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Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

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
Terracotta Articulated Doll Santos Figure Wearing a Bowler Hat
Located in Stamford, CT
Unusual, and quite amusing Mexican terracotta doll figure with articulated limbs. Since it is solid terracotta it is likely this is a mold from which other dolls were made. As a folk...
Category

Early 20th Century Mexican Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic, Clay, Terracotta

Folk Art Wooden Head
Located in Haaltert, BE
Folk art wooden head - hand sculpted in the 1970' s (Belgium) and made of chestnut wood
Category

1970s Belgian Vintage Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Chestnut

"Lady Seated in Chair Reading" Money Box/ Still Bank by A. Biagioni, Circa 1925
Located in Incline Village, NV
Penny bank made by Italian Angelo Biagioni for the French market (see image with marking on the back of the chair), circa 1910. Biagioni, born in 1870, was a well known sculptor who crafted objects for resale to the European market. Money boxes (or still banks as they are called in America) were one of the more unique and more difficult items to find by this artist as most objects were basic uni-dimensional sculptered pieces. What makes it more rare is the unfortunate requirement to break and smash the bank open to get the coins out, as there was no mechanism to remove the money. The subject matter of the bank is that of a nicely dressed older lady seated in a chair reading a book. The bank is in all original condition and paint with no restoration or touch-up of any kind. This is a nice addition to any bank or toy collection, or simply to have as a "stand alone" unique item. Dimensions : 4 1/4" deep x 3 3/8" wide x 8 5/8" high. Note: After 40 plus years of dealing and collecting toys and banks, I am justly qualified to guarantee and present the authenticity of antique and vintage still banks...
Category

1910s French Vintage Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Pottery

Vintage Boho Monumental Hand Carved Sasquatch Sculpture
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Make an extraordinary statement with this monumental vintage hand-carved Sasquatch sculpture, a truly unique piece that embodies a captivating blend of Boho Chic artistry and rustic ...
Category

Late 20th Century American Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Antique hand-carved African couple sculpture 1940s
Located in Cantù, IT
Antique hand-carved African couple sculpture 1940s - Private Collection Domenico Rugiano
Category

20th Century Nigerian Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Large European Folk Art Carved Wooden Standing Man Carrying a Basket Sculpture
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This large Folk Art wooden sculpture is unsigned, but presumed to have been made in Europe and most likely Italy in circa 1920 in a Folk Art style. This large wooden carved sculpture depicts an elderly bearded man carrying a heavy basket on his back and holding the straps in the front to support the weight. This is quite a tall carving...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Softwood

Jim Rose Barn House Structure, Welded Steel Sculpture Made with Salvaged Steel
Located in Chicago, IL
This is a welded steel sculpture made by furniture creator Jim Rose. It is sustainable design created from salvaged and recycled steel panels left over from his larger projects. These sculptures reference traditional American Folk Art barn...
Category

2010s American Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Steel

A carved hardwood figure of a fisherman circa 1900
Located in Central England, GB
This exceptional Balinese dense hardwood figure is an amazing sculpture, hand-carved from a single piece of wood with incredible skill. This work is very similar to a good Japanese i...
Category

Early 20th Century Balinese Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Hardwood

Large Figurative African Mangbetu Anthropomorphic Vessel / Jar
Located in Studio City, CA
This is a fantastic piece likely made by the Mangetu tribe of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is finely detailed and quite large and hefty. These pieces were originally made...
Category

20th Century Congolese Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Terracotta

Pair of German Hand Carved Wood Figurative Sculptures of Two Boys Musicians
Located in Barntrup, DE
An adorable pair of hand-carved wooden figurines of two boys playing the whistle, Germany, the first half of the 20th century. Dimensions: Height 38 cm / 14.96 in, width circa 12 cm ...
Category

1930s German Vintage Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Grønlandica, Sarak, Greenlandic hunter in profile, sculpture in soapstone.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Grønlandica, Sarak, Greenlandic hunter in profile, sculpture in soapstone. 1970/80s. In excellent condition. Signed. Dimensions: H 10.5 cm x W 8.0 cm.
Category

1970s Greenlandic Vintage Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Soapstone

