Wood Sculpture for Sale

Wood and stone were among the first materials used by humans for carving tools and creating sculptures. While wood was commonly utilized, only a few wooden objects have survived through the centuries due to its tendency to decompose faster and be more easily damaged compared to more durable materials like bronze or stone.

From the 7th to the 9th century, many woodcarvers lived in monasteries, traveling from one to another. These woodcarvers were rare, and the style they followed was often prescriptive, leading to sculptures that were strikingly similar. This period was also marked by iconoclasm, during which religious wooden sculptures were destroyed due to the prohibition of depicting religious subjects.

Wood carving has a rich history in various regions, including England, Scandinavia, Africa, India, and Australia. In Europe, the 15th and 16th centuries saw a significant development in wooden sculpture, especially in Germany. Influential Gothic sculptors like Tilman Riemenschneider, Veit Stoss, Michael Pacher, Gregor Erhart, and Jorg Zurn pushed the boundaries of woodcarving, creating highly detailed and intricate works that remain influential to this day.

In the 17th century, woodcarving experienced a resurgence in England as Baroque ornaments became popular. Grinling Gibbons, a renowned woodcarver of the time, was one of the few artists widely recognized for his contributions. Meanwhile, in France, the Rococo style reignited interest in wood carving, with designers like Lelange, Foliot, and Cressent incorporating it into ornate furniture pieces.

Modern artists such as Brancusi, Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, and Paul Gauguin have continued to explore wood as a medium. Brancusi, inspired by classical traditions, emphasized the finish and materiality of the wood, while Moore used it to create abstract and evocative forms. Hepworth's modern pieces and Gauguin's use of wood to connect with primitive techniques further demonstrate wood's versatile role in contemporary art.

Wood stands apart from other materials like resin or bronze due to its fragility and the range of tools required for carving. The technique used depends on the desired outcome, whether it's a low-relief sculpture or a free-standing piece that allows the viewer to walk around it. The process begins with sourcing wood planks that are flattened, dried, and calibrated. A sketch is then drawn onto the wood, and excess material is removed to roughly shape the piece. The sculptor uses tools such as u-gouges to refine the form, followed by flat gouges, chisels, and carving knives to add fine details and shadow play.

Artsper offers an extensive selection of modern wooden sculptures by prominent contemporary artists such as Nando Stevoli, Gaspard Mitz, César Orrico, Marc Laffolay, Lesley Hilling, and Valérie Carmet. These artists continue to push the boundaries of wood as a material, creating unique and striking sculptures that capture the versatility and timeless appeal of this medium.

