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.
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Item Ships From: USA
Style: Folk Art
Vintage Folk Art Estremoz Clay World Heritage Figurine Portugal by Jose Moreira
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Wonderful and detailed figure by this famous World Heritage maker. Heavily patinated, with flaking to original painted surfaces. Not cleaned, presented in as found condition.
Category
1950s Portuguese Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Pottery
Early 20th Century German Deer Target
Located in Chicago, IL
A unique and chic early 20th century German iron hunting target in the shape of a grazing deer, and with a fantastic pitted painted finish. Perfect for ...
Category
Early 20th Century German Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Iron
Large Carved Wood 'Man & Woman' Figural African Folk Sculpture
Located in Glendale, CA
Large carved wood 'Man & Woman' figural African Folk sculpture. An expressive pair of human figures exquisitely handcrafted from richly colored wood and mounted independently on a me...
Category
20th Century African Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Metal
American Copper Spread Winged Eagle Weathervane with Sphere and Arrow, C. 1880
Located in Hollywood, SC
American molded copper spread winged eagle weathervane with circular sphere, arrow, and mounted on cast iron squared base. Weathervane has a fine natural verdigris patina in the orig...
Category
1880s American Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Copper, Iron
Massive Antique Folk Art Candle Driven Tiered Windmill Form "Carousel"
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Classic Folk Art Candle-Powered Carousel in the form of a Tiered and Steepled Gazebo. Carved and painted wood in green and off-white with gilt details, Multiple tiers with a center s...
Category
19th Century Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Carved Wood Polychrome Virgin Mary Statue
Located in New York, NY
Exquisite and compelling wood statue of the Virgin Mary with polychrome paint finish. Well executed, and finely carved we believe it's 19th C Continental, or possibly US in origin. U...
Category
19th Century Spanish Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood, Paint
19th C Bronze German Sheppard Doorstop
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th C bronze German sheppard doorstop. Great condition.
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
20th C. Hand Carved Egyptian Revival Folk Art Bali Cat Sculpture Statue
Located in Dayton, OH
20th century hand carved folk art wooden cat form sculpture or statue. Features a knockdown design with elegant form. Features pointy claws, curled tale an...
Category
20th Century Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Hardwood, Paint
Vintage Gilded Sculpture of a Thai Standing Buddha
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage gilded Asian wooden sculpture of a standing Buddha.
Southeast Asian carved gilt wood and polychrome sculpture of the Buddha standing.
Mandalay standing Thai...
Category
Mid-20th Century Thai Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood, Giltwood
20th C. South Indian Life Sized Carved Peacock Sculpture Statue Folk Art
Located in Dayton, OH
20th century South Indian carved and painted peacock statue. A Folk Art sculpture hand carved on a plinth base. Features bright colors of yellow, green,...
Category
20th Century Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Hardwood, Paint
Outsider Art Fluorescent Papier-Mâché Bust Sculpture by Stephen Slomko
By Stephen Slomko
Located in Brooklyn, NY
For your consideration is this rare, one-of-a-kind bust by self-taught American outsider artist, Stephen Slomko (1929-2013). Slomko lived and worked in Farmingdale, New Jersey and up...
Category
1990s American Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Paint, Polystyrene, Paper
David Segel 1970s 3-D Wooden Double Kiot Folk Art Sculpture
By David Segel
Located in Monrovia, CA
David Segel 3-D wooden folk art / Gothic sculpture, signed, titled and numbered ''RIBALD #1
David Segel, well known Artist of Venice, Ca and throughout Paris, France has hand-scul...
Category
Late 20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Metal
Antique American Dapple Jumper Track Carousel Horse, Charles W Dare Attributed
Located in Forney, TX
An antique American track machine carousel horse attributed to legendary carver Charles W. Dare Company, now mounted as a rocking horse.
