Folk Art Animal Sculptures
FOLK ART STYLE
Folk art is a genre of art that shares the creator’s traditions, offering not just an artistic display but an opportunity to learn about a culture. Antique, new and vintage folk art typically reflects a heritage or location. It can include utilitarian objects and handmade art as diverse as weather vanes, duck decoys, portraiture and paintings, carnival art and quilts.
Quilts are a quintessential part of American folk art but their roots are international, with quilting dating back to Ancient Egypt. The practice spread to Europe and was especially prominent in the Middle Ages, with one of the oldest surviving examples being the Tristan quilt made in Sicily in the 14th century. They were made as bedcovers and clothing, including as a layer for knights to wear beneath their armor. Native American folk art includes functional objects reflecting their heritage, such as baskets, textiles and wooden pieces.
Elsewhere, the vast range of work associated with Mexican folk art includes masks made by Mexican craftspeople for traditional celebrations and ceremonial dances. Mexican masks are part of the country’s folk-art traditions that go back thousands of years and play a role in festivals and theater.
Works in the folk art tradition are valuable because of the skills involved, like weaving, hand-carving wood and even stonework. Many folk artists are self-taught, while some train as apprentices within their community. By using available materials and taking a personal approach to their creations, artists ensure each piece is unique and conveys a story.
During the Great Depression, artistic materials in America were hard to come by, so artisans used discarded wood from cigar boxes and shipping crates to make highly stylized, notched pieces — most often picture frames and boxes — that are today sought after by collectors. This folk art style is called tramp art and was popular from roughly 1870 until the 1940s.
Folk art brings vibrant culture and traditions into your home. Browse an extensive collection of antique, new and vintage folk art on 1stDibs.
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Style: Folk Art
American Folk Art Carved Painted Wood Cat Sculpture
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage whimsical and playful American Folk Art carved wood sculpture features a hand carved and hand-painted seated cat with large expressive eyes and surprised look on its face. Th...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Wood
American Copper Full Bodied Pig Directional Weathervane on Stand, circa 1880
Located in Charleston, SC
American Copper full bodied pig directional weathervane resting on squared iron stand, late 19th century.
Category
1880s American Antique Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Copper, Iron, Zinc
A Charming Collection of Painted and Carved Decoy Ducks
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A Charming Collection of Painted and Carved Decoy Ducks
This is a good group of 4,19th Century French Decoy Ducks, they are carved in wood and the feathers and features are painted...
Category
19th Century Antique Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Pine
Vintage Folk Art Set of 3 Carved Sitting Cat Sculptures
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage set of Folk Art sitting cat figurines was hand-carved from solid pieces of wood. The cats have elongated, minimal features, accentuated with hand-painted details on the face...
Category
20th Century Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Cast Iron Green Painted Rooster Sculpture Door Stop
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Very sturdy cast iron sculpture of a rooster. Could be used on a console or kitchen counter as a decorative centerpiece display or functional as a door stop.
Category
Early 20th Century European Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Iron
Taisho Period Japanese Carved Wood Netsuke of a Tiger
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Hand-carved Taisho period netsuke depicting a tiger with its head over its shoulder. The word netsuke is formed using the symbol ne (根) meaning “root" and tsuke (付) meaning “attach...
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Boxwood
Folk Art Hand-Made Iron Rooster
Located in Chicago, IL
A mischievous 20th century American folk art rooster sculpture with a wonderful disposition, and beautiful rusted finish. Perfect indoors or out!
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Iron
Hand Painted Midcentury Resin White Jumper Carousel Horse by C.W. Parker
By Charles Looff Or C.W. Parker
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Perfectly captured in all it’s glory, this vintage C.W. Parker carousel horse is sure to gallop your heart. One look at this radiant mare, and you’ll see why. The animal’s strength a...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Brass
$2,396 Sale Price
20% Off
Boston Terrier Heavy Cast Iron Doorstop
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sweet faced Boston Terrier cast iron doorstop. This doorstop is very heavy with great patina. The Boston Terrier hasa very soft look due to the wear.
Category
20th Century North American Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Iron
Butcher's Piggy Bank
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This uniquely humorous piggy bank is the perfect blend of wit and practicality, designed in the shape of a plump, adorable pig. What sets it apart is the quirky butcher's diagram of ...
Category
20th Century Unknown Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic
Vintage Sculpture of an American Eagle Carved in Seri Ironwood
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Sculpture of an American Eagle Carved in Seri Ironwood.
Vintage hand carved Ironwood Southwestern seri sculpture of an Eagle.
Dimensions: 5.5" x 3.5". circa 1970.
Ironwood hand carved eagle or falcon...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Wood
24" Tall Antique Swedish Large Wooden Horse Carved Hand-Painted 19th Century
Located in Silkeborg, Silkeborg
Tall antique Swedish horse in carved wood with original patinated paint in off-white color with blue dots.