Ceramic Terracotta Sculpture Reclining Nude Figure in the Manner of Henry Moore
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Contemporary figural unglazed terracotta sculpture of an abstract reclining figure. An homage to sculptor Henry Moore. Made in 2019 by Oklahoma artist Emily Ladow Reynolds. Dimen...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic, Clay, Terracotta

Early 20th Century Scandinavian Hand Carved and Painted Figural Nutcracker
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Scandinavian Folk Art nutcracker with man in cap decoration, circa 1920-1930s. Fine expressive facial and lovely hand painted details. Very nice, vintage condition with light wear co...
Category

Early 20th Century Scandinavian Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Pair of Black Forest Figural Carved Wall Hooks, 19th Century
Located in Niederdorfelden, Hessen
Black forest carved wood coat hooks, late 19th century with genuine chamois horns. Measurements: 13 x 3.9 x 3.9 in / 32 x 10 x 10 cm 11.8 x 3.3 x 3 i...
Category

Late 19th Century German Antique Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Emile Deyrolle 19th Century Plaster, Wire and Wood Didactic Germination Models
Located in Buffalo, NY
LES FILS D'EMILE DEYROLLE, PARIS. Extremely rare set of four 19th century French painted plaster, wire and wood Didactic models depicting progression, ANATOMIE VEGETALE, beautifully ...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Wire