Hand-crafted in the early 20th century, circa 1920, born during the Golden Age of carousels in America (circa 1860-1930), exceptionally executed hand carved design with rich detailing, and warm polychrome painted white and gray dapple, featuring inset glass eyes, natural horsehair tail, saddle with carved cantle, blue painted saddle blanket and bridle, rising on a later blue and red painted wooden rocker base Stand, marked with letter "D" underneath in grey paint, most likely indicative of Dare, metal mounting plate marked AA PAT APLD FOR
Carved in a galloping or jumper position, this whimsical yet Primitive country-fair style equine exhibits all the hallmarks of Dare’s design, such as the forward-facing ears, the perfectly combed asymmetrical mane with a wind-blown effect, the tail made of realistic hair, and the distinctive “bird” saddle, which was carved separately and attached.
Among carousel antiques...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood, Paint
Large Hand Carved Duck Sculpture by Miguel Ruelas
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice large hand carved duck sculpture by Miguel Ruelas, circa 1980s. The detail, craftsmanship and painting in this piece is lifelike and truly amaz...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood, Paint
Contemporary Elliptical Bamboo Sculpture
Located in Chicago, IL
Folk art style oval/elliptical bamboo sculpture, contemporary. Lengths of lighter colored bamboo form the larger ovals with short pieces of darker bambo...
Category
Late 20th Century Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Bamboo
Folk Art Found Object Doll TOTEM by Bill Fink, Bergdorf Goodman
By Bill Fink
Located in New York, NY
Fantastic doll TOTEM sculpture composed of European doll parts, European and American vintage tin tea caddies, fire bell, and topped by a whimsical tin bird...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Metal
Abstract Steel Floor Sculpture by Mayer Spivack, Circa 1980s
Located in Peabody, MA
We recently acquired a collection of mid to late 20th century sculptures by the Newton, Massachusetts artist, psychotherapist and inventor Mayer Spivack. A lifelong innovator and cre...
Category
1980s American Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Steel
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 Sculptures
Materials
Wood
19th Century American Carved Wood Horse Head
Located in Stamford, CT
Hand carved wood head of a horse, stained black, shown wearing a bridal and bit, with mouth open as if in a full gallop. A very handsome piece of sculpture, likely a fragment from a larger piece, now mounted on a custom iron base. Great decoration for the equestrian or lover of horses. Great for mantel...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Large Pink Hand Catchall Sculpture Studio Pottery by Unknown American Artist
Located in Chicago, IL
Handmade large pink hand sculpture/catchall by unknown American artist. Oversized, goofy and in your face. The soft touch of clay adds some life to th...
Category
1980s American Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic
Very Large Example of a Tonala Cat, Artist Signed
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is an exceptionally large Tonala figure of a cat. The piece is artist signed and most probably dates to the 1960s-1980s. The cat is beautifully mold...
Category
20th Century Mexican Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Clay
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
Terracotta Articulated Doll Santos Figure
Located in Stamford, CT
Amusing Mexican terracotta doll figure with articulated limbs. Since it is solid terracotta it is likely this is a mold from which other dolls were made. As a folk art sculpture it i...
Category
Early 20th Century Mexican Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta
Vintage Bronze Gilt Thai Teppanom Temple Guard Dancing Statue Sculpture
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage statue in gilt bronze metal of Thai Teppanom Temple Guard Dancing statue sculpture.
Vintage Handcrafted Gilded Thai Teppanom Temple Guard Dancer...
Category
Mid-20th Century Thai Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Tonala Folk Art Bird Mexican Hand Painted Colorful Pottery 1960s
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Tonala Folk Art Pottery Plate Hand Painted Flying Bird, Mexico, circa 1960's.
Vintage Mexican Tonala hand painted pottery bird Folk Art.
Flora de la Cruz ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic
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 Sculptures
Materials
Glass, Paint, Paper, Leather
Royal Doulton Porcelain Figurine, "The Mendicant"
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Royal Doulton The Mendicant, Moroccan figurine of a man wearing a turban and playing a tamburine.
