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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Style: Folk Art
Period: 19th Century
Large Italian Giltwood Ornamental Corona Crown, Late 19th Century
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Italian Architectural Element Giltwood 19th Century Carved Corona Crown
Large gilt-wood element, featuring decorative acanthus leaves, carving around the...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Giltwood
Antique Wood Animal Horse Sculpture, Northern Swedish Folk Art Original Paint
Located in Kramfors, SE
Antique wooden horse sculpture from northern Sweden. The horse is from around 1850 and has a body in pine with original paint. The sculpture is made by hand and a one of a kind piece...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Pine
Pair of Wall Plaques Modelled as an Old Couple
Located in Montreal, QC
Pair of terra cotta wall plaques modelled in high relief and painted, portraying an old couple looking out the window.
Category
19th Century Austrian Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta
Antique Real Skull of a Crow or Magpie, Germany ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Real Skull of a Crow or Magpie, Germany ca. 1900s
An antique taxidermied skull of the crow (Corvidae) mounted on an ebonized wooden turned bas...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Bone, Wood
Large French 19th Century Hand Carved Wooden Fragment of a Marionette
Located in Buisson, FR
Very nice handcarved fragment of a marionette.
France, circa 1850. Weathered, small losses and old repairs
Measurement include the wooden base.
Category
19th Century French Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Textile, Wood
PAIR Large Grotesque Dogs earthenware pottery sculptures, 19th Century Italian
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
These are a large PAIR of antique earthenware (or terracotta) pottery Grotesque Dog sculptures, all hand made and dating to the 19th Century, probably made in Italy.
These life-size...
Category
19th Century Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic, Earthenware, Pottery
Folk Art Walnut Burr Sculpture Carved Human Form Life Size
Located in Cheltenham, GB
Exceptional folk art sculpture depicting a human head and body dressed in a waving organic form cloak with a bone eyepiece.
Exceptional patina with strong carved flowing lines produ...
Category
19th Century European Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Walnut
Antique Red Fox Skull Taxidermy, Germany ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Red Fox Skull Taxidermy, Germany ca. 1900s
An antique taxidermied skull of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) mounted on an ebonized wooden turned ba...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Bone, Wood
German Hand Carved Wood and Painted Carousel Horse with Saddle Seat 19th Century
Located in Hollywood, SC
German hand carved wood and decorative painted carousel horse with flowing mane, hairy tail, upholstered saddle seat, original glass eyes, and mounted on a wrought iron scrolled brac...
Category
19th Century German Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood, Paint
Puerto Rican Santos De Palos/Wood Carved Sculpture of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Located in Guaynabo, PR
A renown tradition in Puerto Rico is the making of Santos de Palos by Masters Carvers since the 19th century. They hand carved and hand painted the saints inspired in their personal ...
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
French 19th Century Folk Art Metal Rooster or Cockerel Weathervane
Located in Buisson, FR
Beautiful metal weathervane representing a rooster or cockerel,
France, 1850-1900.
Weathered and small losses. Measurement here below is inclusive the wooden base.
Category
19th Century French Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Copper, Iron
Antique Real Skull of a Badger, Germany ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Real Skull of a Badger, Germany ca. 1900s
An antique taxidermied skull of the badger (Meles meles) mounted on an ebonized wooden turned base. ...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Bone, Wood
Antique Real Skull of a Rabbit, Germany ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Real Skull of a Rabbit, Germany ca. 1900s
An antique taxidermied skull of the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) mounted on an ebonized wooden tur...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Bone, Wood
Antique Real Skull of a Duck, Germany ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Real Skull of a Duck, Germany ca. 1900s
An antique taxidermied skull of the duck (Anas platyrhynchos domestica) mounted on an ebonized wooden ...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood, Bone
19th Century Folk Art Wooden Hand Glove Stretcher
Located in Downingtown, PA
Folk Art Wooden Hand Glove Stretcher,
19th century
The wood model of a hand is mounted on a stepped wood base. The hand has a lovely aged color and is a great piece of folk art.
Di...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
French 19th Century Folk Art Iron Rooster or Cockerel Weathervane
Located in Buisson, FR
Beautiful iron weathervane representing a rooster or cockerel,
France, 1850-1900. The weathervane is placed on an oak pedestal of later date
Weathered and small losses. Measurement...