Found and Salvaged Industrial Steel Object Sculpture Figure with Face
Located in Chicago, IL
Jim Rose Standing found industrial objects 41h x 10w x 10d in 104.14h x 25.40w x 25.40d cm JR0355 Jim Rose b. 1966, d. 2023 Bio Born in Indiana, Jim Rose lived in Europe until he returned to the United States to attend college. After one year at Bard College, Jim transferred to the School of the Art Institute in Chicago (SAIC) where he graduated in 1988 with a BFA. His skillful interpretation of the Shaker design is a result of intense research and field study of Shaker furniture, architecture, culture and history. After over two decades of dedicated work, he has mastered the minimalism of the Shaker technique and created his own unique visual vernacular. The quilts of Gee's Bend have become a monumental influence taking this artist's work to new levels of unique interpretation and artistry. His selection of aged steel results in a patina directly related to that of aged wood while his colored strips beautifully mimic worn cloth. Each piece of furniture is masterfully made and intended for daily use. Jim Rose’s steel furniture is featured every year at SOFA Chicago for the past 25 years. Jim Rose b. 1966, Wisconsin Education 1989 B.F.A., Sculpture, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, IL 1988 Student at Large, Welding Technology, Triton College, Chicago, IL 1985 Undergraduate Photography Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York Awards 2008 Wisconsin Arts Board Fellowship Award, Madison, WI. 2005 Elizabeth R. Raphael Founder’s Prize, Society for Contemporary Craft, Pittsburgh, PA 2003 Grant Recipient for Shaker Interpretations in Cast Iron, PA Arts Assoc / WI Arts Board 2003 Arts/Industry Residency Program for Visual Artists, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, Wisconsin Solo Exhibitions 2017 New Work, Tory Folliard Gallery, Milwaukee, WI 2012 Simply Steel, Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, WI 2007 Variation, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL 2003 New Work, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL 2001 Shaker in Steel / New Work, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL 2000 Shaker in Steel / New Work, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL 1999 Hands and Heart to Steel III, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL National Exhibitions 2017-2018 SOFA Chicago – Gallery Victor Armendariz 2016 - 1995 SOFA Chicago, New York, Palm Beach - Ann Nathan Gallery 2011 - 2002 Art Chicago - Ann Nathan Gallery Group Exhibitions 2017 Coming Attractions: Inaugural Exhibition, Gallery Victor Armendariz, Chicago, IL 2017 Living with Art: The Newman Collection, 108 Contemporary, Tulsa, Oklahoma 2016 Form Follows Function: The Intersection of Art and Craft, The Hardy Gallery, Ephraim, Wi 2015 NEO, Chipstone Foundation, Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, WI 2015 ICFF, Furniture Society, Javits Convention Center, New York City, NY 2013 Vahki Revisited, The Enduring Spirit of a Craft Collection” Mesa Contemporary Arts, Mesa, AZ 2013 Fearless Furniture, Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, Indianapolis, IN 2013 Inaugural Exhibition, Museum Wisconsin of Art, West Bend, WI 2012 Sitting Pretty: Furniture from RAM’s Collection, Racine Art Museum, WI 2011 Hiding Places: Memory in the Arts, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, WI 2010 Living with Art, Strohl Art Center, Chautauqua Institution, NY 2009 Summer in Wisconsin, Tory Folliard Gallery, Milwaukee, WI 2009 High Honors, James Watrous Gallery, Madison, WI 2008 Second Lives: Remixing the Ordinary, Museum of Art and Design, NY 2007 Transformation 5: Contemporary Works in Found Materials, Art Association, Jackson, WY 2007 Transformation 5: Contemporary Works in Found Materials, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Houston, TX (traveling exhibition) 2006 Show us Your Drawers, Herron School of Art, Indianapolis, IN 2006 Marriage of the Minds, Fairfield Center for Contemporary Art, Sturgeon Bay, WI 2006 27th Annual Contemporary Crafts, Mesa Contemporary Arts, Mesa, AZ 2006 Containers of All Dimensions, Mesa Contemporary Arts, Mesa, AZ 2005 Transformation 5: Contemporary Works in Found Materials, Society for Contemporary Craft, Pittsburgh, PA 2004 Right at Home: American Studio Furniture, Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C. 2004 American Collections, Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, WI 2004 More Than Drawers-Wisconsin Cabinets, Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, WI 2004 Objects of Wonder, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI 2003 Planting, Potting and Pruning, Wustum Museum of Fine Art, Racine, WI 2003 Men at Work, Miller Art Museum, Sturgeon Bay, WI 2002 Case Pieces: Contemporary Studio Furniture, Elvehjem Museum of Art, Univ of WI-Madison 2002 Sitting Pretty: Contemporary Wisconsin Chairs, Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, WI 2001 Anything with a Drawer - Award Recipient, Mesa Arts Center, Mesa, AZ 2001 23rd Annual Contemporary Crafts - Award Recipient, Mesa Arts Center, Mesa, AZ 2000 New Talent in Craft, Wustum Museum of Fine Art, Racine, Wisconsin 2000 Who Knows Where or When, Wustum Museum of Fine Art, Racine, Wisconsin 1999 The End is Near! Artists look at the 20th Century, Wustum Museum of Fine Art, Racine, WI Selected collections Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C. Racine Art Museum, Racine, Wisconsin Mesa Contemporary Arts, Mesa, Arizona The Museum of Arts and Design, New York, New York John Michael Kohler Art Center, Sheboygan, Wisconsin Kohler Company, Kohler, Wisconsin Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Society for Contemporary Craft, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Arkansas Arts Center, Little Rock, Arkansas Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, Indianapolis, Indiana The Chipstone Foundation, Fox Point, Wisconsin Museum of Wisconsin Art, West Bend, Wisconsin Publications “Selected Artists of Door County” Stonehill Publishing, 2016 “Galvanized Chest” Door County Living Magazine, Autumn 2012 “100 Artists of the Midwest” Schiffer Books, 2012 “Piecework” American Craft Magazine, February 2012 “Hiding Places, Memory in the Arts” John Michael Kohler Arts Center, June 2011 “Second Lives, Remixing the Ordinary” Museum of Arts and Design, NY, August 2008 “Studio Furniture” Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian American Art Museum, DC, May 2008 “Discoveries by Designers” Architectural Digest, December 2005 “Contemporary Metal Furniture” Metalsmith Magazine, Winter 2003 “Studio Case Furniture: The Inside Story” American Craft Magazine, October 2002 “Contemporary Studio Case Furniture: The Inside Story” Elvehjem Museum of Art, 2002 “Chicago Style...
Category

2010s American Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Steel

Mid Century Sculptural Hand Carved Painted Wooden Buddha
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous hand carved & painted 40 inch tall wooden Buddha. Polychrome decorations with Gilt. Brightly colored and in prayer. Heavy and well executed. In excellent vintage condition ...
Category

1970s Central Asian Vintage Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Hardwood, Paint