Read more
Sculpture, Tarrka, Scott Troxel

Tarrka

Scott Troxel

Sculpture - 23 x 23 x 1 cm Sculpture - 9.1 x 9.1 x 0.4 inch

$2,861

Sculpture, Cycle 4, Christian Michaud

Cycle 4

Christian Michaud

Sculpture - 61 x 91.4 x 5.1 cm Sculpture - 24 x 36 x 2 inch

$1,434

Sculpture, Sunset Mind, Gil Bruvel

Sunset Mind

Gil Bruvel

Sculpture - 28 x 23 x 18 cm Sculpture - 11 x 9.1 x 7.1 inch

$10,968

Sculpture, In the Forest, Gil Bruvel

In the Forest

Gil Bruvel

Sculpture - 28 x 23 x 18 cm Sculpture - 11 x 9.1 x 7.1 inch

$10,968

Sculpture, Waking Up, Gil Bruvel

Waking Up

Gil Bruvel

Sculpture - 28 x 23 x 18 cm Sculpture - 11 x 9.1 x 7.1 inch

$11,087

Sculpture, Chrysalite, Arman

Chrysalite

Arman

Sculpture - 120 x 78 x 34 cm Sculpture - 47.2 x 30.7 x 13.4 inch

$45,301

Sculpture, October, Pinto

October

Pinto

Sculpture - 41 x 8 x 5 cm Sculpture - 16.1 x 3.1 x 2 inch

$1,073

Sculpture, Navy Citron, Scott Troxel

Navy Citron

Scott Troxel

Sculpture - 76.2 x 113 x 6.4 cm Sculpture - 30 x 44.5 x 2.5 inch

$5,365

Sculpture, Pink Dous, Olga Radionova

Pink Dous

Olga Radionova

Sculpture - 50 x 16 x 16 cm Sculpture - 19.7 x 6.3 x 6.3 inch

$1,073

Sculpture, Textile, Rom av J.C

Textile

Rom av J.C

Sculpture - 110 x 110 x 8 cm Sculpture - 43.3 x 43.3 x 3.1 inch

$1,907

Sculpture, Nuance 3, Jack Jacquot

Nuance 3

Jack Jacquot

Sculpture - 53.5 x 39 x 2 cm Sculpture - 21.1 x 15.4 x 0.8 inch

$596

Sculpture, Nuance 14, Jack Jacquot

Nuance 14

Jack Jacquot

Sculpture - 47 x 35.5 x 2 cm Sculpture - 18.5 x 14 x 0.8 inch

$596

Sculpture, Formations, Joyce Fournier

Formations

Joyce Fournier

Sculpture - 30.5 x 30.5 x 5.1 cm Sculpture - 12 x 12 x 2 inch

$600

Sculpture, Pas 02.23, Yves Tilly

Pas 02.23

Yves Tilly

Sculpture - 34 x 12 x 7 cm Sculpture - 13.4 x 4.7 x 2.8 inch

$1,168

Sculpture, Pas 03.23, Yves Tilly

Pas 03.23

Yves Tilly

Sculpture - 10 x 31 x 3.5 cm Sculpture - 3.9 x 12.2 x 1.4 inch

$1,168

Sculpture, Eclosion - Gold, VanBinh

Eclosion - Gold

VanBinh

Sculpture - 36 x 36 x 5 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 14.2 x 2 inch

$1,609

Sculpture, Divinité V, Dasz Panda

Divinité V

Dasz Panda

Sculpture - 77 x 22 x 7 cm Sculpture - 30.3 x 8.7 x 2.8 inch

$834

Sculpture, Yugen orme 25, Agnès K.

Yugen orme 25

Agnès K.

Sculpture - 35 x 25 x 6 cm Sculpture - 13.8 x 9.8 x 2.4 inch

$834

Sculpture, Grâce, Lutfi Romhein

Grâce

Lutfi Romhein

Sculpture - 85 x 38 x 16 cm Sculpture - 33.5 x 15 x 6.3 inch

$5,216

Sculpture, Skate mask marron, Tarek

Skate mask marron

Tarek

Sculpture - 50 x 22 x 3 cm Sculpture - 19.7 x 8.7 x 1.2 inch

$536

Sculpture, Voyage, Bruno Helgen

Voyage

Bruno Helgen

Sculpture - 20 x 20 x 20 cm Sculpture - 7.9 x 7.9 x 7.9 inch

$2,146

Sculpture, Take a trip, Bruno Helgen

Take a trip

Bruno Helgen

Sculpture - 20 x 20 x 20 cm Sculpture - 7.9 x 7.9 x 7.9 inch

$2,146

Sculpture, Globetrotter, Bruno Helgen

Globetrotter

Bruno Helgen

Sculpture - 25 x 25 x 25 cm Sculpture - 9.8 x 9.8 x 9.8 inch

$2,623

Sculpture, N°206, Mario Dilitz

N°206

Mario Dilitz

Sculpture - 200 x 177 x 70 cm Sculpture - 78.7 x 69.7 x 27.6 inch

$95,370

Sculpture, Face, Gregos

Face

Gregos

Sculpture - 30 x 30 x 4 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch

$1,013

Sculpture, Sever Series #02, Vhils

Sever Series #02

Vhils

Sculpture - 100 x 70 x 1 cm Sculpture - 39.4 x 27.6 x 0.4 inch

$7,749

Sculpture, In the Present, Gil Bruvel

In the Present

Gil Bruvel

Sculpture - 28 x 23 x 18 cm Sculpture - 11 x 9.1 x 7.1 inch

$10,968

Sculpture, Life Bill, Ghost Art

Life Bill

Ghost Art

Sculpture - 174 x 88 x 11 cm Sculpture - 68.5 x 34.6 x 4.3 inch

$7,749

Sculpture, Panama III, Reda Amalou

Panama III

Reda Amalou

Sculpture - 180 x 210 x 50 cm Sculpture - 70.9 x 82.7 x 19.7 inch

$45,301

Sculpture, Cubic #4, Gil Bruvel

Cubic #4

Gil Bruvel

Sculpture - 71 x 28 x 28 cm Sculpture - 28 x 11 x 11 inch

$23,843

Sculpture, Tonka I, Scott Troxel

Tonka I

Scott Troxel

Sculpture - 121.9 x 63.5 x 3.8 cm Sculpture - 48 x 25 x 1.5 inch

$5,007

Sculpture, Tonka III, Scott Troxel

Tonka III

Scott Troxel

Sculpture - 121.9 x 63.5 x 3.8 cm Sculpture - 48 x 25 x 1.5 inch

$5,007

Sculpture, Tonka II, Scott Troxel

Tonka II

Scott Troxel

Sculpture - 121.9 x 63.5 x 3.8 cm Sculpture - 48 x 25 x 1.5 inch

$5,007

Need help with Wood Sculpture ?
What is the difference between wood carving and sculpture?

Wood carving refers to a process where material is taken away from a block of wood using a tool like a knife, whereas the term "sculpture" refers to any work of three-dimensional art. Sculptures can be produced using a variety of techniques. 

Who is the most famous wood carver?

One of the most famous sculptors that has worked with wood carving is Barbara Hepworth. Her work explores themes such as the contrast between the solid and the void, and the relationship between people and nature.

What is the most popular wood sculpture?

Some of the most famous wood sculptures are those of American artist Ben Butler, such as his abstract large-scale work Unbounded, which he created in 2015. The work is comprised of over 10,000 poplar sticks.