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Carnival Art

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Carnival Art For Sale
Antique Carved & Painted Mexican Carnival Carousel Peacock Ride Sculpture 1940s
Located in Portland, OR
A Rare and unusual folk art carved & painted carousel/carnival ride, Mexico, 1940's. This wonderfully whimsical carousel figure is carved as a peacock and has bright polychrome pluma...
Category

1940s Mexican Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art

Materials

Pine

Carnival Midway Sideshow Banner
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Original hand-painted canvas sideshow banner for carnival midway sideshow entrance. Not signed but most likely out of Chicago Tent and Awning's banner ...
Category

1950s American Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art

Materials

Canvas

Early 20th c. Engraved Croquet Mallet c.1920
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT A brass and wood British croquet mallet engraved with "3 Liberty London". CREATOR Unknown. Made in the United Kingdom. DATE OF MANUFACTURE c.1920. MATERIALS AND ...
Category

Early 20th Century British Industrial Carnival Art

Materials

Brass

Large 19th Century Painted Game Wheel
Located in Nantucket, MA
Large 19th century wooden gaming wheel with hand-painted face including numbers and central nautical star design. In black, maroon, yellow, and orange paints, with metal dowels sepa...
Category

Late 19th Century North American Antique Carnival Art

Materials

Metal

Vintage life size buste of French Pierrot, the sad clown made of plaster.
Located in Hoogeveen, NL
Beautiful vintage French bust of Pierrot, the sad clown or also knwon as the white clown. Was casted approximately in the 1970's / 1980’s. It is solid plaster/white clay and weighs a...
Category

1980s European Vintage Carnival Art

Materials

Clay, Plaster

Vintage Wood Carousel Rabbit with Carrots, France, 1950s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Vintage wood carousel rabbit with carrots. This French vintage wooden carousel animal - carousel decoration animal dates circa 1950 - 1960. It's a hand-carved / hand-crafted carousel figure with a great looking aged patina in the meantime. This cute fairground rabbit with beautiful eyes had a succesfull hunt and is carrying two large carrots on his shoulders. Large rabbit sculpture...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Wood

Aage Hogfeldt Outsider Art Clown Sculpture
Located in Savannah, GA
Aage Hogfeldt (American, 1925-2014) A clown bust made from concrete and found lamp parts. 10 by 10 by 17 inches In 1954 Aage Hogfeldt founded an artist...
Category

1950s American Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art

Materials

Concrete, Wire

Vintage Pair of Venetian Masquerade Masks on Opera Sticks
Located in Miami, FL
A pair of Folk Art jester masks that are original Venetian creations, entirely hand-drawn and handcrafted, circa 2000. Italian Artists have realized these pieces with respect of craf...
Category

20th Century Italian Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Gold, Brass, Metallic Thread

Large 20th C. Americana Folk Art Carousel with Painted Farm Animals
Located in Morristown, NJ
20th c., Large Folk Art carousel with animals on a rotating base.Made of wood and canvas construction, with leather and other accent materials unsigned. The animals depicted are a ho...
Category

1940s American Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art

Materials

Canvas, Wood, Paint

Late 19th Century Folk Art Bumbass instrument
Located in London, GB
Late 19th Century Folk Art Bumbass instrument A rare example of a late 19th Century folk art Bumbass instrument form, we have only ever uncovered one other example in the past 10 ...
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Folk Art Antique Carnival Art

Materials

Brass

Vintage Folk Art Carved Wood Juvenile Size Carousel Figure of a Standing Lion
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Vintage half-scale carved wood carousel figure by Robert Demechko (1938-1923). Called "Leo" a carved and bleached or limed wood figure of a standing male lion with glass eyes and dec...
Category

Late 20th Century American Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Wood

19th Century American Folk Art Rocking Horse
Located in San Francisco, CA
19th century American Folk Art rocking horse Fantastic American Folk Art hand carved rocking horse with ample remains of red and white paint...
Category

Late 19th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Carnival Art

Materials

Wood

Vintage Circus Stand, 1950s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Vintage circus stand. This stand was used in the circus to do acts with animals like lions, tigers or other animals. It's made of iron with wooden top...
Category

