Folk Art 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.
Style: Folk Art
Color: Brown
Carved American Carnival Head, circa 1890s
Located in Santa Monica, CA
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.
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Antique Folk Art Carved Gesso over Wood and Hand Painted Native Man Statue
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Presumed to date from the late 19th century, this life-sized Folk Art carved and hand painted study depicts a Native man dressed in traditional attire and holding a staff. The artist is unknown and this sculpture is unsigned and done in a very realistic style. The carving, likely done in Cyprus wood...
Category
Early 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Softwood, Paint
Vintage Terracotta Monkey
Located in Houston, TX
Terracotta monkey holding a glazed fig, the symbol of fertility, Majorca, circa 1950.
Category
1950s Spanish Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta
18th Century Carved Wooden Angel
Located in Houston, TX
Carved wooden angel from Private Chapel in Provence. Wonderful detail in Angel's hair and draped dress. Figure is mounted on an iron stand.
Category
18th Century French Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Iron
Chubac Albert, Large Painted Sculpture, Signed, Dated and Numbered
Located in Nice, Cote d' Azur
Chubac Albert (1925-2008), Sculpture,
Large iron sculpture painted in primary colors,
Signed, dated 1991 and numbered 3/3, France.
Measures : Hei...
Category
1990s French Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Iron
Vintage Carved Wood Articulated Clown Figure
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Chunky hand carving with simple facial detailing a pointed hat. Found in the southern US. Presented on a custom museum stand.
Category
1930s American Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Late 19th Century Painted Articulated Figure with Overalls
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Late 19th century articulated figure with a nicely detailed carved face, navy overalls and red-painted shirt, tie, and shoe.
Category
19th Century Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wire
Fantastic Original Painted and Carved 19th Century Indian Plaque
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This wonderful original old surface plaque has a great old patina and a hand-carved and painted Indian chief. The Indian is in full original clothes with the feathers in his head. Wi...
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Pine
Small Sailor Whirligig, circa 1930-1940
Located in Nantucket, MA
Figural standing sailor whirligig, carved from Pine wearing a white hat with metal brim,
a blue sailor’s middy with scarf, striped red and white unde...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Pine
Carved and Painted Primitive Deer
Located in Nantucket, MA
American carved and painted deer, carved from two pieces of pine
with leather ears and tail and natural antlers.
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Pine, Antler
Rare Early 18th century Irish Carved Folk Art Talbot
Located in Greenwich, CT
Very rare carved and painted wood talbot, a now extinct breed of dog often found in heraldic devices in both England and Ireland, this example in original painted surface and possess...
Category
18th Century and Earlier Irish Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Pine
Fiberglass Crocodile in White Paint Surface
Located in New York, NY
Modern "Folk Art" crocodile made of cast fiberglass, in distressed white paint surface. Large scale makes this an impressive decorative item, probably circa 1960s. This item is built...
Category
1960s American Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
American Papier-Mache Camel Figure
Located in New York, NY
American life size camel figure standing on a platform base with hollow construction (attr: Luke Saunders Carnival Show, Michigan, Circa 1930)
Category
1930s American Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood, Paint
Wire Airplane Sculptures
Located in Darnestown, MD
Wire sculptures of two matching monoplanes. These were made by the same hand as the bicycles listed as item #U120310916064 and automobiles U120310916065. The planes measure 10 1/2" ...
Category
1930s Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wire
Hand-Carved and Painted 19th Century Cigar Store Figure
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hand-Carved and Painted 19th Century Cigar Store Figure.
The man is hand carved from one piece of wood. He is probably late 19th century and over pa...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Tatyana Nazarenko Life-Sized Painted Wooden Props of a Russian Family
By Tatyana Nazarenko
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Russian artist signed, titled and dated on back, 1996. Painted on 5//8"plywood. Each has a pair of slotted wedges for standing.
Woman and child: 63.25" high by 27" wide
Seated yout...
Category
1990s Russian Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Plywood, Paint
Whimsical Wood Sculpture by Noted NJ Artist Fred Schumm
By Fred Schumm
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A wonderful wood sculpture by the noted NJ artist Fred Scumm. It is inscribed near the base with no date. Likely from the late 1980s or early 1990s. Colorfu...
