Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
FOLK ART STYLE
Folk art is a genre of art that shares the creator’s traditions, offering not just an artistic display but an opportunity to learn about a culture. Antique, new and vintage folk art typically reflects a heritage or location. It can include utilitarian objects and handmade art as diverse as weather vanes, duck decoys, portraiture and paintings, carnival art and quilts.
Quilts are a quintessential part of American folk art but their roots are international, with quilting dating back to Ancient Egypt. The practice spread to Europe and was especially prominent in the Middle Ages, with one of the oldest surviving examples being the Tristan quilt made in Sicily in the 14th century. They were made as bedcovers and clothing, including as a layer for knights to wear beneath their armor. Native American folk art includes functional objects reflecting their heritage, such as baskets, textiles and wooden pieces.
Elsewhere, the vast range of work associated with Mexican folk art includes masks made by Mexican craftspeople for traditional celebrations and ceremonial dances. Mexican masks are part of the country’s folk-art traditions that go back thousands of years and play a role in festivals and theater.
Works in the folk art tradition are valuable because of the skills involved, like weaving, hand-carving wood and even stonework. Many folk artists are self-taught, while some train as apprentices within their community. By using available materials and taking a personal approach to their creations, artists ensure each piece is unique and conveys a story.
During the Great Depression, artistic materials in America were hard to come by, so artisans used discarded wood from cigar boxes and shipping crates to make highly stylized, notched pieces — most often picture frames and boxes — that are today sought after by collectors. This folk art style is called tramp art and was popular from roughly 1870 until the 1940s.
Folk art brings vibrant culture and traditions into your home. Browse an extensive collection of antique, new and vintage folk art on 1stDibs.
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Style: Folk Art
Hand Carved Wooden Smoker Gnome Figure, Vintage German Black Forest Folk Art
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful hand carved wooden smoker figure, found at an estate sale in Nuremberg, Germany. We believe that this piece is from around 1930s or older. A nice addition to any room. Beau...
Category
1930s German Vintage Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
Lot of Five Vintage Swedish Dala Rooster Chicken by Nils Olsson, Sweden Folk Art
By Nils Olsson
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This offer is for a collection of five Swedish Dala rooster Chicken by Nils Olsson. Each is hand carved painted wood. Nice display item for every room. Th...
Category
1970s Swedish Vintage Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood, Paint
Vintage Nahua Pottery Chililico Hidalgo Mexican Folk Art Animal Candleholders
Located in Forney, TX
A most charming pair of two rare and whimsical indigenous Nahua peoples pottery animal folk art candleholders.
Handmade in the village of Chililico, Hidalgo, Central Mexico, primiti...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Pottery
Rare 19th Century Swedish Dala Horse in Original Polychrome Paint
Located in Kastrup, DK
Rare hand-carved Dala horse in pine wood with original polychrome paint.
Sweden, circa 1840.
The tradition of carved wooden Dala horses dates back to the 16th century — the earliest...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
Large Antique East African Carved Wood & Bronze Antelope Deer Folk Art Sculpture
Located in Forney, TX
A large, rare, and most impressive antique hand carved and painted wood and metal stylized antelope African folk art sculpture with beautifully aged distressed patina.
Handmade in East Africa, dating to around the late 19th / early 20th century, possibly earlier, this scarce, one-of-a-kind, museum quality work, features a richly detailed patinated bronze head and tail with etched textural elements, tall ears and faux ringed...
Category
Late 19th Century African Antique Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Bronze
"Suh” Jim Colclough Folk Art Redwood Sculpture 1970s Signed
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Jim Colclough learned to use traditional Ozark Mountain woodworking tools as a child in his father's blacksmith shop. When he was sixty-two (after his wife had died, and he had retir...
Category
1970s American Vintage Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Reclaimed Wood
Mexican Dia De Los Muertos Day of the Dead La Catrina Folk Art Figure Sculpture
Located in Studio City, CA
A quite wonderful Mexican Day of the Dead (Dia De Los Muertos festival held throughout Mexico) La Catrina symbolic skeleton figure.
