Carnival Art

Len “Spider” Austin The drunken clown shoes A genuine pair of leather clown's shoes, these were made by Anello & Davide; shoemakers to the ballet, dance and theatrical world from th...

Own a wonderful piece of Americana / early fair ground / amusement park / carnival folk art history, with this charming authentic mid-century painted wood and metal midway carousel r...

Early 20th century carnival / fairground game panel Dimensions in inches: H 29” x W 21” x D 4” Age: 1920 Origin: England Condition: Fair Overview A highly decorative example of an early 20th century English fairground / carnival shooting target...

A striking pair of handcrafted Venetian jester masks, created in Italy circa 2000 and inspired by the rich theatrical traditions of Commedia dell’Arte. These original Venetian folk a...

Handmade tabletop carnival game modeled after the classic "high striker" strength tester, constructed from wood with a tall vertical scoring tower and spr...

1838 Custom made Carnival Folk Art motorized ferris wheel . Rotates with small lights added set on a wood base

This highly animated, bright and colorful circus poster portrays a fabulous looking clown in white frilled garb with red stripes, welcoming everyone to see the "Greatest Show on Earth...

A Historical artifact once used in the HBO series Boardwalk Empire. Maple cabinet with brass plaques and painted iron mechanism. Costing two quarters and a penny to play. Not tested ...

This two sided fun house mirror likely came from a carnival. There are small wheels under the base so it can be moved easily. It also had plywood covers than enclosed the mirrors for...

Early 20th Century Hand Carved English Fairground Carousel Panel A rare piece of traditional English fairground art attributed to Orton and spooner. All carved from sections piece ...

ABOUT An antique French carnival clown ball toss game with wooden ball catch numbered 37. Hand crafted, hand painted paper-mache on board. CREATO...

Venice, Italy, Mid-18th Century (circa 1734–1760) An exceptionally rare and important collection of sixteen original Venetian marionettes, created for the performance of Commedia de...

A 1950's rare original James Ensor style papier mâché theatre head. This item was obtained via a private collection (France).

1677 Hand painted carnival sign world's tallest man and Tom tump In a pediment frame

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...

Folk Art carnival punks / knockdown dolls composed of canvas forms lined with cotton fur supported by carved wood bases for added stability / weight, c...

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 decorated with a blond female mask flanked by pink and white dogwood flowers, the breast with the same flowers. With inset plastic colored faceted stones overall. With two brass twisted rods mounted on the white rocker...

Rare 19th century fairground Bayol carousel horse Dimensions: H 47” x W 29” x D 9” Weight: 20kg Date: Late 19th Century Origin: EU Material: Pine and metal Info: This item does no...

A very rare and untouched painted pine fairground sign in the form of a pointing hand. The sign is doubled sided, a red ground sleeve with gilt lettering for Shurrett's Traditional...

Early 20th century Limonaire Freres Paris fairground carousel horse Dimensions in inches: H 31” x W 50” x D 11” Age: 1920 Origin: France (Paris) Condition: Fair Overview A rare ear...

Antique American carnival amusement park, carousel motorcycle ride, from the late 1940s. A fabulous late 1940s motorcycle carousel ride, the motorcycle body is made of wood and is ha...

This whimsical clown head is unsigned, but presumed to have been made in Canada in approximately 1965 in the period Mid-Century carnival style. The head...

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.

Fantastic girl and her dog Folk Art carved carousel chariot panel. Superb original paint surface. Great three dimensional surface. Excellent wall hang...

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. ...

Hand carved wood sculpture of carousel ostrich.

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 ...

Likely handmade mid-20th-century figural costume inspired by the mirrored imagery of a traditional playing card. The costume comprises two painted boards, each decorated with a high-...

Own a piece of Hollywood history, this Batman Returns (Warner Bros., 1992), circus strongman barbell movie prop is sure to start a conversation while ma...

ABOUT A mid-century gumball Oak Manufacturing Company vending machine, likely a model from the Acorn series produced in the 1950s or 1960s. Features a red steel base, a rectangular ...

Large-scale Folk Art Carnival game board, American, circa 1940s. This painted carnival game board came from Texas and combines wonderfully patinate...

1960s carnival art sign from England. It is advertising a cake walk on one side of the sign, and on the back has a charming message "Have a nice Victorian day". Great sign for any co...

A striking and very decorative pair of vintage circus or funfair signs with hand painted stylised typography on pine boards. The signs read, ‘Wonderful World Of Entertainment’ and a...

Early 20th century papier Mache carnival mask of a German soldier An early example of a French carnival mask in the form of a German soldier. With hand crafted detail included pain...

Special hand-made brass fingers. I saw them on the hands of an Indian dancer. Use your imagination... no ref.

Antique 1930s judge theatre papier mâché head from Paris This lot is a rare original 1930s papier mâché French theatre heads. This item was obtain...