Made circa end of the 19th century.
Th...
Category
1890s Swedish Antique Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Leather, Wood
Pair of Tonala Mexico Modernist Horse Figurines, Planters or Ashtrays
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
A pair of modernist horse figurines were hand made in Tonala, Mexico, in modernist style with short legs, long bodies, and expressive heads, and are hand painted in typical Tonala s...
Category
20th Century Mexican Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic
Pair of American Cast Iron Hand Painted Preening Ducks on Squared Base, C 1880
Located in Charleston, SC
Pair of American cast iron hand painted preening ducks resting on squared bases. Late 19th Century.
Category
1880s American Antique Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Iron
Antique English Carved Folk Art Dog Head Cane over Ebonized Black Shaft
Located in Shippensburg, PA
CARVED FOLK-ART DOG HEAD CANE OVER EBONIZED SHAFT
Probably English, circa late 19th century
37 1/4: H x 2 7/8" W
A very attractive late 19th century Victorian walking cane, it fea...
Category
19th Century European Antique Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Brass
Near Pair of Japanese Jizai Kagi Wood Koi Folk Art Sculptures
Located in Atlanta, GA
A near pair of wood koi fish from Japan circa 1860-90s of late Meiji Period. Hand-carved from solid wood, these sculptures are known as Jizai Kagi in Japane...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Iron
Tall African Papier-mâché Giraffe with Leather Ears
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A tall paper mache giraffe in black and brown with leather ears and glass eyes. We see this fun piece in a nursery or in a foyer.
Measures: 17....
Category
20th Century Central African Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Leather, Glass, Paint, Paper
$320 Sale Price
20% Off
American Gilt Copper & Cast Iron Full Bodied Rooster Weathervane, circa 1880
Located in Charleston, SC
American gilt copper and cast iron full bodied rooster weathervane mounted on stand, Late 19th Century
Category
1880s American Antique Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Copper, Iron
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Rooster Weathervane
Located in Chicago, IL
A charming early 20th American Folk Art carved pine rooster weathervane with a wonderful silhouette with a large tail, applied wings, and copper legs all supported by an iron rod wit...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Pine
Japanese Okimono Bronze Figure of a Rat 1950s
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Japanese Okimono Bronze Figure of a Rat.
DIMENSIONS: Height: 6.25 in Width: 4.25 in Depth: 3.5 in.
Hand made in Japan circa 1950s.
A large heavy vintage bronze statue of a rat made i...
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
American Folk Art Hand-Carved Wooden Spindly Snake Sculpture
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Hand-carved wooden spindly stick in the form of snake (ca. late 19th Century, USA).
Sinuous body with hand carved scale and facial details with metal nails as eyes.
Impressive, long ...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Vintage Leather Parrot by Federico Mexico
Located in Miami, FL
Leather parrot from Mexico. Sitting on a brass perch.
Marked Federico Made in Mexico.
A-600-335
Category
1970s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Brass
Antique English Pottery Horse with Sponged Decoration Circa 1800
Located in Katonah, NY
This pottery figure of a horse is sponge decorated in shades of pink and brown.
It was made at St. Anthony’s Pottery, located in Newcastle Upon Tyne, England, between 1800 and 1810.
...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Pottery
Vintage Mexican Tonala Pottery Hand Painted Bird
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Mexican Tonala hand painted pottery bird Folk Art.
Flora de la Cruz Acapulco Gro Mexico hand painted bird dove ceramic.
Warm earth tone polych...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic, Pottery
19th Century French Carousel Ride, Carved Wood Sparrow with Metal Body
Located in New York, NY
19th C. painted wood French Carousel ride, with the "body" made of iron rods. The bird figure has only one wing, as originally the other side had a spoke which connected to the cente...
Category
19th Century French Antique Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Metal
Vintage Large Brass Duck "Decoy" Decorative Sculpture
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Large Brass Duck "Decoy" Decorative Sculpture.
Handcrafted decorative vintage collectible brass duck shape sculpture.
Beautiful handcrafted large ca...
Category
Mid-20th Century European Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Brass, Copper
20th Century Native American Painted Totem Pole A painted animal totem
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
20th Century Native American Painted Totem Pole
A painted animal totem.
Animal totems are believed to have spiritual significance, watching over Pacific Northwest Indian tribes and...
Category
1960s Vintage Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Beech, Birdseye Maple
Vintage Brazilian Hand-Carved Ironwood Sculpture of Whale and a Shark
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Brazilian hand carved Ironwood sculpture of a whale and a shark.
Hand carved Brazilian sculpture hand crafted in amazing detail from one of...