La Catrina is the festival’s most recognizable image/figure. She is the model of a high-society woman who has met Death, her maker. She represents something between the fear induced by her skeletal form and the revelry exhibited by the comical way she is typically portrayed, making her a perfect symbol of the Mexican holiday. She often appears in paintings, window displays, and costumes all around Mexico during the Day of the Dead festivities.
La Catrina was originally conceived in the early 1900s by newspaper illustrator and printmaker José Guadalupe Posada...
Category
20th Century Mexican Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Textile, Wood, Paper
Early 20th Century Scratch Built Boat Model
Located in London, GB
Early 20th Century Scratch Built Boat Model
The Pilote Niviere is a French working vessel which sailed from the early part of the 20th century to th...
Category
1940s French Vintage Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Metal
20th Century American Folk Art Carved Stop Sign
Located in Chicago, IL
A 20th century American Folk Art hand-carved and painted wood stop sign mounted on a custom steel stand.
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood, Paint
Antique Carved Slate Miniature Chest of Drawers. Welsh, Late 19th Century
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
A charming miniature chest of drawers made from carved slate
With dummy drawers and Prince of Wales feathers detail.
Miniature chests, bureaus and similar pieces of folk art were c...
Category
Late 19th Century Welsh Antique Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Slate
Iconic Pair of Sicilian Ceramic Heads from Caltagirone
Located in Budapest, HU
Fascinating traditional handmade ceramic planters from private collection.
Category
20th Century Sicilian Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Ceramic
Antique Wire Fox Terrier Iron Door Stop, Hubley
Located in Riverdale, NY
Charming Iron Wire Haired Fox Terrier Door Stop with intact original paint attributed to Hubley circa 1910. Hard to find with original patinaed cold ...
Category
1910s American Vintage Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Iron
Majestic Benin King Oba, Finely Carved Ebony Bust, Nigeria West Africa C1930s
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Truly a majestic Benin Oba. Beautifully and finely hand carved in Ebony hardwood from the 1930's
A piece of this quality and stature holds enormous presence...
Category
1930s Beninese Vintage Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Ebony
Carved Wood Sculpture of the Hindu Deity Nandi With Pedestal, Circa 1920
Located in Point Richmond, CA
South Indian carved wood sculpture depicting the Hindu Deity of Nandi, a recumbent black bull figure, known within the Hindu faith as the vehicle for Siva, often depicted in sculptur...
Category
20th Century Indian Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Hardwood
Found and Salvaged Steel Industrial Objects on Wooden Base
By Jim Rose
Located in Chicago, IL
Jim Rose, known primarily for his steel furniture, was an avid collector and scoured salvage yards for unique, interesting items. Here, a beautifully rusted tobacco box, a steel egg...
Category
2010s American Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Metal, Steel
American Folk-Art Steam Ship Encased Diorama
Located in London, GB
American Folk-art Steam Ship Encased Diorama
We share what we love, and we love this turn of the century hand crafted American folk-art encased steam ship model...
Category
Early 1900s Antique Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Metal
Large Early 20th Century English Scratch Built / Folk Art Ship Model
Located in London, GB
Large Early 20th Century English Scratch Built / Folk Art Ship Model
A highly decorative and exceptionally well hand-crafted example of an early 20th Century English folk art ship m...
Category
Early 20th Century British Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Pine
Rare Set of Antique French Limonaire Frères Carved Wood Carousel Pig Figures
Located in London, GB
Rare Set of Antique French Limonaire Frères Carved Wood Carousel Pig Figures
A unique pair of antique French carved wooden carousel pig figures, attributed to the world renowned Limo...
Category
1890s French Antique Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Pine
Set of 4 Detailed Wood Carving Alpine Gnome Dwarf Faces Austria Alps Folk Art
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Set of four rustic Folk Art carved wood face mountain man. This is a wonderful example of Austrian carving. This can be used as a Wall decoration in y...
