Carnival Midway Punk Knockdown Goat Game
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Vintage carnival punk. Unusual goat named "Billie". Knock "Billie" over and win the prize.
Vintage 1940s American Folk Art Carnival Art
Canvas
Carnival Midway Punk Knockdown Goat Game
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Vintage carnival punk. Unusual goat named "Billie". Knock "Billie" over and win the prize.
Canvas
Vintage Carnival Midway Wood Ring Toss Game
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Great vintage carnival midway ring toss game. Perfect wall art. Wood with original park paint surface.
Wood
Vintage Carnival Midway Wood Ring Toss Game
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Great vintage carnival midway ring toss game. Perfect wall art. Wood with original park paint surface.
Wood
$995
H 23.5 in W 15 in D 16 in
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
$7,500
H 88 in W 28 in D 9 in
Early Carnival Midway 7.5 Foot Tall Game Wheel Monterey with Gooseneck Light
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Fantastic giant carnival game wheel with applied scenic Monterey theme. All original surface paint. Chunky turned stand. Measures: 7 foot . Really unique gooseneck lamp for illuminat...
Wood
Penny Toss Board, the Ultimate Suckers' Game
Located in Sheffield, MA
Penny toss boards were a feature in traveling carnival midways. Essentially a con game, the gathered crowd would toss pennies in the hope of landing in a square without touching bord...
St. Louis Carnival Company Midway Carnival Game
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Abstract carnival game board. Made by the St. Louis Carnival Company. There is a faint mark on the back from the company. Great primary colors. The object was to get your ring ar...
Wood
Giant Carnival Midway Game Wheel
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Very large graphic carnival midway game wheel. See close-ups to view the nicely alligatored paint surface on this game wheel.
Wood
c. 1930's Carnival Midway Game Board.
Located in Santa Monica, CA
This c. 1930's carnival midway game board features a stapled rope grid of numbers, letters, and symbols.
Rope
c. 1930's Carnival Midway Game Wheel
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Bold and graphic red, yellow, and white painted carnival midway game wheel with blue arrows and traces of green under layer.
Iron
Large c. 1930's Carnival Midway Game Wheel
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Large yellow, black and red painted carnival midway game wheel.
Wood
Vintage Abstract Carnival Midway or Tavern Dart Game
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Large vintage carnival midway dart game found in the Midwest. Geometric shapes painted on wood.
Wood
Giant Wheel of Chance Carnival Midway Game Board
Located in Santa Monica, CA
This brightly colored five-by-five foot plywood board was hand painted for a carnival wheel of chance game. Great 1950's theme.
Vintage Carnival Midway Double Game Wheel or Gambling Wheel
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Vintage double game wheel found in the south. Carnival midway or perhaps for table gambling.
St. Louis Carnival Company Marble Game
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Three dimensional carnival midway marble game from the St. Louis Carnival Company.
Wood
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.
Collection of Gaffed Red White & Blue Carnival Knock-Overs
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Great vintage gaffed iron carnival midway game. These would be almost impossible to knock over as the carnies filled each one with chunks of cement or iron.
Vintage Carnival Midway Penny Pitch Game
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Nicely scaled carnival midway penny pitch game. Original paint surface.
Wood
Vintage Carnival Midway "Bounce" Game Sign
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Vintage carnival midway sign from the St. Louis Carnival company.
Unusual Carnival Midway Game Knock-Over Punks
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Great pair of carnival punks found in the south. Quite possibly one-of-kind.
Canvas, Straw
"B Dam Family" Midwestern Amusement Park Midway Knockdown Game
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Each member is depicted on his/her own yellow painted knock down in simple black outline 'sketches.' C. 1940's Carnival softball knockdown midway game. These were salvaged from th...
Wood
Large Vintage, Original Carnival Midway Game with Knock-Over Punks
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage original Carnival Midway Game with three rows of knock down punks.