Mid-20th Century European Industrial Carnival Art

Materials

Iron

Vintage Pelican Bird Figure
Located in Antwerp, BE
Cute vintage pelican bird figure - fairground piece - children's toy. A beautiful colorful bird sculpture from the period 1970 - 1980, stil in good ...
Category

Late 20th Century European Modern Carnival Art

Materials

Fiberglass

Large Folk Art Wooden Merry-Go-Round Model
Located in Antwerp, BE
Awesome large Folk Art wooden merry-go-round model. This large scale model of a Carousel or Roundabout has been handmade. Great example of Carnival Art - Folk Art with miniature handmade wooden sculptures of horses, jeep cars and sleigh. All very detailed. The roof of the entertainment ride is made of patent leather and the bottom roof in draped fabric. This antique toy - Antique fun fair scale model has a handle to turn the carousel around. At this point the handle is stuck due age. As we don't want to damage the aged patina, we didn't make it loose. The new owner can decide if he wants to undo it by removing the old rust in between. If we would do that in front, there is no way back. The carousel can be turned around by hand without using the handle. This Table Model of a Carousel is a Collectable Object - Collectable Antique Toy...
Category

Mid-20th Century European Carnival Art

Materials

Iron

Quadro Menossi, Carnevale Napoletano 1970-1980
Located in Manzano, IT
Quadro Menossi, Carnevale Napoletano 1970-1980 Dipinto a mano, su legno. Il legno col tempo si è leggermente curvato. In alcuni punti il colore è mancante, dovuto l'età. Stile Vin...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Carnival Art

Materials

Canvas, Wood

Vintage Magician Magic Suitcase Hand Painted Folk Art
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Fantastic Magician's suitcase. Hand painted and lettered. Vintage Folk Art rabbit trick and card paintings. Great bookshelf display.
Category

1940s American Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art

Materials

Fabric, Canvas

Litho Circus Poster, Clown and Circus Scenes, Willsons Leicester
Located in Antwerp, BE
Litho circus poster with clown and lots of circus scenes. A colorful Art Deco lithographic circus Poster - circus affiche printed by Willsons Show Printers Leicester ( England - UK ...
Category

Mid-20th Century English Art Deco Carnival Art

Materials

Paper

Monumental Fiberglass Lion Sculpture Drinking Fountain mFG. by F.A.S.T Corp
Located in Buffalo, NY
Monumental Fiberglass Lion Sculpture Drinking Fountain mFG. by F.A.S.T Corp..Salvaged from Crystal Beech ,famed amusement park in Ontario Canada,, Amazing Cartoon Lion ,complete with...
Category

1970s American Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art

Materials

Chrome

Folksy Hand Carved Tyrolian Carnival Fasnet Mask
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Folksy Hand Carved Tyrolian Carnival Fasnet Mask A folksy wooden carved carnival mask from the region of South Tyrol. These masks are used in Austria, South Germany and Italy at the...
Category

Early 20th Century German Black Forest Carnival Art

Materials

Wood

Nice Carved and Painted Tyrolian Carnival Fasnet Mask
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Nice Carved and Painted Tyrolian Carnival Fasnet Mask A handcarved pine wood, hand painted, antique wooden carved carnival mask from the region of South Tyrol. Excecuted in the firs...
Category

Early 20th Century German Black Forest Carnival Art

Materials

Wood

Wood Juggling Pin
Located in Chicago, IL
Wood juggling pin - made by Spalding.
Category

Early 1900s American Antique Carnival Art

Materials

Wood

Wood Juggling Pin
Located in Chicago, IL
Wood juggling pin - made by Spalding
Category

Early 1900s American Antique Carnival Art

Materials

Wood

Old Castelet Or Guignol Theater, Period: Early 20th Century
Located in CRÉTEIL, FR
Old castelet or theater Guignol of parquet floor or living room Lyonnais. Its structure is in painted wood, the bottom represents a clown, the Auguste giving food to his playmate, a...
Category

20th Century European Other Carnival Art

Materials

Wood

Kewpie Doll W/ Teddy Bear Iron Door Stop
By Hubbly
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fun and folky Kewpie girl cast iron doorstop is quite rare and in original painted surface.Notice she is holding a teddy bear.So amazing to find one like this in undisturbed sur...
Category