Category
1960s German Vintage Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
Folk Art Pine Wood Salmon Fish Decorated in Burn Umber Paint
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Heavily patinated pine salmon fish with remnants of paint. This piece has an old hole in the center where it was mounted as a sign. It currently has a piece of wire to hang on the wa...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Pine
Antique Gemstone Gilt Bronze Mounted Rock Crystal Vessel Offering Bowl
Located in Forney, TX
A spectacular Mughal Empire Period (1526-1857) precious gemstone set gilt bronze ormolu mounted carved rock crystal vessel Buddhist altar offering bowl....
Category
19th Century Tibetan Antique Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Multi-gemstone, Rock Crystal, Ormolu
Chinese Polychrome Lucky Fish
Located in Chicago, IL
Hand-carved from reclaimed wood, this rustic koi sculpture recreates early 20th-century Chinese folk art designs. The fish is carved with a squat, rounded body and finished with colo...
Category
20th Century Chinese Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood, Pine
Whimsical Folk Art Painted Lady Liberty Political Figure
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Whimsical hand made carved wood and painted folk art hanging liberty figure.
Category
1960s American Vintage Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
Pair of Magnificent Antique French Carved Wood Panels Depicting the Four Seasons
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An Extraordinary Pair of early 20th century carved wood Panels depicting the Four Seasons. Tall narrow unpainted panels with high relief carved decoration with motifs of the Four Sea...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
Cow Bull Folk Art Speculaas Springerle Cookie or Butter Mold Antique, German
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic late 19th century wooden gingerbread cookie or speculaas springerle mold, circa 1890 (cow bull ox). Made of hand carved wood. Found at an esta...
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
Pair of Large Japanese Ceramic Shi-Shi Dog Roof Tiles, Bizen Kiln, 20th Century
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Pair of Large Japanese Ceramic Shi-Shi Dogs roof tiles, Bizen kiln, 20th c.
Bizen kiln is one of the oldest and well known kilns in Japan. This is a very unusual pose of Shi-Shi Do...
Category
20th Century Japanese Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Clay
Charming Northern Swedish Handmade Folk Art Wooden Figurines
Located in Kramfors, SE
Charming hand-carved wooden figurines in folk art from northern Sweden. The set of 6 figurines are made by hand in solid Swedish pine and painted by My...
Category
Early 20th Century Swedish Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Pine
Large Folk Art Wood Carving of a Nude Woman
Located in San Mateo, CA
Large Folk Art caving of a nude woman. This was done by a geologist and professor as a hobby. The sculpture shows some dings, dents, scuffs and wear.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Fir
Large Sperm Whale Carving by Clark Voorhees
By Clark Voorhees
Located in San Mateo, CA
Large size sperm whale wall plaque by Clark Voorhees. This carving is just under three feet long. The whale is signed on the back with the artist's monogram and name. The lower jaw ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
MIKE MATAS - Vintage Folk Art Whale Carving on Stand - Signed - Canada - C. 1980
Located in Chatham, ON
MIKE MATAS - Vintage folk art hand-carved pine model of a whale - mounted by two brass pins to the base - finished with a semi-gloss varnish - signed and dated - possibly from the ea...
Category
Mid-20th Century Canadian Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Brass
Fine Antique Huge Hand Carved Folk Art Rabbit, Signed
Located in South Burlington, VT
Coming from an American Folk art collection of animal sculptures- only one.
A fine huge, signed, and heavily hand carved charming erect rabbit measuring 21 inches tall and 9 inches wide- one of the largest hand carved rabbits...
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
$1,200 Sale Price
52% Off
Antique Folk Art Ornately Carved Wooden Picture Frame with Birds & Flowers
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This ornately hand-carved picture frame is unsigned, but presumed to have originated from Eastern Europe, and date to approximately 1920 and done in a Folk Art style. The frame is co...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Softwood
Wood Carving Penis Figurine Wabi Sabi Object Vintage Asia 1950s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Adorable unique wood carved figurine statue. we don't know anything about the item, but believe it was made in Japan in the 1960s. Ideal decoratio...
