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Carnival Art For Sale
Circa 1920 English Hand Painted Fairground Ghost Train Destination Stop Sign
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A wonderful and original travelling fairground double sided ghost train destination sign.
Of simple construction, two thin boards sandwich the central box and are fixed with wing nu...
Category
1920s English Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Wood, Paper
1920s Mills 1 cent Wizard Fortune Teller, Chicago, Mills Novelty Co.
Located in Buffalo, NY
1920s Mills 1 cent Wizard Fortune Teller, Chicago, Mills Novelty Co..Tabletop fortune telling machine in a wooden cabinet. window with working ...
Category
1920s American Art Deco Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Aluminum
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
1950s "Prince Buddah" Circus Sideshow Banner
Located in Chicago, IL
1950s "Prince Buddah" circus sideshow banner.
Category
1950s American Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Iron
Vintage Blue Carnival Fun-House Mirror
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very cool vintage wood carnival fun house mirror. Painted blue and mounted on a sturdy metal base. Curvy acrylic mirror in good vintage condi...
Category
1970s American Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Acrylic, Wood
Dentzel Carved Ostrich Carousel Animal
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
19th Century Original Painted Juggling Pins
Located in Los Angeles, CA
These original painted red and cranberry monumental juggling pins are in fantastic condition and very large scale. The patina is the very best.
Category
19th Century American Adirondack Antique Carnival Art
Materials
Wood
Set of 7 Mid-Century Era Painted Wood Carnival Folk Art Sign Box Letters
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This set of seven Folk Art wooden box letters were made in Canada is circa 1965 and were once mounted on a carnival sign for either a ride or an at...
Category
Mid-20th Century Canadian Mid-Century Modern Carnival Art
Materials
Wood
Early 20th Century Leather Clown Shoes Popeio Carnival Fairground Circus
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A pair of leather clown shoes of unusual proportions, early 20th century in age.
By repute from the clown known as Popeio, who worked with the R...
Category
Early 20th Century Belgian Edwardian Carnival Art
Materials
Leather
1970s Collection Boardwalk Souvenir 7up Bottles Carnival Game Mid-Century Craft
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Set of five. Old time Boardwalk game prizes, measure: 20 inches high.
Category
1970s American American Craftsman Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Glass
Vardo Wagon Panels, circa 1880
Located in London, GB
Carved wooden gypsy vardo wagon panels, circa 1880
This lot is a very rare and unique set of 6 hand carved wooden gypsy Vardo travelling wagon panel strips. The wooden panels wou...
Category
1890s British Folk Art Antique Carnival Art
Materials
Wood
Retro Turkish Deco Kilim, Rainbow
Located in New York, NY
A one of a kind one-off Turkish Kilim featuring a rainbow color palette.
Category
Mid-20th Century Turkish Futurist Carnival Art
Materials
Wool, Linen
Carousel Camel Animals, 1970s, Europe, 2 pieces available
Located in Retie, BE
Spectacular carousel camel animals - 2 pieces available.
These 2 large lying camel sculptures are eye-catching.
They date circa 1970s and do have an a...
Category
Late 20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Carnival Art
Materials
Metal
Antique Red Velvet Efe Zeybek Jacket Turkish Vest with Gold Embroidery
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Early 20th child Middle Eastern Efe Zeybek Jacket.
Kid Efe Zeybek Costume Turkish authentic ethnic vest.
Dark brown red velvet with gold foliates and gold trim. Open sleeves, red cotton lining.
Antique collector red velvet jacket with gold Middle Eastern Moorish style embroidery.
Small tiny Turkish antique vest...
Category
1940s Turkish Moorish Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Velvet
Early Antique Collection of Eight Bone Glove Stretchers Made in France
Located in Stamford, CT
Collection of eight antique spring action bone glove stretchers made in France. The large ones measure 8 inches, the smaller at 6 inches.
