Skip to main content

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.

to
79
276
156
408
58
8
184
71
39
35
24
12
11
10
9
8
8
5
3
2
1
1
18
97
293
66
79
126
50
10
5
18
19
18
20
18
24
3
3
316
129
66
49
40
208
155
150
41
31
474
445
449
25
19
5
3
3
Style: Folk Art
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

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

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

Lot of Five Vintage Swedish Dala Rooster Chicken by Nils Olsson, Sweden Folk Art
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

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

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

Found and Salvaged Steel Industrial Objects on Wooden Base
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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Grand Scale Hand Carved Wood Giraffe Sculpture on Base circa 1970's
Located in St. Louis, MO
Grand scale African folk art hand carved wood giraffe, with charred black stained spots. Appears to be carved from log. In fine vintage condition. Unsigne...
Category

1970s African Vintage Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Wood

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

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

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

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

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

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

Early 20th Century Folk Art Fairground Elephant
Located in London, GB
Early 20th Century Folk Art Fairground Elephant We share what we love, and we love this charming and naively formed early 20th century hand craved fairground ride figure. With a de...
Category

1920s British Vintage 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

Antique Germany Chip Hand Carved Wall Cupboard Cabinet Tramp Folk Art 1880s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A petite German late 19th century Tramp Folk Art Wall Cupboard Cabinet. This petite Folk Art piece, circa 1880 comes from Germany and features a finely carved work with distressed Mirrors. It is a great example of the Tramp Art style, an art movement popular between the 1870s and the 1940s all around the world, particularly in Germany. It is characterized by the use of small pieces of wood from cigar boxes and shipping crates to create utilitarian items such as boxes and picture frames. Artists use simple tools such as pocket knives...
Category

Late 19th Century German Antique Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Mirror, Wood

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

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

19th c. American Folk Tramp Art Crown of Thorns Cross in a Large Scale
Located in Savannah, GA
This late 19th century large scale American Folk "Tramp" Art double sided "Crown of Thorns" cross is made up of thousands of carved and joined pieces, held together with the joinery ...
Category

1890s American Antique Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Wood

Vintage Polish Folk Art Hand-Painted Wooden Playing Card Holder by Irena Makowey
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Unique card holder composed of two original small-scale folk art paintings depicting figures with card suits by Polish artist, Irena Makowey, protected by two glass inserts to front ...
Category

1960s Polish Vintage Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Glass, Wood

Early 20th Century folk art fairground massacre knock down figure
Located in London, GB
Early 20th Century folk art fairground massacre knock down figure A folk art / primitive hand-crafted fairground knock down game figure. Constructed from pine and metal, hand painted detail with metal support hinges when the figure is knocked off...
Category

1920s French Vintage 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

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

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

Found and Salvaged Steel House Structure on a Reclaimed Steel Base
Located in Chicago, IL
Jim Rose, known primarily for his steel furniture, was an avid collector and scoured salvage yards for unique and interesting items. Here, a collection of spare parts come together ...
Category

2010s American Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Metal, Steel

19th Century Bronze Sheep Handcrafted Sculpture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century handmade bronze sheep sculpture. No signature or makers mark.
Category

19th Century American Antique Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Bronze

Found and Salvaged Steel House Structure, Modern and Minimalist Sculpture
Located in Chicago, IL
Jim Rose, known primarily for his steel furniture, was an avid collector and scoured salvage yards for unique and interesting items. Here, a collection of found steel is reworked, pr...
Category

2010s American Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Metal, Steel

Folk Art Carved Patriotic Eagle Plaque
Located in Nantucket, MA
Vintage Folk Art Carved Patriotic Eagle Plaque, circa 1940s, a Bellamy inspired carved and painted patriotic eagle plaque with American shield and clutch of arrows. The plaque remai...
Category

Mid-20th Century American 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

Early 20th Century Carved and Painted Wood Whirligig
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Carved and painted wooden soldier whirligig. Early 20th century American. Soldier has a leather hat with wooden brim. Presented on simple custom museum...
Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Wood

Large Folk Art Driftwood Horse Head Sculpture
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This large and substantial sculpture of a horse's head is unsigned, but believed to have been made in Canada in circa 1980. The sculpture is made completely of pieces of driftwood...
Category

Late 20th Century Canadian Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Driftwood

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

Antique Ghanian Ashanti Style Stool with Leopard Carved, Africa
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Carved Antique African Leopard Ashanti Style Stool. Early 20th Century Ghanaian Ashanti style leopard stool. Animal leopard stool hand-carved wood from ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Ghanaian Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Wood

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

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

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

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

Early Leo Sewell Assembledge, Sculpture, Seated Male Figure
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

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

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

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

Pink Cast Iron Pig Money Bank or Doorstop with Wings, Denmark
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Danish piggy pink cast iron money bank or doorstopper with wings. This smiling and charming Lady Pig is newly powder-coated in "pretty pink". She is good sturdy condition.
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Iron

Early 20th Century Scratch Built Church Model
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century scratch built Church model We share what we love, and we love this scratch-built pine model of a church. Hand carved detail with gla...
Category

Early 1900s British Antique Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Pine

The Virgin Mary Bust, 'Virgin Mary House' Replica Compressed Marble Powder No:2
By LAGU
Located in İSTANBUL, TR
This sculpture depicts the Virgin Mary, who is known as the mother of Jesus in Christian mythology. Weighing 1.5 kg, this sculpture is produced from pressed marble powder and made us...
Category

2010s Turkish Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Statuary Marble

Rare Jaguar Wood Figure Found in Chilapa, Guerrero, Southern México, ca. 1940
By NONO
Located in Guadalajra, Jal
This vintage hand carved and hand painted Tiger, is presumed to have been made in or near Chilapa, Guerrero in circa 1940 in a Folk Art style. The carving has been made in a naive st...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mexican 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

Early 20th Century English Folk Art Shell Work Diorama Scene
Located in London, GB
Early 20th Century English Folk Art Shell Work Diorama Scene A unique example of an early 20th Century English folk art shell work diorama. Encased in a pine and wallpaper cove...
Category

1920s British Vintage Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Pine

Antique Danish Wrought Iron Mounted Fish Fork
Located in Søborg, DK
A wrought iron fish fork from the 18th century. Extremely decorative and a piece of pure folk art. Who ever made this made an extra effort to not just make it functional but also so...
Category

18th Century Danish Antique Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Wrought Iron

Pair Of Folk Art Carved Wooden Women's Shoes, ca 1900
Located in Bilzen, BE
Pair of folk art carved wooden ladies' shoes richly decorated with glass beads and cow bone Height 13 cm, length 12.5 cm Original lacquer and colour Around 1900
Category

Early 20th Century Belgian 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.

Recently Viewed

View All