Early 20th Century American Adirondack Carnival Art

Materials

Iron

Circus Poster by Ringling Bros., circa 1971, "Clown Standing over Tents"
Located in Incline Village, NV
This highly animated, bright and colorful circus poster portrays a fabulous looking clown in white frilled garb with red stripes, welcoming everyone to see the "Greatest Show on Earth...
Category

1970s Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art

Materials

Paper

Vintage French Blue Tones Paper Garland Sculpture circa 1930 Antique Decor
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Embrace the allure of vintage charm with this exquisite antique paper garland sculpture in mesmerizing blue tones. Crafted in France circa 1930, this piece is a testament to timeless...
Category

1930s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carnival Art

Materials

Paper

Circus Poster by Ringling Bros, circa 1971 "Buffalo Bill’s Wild West"
Located in Incline Village, NV
This bright and colorful, action packed circus poster portrays the quintessential Buffalo Bill images with Indians and western scenes, characters in full regalia that were used in his wild west shows...
Category

1970s American Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art

Materials

Paper

Breitschwerdt German Puppet Folk Art
Located in Dallas, TX
Breitschwerot German Puppet Folk Art.
Category

20th Century German Carnival Art

Materials

Wood

Circus Poster by Ringling Bros., circa 1971, Portraying Six Seated Clowns
Located in Incline Village, NV
This bright and colorful circus poster depicts six seated clowns with their backs to the audience and an alphabet letter on their back spelling out the word "Circus". It is a reissued poster by Ringling Brothers from 1971 of one of their original 1936 promotional circus posters. To commemorate their 100th anniversary, in 1971, Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey, produced reissues of some of their select and most famous authentic posters dating from 1883 until the 1930's. There were 30 different posters, and they were advertised as "The only antique posters authorized by the greatest show on...
Category

1970s American Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art

Materials

Paper

Equestrian Circus Poster by Ringling Bros Ca. 1971 Featuring "Miss Helen Girard"
Located in Incline Village, NV
There is a lot going on in this equestrian themed, bright and colorful circus poster portraying famous early 20th century circus performer "Miss Helen Girard". She is in a horse draw...
Category

1970s American Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art

Materials

Paper

Elegant French Antique Color Paper Garland Sculpture circa 1930 Vintage Deco
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Enhance your space with a captivating antique color paper garland sculpture. This exquisite piece, crafted in France circa 1930, showcases the timeless a...
Category

1930s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carnival Art

Materials

Paper

Antique Shooting Club Lodge Target Plaque German 1883, Carnival Folk Art
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Vintage Shooting Lodge Target Plaque 1883. A rare and beautiful wooden shooting target plaque with inscriptions. This rare kings plaque was issued by a s...
Category

1880s German Folk Art Antique Carnival Art

Materials

Wood

'Strike ‘Em Out’ Carnival Toss Sign, 1940s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Unique vintage, mid-20th century “Strike ‘Em Out” game sign. 6.5 feet tall and 4 feet wide. Hand painted on 0.75 inch thick plywood. Strike Out originated as a baseball-like street game but also became a popular carnival attraction, where a pitcher hurtled a rubber baseball at a batter in front of the sign with the aim to get the ball in the hole. The game originated in the Chicago area...
Category

1940s American Vintage Carnival Art

Materials

Plywood, Paint

Antique Atlantic City Souvenir Penny Game from Boardwalk Empire
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A Historical artifact once used in the HBO series Boardwalk Empire. Maple cabinet with brass plaques and painted iron mechanism. Costing two quarters and a penny to play. Not tested ...
Category

20th Century American Industrial Carnival Art

Materials

Metal

Iron Shooting Target of a Pig
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Unique shooting target made from cut steel and iron in the shape of a pig. The piece is quite rusty and weathered from all it's years in use.
Category

Early 20th Century North American Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Steel

1960s English Carnival Sign
Located in High Point, NC
1960s carnival art sign from England. It is advertising a cake walk on one side of the sign, and on the back has a charming message "Have a nice Victorian day". Great sign for any co...
Category