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Large Early 20th Century Belgian Oak Folk Art Eagle Sculpture
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Early 20th century Belgian oak Folk Art eagle sculpture.
Category
1920s Belgian Vintage Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Oak
$1,099 Sale Price
33% Off
Vintage Boho Shell Encrusted Parrot
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Bring a touch of whimsical coastal charm to your space with this stunning vintage shell-encrusted parrot! Meticulously crafted with an array of real shells in beautiful pinks, orange...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Shell, Wood
Swedish Antique Toy Rocking Horse, All Original, Origin: Sweden, circa 1870
Located in New York, NY
Swedish antique toy rocking horse, origin: Sweden, circa 1870 - 1900.
Beautiful, untouched, original condition including the paint, ...
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Iron
1930s Austrian Horse Toy
By Craft and Folk Art Museum
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
Beautiful 1930s Austrian horse toy. Wonderful patina.
Category
1920s Austrian Vintage Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Bentwood
$2,800
Handcrafted Wood Whale Puzzle Sculpture Signed
Located in San Diego, CA
Handcrafted what sculpture made of solid wood. Amazing design an workmanship. Signed and dated.
Category
1990s American Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Wood
$144 Sale Price
20% Off
Massive Vintage Cotton Elephant Covered in Indian Textiles
By Liberty & Co., Harrods
Located in Houston, TX
Massive vintage cotton elephant, covered in Indian textiles, retailed in the 1950s by Harrods. Exterior decorated in embroidered designs, tassels, tiny mirrors...
Category
1950s English Vintage Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Wire
Vintage Hand Carved Wooden Owl Sculpture Portugal
Located in Sakskøbing, DK
A vintage folk art owl sculpture, hand-carved from wood and colorful hand-painted. Made in Portugal with quality craftsmanship. A solid, well-made piece with character.
Object: scul...
Category
1980s Vintage Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Wood, Paint
Midcentury Brass and Copper Pelican Sculpture
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Amusing mixed metal pelican sculpture crafted in brass, copper, and silvered metal in a distinctive and captivating composition that combines technique ...
Category
20th Century Mexican Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Copper
Welded Owl Metal Sculpture, France 1970s
Located in ROUEN, Normandie
Welded Owl Metal Sculpture, France 1970s.
Handcrafted sculpture, composed of various metal pieces welded together.
A nice piece of folk art with a lovely patina !
Note : On the ri...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Metal, Iron, Sheet Metal
Folk Art / Pop-Art Comic Strip Papier Mache Teddy Bear Sculpture
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine folk-art papier-mache sculpture.
In the form of a teddy bear.
The papier mache appears to be from various 20th Century Philippine comic books, such as Superkat by L.S. M...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Paper, Plaster
Beetle Cast Iron Shoe Horn or Boot Jack, Powder Coated Chartreuse, circa 1920's
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Vintage boot jack in cast iron freshly powder coated in bright chartreuse. The cast iron object is as functional as it is decorative. This bright and fun ...
Category
1920s American Vintage Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Iron
Papier Mâché Cat Sculpture in Black and White
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A black and white papier mâché kitten sculpture. This fun figurine depicts a cat with white paws and nose, and a black body. Its soft black eyes see...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Paint, Paper
$360 Sale Price
20% Off
Pair of American Folk Art Tin Clad Pug Dog Bookends
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of American Folk Art Tin Clad Pug dog bookends
USA, circa 1940s
A great pair of hand-crafted, possibly one of kind American Folk Art Tin Clad pug d...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Tin
$1,000 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Large Antique Southeast Asian Thai Carved Polychrome Rabbit Folk Art Sculpture
Located in Forney, TX
A large whimsical hand carved and painted antique Southeast Asian wooden hare sculpture with incised detailing, polychrome decoration and beautifully aged patina.
Hand-crafted in th...
Category
Early 20th Century Asian Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Wood, Paint
$3,112 Sale Price
29% Off
Hand Carved Folk Art Wooden Duck
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Folk Art hand carved wooden duck - a wonderful piece! One of our favorite pieces, the life size shape and graceful angle of the neck give the p...
Category
20th Century Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Wood
19th Century Life Sized Horse Trade Sign from a Tack Shop in Pennsylvania
Located in Richmond, VA
19th century life sized horse trade sign from a tack shop in Pottsville, PA. Horse is made of cast iron, wood, and papier mâché. The tail and cast iron e...
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Iron
Antique Mythical Tiger Finial Bronze Palanquin Handle 18-19th Century
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Antique 18th 19th Century Palanquin Mythical Lion or Tiger Finial Bronze Handle.
Large heavy Indian Mythological bronze palanquin fitting cast via the lost wax technique, beautifully stylized and crafted in the form of protective mythological creature.
Palanquin finials were used to adorn the pole ends of the palanquin or palki.