Category
Mid-20th Century Industrial Carnival Art
Large Room Size Modern Turkish Kilim
Located in New York, NY
A flat-weave made from a variety of different Minimalist vintage Turkish Kilim's sewn together with protective linen backing included.
Measures: 10'7'' x 14'4''.
Category
Mid-20th Century Turkish Futurist Carnival Art
Materials
Linen, Wool
Group of Three Folky Wood Carnival Milk Bottles
Located in Los Angeles, CA
These folky handmade Carnival knock down milk bottles are in good condition. These bottles are hand turned with a nice mellow patina. These bottles are us...
Category
Late 19th Century American Folk Art Antique Carnival Art
Materials
Wood
Antique 1930s Judge Theatre Papier Mâché Head from Paris
Located in London, GB
Antique 1930s judge theatre papier mâché head from Paris
This lot is a rare original 1930s papier mâché French theatre heads. This item was obtain...
Category
1930s French Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Paper
Late 19th Century English Folk Art Jig Doll
Located in London, GB
Late 19th century English Folk Art Jig Doll
We are proud to offer a late 19th century hand carved, painted Folk Art English jigger doll example. Jig dolls are traditional wooden or tin-plate 'toys' for adults or children. They are dolls with loose limbs that step dance...
Category
1890s English Folk Art Antique Carnival Art
Materials
Wood
Soldier Carnival Shooting Gallery Targets
By King
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Early examples of 'King' soldier shooting gallery targets. Rare shape and extremely thick. King manufactured shooting galleries and targets thr...
Category
Early 20th Century American Carnival Art
Materials
Iron
German Policeman Handcarved Folkart Midcentury Fairground Figure
Located in London, GB
Midcentury fairground figure
An extraordinary handcrafted mid-20th century fairground dodgems/go cart figure in the form of a policeman. Directing traffic flo...
Category
1950s German Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Sheet Metal
Mounted Turnstile “To The Fun House” from Coney Island, New York
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A rare and Historical Industrial Era Mounted Turnstile from the Fun House at Coney Island, New York, featuring original painted finishes mounted on wood plinth with label reading, “T...
Category
Early 20th Century American Industrial Carnival Art
Materials
Steel
Unusual Hand Carved Clown Motif Umbrella, Paragon, S. Fox & Co
By S. Fox & Co.
Located in Buffalo, NY
Unusual Hand Carved Clown Motif Umbrella, Paragon, S. Fox & Co
Category
1920s English Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Metal
Carousel Ostrich Sculpture
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Hand carved wood sculpture of carousel ostrich.
Category
1980s Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Wood
Vintage Painted Wood Carnival Game Wheel
Located in Troy, MI
Found in the US, this painted wood carnival game wheel dates from the late 1940s/early 1950s. Wood wheel has colorful painted details and numbers separated by nails. The original lea...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Carnival Art
Materials
Metal
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
Batman Returns Large Barbell Movie Prop - Seen on Film
Located in Forney, TX
Own a piece of Hollywood history, this Batman Returns (Warner Bros., 1992), circus strongman barbell movie prop is sure to start a conversation while ma...
Category
Late 20th Century American Folk Art Carnival Art
Materials
Resin, Fiberglass, Paint
Art Deco Porcelain and Bronze Fortune Teller and Weight Scale c.1930
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT
An Art Deco, porcelain fortune and weight scale. Enameled steel top has three thick glass view windows and "Weight" and "Fortune" written faintly next to them. Large window says "For best results remove all clothing." Second window shows the scale for your weight which is fairly accurate. Third window offers multiple fortune readings such as "You will marry wealthy". Men and Women height and weight charts on the front as well as other larger graphics. Bronze coin return and bronze foot stand. Works well.
CREATOR American Scale Mfg...
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Carnival Art
Materials
Bronze, Enamel, Steel, Iron
Mid-20th Century English Papier Mache Giraffe Puppet Head
Located in London, GB
Mid-20th Century English Papier Mache Giraffe Puppet Head
A charming example of a mid-20th Century English Papier Mache giraffe puppet head. M...