Category
1950s Japanese Vintage Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
19th Century German Folk Art Bird Cage
Located in Hastings, GB
A charming late 19th century hand crafted primitive folk art bird cage, in the manner of a chateau, painstakingly detailed with hand painted r...
Category
1890s German Antique Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Iron
Saturnino Portuonda Pucho Odio Signed Cuban Artist Folk Art Carving Sculpture
Located in Studio City, CA
A fantastic sculpture by Cuban Folk Art artist Saturnino Portuonda "Pucho" Odio (1928-1997) who was known for his animated cultural caricatures and painted wood carvings of his fello...
Category
1980s American Vintage Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood, Paint
Antique Folk Art Horse Sculpture
Located in Sheffield, MA
Wonderfully charming hand-carved 19th Century American folk art horse sculpture on stand. Pay special attention to its face and the carved details to appreciate this fine specimen. ...
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
Monumental and Unusual Folk Art Stage Coach Figure and Horses, 1927
Located in Buffalo, NY
Monumental and unusual Folk Art stage coach figure and horses, 1927. All hand executed, amazing detail, working lamps, velvet interior on coach.
Category
1920s American Vintage Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Leather, Velvet, Plaster
1950s Folk Art Sculpture Group Of Drunk Swedes At Bar Scene
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
1950s Folk Art wood carving of a group of drunk Swedes at a bar scene with fish and alcohol fermentation.
Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Pine
$780 Sale Price
20% Off
19th century Hand Carved Drinking Mug or Tankard
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
19th century Hand Carved Drinking Mug or Stein
Beautifully turned with a pinned hinged lid, the mug has been turned from Yew wood, all in good condition holds about 1/2 pint, it is...
Category
19th Century Antique Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Yew
Hand Carved & Hand Painted Rooster Sculpture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hand carved & hand painted rooster sculpture. Very folky rooster.
Category
20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
19Thc Hand Carved Gentleman Sculpture / Whirlygig
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This amazing 19thc hand carved sculpture of a gentleman with a top hat and rotating arms.This is a very early carving from the Southern states of the mid 19thc.
Category
19th Century American Antique Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Iron
Carved Stone Cockatoo Sculpture
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Carved stone cockatoo sculpture caught in the action of landing on an amethyst geode. Featuring a lofty combination of colors and textures with an u...
Category
20th Century Brazilian Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Crystal
Cigar or Tobacco Shop Trade Sign, Carving of an Indian Chief
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Cigar or Tobacco Shop Trade Sign, Carving of an Indian Chief
This charming and very rare piece, this is a fine example of an American favourite the Cigar Store Indian Counter Top Tra...
Category
1920s Vintage Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Walnut
Quirky American Folk Art Human Form Chair
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Have a seat! One of a kind human form chair. Wonderfully carved muscles, toes, clenched fists for support. Looks like the chair is ready to go crawling ac...
Category
1940s American Vintage Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
NOËL GUAY - Vintage Folk Art Pine Pig Sculpture - Canada - Late 20th Century
Located in Chatham, ON
ATELIER NOËL GUAY - Vintage pine sculpture of a pig - featuring a well modelled form with an intricately chiseled coat, large drooping ears and closely cropp...
Category
Late 20th Century Canadian Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
Early Leo Sewell Assembledge, Sculpture, Seated Male Figure
By Leo Sewell
Located in Buffalo, NY
Early Leo Sewell Assembledge. Sculpture, seated male figure, signed and dated, 1977. A charming array of whimsical found objects, Italian chair incl...
Category
1970s American Vintage Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Metal
18th Century Wooden Cross, Guanajuato, Mexico
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Wooden cross
Guanajuato, Mexico
Wood, paint
22 x 13 inches, (56 cm x 33 cm)
18th century
A wonderful old wooden cross with a painted crucified Christ figure, an angel, possibly Mary Magdelene...
