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Carnival Art For Sale
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
1950's Papier mâché french theatre head
Located in Diest, BE
A 1950's rare original James Ensor style papier mâché theatre head. This item was obtained via a private collection (France).
Category
1950s French Folk Art 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
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
1920s American Carousel Horse
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
A decorative 1920s carved wood American carousel horse, in original paint. Rests on a later made stand.
Category
20th Century American Carnival Art
Materials
Wood
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
Antique Early Gambling Folk Art Gaming Device, Holtz
Located in Forney, TX
An exceptionally scarce antique American Folk Art gambling triple stacked wooden arrow spindle spinning wheel gaming device from the late 19th / early 20th century.
Believed to be a prototype or for a similar lesser known model of the important, very rare and unusual T. F. HOLTZ made "Three Arrow Trade Stimulator" circa 1896, (displayed in the American Antique Museum, reference L2016.2501.010)
Theodore Holtz of San Francisco and early slot machine pioneer Charles Fey's partner in 1894, forming their first partnership as Holtz and Fey Electric Works. For this particular game, upon depositing your nickel and pressing the lever, three arrows will spin on the front dial and if all three stop on the same marker you win.
Trade stimulators were countertop or freestanding amusement gaming machines widely used to encourage shoppers to indulge in a game of chance. They became popular in American saloon bar...
Category
19th Century Folk Art Antique Carnival Art
Materials
Metal, 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
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
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
Mid-Century Coin Operated Horse Ride
Located in Round Top, TX
Mid-century coin operated horse ride for kids (of all ages).
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Metal
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
'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
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
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
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
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
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
Silver Sculpture of a Man Holding Umbrella with Bird
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A unique piece - a man, perhaps a jester, holding an umbrella with a bird. The piece would make a nice decorative item or even a paperweight. Folkart decorative.
Category
20th Century Carnival Art
Materials
Silver Plate
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
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
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
Motor Bike Carousel Galloper or Fair Ground Ride
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Motor Bike Carousel Galloper or fair ground ride
An original fair ground ride, the paint is getting a bit worn now, our ride has iron brackets to fix it ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Folk Art Carnival Art
Materials
Composition
O'Henry Fred Johnson Salem Witch Trials Sideshow Spider Girl Banner
Located in Santa Monica, CA
O'Henry Tent and Awning sideshow banner with original shipping tag. Unusual subject matter and fantastic story from the Salem witch trails to Spider Girl. ...
Category
1940s American Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Canvas
HBO Prop "Huber's Palace Museum" Souvenir Pennant Cart
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Colorful stage prop cart from an HBO production. Painted wood on wheels, along with two painted barrels with sticks for the pennants. This is an artist made...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Carnival Art
Materials
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Early 20th Century Rare Chicken Fairground Target Panel from Paris
Located in London, GB
Early 20th Century Rare Chicken Fairground Target Panel from Paris
Made from pine and papier Mache with hand painted detail. Known as a Passé Boule in France these fairground amusem...
Category
1920s French Victorian Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Pine, Paper
Antique French Double Seater Carousel Rocker Horse
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique French Double Seater Carousel Rocker Horse
Beautiful antique French double seat carousel rocking horse. The horse is carved wood and h...
Category
19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Carnival Art
Materials
Leather, Wood
Lion Carved Wooden Carousel Figure: Antique
Located in Mortsel, BE
Behold this majestic antique carousel figure featuring a regal lion. Meticulously hand-carved from wood and mounted on a sturdy metal base, this vint...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Carnival Art
Materials
Metal
1940s Coney Island Amusement Park Kiddie Car Fire Engine in Original Condition
By Pinto Brothers Mfg.
Located in Savannah, GA
Produced by Pinto Bros Mfg of Coney Island, New York, this all-original 1940s firetruck was part of a circular ride at the famed Coney Island Amusement Park. Featuring lucky Number 4...
Category
1940s American Industrial Vintage 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.