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Carnival Art For Sale
Early 20th century fairground figure Pierre Jean Marie Laval
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century fairground figure
An early 20th century hand carved French fairground knockdown figure in the form of Pierre Jean Marie Laval , i...
Category
1920s French Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Pine
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
Carved American Carnival Head, circa 1890s
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Finely featured carved man's head found in the southern United States. Most likely a late 19th century carnival head featured in a ball or ring toss game.
Category
19th Century American Folk Art Antique Carnival Art
Materials
Wood
Early 20th century hand carved pine fairground figure
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century hand carved pine fairground figure
A rare piece of fairground art, in the form of a hand carved, painted polychrome Jeu de massacre fairground knock- down figure. ...
Category
1920s French Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Pine
19th Century French Carousel Pig
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Fantastic 19th century carousel pig. Super whimsical carnival piece from a bygone era. Carved wood with cast iron curly tail and handle. Original layers o...
Category
Late 19th Century French Folk Art Antique Carnival Art
Materials
Iron
Rare Antique Distressed Carousel Horse on Iron Stand Sculpture
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Fantastic antique found unpainted carousel horse form having distressed wood, amazing character, and handsome custom iron stand. Makes a stunning folk art sculpture with monochromat...
Category
1930s American Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Wood
$2,555 Sale Price
30% Off
Wood Carved Folk Art Girl and Dog Carousel Chariot Original Paint Surface
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Fantastic girl and her dog Folk Art carved carousel chariot panel. Superb original paint surface. Great three dimensional surface. Excellent wall hang...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Carnival Art
Materials
Wood
1960s Dutch Papier Mache Blue Monster Carnival Parade Head
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mid-Century unique and wonderfully fun large painted papier mache carnival head. This "Blue Monster" head resembles a grumpy blue demon monster with red h...
Category
1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Paper
Rare Folk Art Iron Shooting Gallery Carnival Ram Sculpture
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Fabulous folk art freestanding animal sculpture made from found carnival art shooting gallery iron ram. Rich with authentic character, the brown patinated surface is pocked with bul...
Category
Early 1900s American Folk Art Antique Carnival Art
Materials
Iron
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
Vintage Late 19th Century Canvas Circus Carnival Midway Folk Art Sideshow Banner
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Very early American circus or carnival Sideshow Banner, circa 1890-1900. Fantastic paint detail. Great example of American folk art banner painting. The Great American African Camel...
Category
Early 1900s American Folk Art Antique Carnival Art
Materials
Canvas
19th Century Italian Fairground Panels
Located in Southampton, GB
A pair of 19th Century decorative Fairground Panels with original paint.
Can be hung either vertically or horizontally, forming what would make a great transom above a door.
Italy, ...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Carnival Art
Materials
Oak
$1,650 / set
Large-Scale American Folk Art Carnival Game Board, Very Graphic
Located in Atlanta, GA
Large-scale Folk Art Carnival game board, American, circa 1940s. This painted carnival game board came from Texas and combines wonderfully patinate...
Category
1940s American Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Wood, Cork
Circa 1900 American Ringling Brothers Circus Fairground Cart Panels Tiger & Lion
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A rare survivor, fantastically decorative pair of plaster and hand painted animal cart panels used by the Ringling Brothers Circus Show circa 1900
The two panels would have hung ov...
Category
Early 1900s American Antique Carnival Art
Materials
Plaster, Pine
Vintage Carousel Horse
Located in Napa, CA
Vintage Carousel Horse believed to be from the 18th century with wonderful worn distress finish.
Category
18th Century and Earlier Antique Carnival Art
$7,500
'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
Early 20th Century Carnival Carousel Funhouse Architectural Columns
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Fun antique architectural elements from carnival carousel or funhouse ride. Layers of beautiful original park paint. Great scale for wall art or to act as a frame for something else. Unique and original fairground art!
Category
1890s American Folk Art Antique Carnival Art
Materials
Wood
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
Antique French Carousel Pig Attributed to Gustave Bayol on Walnut Base
By Gustave Bayol
Located in Kilmarnock, VA
A rare and highly expressive 19th-century carousel pig attributed to French master carver Gustave Bayol, circa 1900. Crafted from American heart pine, this figure captures Bayol’s si...