Category
Late 20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
Brass Sculpture Inspired by Tribal Chinese Miao Hook Talisman
Located in New York, NY
A vintage brass sculpture, influenced by Miao Hook tribal talismans of China. It consists of two tightly wound coils connected with a stylized ...
Category
20th Century Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Brass
One Pair of Charming Wooden Shoe Moulds Mounted as Bookends Great Character.
Located in Buchanan, MI
One pair of charming wooden shoe moulds mounted as bookends, comes with four leather bound books. Feel free to call with further questions.
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Steel
Wire Bicycle Sculptures
Located in Darnestown, MD
These two finely detailed wire sculptures depict slightly different bicycles. The piece on the left is actually a tricycle and on the right is what is called a bonecruncher. Both are...
Category
1930s Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Folk Art Hunter Carving, circa 1930s
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Hand-carved wooden Folk Art hunter with a sheet metal hat. Original red, white and black paint surface.
Category
1930s American Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Sheet Metal
Folk Art Cork Collection
Located in Seattle, WA
Folk Art Cork Manufacturer's Display piece with samples of all sizes and shapes of cork available for sale. Corks are arranged in geometric shapes and mounted on a velvet-covered bo...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Cork, Velvet, Wood
A Wooden Doll for a Religious Procession
Located in Washington, DC
A Wooden Doll for a Religious Procession.
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Hand-Carved Wooden Folk Art Figures
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Kenneth Anthony Krogmeir carvings. Mr. Krogmeir was a dairy farmer from Fort Madison, Iowa. He also owned a small sawmill that he operated for personal use and for milling wood for n...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Set Of Three Indian Folk Art Figures
Located in Asheville, NC
Set of three Indian figures vividly painted. They appear to be kneeling in prayer two have their hair in buns and the third wears a crown. It is likely that the third blue figure is ...
Category
20th Century Indian Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Direct Wood Carving of a Nude Woman
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A uniquely stylized direct wood carving of a nude woman. Unfortunately I cannot find any signature. Well executed.
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Three Plaster and Sheet Metal Human Head Prototypes
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Very interesting collection of three male human head forms. We found them perched on a nickel-plated iron hat stands. The stands are marked Hugh Lynons & Co, Lansing MI. Most likely store display...
Category
1940s American Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Composition, Sheet Metal
Wood Folk Art Carving of a Crocodile or Alligator
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A great wood Folk Art carving of an alligator or crocodile. It is not signed but appears to date to the 1960s based on the estate it came from.
Category
1960s American Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Oringinal Wood Carved Relief of a Man Fishing
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Wonderful vintage relief image of man fishing while sleeping against a tree. Hand carved early 20th century.
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Jill Johnston Hand-Turned Maple Vessel
By Jill Johnston
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A beautiful hand-turned maple vessel signed on the base Jill Johnston N245 3-99 and maple. It has a ring of inlaid decoration.
Category
Late 20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Maple
Dama a la Noche 1985 ceramic by Gadu
By Gadu
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A very unusual ceramic or terracotta with hollow eyes that bears a copper plaque on the base that reads "Dama en la Noche" Gadu. I believe the translation is lady in/of the night. It...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta
Early 20th Century German Statue by Franz Zelezny
By Franz Zelezny
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A hand carved statue of an elderly man, 'Der Frierende.'
Category
Early 20th Century German Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Copper and Wood American Folk Art Boxer Whilrligig
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Spectacular American Folk Art whirligig found in Rockford, IL. Wonderful dry surface paint on boxers. Great working condition.
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
19th Century Iron Indian Weathervane with Stand
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fantastic and rare original painted surface iron Indian weather vane, worn painted surface. Great original Directional's in iron and attached. This Indian weather vane was found in t...
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Iron
Pivoting Carved Wood Gull on Marble Base
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A wonderful carved wood bird in flight mounted on a bronze arm painted black which attaches to a marble base. The person we acquired this sculpture from claimed that it belonged to h...
Category
1930s American Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Vintage Carved Wooden Door Panels
Located in Napa, CA
Beautifully carved Pakistani wood doors from the 17th Century. Doorway consists of 3 panels.
