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Carnival Art

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Carnival Art For Sale
Style: Mid-Century Modern
Style: Folk Art
Vintage Wood Carousel Rabbit with Carrots, France, 1950s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Vintage wood carousel rabbit with carrots. This French vintage wooden carousel animal - carousel decoration animal dates circa 1950 - 1960. It's a hand-carved / hand-crafted carousel figure with a great looking aged patina in the meantime. This cute fairground rabbit with beautiful eyes had a succesfull hunt and is carrying two large carrots on his shoulders. Large rabbit sculpture...
Category

Mid-20th Century French 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

Early 20th century fairground figure
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century fairground figure In the form of Benito Mussolini this early 20th century hand carved French fairground knockdown figure is in original untouched condition. With ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Pine

Early 20th Century Fairground Roulette Wheel
Located in London, GB
Early 20th Century Fairground Roulette Wheel French in its origin, this early 20th century hand crafted pine roulette wheel is in full working order. With its original metal wheel ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Pine

19th Century hand carved wood and polychromed Jeu de massacre fairground figure
Located in London, GB
19th Century hand carved wood and polychromed Jeu de massacre fairground figure A rare piece of fairground art, in the form of an oversized hand carved painted polychromed Jeu de ma...
Category

Early 1900s French Folk Art Antique 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

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

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

J. Hübner Carved Wood Carousel Horse, Early 20th Century, Germany
Located in Antwerp, BE
Antique Carousel horse by J.Hübner. A hand-carved wooden carousel horse made by Atelier Hübner Germany - Josef Hübner - Joseph Hubner. This piece of Carnival Art - funfair roundabout horse - Merry-go-round Horse dates circa 1910 and has sulfide eyes, a real tale and stirrups. It's a European Springer Horse - Jumping Horse - Galopping Horse on a metal base. During his life, already more then 110 years !! it does have some old restorations and old repainting but that gives this antique horse the charm of his history: making people and children happy and offer them a ride. Antique carved horses - Antique German Carousel Horses - Hübner horses...
Category

Early 20th Century German Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Metal

Large 20th C. Americana Folk Art Carousel with Painted Farm Animals
Located in Morristown, NJ
20th c., Large Folk Art carousel with animals on a rotating base.Made of wood and canvas construction, with leather and other accent materials unsigned. The animals depicted are a ho...
Category

1940s American Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art

Materials

Canvas, Wood, Paint

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

Late 19th Century Folk Art Bumbass instrument
Located in London, GB
Late 19th Century Folk Art Bumbass instrument A rare example of a late 19th Century folk art Bumbass instrument form, we have only ever uncovered one other example in the past 10 ...
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Folk Art Antique Carnival Art

Materials

Brass

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

Black Carousel Horse, Wood Horse Sculpture on Metal Base, 1960s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Wooden Carousel Horse - Fairground horse - Merry-go-round Horse. Smaller model, so easy to be placed. This Mid-20th century hand carved Animal Sculptu...
Category

Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern 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

Circus Poster by Ringling Bros., circa 1971, Portraying Six Seated Clowns
Located in Incline Village, NV
This bright and colorful circus poster depicts six seated clowns with their backs to the audience and an alphabet letter on their back spelling out the word "Circus". It is a reissued poster by Ringling Brothers from 1971 of one of their original 1936 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 dating from 1883 until the 1930's. There were 30 different posters, and they were advertised as "The only antique posters authorized by the greatest show on...
Category

1970s American Folk Art 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

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

Antique Shooting Club Lodge Target Plaque German 1883, Carnival Folk Art
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Vintage Shooting Lodge Target Plaque 1883. A rare and beautiful wooden shooting target plaque with inscriptions. This rare kings plaque was issued by a s...
Category

1880s German Folk Art Antique Carnival Art

Materials

Wood

Vintage Pair of Venetian Masquerade Masks on Opera Sticks
Located in Miami, FL
A pair of Folk Art jester masks that are original Venetian creations, entirely hand-drawn and handcrafted, circa 2000. Italian Artists have realized these pieces with respect of craf...
Category

20th Century Italian Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Gold, Brass, Metallic Thread

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 draw...
Category

1970s American 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

Iron Shooting Target of a Pig
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Unique shooting target made from cut steel and iron in the shape of a pig. The piece is quite rusty and weathered from all it's years in use.
Category

Early 20th Century North American Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Steel

Vintage Shooting Club Lodge Target Plaque German 1900s, Carnival Folk Art
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Vintage Shooting Lodge Target Plaque 1900s. A rare and beautiful wooden shooting target plaque with inscriptions. This rare kings plaque was issued by a ...
Category

Early 1900s German Folk Art Antique Carnival Art

Materials

Wood, Paper

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

Vintage French Blue Tones Paper Garland Sculpture circa 1930 Antique Decor
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
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

Rare to Find Folk Art Jaguar Mask Found in Zitlala, Guerrero, Mid-20th Century
Located in Guadalajra, Jal
This style of Tigre (Mexican colloquial for Jaguar) mask is from Zitlala, Guerrero, they are used on the feast day of the Holy Cross on May 3rd, 4th, and 5th. As part of the activit...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Leather

Elegant French Antique Color Paper Garland Sculpture circa 1930 Vintage Deco
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Enhance your space with a captivating antique color paper garland sculpture. This exquisite piece, crafted in France circa 1930, showcases the timeless a...
Category