Category
Late 19th Century French Folk Art Antique Carnival Art
Materials
Brass
Antique French Folk Art Fairground Pierrot Shooting Target Game by Saussine
Located in London, GB
Antique Shooting Target, Antique Shooting Game, Fairground Antique, Funfair Antique, Circus Antique, Antique Pierrot, Carnival Antique, Folk A...
Category
1920s French Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Metal
American Sideshow "Double" Banner by Johnny Meah
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Vividly painted American sideshow banner with larger than life subject matter. Painted by the self-titled Czar of Bizarre, Johnny Meah. Both banners are signed. The Harold huge banner is cleverly signed with the "H" in the legs of Harold's huge chair.
Category
1960s American Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Canvas
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
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
Five Mid 20th C Fairground Oil on Board Mythical Folk Art Portraits of Kings
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A fabulous collection of original fairground or theatre art portraits of mythical kings in a classical backdrop. To adorn a ride or production, my gut is fairground and likely used a...
Category
Mid-20th Century English Carnival Art
Materials
Wool, Glass, Giltwood
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
Early Sunshine Studios American Side Show Electric Chair Banner
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Early example of American sideshow banner art. Painted at the Sunshine Studio in Witchita, Kansas by Geo Bellis. Signed by artist on front and studio name on front and back. This ban...
Category
1930s American Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Canvas
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
Early 20th Century, Circus Balancing Balls
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century circus balancing balls.
We share what we love, and we love these rare early 20th century hand crafted wood and glass mirror English circus balancing balls. Each section is hand crafted using pins...
Category
1920s British Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Mirror, Wood
Signed Snap Wyatt Sideshow Banner
By Snap Wyatt
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Fantastic "Plenty For Two" sideshow banner painted by Snap Wyatt. Great manageable size.
Category
1950s American Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Iron
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
American Sideshow Wondercade Circus Banner Signed J. Sigler
Located in Santa Monica, CA
A personal favorite! 15 1/2 feet tall. American "Wondercade" sideshow banner. Painted and signed by J. Sigler. One of the great American sideshow banner artists. Death defying! This ...
Category
1950s American Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Canvas
19th Century Sicilian Italian Marionette Folk Art Puppet 'Opera dei Pupi'
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A oversized late 19th century Marionette in original untouched condition, originating from Palmero Italy.
The figure is missing both arms, its original clothing is heavily fad...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Carnival Art
Materials
Textile, Pine
Mid-Century Era Molded Fiberglass Carnival Clown Head or Midway Game Component
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This whimsical clown head is unsigned, but presumed to have been made in Canada in approximately 1965 in the period Mid-Century carnival style. The head...
Category
Mid-20th Century Canadian Mid-Century Modern Carnival Art
Materials
Fiberglass
1930s Amusement / Carnival Motorcycle Ride, Carousal, Merry-go-round
Located in Buffalo, NY
1930s Antique midway amusement park wooden motorcycle ride is one of the earliest produced for carousels and merry-go-rounds. Wonderful aged patina, ...
Category
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Metal
Early 20th Century Circus Banner
Located in Brecht, BE
For magician and circus lovers. This early 20th century circus banner. Hand painted on canvas.
Category
Early 20th Century British Carnival Art
Materials
Linen
Unusual Vintage Paper Mache Folk Art, Parade "Carnival" Mask
Located in Buffalo, NY
Unusual vintage papier mâché Folk Art..parade "carnival" theater mask.
Category
1960s American Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Paper
1930 Wooden Carnival Game by French Game & Novelty, Milwaukee, WI
Located in Surrey, BC
Unusual Folk Art wooden carnival game in working condition and with original paint. Players bet on which city the spring-released airplane will land on. Made by French Game & Novelty...
Category
1930s American Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Wood
19th Century American Traveling Circus Carousel or Circus Wagon Carvings
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Pair of American 19th century circus wagon or traveling carousel three-dimensional wood carved faces. From an early American traveling circus. Many layers...
Category
19th Century American Folk Art Antique Carnival Art
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
Important Antique Folk Art Carnival Figure of a Macaque
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A hollow finely carved wood macaque figure dressed as a human with short green hair, a blue jacket and yellow slacks. He stands and holds a walking stick in his left hand and crosses...
