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
$914Sale Price|20% Off
Early 20th century papier Mache carnival mask of a German soldier
Located in London, GB
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.
Paper
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
$1,375Sale Price|44% Off
Vintage Papier Mache Clown Sculpture by Spainish Artist Enrique Navas
Located in Miami, FL
Generously sized and brightly-painted vintage papier mâché Carnival or ‘caricature’ clown. Signed Navas.
Other
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
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
Unusual Vintage Paper Mache Folk Art, Parade "Carnival" Mask
Located in Buffalo, NY
Unusual vintage papier mâché Folk Art..parade "carnival" theater mask.
Paper
$1,330Sale Price|20% Off
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
Czechoslovakian "Oh My Deer" Papier Mache Carnival Head
Located in Charleston, SC
Hand made Czechoslovakian Papier-mâché Deer head with original inside label.
Overscale Paper Mache Carnival Bust
Located in Pasadena, CA
Name him whatever you want , this vintage folk art piece is really great if you want to stock your funhouse.
Papier Mâché, Paper
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
Unavailable
H 25.5 in W 11.75 in D 15 in
French Papier Mâché "Passe Boule" Carnival Game Harold Lloyd Figure, Early 1920s
Located in Petaluma, CA
This rare French papier mâché "passe-boules" carnival game in the shape of Harold Lloyd.
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...
Papier-Mâché Carnival Ball Toss Game
Located in Culver City, CA
Pierrot clown and portly chef with gaping open mouths.
Wood
Sold
H 16.15 in W 13.39 in D 13.78 in
20th Century Catholic Clergyman, Papier Mâché Carnival Fairground Theatre Mask
Located in Lowestoft, GB
Thick papier mâché construction, with original painted ground.
Paper
Large Antique Papier Maché Carnival Masks, 1900s
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
For sale are these rare, large early 20th century carnival masks made from wood and painted papier maché.
Wood, Paper
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
Papier Mache Stage Prop
Located in Chireno, TX
Papier Mache Stage Prop of an Elephant Head From France. Made to Put Your Head in and Look Out of The Screen Above the Trunk, see Image 7.
Papier Mâché
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 Carnival Papier Mâché Head with Moveable Teeth
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very unique head from a carnival. Great coloring and condition. Mounted on a metal stand. Small crank in the back allowing you to rotate his teeth around in side the mouth. Cool piec...
Paper
Mid-20th Century Papier Mache Bull Carnival Mask
Located in London, GB
Mid-20th century papier mache bull carnival mask We are proud to offer a quirky mid-20th century papier mache carnival bulls mask.
Paper
Huge Papier Mâché Hat
Located in London, GB
Huge papier mâché hat The item for sale is a very rare vintage circa 1960s French handmade papier mâché giant gentleman’s hat.
Paper
Winston Churchill Papier Mâché Head
Located in London, GB
The item is handmade and painted, reinforced with papier Mache and light plaster Glaze. It’s a very rare item and I believe this would have been used in a carnival or fairground attr...
Paper
Papier Mâché Devil from Mexico
Located in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
Beautifully created papier mâché devil martian by folk artist MAS from central Mexico. Hand painted, signed and dated.
Plaster
Papier Mâché Cow Theatre Mask
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century theatre papier mâché cow mask This lot is a wonderful example of an early 20th century French handmade papier mâché cow theatre mask. This item is very well mad...
Paper
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
Vintage Oliver Hardy Theatre Papier Mâché Head / Mask
Located in London, GB
This lot is a wonderful example of a vintage English handmade papier mâché hardy theater head. It’s highly likely this item was accompanied by a Stan Laurel head when the theatre per...
Paper
French Papier-Maché Toy Harlequin Bean Bag Toss
Located in Peekskill, NY
Most of these large impressive toys never survived. The fact that these were toys and also made of very delicate Papier-Maché make nice examples rare. I brought this item back from P...
Wood
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. Presented on original black painted wood shield mount. Likely a circus...
Papier Mâché, Paper
1920s 'Man In The Moon' Papier Mâché Stage Prop
Located in Hastings, GB
1920s 'Man In The Moon' Papier mâché Prop. Theatre / stage prop. Handmade and finished with beautiful enigmatic hand painted face. 50cm height, 50cm width approx. Metal plate and hoo...
Paper
Early 20th century papier mache Passe Boule fairground target panel
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century papier mache Passe Boule fairground target panel A section pine backed, papier mache front hand painted early 20th century fairground/carnival French amusement tar...
Pine, Paper
French Papier Mâché Theatre Horse Head from Paris, circa 1950s
Located in London, GB
French papier mâché theatre horse head from Paris, circa 1950s For sale in this LOT is a rare original 1950s Papier mâché French theatre horse’s heads. This item was obtained via ...
Paper
Sold
H 14.97 in W 11.82 in D 5.52 in
Two Original Venetian Masks by Ca'Macana in papier-mâché technic - Contemporary
Located in Opole, PL
Original Contemporary Venetian Masks by Ca'Macana - hand crafted Venetian masks, handcrafted at the Ca'Macana workshop in Venice, Italy. These unique masks are meticulously made by ...
Silver Leaf
Sold
H 18 in W 16 in D 16 in
Early 20th Century French Big Mama Papier Mache Bakery Advertising Head Display
Located in London, GB
Early 20th Century French Big Mama Papier Mache Bakery Advertising Head Display My name is big Mama, I bake wholesome cakes and would have given big hugs when you needed. An early ...
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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.