A rare monumental fairground double target game board inscribed “ 3 Darts for 2d and Score 25 or Over”. Hand painted wood and wire. A wonderful collectors item. MD

19th Folk Art gaming wheel featuring four cardinals and hand painted numbers, it retains the original red and yellow paint. A charming piece of Americana that would make a colorful w...

English Fairground Carousel panel We are proud to offer a wonderful example of an early 20th century English fairground panel. From a fairground carou...

An exceptionally scarce antique American Folk Art gambling triple stacked wooden arrow spindle spinning wheel gaming device from the late 19th / early 20th century. Believed to be a prototype or for a similar lesser known model of the important, very rare and unusual T. F. HOLTZ made "Three Arrow Trade Stimulator" circa 1896, (displayed in the American Antique Museum, reference L2016.2501.010) Theodore Holtz of San Francisco and early slot machine pioneer Charles Fey's partner in 1894, forming their first partnership as Holtz and Fey Electric Works. For this particular game, upon depositing your nickel and pressing the lever, three arrows will spin on the front dial and if all three stop on the same marker you win. Trade stimulators were countertop or freestanding amusement gaming machines widely used to encourage shoppers to indulge in a game of chance. They became popular in American saloon bar...

A matching pair of silver metal female figures in a striking pose with hair caught in the wind. Probably carnival art. Makes unexpectedly charming wall art with a folk art feel. They...

Fantastic "Plenty For Two" sideshow banner painted by Snap Wyatt. Great manageable size.

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...

Add a touch of whimsy to your space with these charming antique carousel figure's.. featuring a carved wooden pigs. Crafted with precision and mounted on a sturdy vintage industrial ...

This vibrant carved wood panel once adorned a car-themed kiddie ride or a "Speedway" carnival ride, featuring a bold race car motif and stylized driver rendered in bright hues of red...

Carved wood Parker Carousel chariot side. Fantastic carved dragon with the original jewel eye.

Hand Made Art Deco Painted Bamboo Parasol This Charming Piece, made in bamboo, the parasol has been specially made, it has been individually designed and painted This is a one off a...

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...

Early 20th child Middle Eastern Efe Zeybek Jacket. Kid Efe Zeybek Costume Turkish authentic ethnic vest. Dark brown red velvet with gold foliates and gold trim. Open sleeves, red cotton lining. Antique collector red velvet jacket with gold Middle Eastern Moorish style embroidery. Small tiny Turkish antique vest...

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 banner is cleverly signed with the "H" in the legs of Harold's huge chair.

Fantastic 19th century carousel pig. Super whimsical carnival piece from a bygone era. Carved wood with cast iron curly tail and handle. Original layers o...

Victorian Acrobat Rings France, 1880 Made from iron, rope and fabric. 8.75"w x 1"d x 28"h Ref. O2171

Early 20th Century Fairground Roulette Wheel French in its origin, this early 20th century hand crafted pine roulette wheel is in full working order. With its original metal wheel ...

19th Century English Fairground Ride Panels Dimensions in inches: H 27” x W 81” x D 1.5” Age: 1900 Origin: English Condition: Fair Overview A rare pair from the turn of the century...

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...

A rare, important and most charming French carousel amusement ride by important Parisian craftsmen Limonaire Frères / Limonaire Brothers (France; 1839-1932) Hand-crafted in Paris, France in the late 19th century, exceptionally executed near life-size form depicting a standing donkey figure with the rare unique feature of a nodding head. Finished in country fair taste, hand-carved solid wood construction, the menagerie merry-go-round ride presents splendidly, with the original layered polychrome paint finish, enhanced by beautifully aged heavily worn patina acquired over many years of carnival use. Signed, retaining the original manufacturer's brass plaque that reads: "Sculptures Pour Forains, Chevaux De Bois Etc, Limonaire Freres, Paris, 166 Avenue Daumesnil" The extremely rare, museum quality example is one of the very few surviving Limonaire Frères wooden carousel fixtures, one of only a handful imported to the United States, and quite possibly the last surviving donkey! DIMENSIONS: (approx) 44" High, 52" Wide, 10" Deep PROVENANCE / ACQUISITION: Acquired from the highly reputable auction house, Schultz Auctioneers, Clarence, New York. Important Antiques & Decorative Arts catalog HISTORY: Limonaire Frères were an amusement ride and later street organ...

1950s American hand-painted carnival ride panel.

Original hand-painted canvas sideshow banner for carnival midway sideshow entrance. Not signed but most likely out of Chicago Tent and Awning's banner ...

Fantastic antique found unpainted carousel horse form having distressed wood, amazing character, and handsome custom iron stand. Makes a stunning folk art sculpture with monochromat...

A rare, whimsical, and most impressive monumental scale midcentury American traveling carnival hand painted metal ride panel! United States, circa 1940s/1950s, almost certainly fro...