Category
19th Century French Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Iron
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 basi...
Category
1890s Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Sheet Metal
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 Sculptures
Materials
Iron
Large 19th Century Polychromed Statue of a Burmese Nat Temple Dancer
Located in Silvolde, Gelderland
Absolutely beautiful large polychromed Burmese temple dancer from the 19th century hand carved out of a piece of teak. Very decorative piece of art. 127 cm / 50 Inches tall. Please n...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Teak
Pair of American Cast Iron Hand Painted Preening Ducks on Squared Base, C 1880
Located in Hollywood, SC
Pair of American cast iron hand painted preening ducks resting on squared bases. Late 19th Century.
Category
1880s American Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Iron
American Copper Full Bodied Pig Directional Weathervane on Stand, circa 1880
Located in Hollywood, SC
American Copper full bodied pig directional weathervane resting on squared iron stand, late 19th century.
Category
1880s American Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Copper, Iron, Zinc
American Gilt Copper Full Bodied Horse Directional Weathervane, Fiske, C. 1870
Located in Hollywood, SC
American gilt copper full bodied running horse directional weathervane with two gilt circular spheres resting on squared iron stand, J.W. Fiske, late 19th century.
Category
1870s American Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Copper, Iron, Zinc, Gold Leaf
Antique Architectural Parcel Gilt Wrought Iron Sculpture
Located in Forney, TX
A one-of-a-kind antique wrought iron sculpture, comprising 18th and 19th century architectural elements, in a rustic parcel gilt finish, including door lock, latch, and skeleton key,...
Category
19th Century European Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Bronze, Wrought Iron
Large 19th Century Polychromed Statue of a Burmese Nat Temple Dancer
Located in Silvolde, Gelderland
Absolutely beautiful large polychromed Burmese temple dancer from the 19th century hand-carved out of a piece of teak.
Very decorative piece of art. 127 cm / 50 Inches tall.
Pleas...
Category
Mid-19th Century Burmese Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Teak
Balinese Carved Wood Statue of a Female Dancer
Located in Doylestown, PA
A carved wood statue of a female Balinese dancer in traditional clothing, late 19th century-early 20th century. Retains much of its original painted fi...
Category
19th Century Balinese Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
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 Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Late 19th Century Patinated Bronze Eagle on Black Marble Stand
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Large French Eagle on a Belgian Black Marble Stand, circa 1880-1900.
This amazing Eagle sculpture is made in a solid bronze that still has the original patina, with a unbeatable age-...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Belgian Black Marble, Bronze
24" Tall Antique Swedish Large Wooden Horse Carved Hand-Painted 19th Century
Located in Aarhus C, DK
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 Sculptures
Materials
Leather, Wood
Balinese Carved Wood Statue of a Warrior
Located in Doylestown, PA
A carved wood statue of a warrior in traditional clothing, late 19th century-early 20th century. Retains traces of its original painted finish.
Category
19th Century Balinese Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
19th Spanish Colonial Santos Hands, Set of Three, Mounted
Located in Stamford, CT
Interesting and unusual group of three Spanish Colonial painted plaster hands, two mounted on marble bases and one on a custom wood stand. Whimsical, or just creepy, they are uniqiue. Likely hands from santos figures, which often break off. The previous collector thought enough of them to have them beautifully mounted. Give someone a hand!
Provenance: Artist Karl Mann...
Category
19th Century Peruvian Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Marble
Late 19th Century Hand Carved And Painted Wooden Carousel Horse Head
Located in Aramits, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Hand-carved and painted massive wooden horse head, late 19th century, probably from a small carousel or children's toy. Very nice patina through peeling paint and wear.
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
19th Century, English Folk-Art Stick Handle
Located in London, GB
19th Century Folk-art stick handle.
Made from a single piece of hand carved pine, detailing a hand holding a cricket ball, with geometric patterns to the shaft section. Likely to ...
Category
19th Century British Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Pine
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
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
French Hand-Painted Lady Sculpture Door Stop in Solid Cast Iron
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Late 19th century door stop, France, circa 1880.
This lady sculpture is made in heavy solid cast iron and is in it original hand-painted colors.
