Carved Wood Appliques
Antique Late 17th Century French Louis XIV Wall-mounted Sculptures
Wood
Vintage 1980s Canadian Post-Modern Abstract Sculptures
Bronze, Lead
Late 20th Century British Aesthetic Movement Animal Sculptures
Multi-gemstone, Rock Crystal, Gold, Silver
Recent Sales
20th Century Spanish Neoclassical Sculptures
Wood
Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Figurative Sculptures
Wood
Early 20th Century Baroque Sculptures
Wood, Paint
Antique Late 18th Century Spanish Baroque Figurative Sculptures
Wood
Early 20th Century Italian Baroque Architectural Elements
Wood
Late 20th Century Namibian Folk Art Mounted Objects
Bronze
Antique Early 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Revival Figurative Sculp...
Gesso, Wood
Antique 19th Century South American Spanish Colonial Wall-mounted Sculpt...
Wood, Giltwood
Vintage 1950s Italian Decorative Art
Wood
Vintage 1960s Spanish Animal Sculptures
Wood
Antique Early 18th Century Belgian Baroque Figurative Sculptures
Gold Leaf
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Organic Modern Globes
Metal
Vintage 1970s Animal Sculptures
Bronze
Vintage 1950s Italian Figurative Sculptures
Gold Leaf
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Wall-mounted Sculptures
Carved Wood Appliques For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Carved Wood Appliques?
Finding the Right Sculptures for You
Styling your home with vintage, new and antique sculptures means adding a touch that can meaningfully transform the space. By introducing a sculptural work as a decorative finish to any interior, you’re making a statement, whether you tend toward the dramatic or prefer to keep things casual with modest, understated art.
A single, one-of-a-kind three-dimensional figurative sculpture mounted on your dining room wall is a guaranteed conversation piece, while a trio of abstract works arranged on your living room bookshelves can add spontaneity to the collection of first-edition novels or artist monographs you’re displaying as well as draw attention to them. Figurative sculptures are representational works that portray a specific person, animal or object. And while decorating with busts, which are sculpted or cast figurative works, hasn’t exactly topped the list of design trends every year, busts are back. According to designer Timothy Corrigan, “They give humanity in a way that a more abstract sculpture can’t give.” Abstract sculptures, on the other hand, are not meant to show something specific. Instead, they invoke a mood or scene without directly stating what they are portraying.
Busts made of stone or metal may not seem like a good fit for your existing decor. Fortunately, there are many ways for a seemingly incongruous piece to fit in with the rest of your room’s theme. You can embrace a dramatic piece by making it the focal point of the room, or you can choose to incorporate several elements made out of the same material to create harmony in your space. If an antique or more dramatic piece doesn’t feel like you, why not opt for works comprising plastic, fiberglass or other more modern materials?
When incorporating sculpture into the design of your home — be it the playful work of auction hero and multimedia visionary KAWS, contemporary fiber art from Connecticut dealer browngrotta arts or still-life sculpture on a budget — consider proper lighting, which can bring out the distinctive aspects of your piece that deserve attention. And make sure you know how the size and form of the sculpture will affect your space in whole. If you choose a sculpture with dramatic design elements, such as sharp angles or bright colors, for example, try to better integrate this new addition by echoing those elements in the rest of your room’s design.
Get started on decorating with sculpture now — find figurative sculptures, animal sculptures and more on 1stDibs today.
- What is Chinese wood carving?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022A Chinese wood carving is a decorative object carved by hand by Chinese artisans out of local wood, such as nanmu, zitan, bomu or yinxing. This form of sculpture is sometimes called mudiao. On 1stDibs, find a range of Chinese wood carvings.
- What is Jepara wood carving?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Jepara wood carving is the intricate wood carving art that comes from the city of Jepara in Indonesia. Artisans typically work with teak wood to create beautiful carved detail and scenes in a piece of furniture. Shop a collection of Jepara wood carvings on 1stDibs.
- What is a Paete wood carving?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023A Paete wood carving is a decorative wooden object produced by artisans in Paete, Philippines. In 2005, the village was officially dubbed the Woodcarving Capital of the Philippines due to the intricate sculptures and statues produced there. Shop a variety of wood art from some of the world’s top galleries on 1stDibs.
- What is Japanese wood carving?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Japanese wood carving is an art form in which artists produce intricate figurines and other objects by cutting and shaping blocks of zelkova, camphor or paulownia wood. In Japanese, the artwork is known as inami. Find a selection of Japanese wood carvings on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 4, 2024To identify wood carvings, get a magnifying glass and inspect your items. Some artisans marked their carvings with symbols or signed them. Researching any markings found on your carving may allow you to identify the maker who produced it and potentially learn more about the piece from there. If you're unable to find a maker's mark, the best approach is likely to use the services of a certified appraiser or other knowledgeable expert. On 1stDibs, explore a selection of wood carvings.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022There are many methods and types of wood carving, including chip, relief, Scandinavian flat-plane, lovespoon, whittling and florentine. Each type uses different tools and can create decorative carvings on both display pieces and furniture. Browse a wide range of carved wood pieces on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Antique carved wood can be identified by how it is made. Antique carvings were done by hand, so nicks and cuts will indicate carvings completed with a plane or knife. In addition, hand-carved wood will not be uniform or have perfect symmetry. Always works with a certified appraiser to determine the exact date and value of an item. Find a variety of antique carved wood furniture and decor on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertJune 15, 2023To tell if wood is hand-carved, first look for small marks in the wood that indicate hand tools were used to cut and shape the material. Hand-carved pieces may also have small irregularities, particularly along curved areas. However, it may be very difficult to tell the difference between machine-worked and hand-carved pieces in some cases. On 1stDibs, shop a range of wood furniture and decorative objects.
- What is carved wood art called?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 3, 2023What carved wood art is called depends on the type of piece. Three-dimensional pieces created by hand-carving wood are whittlings, while carvings into a flat piece of wood are reliefs. Shop a collection of wood art from some of the world's top galleries on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022In Bali, Indonesia, Jackfruit is considered the best wood when it comes to carving. Jackfruit is a medium hardwood, resistant to termite attacks and is easy to polish. You’ll find a variety of Indonesian carvings from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 31, 2023What wood is used for African wood carvings varies. Iroko, mahogany and ebony are frequently chosen materials, but artisans may choose to work with whatever wood is available in their local areas. Shop a variety of African wood art from some of the world's top galleries on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertOctober 19, 2021The difference between carving and sculpture is that carving is a carved object, whereas sculpture is the art of shaping figures or designs — because sculpture can involve adding material (i.e., working with plaster, creating a mold to be cast in bronze), it is considered “additive” versus the “subtractive” act of carving.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022In Bali, many different types of woods are used for carving. Some examples include albesia, crocodile wood, rain tree, hibiscus, jackfruit, teak, mahogany and sandalwood. On 1stDibs, you can shop a range of Balinese wood art, furniture and decorative objects.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Carved African wood figurines were typically spiritual in nature and were primarily in human form. The wood figurines were carved using ebony, teak, mahogany and iron wood. On 1stDibs, find a collection of authentic African wood figurines from some of the world’s top sellers.
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