A fine and massive example of a palanquin pole finial with good detail and fine patina.
India, circa: 18th/19thc.
The Palanquin handle...
Category
19th Century Indian Antique Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Primitive Horse Carving
Located in Nantucket, MA
A Folk Art carved wood and gesso painted standing horse
with painted cloth saddle and horse hair tail
Mounted on a later made black painted platform.
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Gesso, Pine, Paint
Late 19th Century Sheet Iron and Metal Trotting Horse Weathervane
Located in Incline Village, NV
Late 19th century sheet iron and metal "Trotting Horse" weathervane. It has a nice weathered color and patina and is very authentic with six "healthy" bullet holes to boot.
I basica...
Category
1890s Antique Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Sheet Metal
Sergio Bustamante Early Lion Papier-mâché Sculpture Hand-painted, 1975
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Sergio Bustamante (20th century, Mexican) life sized paper mache lion from the early years of his Family Workshop Studio in Tlequepaque, Jalisco, Mexi...
Category
Late 20th Century Mexican Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Paper
$3,400 Sale Price
20% Off
Moroccan Decorative Fish Sculpture Handbuilt and Handpainted by Potter Houda
Located in Marseille, FR
- Hand built decorative fish sculpture
- made of clay collected from the potter's surroundings.
- decorative motifs painted with a goat hair brush made by the potter to apply natur...
Category
2010s Moroccan Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Clay, Earthenware
Vintage White Marble Mughal Jeweled Elephant Sculpture Paper Weight
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage white marble Mughal Jeweled elephant sculpture paper weight.
Finely hand painted animal sculpture of an elephant with colorful gold, pink and red color paint.
Collectible ceremonial hand...
Category
Mid-20th Century Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Marble
Joaquin Taller Tinta Ecuador Bird MCM Sculpture - 1960s
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Wear consistent with age and use.
The artisan metalsmith crafted bird table sculptures, heavily influenced by South American historical design elements.
Joaquin Taller Tinta Ecuador...
Category
20th Century Colombian Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Metal
1900s Scandinavian Wooden Horse
Located in High Point, NC
Like a mysterious inhabitant of a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, this wooden quadruped crafted in Scandinavia circa 1900 exudes a gentle melancholy of the North. The whitenes...
Category
Early 1900s Scandinavian Antique Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Ayyanar India carved and polychrome wood horse - 20th
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Ayyanar India carved and polychrome wood horse
Measures:100cmx23cm H117cm
Material:Wood
Wear Consistent with age and use
Category
20th Century Indian Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Fourteen Birds by Guy Taplin
Located in Basildon, GB
An original piece of English folk-art sculpture by the acclaimed British sculptor Guy Taplin (b. 1939). Fourteen birds painted and carved wood mounted to a ...
Category
1990s British Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Driftwood
$10,838
Contemporary indigenous art. Turuza Wauja. Sculptural Bench Kamalu Hai, 2021
Located in PARIS, FR
Turuza Wauja
Sculptural Bench Kamalu Hai, 2021
Brazilian wood Magono natural pigment based on "jenipapo" and "urucum" and snail shell.
Carved from solid Piranheira wood and adorned ...
Category
2010s Brazilian Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Hardwood, Paint
Large 36" Tall Reclaimed Wood Folk Art Sculpture of a Horse
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Very nice wooden horse sculpture made out of multiple reclaimed wood pieces.
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Reclaimed Wood
Shell Encrusted Cat Figurine
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A whimsical shell-covered cat figurine. Delicately applied seashells cover this feline figurine in an array of browns. Great for the kitten lover, or for ...
Category
20th Century Philippine Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Shell
$280 Sale Price
20% Off
Vintage Cotton Elephant Covered in Indian Textiles
By Harrods
Located in Houston, TX
Vintage cotton elephant, covered in Indian textiles, retailed in the 1950s by Harrods. Interior frame composed of wire and straw. Textiles originally s...
Category
1950s English Vintage Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Wire
Folk Art Heavy Carved Log Bench Rhinoceros Sculpture
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Folk Art heavy carved log wood bench in form of sculpture.
Category
20th Century Unknown Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Teak
Late 19th Century Fiske Foundry Cast Iron Dog
Located in Santa Monica, CA
J.W. Fiske foundry attributed cast iron Whippet dog. Incredible white paint surface with many different layers of white paint.
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Materials
Iron
Folk Art animal sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique folk art animal sculptures for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage animal sculptures created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, folk art, asian art and furniture and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art animal sculptures made in a specific country, there are North America, Europe, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original animal sculptures, popular names associated with this style include Tonala Pottery, Victor Anicet, Sergio Bustamante, and Nils Olsson. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for animal sculptures differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $38 and tops out at $55,000 while the average work can sell for $1,516.
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