Carnival Art
3
102
to
5
67
29
102
102
102
88
14
5
4
4
2
2
1
18
84
24
45
10
5
1
6
12
11
11
3
6
1
1
61
25
15
14
12
56
49
33
12
8
1
1
1
1
1
Carnival Art For Sale
Style: Mid-Century Modern
Style: Folk Art
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 is composed of a molded fiber...
Category
Mid-20th Century Canadian Mid-Century Modern Carnival Art
Materials
Fiberglass
Carousel Camel Animals, 1970s, Europe, 2 pieces available
Located in Antwerp, 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
Original Fairground 'Speedway' Rounding Boards, 1950s Red Gold
Located in Hastings, GB
We have several boards available for sale, priced individually, each board has differing words on reverse, see photos and options (1 Of Each Board Available Only) The photographs sh...
Category
Early 20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Carnival Art
Materials
Wood
Charming Pair of Vintage Metal Carnival Ladies
Located in Hopewell, NJ
A matching pair of silver metal female figures in a striking pose with hair caught in the wind. Probably carnival art. Makes unexpectedly charming wall art with a folk art feel. They...
Category
1930s American Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Metal
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
Scratch Built Fairground Wheel
Located in London, GB
Scratch built fairground wheel
Mounted on a bespoke cast iron detachable support stand, this unique, folk art, scratch-built fairground roulette wheel is still in fully working order. We would say dated from the mid-20th Century the wheel is made from an old bicycle...
Category
1950s British Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Metal
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
19th Century Kids Carousel Duck Figure Ride Carnival Folk Art
Located in Forney, TX
Recently acquired from a museum, we present this scarce, one of a kind, antique European early dobby platform flat style children's carousel duck (or bir...
Category
19th Century Dutch Folk Art Antique Carnival Art
Materials
Iron
Motor Bike Carousel Galloper or Fair Ground Ride
Located in Chillerton, 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
Carnival Midway Punk Knockdown Goat Game
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Vintage carnival punk. Unusual goat named "Billie". Knock "Billie" over and win the prize.
Category
1940s American Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Canvas
Len Norman, American 20th Century the Prestidigitator Whirligig
Located in Buchanan, MI
Len Norman, American 20th century) the prestidigitator. Assembled and painted whirligig depicting a magician and body sawing act
Measures: 23" x 27" x 12".
Category
20th Century Folk Art Carnival Art
Materials
Wood
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
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
Collection of Three Carnival Shooting Gallery Target Knockover Birds
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Nice collection of three carnival midway knockover shooting gallery targets. Nice chunky pieces. Great original layers of white paint surface.
Category
1930s American Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Iron
Vintage Carnival Midway Penny Pitch Game
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Nicely scaled carnival midway penny pitch game. Original paint surface. Graphic bold design with great colors.
Category
1940s American Folk Art Vintage 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
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 Century American Jumping Jack Figure
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century American jumping jack figure
We are proud to offer an original early 20th century carved wood and hand painted American Jumping Jack f...
Category
1920s American Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Wood
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
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
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
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
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
Early Carnival Midway 7.5 Foot Tall Game Wheel Monterey with Gooseneck Light
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Fantastic giant carnival game wheel with applied scenic Monterey theme. All original surface paint. Chunky turned stand. Measures: 7 foot . Really unique gooseneck lamp for illuminat...
Category
1920s American Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Wood
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
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
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
American Sideshow Wondercade Circus Banner Signed J. Sigler
By Sigler Studios
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
1938 Folk Art Bandstand Tip "Kitty" Found in Spokane
Located in Santa Monica, CA
1938 bandstand tip "Kitty" found in Spokane, WA. hand-painted wood construction. Pinned paper maker's mark reads "Band Kitty made by Leno for...
Category
1930s American Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
Wood
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
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
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
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
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
American Carnival Wagon or Band Organ Carved Female Head
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Late 19th century American carnival wagon or band organ female head carving. Very detailed wood carving with great old white painted surface. Presented on a...
Category
19th Century American Folk Art Antique Carnival Art
Materials
Wood
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
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 carny made pieces for...
Category
1950s Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art
Materials
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
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
1950 to 60s Wall Hanging Tapestry, Hand Executed Art, "CASINO" Jane Ashley
By Jane Ashley
Located in Buffalo, NY
Large, unusual, handmade wall hanging titled "CASINO" signed Jane Ashley, all hand executed depicting casino gaming table, featuring hand painted leather.....
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Carnival Art
Materials
Fabric, Leather, Velvet
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
Captain Crook McDonald's
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Captain Crook McDonald advertisement plastic sculpture,
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carnival Art
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
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 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.
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Antique Carnival Wheel
Black Carousel Horse
Fairground Ride
Iron Carousel Horse
Arcade Cast Iron
Carnival Toss
Carnival Photograph
Antique Amusement Park
Vintage Amusement
Antique Carnival Game
Antique Carnival Ride
Ball Toss
Hand Painted Panels
Carnival Bird
Antique Coney Island
Antique Juggling Pin
Antique Juggling Pins
Folk Art Horse Race