Folk Art Animal Sculptures

Cast Iron Charm: American Folk Art Cat Doorstop This charming piece of American folk art is a cast iron doorstop modeled in the form of a black and white tuxedo cat. Doorstops like ...

Here is a very unusual and LARGE (22.5" high) kangaroo piece by Mexican artist, Herón Martínez Mendoza (1918-1990). This is a handmade item that, although is considered folk art, has...

A hand-made folk art sculpture of a horse from the End of 19th Century/ Early 20th Century. This French made papier mâché horse is wrapped in leather, presented in its authentic old ...

Charming vintage Tonala pottery bird figurine is decorated with hand-painted decor of white bird in a landscape, framed with abstract bands of deco...

There is a great deal of rawness and authenticity to this 1930s French owl decoy. It is carved in wood and nail - upholstered with some kind of animal leather. Its eyes and beak is m...

Natural lamb’s wool sheep figure w/ natural horms. Hand crafted by Ray Growler, Navaho whose gallery is located in Four Corners area of New Mexico. Ray Growler is a popular mixed me...

Antique French hand-carved artist's model of an articulated wooden horse. Horse has articulated head and legs, neck is jointed, but does not move, and has a horsehair tail. Horse is ...

Vintage or antique cast iron door stop features a pair of long hairs with polychrome painted decor. The realistically sculpted cats are depicted sitting with their heads slightly li...

A very Regal and Majestic Vintage Hand Carved Carousel Lion. All hand crafted and hand painted with great detailing to the wood work and painted saddle ...

A late 19th century-early 20th century carousel zebra by eminent creater Karl Muller in carved, painted wood. Ex-coll. Muller/Thummel studio in Molbitz, Ge...

A large hand-carved iron wood eagle perched on a tree stump and surveying the surroundings ready to fly. Hand carved wood vintage extremely detailed bald eagle perched upon rockery with glass eyes. Hand carved Ironwood Southwestern seri...

Playful stretching Tonala pottery cat figurine is decorated with beautiful hand painted abstract geometric and floral designs in blue, green, and earthy brown palette. Variations in...

Charming vintage Tonala pottery figurine depicts a reclining cat with folded front paws and raised head; the cat is looking forward with wide open, large eyes and a slightly surpris...

Tonala Folk Art Pottery Plate Hand Painted Flying Bird, Mexico, circa 1960's. Vintage Mexican Tonala hand painted pottery bird Folk Art. Flora de la Cruz ...

Carved Wood American Eagle Sculpture 1960s. Vintage Sculpture of an American Eagle Carved in Seri Ironwood. Handmade large carved wood eagle ...

A Indian 18-19th century hand-carved wooden horse decorated with polychrome colors. In original untouched condition with a beautiful age-related patina, showing the antique authentic...

Massive vintage cotton elephant, covered in Indian textiles, retailed in the 1950s by Harrods. Exterior decorated in embroidered designs, tassels, tiny mirrors...

Wear consistent with age and use. The artisan metalsmith crafted bird table sculptures, heavily influenced by South American historical design elements. Joaquin Taller Tinta Ecuador...

J.W. Fiske foundry attributed cast iron Whippet dog. Incredible white paint surface with many different layers of white paint.

Mexican artist, Sergio Bustamante wall sculpture or fireplace screen with a Garden of Eden menagerie of flora and fauna. Lions, giraffes, birds, butterflies, turtle, armadillo, rabbi...

Vintage Mexican Tonala hand painted pottery bird Folk Art. Flora de la Cruz Acapulco Gro Mexico hand painted bird dove ceramic. Warm earth tone polych...

- Hand built decorative cat sculpture - made of clay collected from the potter's surroundings. - decorative motifs painted with a goat hair brush made b...

Vintage or antique cast iron door stop features a tabby cat form with polychrome painted decor. The realistically sculpted cat is depicted sitting with its head turned to a side and ...

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. ...

Folk Art carved and painted owl decoy, USA 1900's A decorative barn owl carving decoy Original paint with even wear. Mounted over a new iron stand. We have...

This fine original painted cast iron cow figure is in good as found condition.

Chi wara is a ritual headdress used by the Bambara people in Mali. Portrayed as both male or female figures Chi ware is associated with agriculture. This larg...

Vintage Sculpture of an American Eagle Carved in Seri Ironwood. Vintage hand carved Ironwood Southwestern seri sculpture of an Eagle. Dimensions: 5.5" x 3.5". circa 1970. Ironwood hand carved eagle or falcon...

Antique Carved Wall Sculpture of a Hunting Dog’s Head, ca. 1900s This rustic wall sculpture depicts the realistic head of a hunting dog, finely carved from lindenwood and mounted on...

Vintage Large Brass Duck "Decoy" Decorative Sculpture. Handcrafted decorative vintage collectible brass duck shape sculpture. Beautiful handcrafted large ca...

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...