Category
19th Century English Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Iron
Antique Folk Art Horse Sculpture
Located in Sheffield, MA
Wonderfully charming hand-carved 19th Century American folk art horse sculpture on stand. Pay special attention to its face and the carved details to appreciate this fine specimen. ...
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
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
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
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
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
Pottery, Ceramic
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
Gentleman's Head Money Bank
Located in Copenhagen, K
Very funny money bank in the shape of a dandy gentleman's head.
Category
Late 19th Century British Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Earthenware
Early 19th Century Italian Carved Lion Figure
Located in London, GB
Early 19th century carved lion figure
An early 19th century hand carved Italian or Spanish representation of a seated lion figure. Anthropomorphism features which are typical of this period. Polychrome paint still visible across its surface with aged repairs and wear as expected, the gesso is visible in sections. Visible ribcage typical of the regions, the possibility this figure could have been part of a larger carved piece of décor furnishing or architecture display...
Category
1820s Italian Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Gesso, Pine, Paint
Early 19th Century Scandinavian Folk Art Mangle Board
Located in Greenwich, CT
Charming early 19th Century Swedish folk art mangle board having a stylized horse handle, the body with geometric carving and traces of original polychrom...
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Antique Japanese Master Carpenter Woodwork Tool circa 1890
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Antique Nakashima styled vintage Japanese Master carpenter woodworking tool in metal and wood, circa 1890
Dimensions: Height 1 in. Width 10.5 in. De...
Category
1890s Japanese Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Metal
American Gilt Copper & Cast Iron Full Bodied Rooster Weathervane, circa 1880
Located in Hollywood, SC
American gilt copper and cast iron full bodied rooster weathervane mounted on stand, Late 19th Century
Category
1880s American Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Copper, Iron
Monumental Carousel Rooster Figure
Located in New York, NY
Carousel style (19/20th Cent) carved walnut monumental rooster figure on iron stand with brass pole
Category
19th Century Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Iron, Brass
19th Century English Folk Art Copper Weathervane
Located in London, GB
19th century English Folk Art copper weathervane
A wonderfully pure example of a late 19th century English Folk Art handcrafted copper w...
Category
1880s British Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Copper
19c Folk Art Country Swedish Adze Carved Rosewood Tripod Table Bowl Decorative
Located in Sherborne, Dorset
Bought from an Antiques shop in Sweden, this charming, richly patinated tripod bowl table is hewn from a solid log of Rosewood - weighing in at 7kg, it's an incredibly extravagant us...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Rosewood, Oak
Scottish Ram in Polychrome Wood, 19th Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Superb polychrome carved wooden ram from Scotland-19th century
Very elegant and surprising ram which is almost carved at life size which comes from a Manor in Scotland.
Uncommon ...
Category
19th Century Scottish Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Hardwood
Danish 19th Century Brass Surveying or Level Tool on Tripod
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Surveyors tripod level tool from the late 19th century. The tripod is made of wood and the level is brass. The wood tripod is 39.75in high.
Category
Mid-19th Century Danish Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Brass
19th Century Dutch Carved Monumental Wood Eagle Figure Seated on a Pedestal
Located in New York, NY
Continental 19th century Dutch life-sized carved wooden eagle figure with open mouth on square pedestal.
Category
19th Century Dutch Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
19th Century Hand Carved German Apothecary Shop Display Figure
Located in London, GB
19th century hand carved apothecary shop display figure.
A rare hand carved 19th century apothecary shop display figure. Of German origin this figure would likely have sat either on...
Category
1880s German Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Oak
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 Sculptures
Materials
Iron
Exceptional Exotic Carousel Zebra by Karl Muller
Located in Greenwich, CT
A late 19th century-early 20th century carousel zebra by eminent creater Karl Muller in carved, painted wood. Ex-coll. Muller/Thummel studio in Molbitz, Ge...
Category
1890s German Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
19th Century Tobacconist’s Trade Sign
Located in Greenwich, CT
English carved and polychrome decorated wood tobacconist’s trade sign in the form of a “Turk” wearing a distinctive headdress and dressed in a long robe, this advertising figure rela...
Category
19th Century British Antique Folk Art Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Laos Buddha Statue 19th century
Located in New York, NY
19th century Lao Buddha statue. Folk Art figure representation of Buddha. A solid wood block carving with remnants of pigments. To collectors Lao Buddha fig...
Category
1890s Laotian 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.