1960s English Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art

Materials

Wood

Nice Rare Set of 19th C Oak Hand Carved Belgian Carousel Wooden Panels / Mirrors
Located in Southampton, GB
Nice rare set of 19th c oak hand carved Belgian Carousel wooden panels . These have been salvaged and pinned together on the reverse ( see photos of t...
Category

19th Century Belgian Antique Carnival Art

Materials

Oak

Black Carousel Horse, Wood Horse Sculpture on Metal Base, 1960s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Wooden Carousel Horse - Fairground horse - Merry-go-round Horse. Smaller model, so easy to be placed. This Mid-20th century hand carved Animal Sculptu...
Category

Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Carnival Art

Materials

Wood

Carousel Motorcycle - Motorbike by Fonlupt, France, 1950s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Carousel Motorcycle - Motorbike - Motor Bike by Fonlupt France. A French vintage child's motorbike used on the roundabout - merry-go-round - fairground - funfair. A 1950s metal r...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Industrial Carnival Art

Materials

Metal

Large Hand Painted Early Carnival Rounding Board
Located in Norwalk, CT
Bring an unusual piece of folk history into your home with this stunning early 20th century rounding board salvaged from a carnival. With hand-painted designs of putti and harp motif...
Category

Early 20th Century Carnival Art

Materials

Wood

Vintage Shooting Club Lodge Target Plaque German 1900s, Carnival Folk Art
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Vintage Shooting Lodge Target Plaque 1900s. A rare and beautiful wooden shooting target plaque with inscriptions. This rare kings plaque was issued by a ...
Category

Early 1900s German Folk Art Antique Carnival Art

Materials

Wood, Paper

Dentzel Carved Ostrich Carousel Animal
By Dentzel Carousel Company
Located in West Chester, PA
Carved ostrich carousel animal. Made by Dentzel Carousel Company in Philadelphia., circa 1890-1900. Considered one of the hardest animals to carve bec...
Category

1890s American Folk Art Antique Carnival Art

Materials

Wood

Hand Painted Midcentury Resin White Jumper Carousel Horse by C.W. Parker
By Charles Looff Or C.W. Parker
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Horse is embossed with the makers mark on one of its hooves. Made by Charles Looff and stamped C.W. Parker. Perfectly captured in all it’s glory, this vintage carousel horse...
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Hollywood Regency Carnival Art

Materials

Brass

Pair of Quirky Plaster Figures, Signed E. Siegl
Located in Brecht, BE
A quirky pair of plaster figures, 19th century Folk Art, signed E. Siegl, in very good vintage condition. man is 40 cm high x 43 cm wide and 24 cm deep, woman is 40 cm high x 39 cm...
Category

Late 19th Century German Antique Carnival Art

Materials

Plaster

Beatles Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band Golden Record Carat Rec 011/100
Located in Nuernberg, DE
1970s The Beatles 24-karat gold-plated record, unframed. Limited edition of 100, 11/100 with “Certificate of Authenticity” included. Golden Record on a red Velvet wooden plate. Nice ...
Category

1970s German Modern Vintage Carnival Art

Materials

Wood, Velvet

Vintage Carnival Spinning Jumbo Carny Trick Gamewheel
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Early 20th century carny made carnival game wheel. Spinning arrow appears to have been gaffed (weighted) to make winning the game more difficult. Lots of care and time went into the ...
Category

1920s American Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art

Materials

Iron

Pair of Hand Painted Early Carnival Rounding Boards
Located in Norwalk, CT
Bring an unusual piece of folk history into your home with this stunning pair of early 20th century rounding boards salvaged from a carnival. With hand painted designs and gold leaf ...
Category

Early 20th Century Carnival Art

Materials

Wood

Pair of Glass Optical Distortion Carnival Fairground Mirrors Concave and Convex
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A rare pair of obverse fairground mirrors, housed in their original pine frames and ebonised finish. The original concave and convex optical glass is of sound condition with m...
Category

Early 20th Century English Carnival Art

Materials

Glass, Pine

Original Wood Carved Carnival Midway Poster Letterpress
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Set of three original hand-carved letterpress made by the Neal Walters Poster Company. Fantastic carnival midway scene. Games, carnival rides and acrobats. Carved with incredible detail, please see photos. The colors are the original ink used during the three color posted printing process. Circus and...
Category