Vintage Cape Dorset Inuit soapstone (also called Steatite) carving of a seal - featuring fine simplified carving and details accentuating the form of the a...

Stephen Huneck hand carved wooden dog footstool. Perfect as a foot stool, ottoman or playful sculpture. Dimensions 7" width x 20" depth x 15" height. Condition Good vintage condition.

Hand carved & hand painted rooster sculpture. Very folky rooster.

American Copper full bodied pig directional weathervane resting on squared iron stand, late 19th century.

Antique hand-carved artist's model of a horse, fully articulated at every level including wooden ears. Has a horsehair tail. Fixed on a brass stem and raised on a wooden base. Artist signed on base as Philippe Leo.

Hand carved wood in a form of an elephant. No tusk

JARKO ZAVI (Czech-Canadian 1907-1987) - Fine vintage studio pottery ceramic model of a cottontail rabbit on a plinth base - small size - featuring elaborate hand made and hand crafte...

This sterling silver heavy hollow body rooster figure is signed 925 on the base and is in fine condition. Beautifully made and proportioned well. Great patina.

Infuse your home or garden with a splash of tropical whimsy and "Old Florida" charm with this delightful pair of vintage metal flamingo sculptures. Crafted with a folk-art sensibilit...

Early 20th Century Hand-Carved Folk Art Duck Decoy. The duck 's head is movable and the body features wonderful patina throughout including traces of the original paint. Wonderful co...

This striking ceramic tiger sculpture dates to the 1960s and originates from Portugal, a country renowned during this period for its expressive figurative ceramics and strong traditi...

Whimsical Vintage Mexican Ceramic Sculpture of Parakeets Hatching from Egg, in the Style of Sergio Bustamante, Circa 1980s A large, fantastical ceramic sculpture depicting a group of vividly colored parakeets emerging from a cracked egg. This imaginative and surreal piece draws strong stylistic inspiration from the work of celebrated Mexican artist Sergio Bustamante, known for his whimsical and surreal interpretations of nature and mythology in ceramic, papier-mâché, bronze, and wood. Hand-sculpted and hand-painted in Mexico in the 1980s, the sculpture captures a moment of animated emergence, with lifelike parakeets rendered in rich, saturated hues and finely detailed textures. The surface features carefully painted cracks and openings that heighten the illusion of the birds hatching from within the egg. This clay-based ceramic piece is bursting with character and movement, making it a striking example of Mexican folk-inspired surrealism. Unsigned by the artist, yet clearly created by a skilled hand, this one-of-a-kind piece would make a bold addition to any collection of Mexican folk art, ceramic sculpture, or Bustamante-style works. Dimensions: Height: 10 in (25.4 cm) Diameter: 9 in (22.86 cm) Condition: Good vintage condition, with typical patina and surface wear consistent with age. No visible chips or repairs. A true conversation piece that captures the spirit of surrealist folk art. Sergio Bustamante style sculpture * Mexican folk art animal sculpture * Ceramic sculpture * 1980s surrealist ceramic * Whimsical Parakeets animal figurine * Vintage Mexican pottery...

Vintage Mexican Tonala hand painted pottery bird Folk Art. Flora de la Cruz Acapulco Gro Mexico hand painted bird dove ceramic. Warm earth tone polych...

This vintage American brass sperm whale doorstop is a delightful blend of charm and functionality, perfect for adding a splash of coastal flair to your space. Cast in solid brass, th...

This antique English creamware horse was hand-painted at St. Anthony’s Pottery in Newcastle around the year 1800. This charming figure is modeled in a standing position on a green-gl...

A charming vintage wooden giraffe. Hand-carved from hardwood (tropical wood) with brown and black painted surface. From Africa, c. 50-100 years...

Charming vintage Tonala pottery animals and birds figurines are decorated with hand-painted traditional decor. The set consists of 3 smaller bird sculptures and 2 larger animal scul...

19th century life sized horse trade sign from a tack shop in Pottsville, PA. Horse is made of cast iron, wood, and papier mâché. The tail and cast iron e...

This skillfully executed hand carved figural bull is fully dimensional and has a rich brown color. The bull is depicted in a standing position atop a shaped wooden plinth. The muscular animal has been finished with realistic detail with particular attention given to the bull's facial features and folds of skin. The plinth itself is slightly domed at the center and bears carved elements which include a large rock and stylized plants. The bull measures 8" tall and the base is 10.75" x 4.125". It weighs 1lb 15oz. The carved bull is in very good vintage condition with no cracks or signs of wear. This early 20th century hand carved bull statue...

German hand carved wood and decorative painted carousel horse with carved flowing mane, carved hairy tail, upholstered muslin saddle seat, flanking original glass eyes, and mounted o...

Vintage Ken Edwards Mexican ceramic quail bird form Tonala Pottery. Beautiful vintage Mexican hand made and hand painted TONALA Art Pottery. Deco...

