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Carnival Art

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Carnival Art For Sale
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 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

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

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

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

Late 1940s American Amusement Park Car, "Little Red Convertible"
Located in San Francisco, CA
American amusement park car, "Little Red Convertible." A late 1940s streamline design similar to a Packard or Hudson of this post war era. Solid rub...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Streamlined Moderne Carnival Art

Materials

Aluminum, Steel

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

Folksy Hand Carved Tyrolian Carnival Fasnet Mask from Tyrol
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Folksy hand carved Tyrolian carnival fasnet mask from Tyrol. A vintage folksy wooden carved carnival mask from the region of South Tyrol. These masks are used in Austria, South Germ...
Category

Early 20th Century German Black Forest Carnival Art

Materials

Wood

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

Carnival Mirror
Located in Seattle, WA
Carnival panel with great crusty mirror.
Category

1950s American Vintage Carnival Art

Materials

Glass, Wood, Paint

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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