Category
19th Century Folk Art Antique Carnival Art
Materials
Hardwood
Antique American Amusement Park Motorcycle Painted Carousel Carnival Ride 1940s
Located in Portland, OR
Antique American carnival amusement park, carousel motorcycle ride, from the late 1940s.
A fabulous late 1940s motorcycle carousel ride, the motorcycle body is made of wood and is ha...
Category
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Steel, Iron
Pig Carved Wooden Carousel Figure: Antique
Located in Mortsel, BE
Add a touch of whimsy to your space with this charming antique carousel figure featuring a carved wooden pig. Crafted with precision and mounted on a sturdy metal base, this carousel piece showcases the craftsmanship of yesteryears. Perfect for collectors and those who appreciate the timeless appeal of vintage carousel art...
Category
Early 20th Century 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
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
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
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
Wood, Paint
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 hollow in construction with deeply carved capitals, with the Lakin shield in the centre. The original "crocodile" glaze and painted surface give a wonderful decorative look.
The Lakin factory at 67 Besley Street, Streatham (south London) had been formerly occupied by showman’s decorator Arthur Oram...
Category
Early 20th Century English Carnival Art
Materials
Pine
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
1950s American Hand-Painted Carnival Ride Panel
Located in Chicago, IL
1950s American hand-painted carnival ride panel.
Category
1950s North American Primitive Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Mirror, Wood
Vintage Glass and Wood Carnival Mirror
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Super unique set of carnival mirrors from a retired New York City carnival. 6 wood mirrors all with original glass. Different shape, patina and aging to each mirror. Some mirrors are...
Category
1950s American Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Glass, Wood
Vintage Huckley Barrel Carnival Game
By St. Louis Carnival Co.
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Vintage carnival game made by the Saint Louis Carnival company. We also have the original paper game rules signs with these. Please note that not all crates are painted St. Louis Car...
Category
1940s American Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Clay, Wood
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
$452 Sale Price
67% Off
Collection of Three Vintage Carnival Midway Nickel Ride Red Signs
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Fun collection of three vintage carnival midway signs. Nickel rides! Original professional sign painters handiwork. Excellent graphic skills. Great vintage age. All three signs have ...
Category
1940s American Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Wood
Early 20th Century Large Pair of Carved Lion Fairground Architectural Corbels
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A fantastic pair of fairground architectural carved corbels, would have likely been situated on a large ride or attraction in the early part of the 20th century.
Each corbels has la...
Category
Early 20th Century British Carnival Art
Materials
Pine
French Hand Carved Dog Carousel Ride c.1950
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT
Mid-century carved and painted wooden sculpture of a Fox Terrier mounted on steel brackets. Originally used on a fairground carousel. Made in France.
CREATOR Unknown. F...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Rustic Carnival Art
Materials
Steel
$2,115 / item
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
$956 Sale Price / set
20% Off
1920s Bulbous Folk Art Painted Spanish Lamp and Shade
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
1920s Bulbous Folk Art painted Spanish lamp and shade
This an attractive painted lamp, the lamp has a hand carved bulbous Fair Ground Twisted column which is painted in Gold, Green and Red, the paint has now aged in colour and developed a charming aged finish, the lamp has its own oversized lamp...
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art Carnival Art
Materials
Wood
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
Old Carnival "Giant", circa 1950
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Old carnival "giant" circa 1950.
Light wood and foam structure, papier maché head.
Made to be worn by 1 person.
Category
1940s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Fabric, Foam, Wood, Paper
Elephant Carved Wooden Carousel Figure: Antique, Bernard Kindt
Located in Mortsel, BE
Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of antique carousels with this carved wooden elephant figure. Mounted on a metal base for stability, this carousel piece is a testament to in...
Category
Mid-20th Century 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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Papier Mache Carnival
Antique Shooting Target
Antique Shooting Targets
Carnival Wheel
Carousel Horses
Fairground Panel
Antique Amusement Park
Antique Carnival Wheel
Scale Carnival
Vintage Carnival Tent
Carnival Banner
Carnival Shooting
Vintage Carnival Mirror
Carnival Prop
Circus Banners
Carnival Targets
Clown Shoes
Juggling Pins