Metal
Sold
H 15.5 in W 47.75 in D 4.5 in
Collection of Carnival Punks or Knock Down Dolls, Circus Midway Game
Located in Dallas, TX
This is a nice collection of five vintage Knock Down Dolls or Punks from a Carnival or Circus game. All five characters have their own personality and will easily bring a smile to yo...
Hessian Soldier Ball Toss Figure
Located in New York, NY
An ominous character from a midway carnival game, original surface dry paint, papier mache with wood backing, done in relief to hang on a wall or post for children to throw balls or ...
Wood, Papier Mâché
Penny Toss Game Board
Located in Sheffield, MA
Penny toss boards were a feature in traveling carnival midways. Essentially a con game, the gathered crowd would toss pennies in the hope of landing in a square without touching bor...
Penny Toss Game Board
Located in Sheffield, MA
Penny toss boards were a feature in traveling carnival midways. Essentially a con game, the gathered crowd would toss pennies in the hope of landing in a square without touching bord...
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. Original wood strip attac...
Canvas
$114,738
H 240 in W 552 in D 120 in
Mid-Victorian Moorish wrought & cast iron pergola or decorative garden structure
Located in London, GB
A monumental Moorish mid-Victorian wrought iron Pergola or Decorative Garden Structure, a unique masterpiece in High Victorian Ironwork design. Our research confirms it is French, da...
Wrought Iron
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
Original Wood Carved Carnival Midway Poster Letterpress
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Set of three original hand-carved letterpress made by the Neal Walters Poster Company. Fantastic carnival midway scene. Games, carnival rides and acrobats. Carved with incredible det...
Wood, Paint
Antique Folk Art Carnival Attraction Hand Painted Sign circa 1940's
Located in Douglas Manor, NY
1677 Hand painted carnival sign world's tallest man and Tom tump In a pediment frame
Hardwood, Paint
$1,200
H 5.5 in W 11 in D 6 in
Decorative Wood Carved Tramp Art Keepsake Box or Sailors Valentine with Heart
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A superb Folk Art sailors valentine Tramp Art keepsake box. Wide in form, this beautiful Primitive wood carved box features the letters S and M with a heart between on both sides. Tw...
Metal
1960s English Carnival Sign
Located in High Point, NC
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...
Wood
Set of Eight Folk Art Carnival Punks / Knockdown Dolls
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Folk Art carnival punks / knockdown dolls composed of canvas forms lined with cotton fur supported by carved wood bases for added stability / weight, circa 1910. Whimsical double sid...
Canvas, Cotton, Wood
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
$60,850Sale Price|20% Off
H 104.34 in W 153.55 in D 19.69 in
Antique Pharmacy Cabinet, Walnut Bookcases and Glass Doors with Sign, '800 Italy
Located in Cuneo, Italy (CN)
Complete antique pharmacy cabinet, with 3 open bookcases on the sides, 1 bookcase with drawers and 2 original doors with glass and enameled mirror sign. Built in the mid-19th century...
Glass, Walnut
$33,935
H 90.95 in W 179.14 in D 224.41 in
Louis XVI Style Panelling with Fireplace and a Marine Scene, Oil on Canvas
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
This paneled room is composed of a stone fireplace, a large glass door with four leaves, a single door (both with their frame) and a large oil on canvas depicting a marine scene sign...
Stone
Red and White Graphic New York Bus Subway Destination Sign
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Very large New York bus destination sign. Unusual in red. Very graphic. Bottom of roll was date stamped 1951. 7 1/2 feet tall.
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
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
$275
H 17 in W 24.5 in D 1 in
Circus Poster by Ringling Bros., circa 1971, "Clown Standing over Tents"
Located in Incline Village, NV
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 Eart...
Paper
$395
H 5.5 in W 3.5 in D 3.25 in
Vintage "Rolly Dolly" Musical Toy "BoBo The Clown". German, Circa 1927
Located in Incline Village, NV
Vintage hard to find "Rolly Dolly" Musical Toy, of German manufacture, circa 1927; depicts a clown by the nickname of "BoBo"; named after a famous clown during that period ----BoBo ...
Composition
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.