Japanese Okimono Bronze Figure of a Rat. DIMENSIONS: Height: 6.25 in Width: 4.25 in Depth: 3.5 in. Hand made in Japan circa 1950s. A large heavy vintage bronze statue of a rat made i...

- Hand built decorative horse sculpture - made of clay collected from the potter's surroundings. - decorative motifs painted with a goat hair brush made by the potter to apply natu...

A beautiful art glass animal sculpture, Folk Art design, circa mid-20th century. Sculpture is hand-blown art glass of farm animals, from base to top, a horse, dog, cat, and rooster. ...

Staffordshire, England, circa 1745 – 1760 This charming and unusual figure depicts a seated cat, its body marbled in tones of buff, grey, and warm brown, the patterns flowing like fur beneath a translucent salt glaze. From the crown of its head rises a small candleholder—an enchanting, functional variation that transforms the cat into a decorative light for the Georgian home. The salt-glazed surface has a gentle satin sheen, enlivened by a cobalt wash brushed across the ears and shoulders, a subtle touch of colour that draws the eye. The figure is compact and beautifully balanced, exuding both humor and grace: a work of wit and craftsmanship meant to charm and amuse as much as to illuminate. As a pair, this cat with candleholder and its companion cat carrying a mouse form a dialogue of light and life—one playful, one practical—representing the Staffordshire potters’ genius for turning everyday subjects into artful curiosities. Attribution and Significance Within the history of English ceramics, agateware animals represent the marriage of experimentation and domestic charm. They were objects of conversation—proof of a potter’s technical mastery and a household’s refinement. This cat, with its delicate candleholder, captures that artistic playfulness and innovation. The glaze’s clarity, the elegant pose, and the subtle marbling make it not only an artifact of mid-18th-century Staffordshire but also a small masterpiece of whimsy and craft. Scholarly Analysis and Authentication The figure is made from laminated clays of contrasting colors, known as laid agate, a technique perfected in Staffordshire workshops during the 1740s and 1750s. Strata of buff, pale grey, and iron-bearing brown clay were rolled together, pressed into a two-part mold, and luted along the spine before firing. The cat’s body thus shows true through-body marbling: the veining continues through the thickness of the clay, not merely applied on the surface. The candle socket, made from a single buff clay rather than agate, was luted to the head before glazing. This practical choice prevented distortion during firing and was a typical workshop economy seen in other mid-18th-century functional animal forms. The piece was salt-glazed in a wood- or coal-fired kiln into which common salt was introduced near peak temperature. Sodium vapor combined with the silica of the clay to form a thin, glassy coating. Here, the glaze is smooth and even, suggesting the cat was fired within a protective sagger. The underside of the figure is open, revealing the pressed-clay interior. Two or three minute stilt contacts are visible on the bottom ledge, confirming that the figure rested on kiln props during firing rather than being supported from beneath a closed base. The cobalt wash was brushed under the glaze before firing. It fuses permanently into the surface, creating soft haloes of blue wholly consistent with decoration on salt-glazed figures from the Whieldon circle circa 1750-1760. Later 19th-century reproductions employ overpainted enamels that sit atop the glaze. The open underside, authentic stratified body, integrated socket, and original cobalt staining collectively identify this as a genuine product of Staffordshire’s mid-18th-century agateware tradition, most plausibly from the orbit of Thomas Whieldon at Fenton Vivian or a closely related potter. The measured height, modelling, and marbling correspond closely to examples in the Burnap Collection (nos.. 362–363, Nelson-Atkins Museum) and Sotheby’s (2015) — “A Staffordshire agateware cat-form candlestick, circa 1755. Provenance / Condition: Current Condition: Excellent, with one ear repaired at the tip and restoration at the top of the candleholder; the glaze remains bright and continuous across the body and socket. References: Burnap Collection, English Pottery 1675–1825, nos. 362–363. Sotheby’s (2015) — “A Staffordshire agateware cat-form candlestick, circa 1755. Christie’s, London 2010, lot 82. 1stDibs “Staffordshire Agateware Pottery Saltglaze Figure of a Cat,” item ref LU95812370442 Price: $4,482.16 Chipstone Foundation, Marbled Agateware: Techniques and Identification, 2005. Henry Sandon, Staffordshire Pottery, 1970, pp. 52–54. John Howard Antiques, Antique Agateware...

A beautiful decorative horse statue. Some wear with a nice patina, but this is old-age. Wooden horse coated with metal. Very decorative and nice to display ...

20th Century Native American Painted Totem Pole A painted animal totem. Animal totems are believed to have spiritual significance, watching over Pacific Northwest Indian tribes and...

A sculptural icon of American carousel artistry, this hand-carved C.W. Parker horse exemplifies the craftsmanship, motion, and whimsy that define the golden age of amusement carving....

Vintage metal duck decoy from the late 50s. Wonderful piece of Folk Art duck sculpture handmade with metal sheet comprising the body and attached metal head. Hand painted to simulate...