Category
1950s British Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Paper
Two Original Venetian Masks by Ca'Macana in papier-mâché technic - Contemporary
Located in Opole, PL
Original Contemporary Venetian Masks by Ca'Macana - hand crafted
Venetian masks, handcrafted at the Ca'Macana workshop in Venice, Italy. These unique masks are meticulously made by ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Carnival Art
Materials
Silver Leaf
Large German Oktoberfest "Hau den Lukas" Wooden Hammer
Located in Dusseldorf, DE
Large German wooden hammer from the 1950`s. This piece was made and used for the famous old German game called "Hau den Lukas" (Hit the Lukas) which is still popular at fairgrounds a...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Folk Art Carnival Art
Materials
Oak
Antique French Limonaire Frères Signed Carved Painted Wood Carousel Donkey Ride
Located in Forney, TX
A rare, important and most charming French carousel amusement ride by important Parisian craftsmen Limonaire Frères / Limonaire Brothers (France; 1839-1932)
Hand-crafted in Paris, France in the late 19th century, exceptionally executed near life-size form depicting a standing donkey figure with the rare unique feature of a nodding head. Finished in country fair taste, hand-carved solid wood construction, the menagerie merry-go-round ride presents splendidly, with the original layered polychrome paint finish, enhanced by beautifully aged heavily worn patina acquired over many years of carnival use.
Signed, retaining the original manufacturer's brass plaque that reads: "Sculptures Pour Forains, Chevaux De Bois Etc, Limonaire Freres, Paris, 166 Avenue Daumesnil"
The extremely rare, museum quality example is one of the very few surviving Limonaire Frères wooden carousel fixtures, one of only a handful imported to the United States, and quite possibly the last surviving donkey!
DIMENSIONS: (approx)
44" High, 52" Wide, 10" Deep
PROVENANCE / ACQUISITION:
Acquired from the highly reputable auction house, Schultz Auctioneers, Clarence, New York. Important Antiques & Decorative Arts catalog
HISTORY:
Limonaire Frères were an amusement ride and later street organ...
Category
19th Century French Folk Art Antique Carnival Art
Materials
Wood, Paint
Vintage Postmodern Art Glass Apple
Located in west palm beach, FL
A beautiful blown glass apple in such a gorgeous vibrant red. Acquired at a Palm Beach estate.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Carnival Art
Materials
Blown Glass
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
1960s Dutch Papier Mache Curious Grandpa Carnival Parade Head
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mid-Century unique and wonderfully fun large painted papier mache carnival head. This "Curious Grandpa" head resembles a man with white hair and curious facial expression, sadly the ...
Category
1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Paper
Mid 20th Century Bronze Daffy & Donald Fairground Carousel Handles Coat Hooks
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A unusual pair of phospher bronze carousel handles, modelled as Donald and Daffy Duck.
Would male for a wonderful pair of clothes hooks for a Childs bedroom.
mid 20th century in ag...
Category
Mid-20th Century English Carnival Art
Materials
Bronze
Early 20th Century English Hand Carved Fairground Fragments
Located in London, GB
Early 20th Century English Hand Carved Fairground Fragments
A closely matched pair of hand carved pine sectioned English fairground decorative fragments. Original paint still pres...
Category
1920s British Late Victorian Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Pine
Vintage Shooting Club Lodge Target Plaque German 1929, Carnival Folk Art
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Vintage Shooting Lodge Target Plaque dated 1929. A rare and beautiful wooden shooting target plaque with inscriptions. This rare kings plaque was issued by a shooting club...
Category
1920s German Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Wood, Paper
Vintage French Blue Tones Paper Garland Sculpture circa 1930 Antique Decor
Located in Barcelona, ES
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, "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
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
Vintage Shooting Club Lodge Target Plaque German 1934, Carnival Folk Art
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Vintage Shooting Lodge Target Plaque dated 1934. A rare and beautiful wooden shooting target plaque with inscriptions. This rare kings plaque was issued by a shooting club...