Jim Rose Barn House Structure, Welded Steel Object Made with Salvaged Steel
Located in Chicago, IL
This is a welded steel sculpture made by furniture creator Jim Rose. It is sustainable design created from salvaged and recycled steel panels left over from his larger projects. These sculptures reference traditional American Folk Art barn house models or bird houses. This sculpture works alone on a shelf or table or can be grouped with other house sculptures by the artist. Each house sculpture is unique in design and color. Jim Rose Structure #168 found steel with natural rust patina and paint 6h x 4.50w x 2.50d in 15.24h x 11.43w x 6.35d cm Jim Rose b. 1966 Bio Born in Indiana, Jim Rose lived in Europe until he returned to the United States to attend college. After one year at Bard College, Jim transferred to the School of the Art Institute in Chicago (SAIC) where he graduated in 1988 with a BFA. His skillful interpretation of the Shaker design is a result of intense research and field study of Shaker furniture, architecture, culture and history. After over two decades of dedicated work, he has mastered the minimalism of the Shaker technique and created his own unique visual vernacular. The quilts of Gee's Bend have become a monumental influence taking this artist's work to new levels of unique interpretation and artistry. His selection of aged steel results in a patina directly related to that of aged wood while his colored strips beautifully mimic worn cloth. Each piece of furniture is masterfully made and intended for daily use. Jim Rose’s steel furniture is featured every year at SOFA Chicago for the past 25 years. Jim Rose b. 1966, Wisconsin Education 1989 B.F.A., Sculpture, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, IL 1988 Student at Large, Welding Technology, Triton College, Chicago, IL 1985 Undergraduate Photography Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York Awards 2008 Wisconsin Arts Board Fellowship Award, Madison, WI 2005 Elizabeth R. Raphael Founder’s Prize, Society for Contemporary Craft, Pittsburgh, PA 2003 Grant Recipient for Shaker Interpretations in Cast Iron, PA Arts Assoc / WI Arts Board 2003 Arts/Industry Residency Program for Visual Artists, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, Wisconsin Solo Exhibitions 2017 New Work, Tory Folliard Gallery, Milwaukee, WI 2012 Simply Steel, Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, WI 2007 Variation, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL 2003 New Work, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL 2001 Shaker in Steel / New Work, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL 2000 Shaker in Steel / New Work, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL 1999 Hands and Heart to Steel III, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL National Exhibitions 2017-2018 SOFA Chicago – Gallery Victor Armendariz 2016 - 1995 SOFA Chicago, New York, Palm Beach - Ann Nathan Gallery 2011 - 2002 Art Chicago - Ann Nathan Gallery Group Exhibitions 2017 Coming Attractions: Inaugural Exhibition, Gallery Victor Armendariz, Chicago, IL 2017 Living with Art: The Newman Collection, 108 Contemporary, Tulsa, Oklahoma 2016 Form Follows Function: The Intersection of Art and Craft, The Hardy Gallery...
Category

2010s American Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Steel

Antique Viennese Bronze Figure of a Dutch Girl Circa 1920 Johann Pilar Style
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
After Johann Pilar Bronze Dutch Girl on circular marble white stand. Viennese bronze figure of a Dutch girl, with traditional dress, bonnet and clogs. 19th century Dutch farm girl on...
Category

Early 20th Century Austrian Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Hand Carved Gilded Torso Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
Large scale hand carved and gilded torso sculpture made from a tree branch,
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Greenlandica, tupilak in soapstone. Greenland mid-20th century.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Greenlandica, Tupilak. Traditional, magic Greenlandic figurine carved in soapstone. Greenland mid-20th century. In good condition, with damage to the base (see photo). Dimensions: H...
Category

Mid-20th Century Greenlandic Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Soapstone

Mexican Burnished Clay Romance Torso Heart Couple Statue Contemporary Oaxaca
Located in Queretaro, Queretaro
Lovers Torso, a contemporary rustic Mexican sculpture by Manuel David Reyes. This soft piece is one-of-a-kind, made with clay and natural pigments from ...
Category