1930s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carnival Art

Materials

Paper

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

Antique Primitive Rustic Wooden Octagonal Sledge Hammer Carpenter Mallet
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique primitive / rustic hand crafted heavy wooden mallet with octagonal shaped head and rounded handle. Measures: 14".
Category

Early 20th Century Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Hardwood

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

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 Magician Magic Suitcase Hand Painted Folk Art
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Fantastic Magician's suitcase. Hand painted and lettered. Vintage Folk Art rabbit trick and card paintings. Great bookshelf display.
Category

1940s American Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art

Materials

Fabric, 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

Rare 1950s Childs Size Carousel Motorcycle
Located in Peekskill, NY
This item is a lot smaller than it looks in the pictures. The handlebars are less that 2 foot tall. Its sized for a small child but has the proportions of a full size motorcycle. Tha...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Metal

19thc Wooden Folk Art Gaming Wheel with Original Red Paint & Cardinal Design
Located in Savannah, GA
19th Folk Art gaming wheel featuring four cardinals and hand painted numbers, it retains the original red and yellow paint. A charming piece of Americana that would make a colorful w...
Category

1890s American Folk Art Antique Carnival Art

Materials

Metal

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

Two French Folk Art Wooden Carnival Knock Down Targets
Located in Bradenton, FL
A very rare pair of late 19th century folk art carved wooden carnival knock down gallery targets. Both are of males in long coats, trousers, shoes, and hats...
Category

19th Century French Folk Art Antique Carnival Art

Materials

Wood

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

Antique Carnival Party Box with Original Objects, circa 1940
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
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

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

Carousel Cow Bernard Kindt, 1960s
By Bernard Kindt
Located in Antwerp, BE
Smiling carousel cow by Bernard Kindt, a Belgian sculptor who was specialised in making wood carousel animals and animated cartoon characters. ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Carnival Art

Materials

Metal

Antique Carnival Party Box with Original Objects, circa 1940
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
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

Vintage Carnival or Casino Neptune's Trident Lighted Trade Sign Americana
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Unique lighted Neptune's trident carnival ride or casino trade sign. Really nice graphic piece. Original layers of golden yellow and red park paint. Provides a nice amount of warm li...
Category

1930s American Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art

Materials

Metal

Hand Painted Early Americana Folk Art Wall Mount Game Wheel
Located in Wallkill, NY
What a great addition this would make to your home Folk Art game wheel, measuring 31 in x 34.5 in height x 5 in deep.
Category

1920s American Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art

Materials

Wood

Antique Hand Painted Paperboard Trumpet, circa 1950
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Antique hand painted paperboard trumpet. By unknown manufacturer from Spain, circa 1950. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a beautifu...
Category

1950s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carnival Art

Materials

Paper

Antique American Dapple Jumper Track Carousel Horse, Charles W Dare Attributed
Located in Forney, TX
An antique American track machine carousel horse attributed to legendary carver Charles W. Dare Company, now mounted as a rocking horse. Hand-crafted in the early 20th century, circa 1920, born during the Golden Age of carousels in America (circa 1860-1930), exceptionally executed hand carved design with rich detailing, and warm polychrome painted white and gray dapple, featuring inset glass eyes, natural horsehair tail, saddle with carved cantle, blue painted saddle blanket and bridle, rising on a later blue and red painted wooden rocker base Stand, marked with letter "D" underneath in grey paint, most likely indicative of Dare, metal mounting plate marked AA PAT APLD FOR Carved in a galloping or jumper position, this whimsical yet Primitive country-fair style equine exhibits all the hallmarks of Dare’s design, such as the forward-facing ears, the perfectly combed asymmetrical mane with a wind-blown effect, the tail made of realistic hair, and the distinctive “bird” saddle, which was carved separately and attached. Among carousel antiques...
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Wood, Paint

Hanging Mexican Wooden Cupid with Bow
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A rosy-cheeked wooden cupid to bring love into your life. This is a unique, hand-carved, hand-painted wooden cupid with a wire suspension and removable wooden bow...
Category

20th Century Mexican Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Wood

Circa 1950s French Childs Carnival/Circus Prop Chair
Located in San Francisco, CA
A wonderful whimsical circa 1950s French Childs Carnival and/or Circus prop chair. Carved parts, feet, hands and head with big blue eyes and top it off a ...
Category

1930s French Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art

Materials

Wood, Paint

Set of Ceramic Carnival Animal Figures from Mexico, Circa 1980´s and 1990´s
Located in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
Set of 3 ceramic carnival animal figures from Morelos, Mexico. These colorful figures were hand crafted and hand painted using paint glaze. The lively pieces were prominent in the 19...
Category

1990s Mexican Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Ceramic, Clay

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

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

Herschell Spillman Cast Iron Vintage Carousel Heads
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Fantastic set of three Herschell Spillman carousel rounding board heads. Cast iron faces with wood board backs. All in original park paint. Each face/bo...
Category

1910s American Folk Art Vintage Carnival Art

Materials

Iron

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

Rare Antique Early American Carnival Coin Toss Game Table
Located in Forney, TX
A scarce American carnival coin toss game. The rare and unusual antique hand carved and painted solid wood amusement park / county fair / mid-way gaming tabl...
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Carnival Art

Materials

Wood, Paint

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

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

Americana Folk-Art Carved and Paint Decorated Wood Carousel Horse
Located in New York, NY
Americana Folk-Art carved and paint decorated wood childs carousel horse: Mounted on metal pole base Measures: 13" x 43" x 62".
Category

19th Century 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.

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