1930s American Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art

Materials

Paint, Wood

Pair of Hand Painted Early Carnival Rounding Boards
Located in Norwalk, CT
Bring an unusual piece of folk history into your home with this stunning pair of early 20th century rounding boards salvaged from a carnival. With hand painted designs and gold leaf ...
Category

Early 20th Century Carnival Art

Materials

Wood

Sculpture Fairground Art, 1890s
Located in Brussels, BE
Rare and spectacular wooden sculpture, with traces of polychromy. late 19th century Dutch fairground art. from a carousel. dismantled into parts. in ver...
Category

1890s Dutch Belle Époque Antique Carnival Art

Materials

Wood

Early 20th C Robert Lakin & Co Fairground Carnival Circus Pillars Edwin Hall
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A truly fantastic group of totally original untouched decorative fairground pillars by the infamous Robert J Lakin Company of 67 Besley Street, Streatham, London The pillars are h...
Category

Early 20th Century English Carnival Art

Materials

Pine

Early 20th C. Carnival Strongman Mallet
Located in Copake Falls, NY
An early 20th century carnival or circus strongman mallet. Made of wood with iron banding around the mallet head. A long handle is ergonomically carved to be comfortable when held.  
Category

Early 20th Century Carnival Art

Materials

Metal

Original Wood Carved SHOW Majorette Letterpress Triangle Poster Company
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Large hand carved circus or carnival SHOW letterpress with wonderful and graphic carved majorette. This wood cut was made by the Triangle Poster Compan...
Category

Early 20th Century Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Wood

Rare 1950s Childs Size Carousel Motorcycle
Located in Peekskill, NY
This item is a lot smaller than it looks in the pictures. The handlebars are less that 2 foot tall. Its sized for a small child but has the proportions of a full size motorcycle. Tha...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Metal

Antique Primitive Rustic Burl Wood Sledge Hammer Carpenter Mallet
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique hand crafted primitive / rustic wooden mallet with heavily distressed round burl wood head and handle. Measure: 14".
Category

Late 19th Century Folk Art Antique Carnival Art

Materials

Hardwood, Burl

Carousel Boat by L' Autopède, 1940s
By L'Autopède
Located in Antwerp, BE
Carousel boat by Atelier L' Autopède Belgium. This merry-go-round hand-made metal boat is the first model of the first serie boats made by L' Autopède in...
Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Modern Carnival Art

Materials

Metal

Antique and Vintage Carnival Art

The collection of original antique and vintage carnival art on 1stDibs includes paintings and posters that promoted traveling carnivals and circuses of years past as well as masks, sculptures and other works of folk art associated with widespread public celebrations that mark the start of harvest season or are rooted in religion.

The concept of “Carnival” is linked to an event that precedes Lent, the season of preparation before Easter for Christians (it may also have roots in Ancient Rome’s pagan Saturnalian festival), while the modern traveling carnival that we know — i.e., amusement fairs — existed during the 19th century in North America. The Chicago World’s Fair in 1893 was pivotal to these traveling amusement fairs.

Some of the most famous celebrations of Carnival around the world include Karneval in Germany, Carnival in Brazil and Mardi Gras in the United States. Carnival in Barbados is a traditional harvest festival. The bright colors, the caricatured masks and floats and the over-the-top nature of Carnival continue to enthrall millions across the globe.

Carnivals have always given way to impressive displays of creativity and folk art. Folk art is art created by people who are not classically trained for either utilitarian or decorative purposes. With respect to visual art in folk art, it refers to work that is reflective of a community’s culture and usually handmade by craftspeople working within a popular tradition.

Carnival art reflects the way different cultures celebrate or mark an important community event. Some examples of Carnival art include fabric dolls and marionettes that are used to tell stories and capture your imagination. Antique dolls make for striking collectibles positioned for display on any shelf in your home, while carnival masks make a bold statement as wall art. A collection of masks could create an elevated accent wall in a living room or dining room.

Browse 1stDibs to find unique antique and vintage carnival art for your space today.

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