Category
18th Century Mexican Antique Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood, Paint
Early 19th Century Wooden Horse
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Early 19th Century Wooden Horse
A handsome Dapple Grey galloper with Horse Hair mane and tail, he has a classic open mouthed expression and bright glass e...
Category
1860s Antique Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Oak
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Birdhouse
Located in Chicago, IL
A whimsical early 20th century American Folk Art purple Martin pine birdhouse with two levels, eight entrances, and a wonderfully shingled roof and weath...
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Pine
Peruvian Retablo from the Evelyn Ackerman Estate
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Peruvian retablo purchased from the Evelyn Ackerman estate. This colorful piece features two hinged doors with floral paintings. The interior showcases small ceramic figurines in wha...
Category
Mid-20th Century Peruvian Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood, Ceramic
Folk Art Model of a Lockheed Constellation Airliner
Located in San Mateo, CA
Large model of a Lockheed Constellation made by Charles Long. The airplane is made of redwood. The propellers are pine. Charles was a captain in...
Category
1950s American Vintage Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
Rare Early 19th Century Artist's Mannequin
Located in Greenwich, CT
Early 19th century carved walnut artist's model, unusually carved with full head of curly hair and mustachioed face, the limbs articulated and possessing good rich patination.
Category
1820s European Antique Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Walnut
Abraham Lincoln Head Folk Sculpture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Early 20Thc Hand carved head of Lincoln.This folky head has a black painted shirt.
Category
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
Large Whimsical Antique Hand Carved Wooden Horse Sculpture
Located in Forney, TX
A large antique hand carved wooden horse sculpture on stand. Most likely from Southeast Asia, (Indonesian, Burmese, Thai) early 20th c...
Category
Early 20th Century Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
African Folk Art Hand Carved Sculpture Fork and Spoon
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Hand carved African tribal wood carved sculpture of a men and women,
Africa tribal Art Decor.
Kenyan tribal sculpture featuring an elongated standing man and women with a crown and metal choker.
Very simple modern look carved ethnic sculpture...
Category
20th Century Kenyan Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
Sergio Bustamante, Female Bust with Lizards, Ceramic And Mixed Media
Located in Bradenton, FL
Stunning Sergio Bustamante (Mexican Artist, 1949- ), Female Bust with Lizards, Ceramic And Mixed Media. Woman is holding a detachable face mask on a gold stick. Bustamante often comb...
Category
20th Century Mexican Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Ceramic
Swedish Folk Art Hand-Carved and Painted Wooden Birds on Tree Branch
Located in Kastrup, DK
Hand-carved and hand-painted wooden birds on a tree branch.
The upper bird features a detailed feather structure with decorative white and blue markings on its tail, while the lower...
Category
Early 20th Century Swedish Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
1970's Mexican Hand Carved Gourd Bowl Sculpture with Animal Motifs
Located in New York, NY
Vintage 1970's Mexican jackfruit gourd bowl, hand carved with jungle animal motifs on outer surface, Interior has a natural surface.. This piece was likely ...
Category
1970s Mexican Vintage Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Organic Material
Antique Germany Chip Hand Carved House Catchall Box Tramp Folk Art 1880s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A petite German late 19th century Tramp Folk Art Secret Chamber Cabinet Box. This petite Folk Art piece, circa 1890 comes from Germany and features a finel...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
English Folk Art Church Model
Located in London, GB
Folk Art Church Model
We are proud to offer a wonderful example of a mid-20th Century folk-art church model. Built from scratch using various material...
Category
1940s British Vintage Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
Folk Art sculptures and carvings for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique folk art sculptures and carvings for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage sculptures and carvings created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include folk art, decorative objects, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art sculptures and carvings made in a specific country, there are North America, Europe, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original sculptures and carvings, popular names associated with this style include Mosche Bianche, Jim Rose, Nils Olsson, and Benin People. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for sculptures and carvings differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $95 and tops out at $38,000 while the average work can sell for $1,340.
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