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
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
Iron Boot Scraper with Ram's Head Finial
Located in Greenwich, CT
A generous iron boot scrape with twisted shaft handle and bronze finial of a ram's head mounted on a heraldic helmet. Decorative scrolled base imprinted with "1928". In the manner...
Category
Early 20th Century English Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Iron, Bronze
Carved Bantam Wearing a Crown
Located in Greenwich, CT
An early 19th century French carved bantam sporting a crown, well carved in pine. Good detailing to face, plumage, tail feathers and feet. Possibly originally from a ring toss game...
Category
19th Century French Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Pine
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 Sculptures
Materials
Metal
Fred Schumm Lifesize Whimsical Painted Wood Sculpture of a Nude
By Fred Schumm
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A great whimsical colorfully painted lifesize wood sculpture of a nude. The base has been re-painted black. It is signed on the leg Schumm, 1995.
The artist's statement from a 2007 article follows;
Fred Schumm does not view life through rose-colored glasses.
He doesn't have to.
Schumm, Rowan University's artist-in-residence, is a former U.S. Marine who lived through some of the most horrific battles of World War II. He served at Peleliu -- two months of carnage on a tiny Pacific atoll where 12,000 perished - and then four long months on the bloodied isle of Okinawa.
Since then, Schumm, 82, has mostly tried to see life's beauty. It's sort of like how sunlight, warm but ordinary to the naked eye, is refracted into myriad, impossibly beautiful combinations of color when viewed through a kaleidoscope.
And, like sunlight, he finds art everywhere.
"Inspiration is all around but mostly I'm inspired by the ancients," Schumm said recently. "I love Prehistoric African carvings, the works of ancient Greeks, Japanese and Chinese. I especially love Eskimo work."
The celebrated sculptor loves Eskimo work so much he once hitchhiked from his home state of Colorado to Alaska just to see native carvings.
"I wanted to see the TOTEM poles," he said. "The Alaskan Indians were fantastic artists."
Schumm, artist-in-residence since 2003, works with various hardwoods, stone, even metals. A studio in which he works at Westby Hall has pieces in various stages of completion, from an eight-foot-tall, stainless steel sculpture he calls "Aviary" to a solid, six-foot log of black locust...
Category
Late 20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
Iron Perpetual Motion Folk Art Texas Zoo
Located in Santa Monica, CA
This black and white painted iron perpetual motion object was said to have been used to market the zebra exhibition at the San Antonio Zoo. The zebras...
Category
1950s American Vintage Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Iron
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
Fabulous Hard Stone Carved Sculpture by Marcus Lyons
Located in Palm Springs, CA
This fabulous sculpture is by noted Palm Springs artist Marcus Lyons (b1949). The signature is indistinct but it is clearly his work. The subject matter is...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Stone
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
Pair of Carved Pine Toreadors with Red Capes
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Spanish style carved pine life size toreadors with red capes (19th Cent)
Category
19th Century Spanish Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Pine, Wood
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
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
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
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
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
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
Maritime Architectural Element
Located in Stamford, CT
A maritime architectural element of painted and carved wood representing Neptune.
Category
19th Century English 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
Folk Art Magnificent Oxidized Iron Man Sculpture
Located in Miami, FL
Magnificent iron man sculpture. Consists of saw blades as arms, a crumpled bucket as head with a tractor seat as its main body. Two skinny square iron legs keep it all upright and ar...
Category
Late 20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Metal
Wooden Folk Art Crow
Located in Chicago, IL
Richly textured with whimsical appeal, this late 20th century wooden crow is a delightful example of naive American sculpture. Poised mid-caw, it is hard to tell whether this crow ha...
Category
Late 20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
1960s Belgian Decorative Ceramic Wall Plate
Located in High Point, NC
A ceramic wall decoration created in 1960s Belgium. Pastel, brimming with 1960s charm, with a tasteful patina, enigmatically playful wall decoration brings warmth and a decorative fl...
Category
20th Century Belgian Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic
19th Century French Wooden Decoration
Located in High Point, NC
A wooden sculpture of a horse made in 19th century France. A horse mid-gallop has been frozen in time by the immaculate sculpting of 19th century artisans. I...
Category
19th Century French Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Sandstone Carving of a Peregrine Falcon
Located in Nantucket, MA
Masterfuly carved Peregrine Falcon, depicted on a stump, showing a nice contrast pof mixed polish and rough contrast, with inserted black stone eyes
Unknown maker.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Sandstone
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
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
Vintage Bronze Gilt Thai Figurine of Prince Rama with a Bow
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage statue in gilt bronze metal of Prince Rama shooting an arrow.
The Prince hero, Phra Rama (Rama), derived from Thailand’s national epic, Ramakien (...
Category
Mid-20th Century Thai Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Antique Cast Iron Black Lamb Doorstop
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Antique cast iron lamb doorstop.
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Iron
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.