papier mache and fabric.
Metal
Carnival Figure by Colin Frooms in Pastel
Located in Bodicote, Oxfordshire
The artwork is of a person dressed in carnival costume with head gear and face mask. Where the paper has been adhered to the canvas it is separating in areas and has caused a ripplin...
Canvas, Paper
Early 20th Century Papier Mache American Carnival Head
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century papier Mache American carnival head A hand crafted early 20th century papier Mache American carnival head.
Paper
Vintage Paper Mâché Parade Carnival Head
Located in Santa Monica, CA
This giant papier mâché parade head was found in Kansas. Most likely used for a department store Thanksgiving or Christmas parade or Mardi Gras festivities. This bad boy has been the...
Composition
Vintage French Papier Mache Brightly Painted Carnival Heads
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A variety of large brightly-painted vintage French papier mâché Carnival or ‘caricature’ type heads.
Paper
1960s Dutch Papier Mache Blue Bulldog Carnival Parade Head
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mid-Century unique and wonderfully fun large painted papier mache carnival head. This "Blue Bulldog" head resembles a very grumpy little cartoon bulldog with a studded collar and loa...
Paper
Vintage Carnival Iron Clown Head
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Large carnival midway game clown head. Made by the Game Time Company in Litchfield, Michigan.
Carnival Or Circus Glass Eyed Tiger Head
Located in Santa Monica, CA
This paper mache tiger head from the 1920's features glass eyes and a fantastic vibrant original paint surface.
Papier Mâché, Paper
Carnival Placque Egyptian Motif, Cast Iron Head
Located in Petaluma, CA
Colorful and whimsical placque from a carnival is made out of wood and has the rare and desirable feature of a cast iron head of an Egyptian woman.
Wood
Huge Vintage Papier Mâché Carnival Parade Head, 1950s
Located in Hastings, GB
Huge papier mâché carnival 'Big Head' Handmade vintage carnival parade head circa 1950s In good condition for age Dimensions Are as close as possible, a very awkward shap...
Vintage Carnival Papier Mâché Head with Moveable Teeth
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very unique head from a carnival. Great coloring and condition.
Paper
Sold
H 42 in W 25 in D 31 in
Large Fiberglass Elephant Head, Carnival Trash Can Lid / Cover Venice Calif
By Arcade International, Architectural Fiberglass
Located in Buffalo, NY
Large Whimsical Fiberglass Elephant head, carnival trash can lid / cover, manufactured by the International Fiferglass Company, Venice California.
Fiberglass
Rare Early 20th Century Carnival Wooden Horse Figures from Mexico
Located in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
Collector's sculpture pieces. Carnival carved horse head from Veracruz, Mexico. Used for ceremonial dances and festivities.
Wood
Large Painted Wooden Donkey Head
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Wonderfully animated painted donkey head. Likely from a carnival or amusement park environment.
Wood
Winston Churchill Papier Mâché Head
Located in London, GB
Huge paper mâché Carnival / Fairground Winston Churchill decorative rare item The item for sale is a very rare vintage circa 1970s English handmade life-size carnival Winston Chur...
Paper
Carved Wood Ventriloquist Dummy Head
Located in Santa Monica, CA
The eyes on this amazing ventriloquist dummy head can be moved up and down by pulling on the metal ring. His mouth can be opened by hand and will spring closed. Found in Peoria, IL.
Wire
Herschell Spillman Cast Iron Vintage Carousel Heads
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Fantastic set of three Herschell Spillman carousel rounding board heads. Cast iron faces with wood board backs. All in original park paint. Each face/board measures 12" across by 15"...
Iron
Mid-20th Century Papier Mache Theatre Head
Located in London, GB
Mid-20th century papier mache theatre head We are proud to offer a mid-20th century hand crafted papier mache theatre head. In the form of a bull this example is made from papier...
Paper
Cast Iron Herschell-Spillman Iron Carousel Head
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Great early American Carousel rounding board sheild made by the Herschell-Spillman Carousel Company. Great original park paint on original wood sheild.
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.