2010s Mexican Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic, Clay

Vintage Terracotta Terrier Sculpture
Located in Houston, TX
Vintage terracotta terrier sculpture. This handsome terra cotta terrier figure is realistic in size and features. Perfect home accent for the dog lover!
Category

1940s Unknown Vintage Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Terracotta

Large Figurative African Mangbetu Anthropomorphic Ceramic Vessel or Jar
Located in Studio City, CA
This is a wonderful piece likely made by the Mangetu tribe of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is finely detailed and quite large and hefty. These pieces were originally made...
Category

20th Century Congolese Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Terracotta

Hand-Carved Ironwood Pheasant Sculpture – Vintage Southwestern Art
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This exquisite hand-carved ironwood pheasant sculpture showcases masterful craftsmanship with detailed feather etchings and a graceful pose. The rich, dark hues of the ironwood enhan...
Category

Mid-20th Century Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Iron

Paa Joe Cigarette Box Sculpture Maquette 2022- Hand carved wood and oil paint
Located in London, GB
This Cigarette Box Sculpture Maquette by renowned Ghanaian artist Paa Joe is a striking example of his masterful craftsmanship and symbolic design. Created in 2022, the work is metic...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Ghanaian Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Wood, Paint

Large Carved Cigar Store Indian, Shop Trade Sign This is a very rare find, he i
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Large Carved Cigar Store Indian, Shop Trade Sign This is a very rare find, he is a full size American Indian, he is carved from one piece of wood ( a tree trunk, possibly pine ) The...
Category

1910s Vintage Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Whimsical Surfer Sculpture by Mitch Berg
Located in San Diego, CA
A really cool and whimsical surfer sculpture by Mitch Berg, circa 2008. The piece is in good vintage condition and measures 10.5" W x 4.5" D x 15" H. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Metal

Vintage Boho Carved Wood Female Sculpture
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Embrace the free-spirited elegance of this vintage Boho Chic carved wood female sculpture. This captivating piece features a gracefully re...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Wood

19th Century Hand Carved German Apothecary Shop Display Figure
Located in London, GB
19th century hand carved apothecary shop display figure. A rare hand carved 19th century apothecary shop display figure. Of German origin this figure would likely have sat either on...
Category

1880s German Antique Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Oak

Hand-Crafted Vintage Hat Mold Form Made of Pine from Stockholm, Sweden
Located in Stockholm, SE
This beautifully aged, hand-carved vintage hat mold comes from the renowned hat-making company Hugo Landahl in Stockholm, Sweden. Rich in character and patina, it serves as a unique ...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Swedish Antique Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Pine

Vintage Folk Art Estremoz Clay World Heritage Figurine Portugal by Jose Moreira
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Wonderful and detailed figure by this famous World Heritage maker. Heavily patinated, with flaking to original painted surfaces. Not cleaned, presented in as found condition.
Category

1950s Portuguese Vintage Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Pottery

Early 20th Century American Double Sided Whirligig Figure
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century American double sided whirligig figure A brilliant example of early 20th century American Folk Art. In the form of a hand carved wooden double sided whirligig f...
Category

Early 1900s American Antique Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Pine

Larger Than Life Extravagant Folk Art Sculpture
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Outrageous larger than life piece of Folk Art painstakingly composed of found objects such as sea shells, beads, toys, vintage jewelry buttons, and bottle caps (to name a few). There...
Category

20th Century American Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Shell

Pair of Inuit Children on a Sledge Made of Soapstone
Located in København, Copenhagen
A pair of Inuit children on a sledge made of soapstone. Approximately: 1970/1980s. In good condition, signs of use. Sticker. Dimensions: L 8.0 x D 4.0 x H 8.5 cm.
Category

1970s Canadian Vintage Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Soapstone

Australian Aboriginal Carved Ancestor Figure with Ochre Paint
Located in Atlanta, GA
Hand-carved wood ancestor figure with surface pictorial carving showing kangaroo hunting and decorated with black and red paint and white and yellow ocher pigment. The figure slightly leans forward as made. The piece was carved by aboriginal artist...
Category

Early 2000s Australian Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Large Bamana Marionette Figure of Charming Police Man, African Figure
Located in Buffalo, NY
Large Bamana marionette figure of a charming police man. African figure retains original paint, amazing patina, also retains original fabric wrap. (outfit).
Category

20th Century African Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Vintage Handmade Ceramic Figure of a Young French Girl Holding a Rose
Located in New Orleans, LA
This is a lovely and delicate hand made clay art girl figurine in a lavender print dress with a lace overlay that stands 7" tall and is Holding Flowers....
Category

1980s French Vintage Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Clay, Earthenware, Pottery, Textile, Polyester

"Day of the Dead" Three-Piece Sculpture of Kahlo Rivera by Demetrio Aguliar
Located in San Diego, CA
A very cool and unique "Day of the Dead" three-piece Folk Art sculpture of Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera signed by Mexican artist, Demetrio Garcia Agu...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Pottery, Paint

Early 20th Century French Folk Art Model
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century folk art model 'EST-CE UN PIETON OU UNE VOITURE?' (IS IT A PEDESTRIAN OR A CAR?) An Early 20th century French hand carved folk art model, depicting a police...
Category

Early 20th Century French Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Solid Wood Carved Sculpture of Traveler on Wine/Beer Barrel
Located in San Francisco, CA
Solid Wood Carved Sculpture of Traveler on Wine/Beer Barrel Swiss or German, possibly the mountainous Black Forest area. Hand crafted by a truly skilled carver, a bear can be seen ...
Category

19th Century European Antique Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Wood, Paint

Sheryl C. Benjamin "Musk Ox" Carved Raspberry Alabaster Stone Table Sculpture
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Sheryl Cannold Benjamin (American, 1924 - 2023) "Musk Ox" Carved Raspberry Alabaster Stone Large Table Sculpture on Laminated Pedestal Base, Approx 110 lbs. Circa Late 20th Century. ...
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Alabaster

Greenlandica, wooden sculpture of a male figure. Greenlandic craftsmanship.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Greenlandica, wooden sculpture of a male figure. Greenlandic craftsmanship. Hand-carved. Signed ZA and dated '66 (1966). In excellent condition. Dimensions: H 21.0 cm x D 10.0 cm.
Category

1960s Greenlandic Vintage Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Staffordshire Pearlware Piper with Dog Bocage Figure
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Staffordshire pottery pearlware bocage figure with a musical theme which features a boy playing a pipe. His dog by his side, stood on a shaped base. Decorated 'in the round' - decora...
Category

1820s English Antique Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

19th Century Cast Iron Bacchus Doorstop
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
19th Century Cast Iron Bacchus Doorstop Antique Bacchus Cast-Iron Doorstop he is Bearded and has a Great Cornucopia Top this is a rare piece dating f...
Category

19th Century Antique Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Iron

Mid-Century Modern Abstract Statue of a Woman
Located in Redding, CT
Mid-Century Modern abstract statue of a woman. Finely sculpted figure of a woman with her arms wrapped around herself in a sitting position. The scul...
Category

1950s Vintage Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Cement

Set of Three Beaded Ndebele Fertility Dolls
Located in Chicago, IL
A rare imported commodity, glass beads have been a symbol of wealth and importance in south African cultures for centuries, and were exclusively distributed by the region's oba (king). As beads become gradually more accessible throughout the 19th century, they began to displace the organic materials used in traditional art and attire. This colorful example of African beadwork...
Category

20th Century South African Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Cotton, Wood

Large Patinated Solid Wood Sculpture, Early 20th Century.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Large patinated solid wood sculpture, early 20th century. Patinated solid wood sculpture, religious art, early 20th century. H: 84 cm, W: 25 cm, D: 22 cm
Category

Early 20th Century French Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Staffordshire Pearlware John Wesley Bust
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Staffordshire pottery pearlware bust with a religious theme which features John Wesley, resting on a plinth base. Decorated 'in the round', decoration to front and reverse. Open bott...
Category

1820s English Antique Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Pottery

Greenlandica, wood sculpture of a male figure. Greenlandic craftsmanship.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Greenlandica, wood sculpture of a male figure. Greenlandic craftsmanship. Hand-carved. From the 1960s. In excellent condition. Dimensions: H 20.0 cm x W 9.0 cm.
Category

1960s Greenlandic Vintage Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Hand Carved wooden Folk Art traditional Cookie Board. Set of 2
Located in Seattle, WA
This pair of traditional Cookies boards are hand carved with nice patina and character and feature holes on the back for hanging. Vintage Condition as pictured. Listing is for descri...
Category

1970s Vintage Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Wood

"Retablo No. 5 (An Attic of Records)" by Patrick Fitzgerald
Located in Chicago, IL
The intricate retablos of contemporary artist Patrick Fitzgerald are his means of paying homage to the musicians that inspired him throughout his life. Derived from Mexican votive...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Other

"Harpoonist", 1930s Folk Art - Art Deco Relief Sculpture in Gray Marble
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A remarkable example of folk art sculpture influenced by the stylization of 1930s Art Deco, this bas relief sculpture depicts a man aiming a long harpoon toward his prey below, his body lit up by a nimbus of energy carved from the gray marble. The piece is signed "Knute" on the reverse, and is dated 1936, at Temple University in Philadelphia. The medium is the kind of gray King of Prussia marble...
Category

1930s American Vintage Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Marble

A Set of Black Americana Baseball Memorabilia Folk Art Figures, Circa 1930s-40s
Located in Atlanta, GA
This collection of three Black Americana baseball figures, circa 1930s-1940s, are attributed to the San Antonio folk artist, Control Valadez. The set of Black memorabilia, sometimes called Black Americana, includes a pitcher, catcher & batter, each having been set and raised onto a custom iron base. They are all quite chippy with losses, nice patina and showing of age, still retaining much of their original paint colors. Likely once outdoor ornaments, we would suggest, due to their delicate condition, that these pieces remain indoors. Though historically, much black memorabilia portrayed racist and offensive ideas, there was also art, such as this collection, which reflects a more positive connotation, commemorating athletic achievements within the black community. These nicely sized baseball sculptures...
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1930s American Vintage Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Iron

Mexican Burnished Clay Hand Oaxaca Sculpture Mixtec Ceramic with Red Face
Located in Queretaro, Queretaro
This Mexican red ceramic clay hand sculpture is a piece by artist Manuel Reyes. Made with clay from Oaxaca and Zacatecas, painted with oxides from the reg...
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2010s Mexican Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic, Clay

Greenlandica, Taki Petersen. Massive sculpture in soapstone. Hunter and seal
Located in København, Copenhagen
Greenlandica, Taki Petersen. Heavy and massive sculpture in soapstone depicting a hunter and a seal. In excellent condition. Signed and dated 80. Dimensions: H 15.7 cm. x L 13.5 cm.
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1980s Greenlandic Vintage Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Soapstone

"Retablo No. 4 (Blackbird)" by Patrick Fitzgerald
Located in Chicago, IL
The intricate retablos of contemporary artist Patrick Fitzgerald are his means of paying homage to the musicians that inspired him throughout his life. Derived from Mexican votive...
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21st Century and Contemporary American Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Other

"Man with Cup" by Allan Winkler
Located in Chicago, IL
Although this whimsical sculpture by Allan Winkler has the look of outsider art, this ceramic work stems from the art school-trained artist’s interest in...
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21st Century and Contemporary American Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Greenlandica, old hunter with a seal on his back, sculpture in soapstone.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Greenlandica, an old hunter with a seal on his back. Sculpture in soapstone. Mid-20th century. In good condition with two small chips. Dimensions: H 15.0 cm x W 3.5 cm.
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Mid-20th Century Greenlandic Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Soapstone

Hand Carved Folk Art Willow Wood Angel Figurative Sculpture Poland C.1950
Located in London, GB
Hand Carved Folk Art Willow Wood Angel Poland C.1950 Willow votive figurine in the form of an angel. Hand painted. Rustic folk art for a touch of whimsy. In very good condition co...
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Mid-20th Century Polish Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Willow

Folk Art figurative sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique folk art figurative sculptures 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 figurative sculptures created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, folk art, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Folk Art figurative sculptures 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 figurative sculptures, popular names associated with this style include Jim Rose, Royal Doulton, Benin People, and Staffordshire. 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 figurative sculptures differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $60 and tops out at $16,400 while the average work can sell for $1,000.

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