What are the types of wood carving?

There 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.

What is Chinese wood carving?

A 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 Chinese seal carving?

Chinese seal carving refers to the traditional art of engraving the active side of a stamp or seal. Typically, the seals were made using stone, but bamboo, bone and wood could also be used. On 1stDibs, you can find a collection of authentic Chinese seal carvings from some of the world’s top sellers.

What is Jepara wood carving?

Jepara 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?

A 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?

Japanese 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.

How do you identify wood carvings?

To 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.

What is the difference between wood carving and sculpture?

The 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.

What wood is used for carving in Bali?

In 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.

How can I tell if carved wood is antique?

Antique 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.

How can you tell if wood is hand-carved?

To 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?

What 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.

What wood is used for carving in Indonesia?

In 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.

What wood is used for African carvings?

What 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.

What are carved wood figures in African art?

Carved 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.

Chinese Wood Carving

Chinese Giltwood Carved

Mid Century Asian Carved

Soapstone Chinese Furniture

Antique Chinese Sculpture

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Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Sculptures and Carvings

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Chinese Wood Carving For Sale on 1stDibs

With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the Chinese wood carving you’re looking for. Each Chinese wood carving for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using wood, stone and metal. There are 740 variations of the antique or vintage Chinese wood carving you’re looking for, while we also have 5 modern editions of this piece to choose from as well. You’ve searched high and low for the perfect Chinese wood carving — we have versions that date back to the 18th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 21st Century are available. A Chinese wood carving made by folk art designers — as well as those associated with mid-century modern — is very popular. Many designers have produced at least one well-made Chinese wood carving over the years, but those crafted by Ebanista and Liberty of London are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much is a Chinese Wood Carving?

The average selling price for a Chinese wood carving at 1stDibs is $1,869, while they’re typically $44 on the low end and $774,985 for the highest priced.

Finding the Right Sculptures-carvings for You

Asian sculptors have worked in materials including wood, bronze and jade. Artists and artisans have used traditional techniques to depict deities, scenes from culture and more, and today, antique Asian sculptures and carvings are a popular choice for provocative and sophisticated home decor.

In China, the Qing dynasty, from the mid-17th century to the early 20th century, brought about significant changes in art while preserving traditional culture. Many emperors during this period were patrons of the arts, such as painting, calligraphy and decorative arts. This era saw the building of new Buddhist temples, which were decorated with statues. Some of these sculptures were adorned with colorful cloisonné decoration, in which tiny compartments, or cloisons, made by soldering copper filaments to a metal surface were filled with vibrantly hued enamel.

From the 17th to mid-19th century in Japan, kimonos were worn across classes and often fastened with a netsuke, a type of small carved toggle. Artists carved these from ivory, wood, shells and coral, creating animals, flowers and mythical creatures. During the Japanese Meiji period, spanning from 1868–1912, the country began trading internationally after centuries of isolation, allowing artists to sell their work overseas. Bronze sculpture flourished around this time for creating teapots, vases and incense burners.

Asian sculpture continued to evolve in the 20th century. During the Japanese Shōwa era, from 1926–89, art was influenced by international modernist movements like abstraction, Futurism and Surrealism. Contemporary Asian sculptures and carvings continue to combine global influences and a rich heritage of technique.

Decorating a space with Asian sculptures and carvings is a great way to add interest to any corner of your home. Explore by material, period or style on 1stDibs.

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