Category
17th Century Pakistani Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Macramé Zebra and Baby Near Life-Size
Located in Dallas, TX
Uniquely created macrame´ zebra with exceptional detailing and incredible sculptural quality. The shape of this amazing sculpture is created from welded, heavy-gauge wire as is seen ...
Category
20th Century Unknown Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Hemp
Rare 20th Century Wood Carving of Child in Excellent Conditioned, Natural Patina
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare wood carving of child holding a book.
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood, Paint
DIRACCA SCULPTURE - Hand-Carved Stone Head [SPAIN]
Located in Hawthorne, CA
A hand-carved sculpture in sandstone styled after the head of DIRACCA from an unknown artist in Spain, circa 1940. This piece is stylized and attributed to Diracca from Spain in 1940...
Category
Mid-20th Century Spanish Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Sandstone
![DIRACCA SCULPTURE - Hand-Carved Stone Head [SPAIN]](https://a.1stdibscdn.com/diracca-hand-carved-stone-head-spain-for-sale/1121189/f_120698131537289990782/12069813_master.jpg?width=240 "DIRACCA SCULPTURE - Hand-Carved Stone Head [SPAIN]")
Hand Carved Folk Art Wooden Cat or Panther
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A wooden carved cat or Panther. This previously painted piece, or piece of wood, has the remnants of a yellow paint, and the markings of a cat.
A compliment to any shelf or table ...
Category
20th Century Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Tribal Instinct, Outsider Artist Assemblage with Skull and Various Found Objects
By Rick Farrell
Located in Chicago, IL
A found object is a natural or man-made item, or fragment of an item that is found by an artist and kept because of some intrinsic interest the artist sees in it. Beginning with Picasso, who incorporated newspapers and matchboxes into his cubist collages and constructions, this idea has been carried forward. It was popular with the Dada and Surrealist movements and with such great artists as Damien Hurst and Henry Moore. Here, self-taught artist Rick Farrell...
Category
2010s North American Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Metal, Wire
Folk Art Centerpiece Sculpture of Swedish Potato Farmers
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A Swedish sculpture of wooden, carved and painted figures of potato farmers working in the Scandinavian fields. Sweden has a long and well known tradition of hand carved wooden folk ...
Category
1970s Swedish Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Pine
Carved Wooden Folk Art Owl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hand-carved owl sculpture of hardwood - perfectly carved and finished to a rich lustrous sheen. Perfect for any shelf as a focal point or added to books and art.
Category
20th Century Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood, Rosewood
1970s Belgian Wooden Sculpture
Located in High Point, NC
This wooden sculpture with a glossy patina was made in Belgium, circa 1970. It depicts a standing figure playing the pan flute, staring dreamily into the distance. The skillful carvi...
Category
1970s Belgian Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Royal Doulton Porcelain Figurine, "The Mendicant"
Located in Ferndale, MI
High glazed, finely modeled bone china with exquisite colors. One of designer, Leslie Harradine finest Royal Doulton firgurines, "The Mendicant" (1929...
Category
Early 20th Century English Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
Massive Rustic Folk Art Painted Patina Tin Owl Sculpture with Wooden Base
Located in Houston, TX
Large scale folk art style tin owl sculpture with a painted patina. Attached to a wooden base to ensure that the sculpture is stable.
Category
20th Century Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Tin
John Mascoll Box Elder Hand Turned Vessel
By John Mascoll
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A quite elegant hand-turned bowl or vessel by the noted artist John Mascoll. It is signed on the base box elder and John Mascoll.
Category
Late 20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
Crusty Ramshackle Sanatorium/Institutional Model
Located in Seattle, WA
freaky, spooky yet whimsical carved and painted model of a late 19th century/turn of the century institutional building, possibly a sanitorium. Painted windows and carved chimneys w...
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Folk Art sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique folk art 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 sculptures created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, folk art, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art 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 sculptures, popular names associated with this style include Jim Rose, Tonala Pottery, Victor Anicet, and Royal Doulton. 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 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 $225,000 while the average work can sell for $1,404.