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, Schizophylle, Agnès K.

Schizophylle

Agnès K.

Sculpture - 5 x 34 x 28 cm Sculpture - 2 x 13.4 x 11 inch

$2,223

Sculpture, Split Panther, Arun A.

Split Panther

Arun A.

Sculpture - 13 x 40 x 7.5 cm Sculpture - 5.1 x 15.7 x 3 inch

$1,228

Sculpture, Torso, