Carousel Horses
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Carnival Art
20th Century American Carnival Art
Wood
Early 20th Century Unknown Carnival Art
Metal
Vintage 1930s American Folk Art Carnival Art
Wood
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Carnival Art
Wood, Paint
Mid-20th Century Unknown Folk Art Carnival Art
Brass
20th Century Hollywood Regency Toys and Dolls
Wood
Antique 19th Century Carnival Art
Pine
20th Century American Carnival Art
Iron
Antique 19th Century French Belle Époque Carnival Art
Leather, Wood
Antique 19th Century Dutch Folk Art Carnival Art
Iron
Antique 19th Century French Folk Art Carnival Art
Wood, Paint
Recent Sales
Antique 19th Century American Carnival Art
Iron
Early 20th Century American Carnival Art
Iron
Antique 19th Century American Folk Art Sculptures
Wood
Early 20th Century English Carnival Art
Early 20th Century French Folk Art Carnival Art
Paint, Wood
Antique Late 19th Century American Folk Art Carnival Art
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Carnival Art
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Carnival Art
Brass
20th Century American Carnival Art
Wood
Late 20th Century American Sculptures
Wood
American Carnival Art
Late 20th Century North American Carnival Art
Metal
Antique 19th Century American Carnival Art
Pine
20th Century Carnival Art
Wood
Antique 19th Century Carnival Art
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Animal Sculptures
Metal
Vintage 1940s American Carnival Art
Wood
Late 20th Century American Carnival Art
Antique 19th Century Carnival Art
Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century French Carnival Art
Metal
Antique 19th Century French Carnival Art
Iron
Antique 19th Century American Carnival Art
Iron
Antique 19th Century French Carnival Art
Iron
Antique Late 19th Century Danish Carnival Art
Antique 19th Century French Carnival Art
Wood
Early 20th Century American Carnival Art
Wood
Antique 19th Century German Folk Art Carnival Art
Iron
Antique 19th Century German Folk Art Carnival Art
Wood
Antique 19th Century American Carnival Art
Antique 19th Century American Primitive Toys and Dolls
Metal
Antique 19th Century Folk Art Carnival Art
Wood
Early 20th Century Spanish Animal Sculptures
Metal
Vintage 1920s American American Craftsman Carnival Art
Metal, Brass
Mid-20th Century Carnival Art
Early 20th Century American Carnival Art
Wood
Early 20th Century American Carnival Art
Wood
Antique 19th Century Dutch Folk Art Carnival Art
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Carnival Art
Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Carnival Art
Wood
Vintage 1910s American Animal Sculptures
Metal
Antique 1880s American Folk Art Carnival Art
Early 20th Century American Carnival Art
Wood
American Carnival Art
Wood, Mirror
Early 20th Century Swedish Folk Art Carnival Art
Oak
Vintage 1940s American Carnival Art
Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
Vintage 1940s British Folk Art Carnival Art
Paper
Early 20th Century American Decorative Art
Wood
Early 20th Century German Carnival Art
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century European Folk Art Carnival Art
Vintage 1920s American Folk Art Wall-mounted Sculptures
20th Century American Other Carnival Art
Iron
Antique Late 19th Century Spanish Folk Art Carnival Art
Antique Late 19th Century Folk Art Carnival Art
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Folk Art Carnival Art
Wood
Vintage 1930s American Carnival Art
Vintage 1930s American Carnival Art
Vintage 1930s American Carnival Art
Early 20th Century American Garden Ornaments
Iron
Early 20th Century American Folk Art Carnival Art
Iron
People Also Browsed
Antique Late 19th Century European Moorish Architectural Elements
Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century European Animal Sculptures
Metal
Antique 1870s American Folk Art Toys and Dolls
Wood, Leather
Vintage 1960s English Folk Art Carnival Art
Wood
Early 20th Century German Other Animal Sculptures
Wood
Early 20th Century European Animal Sculptures
Iron
Antique 19th Century Italian Toys
Wood, Paint
Antique Late 19th Century German Folk Art Statues
Wood
Antique Early 19th Century American Country Animal Sculptures
Wood
Early 20th Century German Other Animal Sculptures
Wood
Vintage 1980s Italian Carnival Art
Metal
Antique 19th Century Swedish Folk Art Animal Sculptures
Iron
Early 20th Century American Toys
Leather, Wood, Paint
Antique 19th Century American Folk Art Signs
Wood
Early 20th Century German Animal Sculptures
Metal
Antique 18th Century German Rococo Wine Coolers
Tin
Carousel Horses For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Carousel Horses?
Finding the Right Carnival Art for You
The collection of original antique and vintage carnival art on 1stDibs includes paintings and posters that promoted traveling carnivals and circuses of years past as well as masks, sculptures and other works of folk art associated with widespread public celebrations that mark the start of harvest season or are rooted in religion.
The concept of “Carnival” is linked to an event that precedes Lent, the season of preparation before Easter for Christians (it may also have roots in Ancient Rome’s pagan Saturnalian festival), while the modern traveling carnival that we know — i.e., amusement fairs — existed during the 19th century in North America. The Chicago World’s Fair in 1893 was pivotal to these traveling amusement fairs.
Some of the most famous celebrations of Carnival around the world include Karneval in Germany, Carnival in Brazil and Mardi Gras in the United States. Carnival in Barbados is a traditional harvest festival. The bright colors, the caricatured masks and floats and the over-the-top nature of Carnival continue to enthrall millions across the globe.
Carnivals have always given way to impressive displays of creativity and folk art. Folk art is art created by people who are not classically trained for either utilitarian or decorative purposes. With respect to visual art in folk art, it refers to work that is reflective of a community’s culture and usually handmade by craftspeople working within a popular tradition.
Carnival art reflects the way different cultures celebrate or mark an important community event. Some examples of Carnival art include fabric dolls and marionettes that are used to tell stories and capture your imagination. Antique dolls make for striking collectibles positioned for display on any shelf in your home, while carnival masks make a bold statement as wall art. A collection of masks could create an elevated accent wall in a living room or dining room.
Browse 1stDibs to find unique antique and vintage carnival art for your space today.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022To tell if a carousel horse is an antique, consider the construction. True antiques are normally hollow wood and have one-piece designs. Solid wood horses and those that have detachable ears and tails are likely to be reproductions. You'll find a variety of expertly vetted antique carousel horses 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Some telltale signs indicate if a carousel horse is a genuine antique. Most antiques are hollow, and all the body parts are permanently attached. Many modern carousel horses have detachable ears or tails. Because people looking at the carousel would only see the side facing out, most companies didn't pay to have both sides of the horse detailed — therefore, an authentic antique horse will likely only have carving and jewels on one side. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of expertly-vetted carousel horses from some of the world’s top sellers.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022New carousel horses are made out of tropical wood, like Phillipine mahogany. Older antique carousel figures were carved out of basswood, pine and poplar. You’ll find a variety of carousel-inspired artwork from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
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