High glazed, finely modeled bone china with exquisi...
Category
Mid-20th Century English Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
Large Hand-Carved Cypress Knee Figural Sculpture After Botticelli's Venus, 1970s
Located in San Francisco, CA
An impressively sized and strikingly beautiful semi-nude female figural sculpture strongly evocative of Sandro Botticelli's "Birth of Venus", hand-carved from an unusually large cypr...
Category
1970s American Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Cypress
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 Sculptures
Materials
Copper
Whimsical Surfer Sculpture by Mitch Berg
Located in San Diego, CA
A really cool and whimsical surfer sculpture by Mitch Berg, circa 2008. The piece is in good vintage condition and measures 10.5" W x 4.5" D x 15" H. ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Metal
19th Century Carved Bull Sign
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Carved and painted wood bull sign. Life size head with carved and painted details, real horns fitted to the head by lead sleeves. The top of the head fashioned from a thick sheath of...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Metal, Iron
Large Antique Cast Iron Seated Frog Door Stop
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Large Antique cast iron seated frog door stop.
USA, Circa 1920s.
A rare and unusual model, of large size, depicts a seated green frog on a r...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Iron
Pair of Triton Sea Shell Sculptures
Located in Forney, TX
A pair of unique folk art sculptures completely comprised of natural triton shells. Ball form, each spiral trumpet sea shell protruding outward, creating ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Shell
Vintage Terracotta Terrier Sculpture
Located in Houston, TX
Vintage terracotta terrier sculpture. This handsome terra cotta terrier figure is realistic in size and features.
Perfect home accent for the dog lover!
Category
1940s Unknown Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta
Wet-Cut Mosaic Wall Decoration
Located in Rockaway, NJ
One of a kind original piece of earthenware ceramic featuring several custom and proprietary glaze chemistries, including luster glazing.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Earthenware, Wood
Grand Scale Hand Carved Wood Giraffe Sculpture on Base circa 1970's
Located in St. Louis, MO
Grand scale African folk art hand carved wood giraffe, with charred black stained spots. Appears to be carved from log. In fine vintage condition. Unsigne...
Category
1970s African Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Mexican Terracotta Articulated Doll Figure, 1920's
Located in Stamford, CT
Amusing Mexican terracotta doll figure with articulated limbs. Since it is solid terracotta it is likely this is a mold from which other dolls were made. As a folk art sculpture it i...
Category
Early 20th Century Mexican Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta
Antique Signed American Folk Art Sewer Tile or Redware Pottery Lion Figurine
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique signed Folk Art lion figurine.
In the form of a recumbent lion.
Signed to the underside. The signature appears to read: 'J Silverthorn'
Made out of a reddish-brown redware or stoneware sewer tile...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic, Pottery
Royal Copenhagen Hand Painted Porcelain Young Girl Peasant Feeding a Calf
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a Royal Copenhagen glazed hand painted porcelain figurine of a Danish young girl peasant feeding a calf from a big bucket. Below the base, it is found the Royal Copenhagen ha...
Category
20th Century Danish Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
Bluebird Watercolor & Mixed Media Assemblage Sculpture
Located in Seguin, TX
Small tabletop mixed media and watercolor. Using antique and vintage components. Watercolor on paper of bluebird mounted on antique circa 1900 wood casting mold...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wire
20th Century American Folk Art Carved Stop Sign
Located in Chicago, IL
A 20th century American Folk Art hand-carved and painted wood stop sign mounted on a custom steel stand.
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood, Paint
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 Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Brass Duck Form Decorative Sculpture
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Handcrafted decorative vintage collectible brass duck shape sculpture.
Beautiful handcrafted large cast polished brass bird form.
Vintage large heavy soli...
Category
Mid-20th Century European Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Brass, Copper
Massive Hand Carved Monkey Pod Exotic Hardwood Lovers Embrace Coffee Table
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Masterfully hand carved from what must have been a colossal solid piece of monkey pod hardwood. This nude figural sculpture weighs around 250 lbs. Although ...