Category
1930s German Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Wood
Early 20th Century Fairground/Carnival Roulette Games Wheel
Located in London, GB
Early 20th Century Fairground/Carnival Roulette Games Wheel
A charming and highly decorative early 20th Century handmade scratch-built fairground / carnival games...
Category
1920s British Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Pine
2 American Carousel Decorated Horses
Located in New York, NY
2 American Carousel style carved and decorated figures of horse with iron support (20th Cent) (PRICED EACH)
Category
20th Century American Carnival Art
Materials
Iron
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
Rare Jaguar Wood Figure Found in Chilapa, Guerrero, Southern México, ca. 1940
By NONO
Located in Guadalajra, Jal
This vintage hand carved and hand painted Tiger, is presumed to have been made in or near Chilapa, Guerrero in circa 1940 in a Folk Art style. The carving has been made in a naive st...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art Carnival Art
Materials
Wood
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
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 drawn cart in one image, while two men ride horses in two other images, and Helen Girard in full portrait is featured on the left. Her claim to fame is stated at the bottom "Empress of the Equestrian World" and "Side Saddle Queen". This is a reissued poster by Ringling Brothers from 1971 of one of their original, very early, 1903 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...
Category
1970s American Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Paper
1960s Dutch Papier Mache Green Monster with Pipe Carnival Parade Head
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mid-Century unique and wonderfully fun large painted papier mache carnival head. This "Green Monster" head resembles a sea creature or swamp monster who enjoys smoking from his tobac...
Category
1960s Dutch Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Paper
Huge vintage 1970s / 1980s French painted fairground / carnival banner- makeup
Located in Hastings, GB
Huge late 1970s/ early 1980s French painted fairground / carnival / sideshow banner.
Presumably part of an American themed ride or attraction, it's decorated with cool girls, makeup,...
Category
Late 20th Century French Folk Art Carnival Art
Materials
Canvas
Antique Folk Art Carnival Attraction Hand Painted Sign circa 1940's
Located in Douglas Manor, NY
1677 Hand painted carnival sign world's tallest man and Tom tump
In a pediment frame
Category
1940s Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Hardwood, Paint
Vintage Carnival Midway Wood Ring Toss Game
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Great vintage carnival midway ring toss game. Perfect wall art. Wood with original park paint surface. These appear to be one of a kind carnie made pieces fo...
Category
1950s American Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Wood
Antique Carnival Party Box with Original Objects, circa 1940
Located in Barcelona, ES
Antique vintage party box with all the original objects. Manufacturer by El Ingenio, Barcelona. Spain, circa 1940. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and ...
Category
1940s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Metal
Antique Carnival Party Box with Original Objects, circa 1940
Located in Barcelona, ES
Antique vintage party box with all the original objects. Manufacturer by El Ingenio, Barcelona, Spain, circa 1940. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use...
Category
1940s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Metal
Antique Hand-Painted Wooden Carousel Horse with Saddle - Multicolored
Located in Mortsel, BE
This antique hand-painted wooden carousel horse is a beautiful piece of fairground history, expertly crafted with attention to detail. The multicolored design features a classic sadd...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Carnival Art
Materials
Metal
Traditional Carnival Mask from Lazarim, Portugal
Located in Matosinhos, 13
Carved from natural alder wood, this mask depicts a vampire and is typically worn by villagers during the Entrudo festivities. Known as one of Portugal's most traditional Carnivals, ...
Category
2010s Portuguese Carnival Art
Materials
Wood
19th Century American Folk Art Circus Fairground Wagon Faun Mask Billy Jamieson
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A large American circus wagon mask, carved from a single piece of soft wood, likely to be pitch pine. Depicting a mythical creature probably a Faun.
The mask retains its original st...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Carnival Art
Materials
Pine
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
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.