Category
Late 20th Century Southeast Asian Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Glass, Hardwood
African Folk Art Hand Carved Sculpture Fork and Spoon
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Hand carved African tribal wood carved sculpture of a men and women,
Africa tribal Art Decor.
Kenyan tribal sculpture featuring an elongated standing man and women with a crown and metal choker.
Very simple modern look carved ethnic sculpture...
Category
20th Century Kenyan Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Duck Decoy Three-Piece Sculpture by Herb Watson
Located in San Diego, CA
A very cool and unique duck decoy three-piece sculpture by Herb Watson, circa 1987. The detail, craftsmanship and painting of the ducks is amazing; they look absolutely real! The set includes a green winged teal drake and hen (3.25"W x "7D x 3.5"H) on a round pond...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood, Paint
Antique Wood Balinese Scarecrow
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large antique wooden scare crow used in a rice field from Bali. Arms swing. A great character and piece of folk art! On custom iron base
Category
20th Century Indonesian Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Iron
Carved Basswood Basset Hound Dog Sculpture Statue John Garton JD Adkins
Located in Dayton, OH
"Hand carved and painted basswood seated basset hound by John R Garton and Joe D. Adkins of Petersburg, West Virginia, USA, circa 2014.
John R. Garton picked up a carving tool in...
Category
Late 20th Century Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Hardwood, Paint
Heavy Terra Cotta Folk Art Sculpture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Heavy terra cotta Folk Art sculpture, made by a worker from the Modesto brick factory, with unused clay from the day.
Category
1960s American Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta
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 Sculptures
Materials
Tin
Terracotta Articulated Doll Santos Figure Wearing a Bowler Hat
Located in Stamford, CT
Unusual, and quite amusing Mexican terracotta doll figure with articulated limbs. Since it is solid terracotta it is likely this is a mold from which other dolls were made. As a folk...
Category
Early 20th Century Mexican Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic, Clay, Terracotta
Folk Art Wood Wheel Sculptural Element
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gorgeous and unique hand-crafted wooden wheel with 2 "spokes". Possibly from a small wooden wagon or cart.
The 5" thick wheels are carefully carved fr...
Category
19th Century Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Steel
Folk Art Studio Pottery Bunny
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Folk Art Studio Pottery Bunny - We shop a lot and this bunny is one of our favorite finds. A precious little thing with a great spirit and energy. A compl...
Category
20th Century Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Pottery
Decorative Hand-Carved African Statue from Kenya
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Decorative ebony well hand-carved African statue of a young women.
Handmade in Kenya, Africa.
Category
Mid-20th Century Kenyan Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Ebony
Early 20th Century Folk Art Carved Wood Deer Sculpture
Located in Chicago, IL
A stoic yet charming early 20th century Folk Art carved wood deer sculpture, nearly life size, with a wonderful dry weathered finish, and mounted on a custom steel mount. Perfect dis...
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Pair of Majolica Poodle Onnaing, circa 1900
By Onnaing
Located in Austin, TX
French petite pair of Majolica poodle unsigned Onnaing, circa 1900.
Supposed to be a toy.
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic, Faience
Large Antique Carved Wood Female Bambara Chi Wara Antelope Figure
Located in Nantucket, MA
Chi wara is a ritual headdress used by the Bambara people in Mali. Portrayed as both male or female figures Chi ware is associated with agriculture. This fema...
Category
Early 1900s Malian Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Hardwood
Rare Original Cody Foster Folk Art Pink Wool Rabbit Easter Bunny Doll Strawberry
Located in Dayton, OH
Rare, one of Cody Fosters early original works. Folk art style stuffed animal figurine in the form of a pink rabbit wearing a bow tie and holding a yellow ...
Category
Late 20th Century Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wool, Velvet, Plaster, Paint
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.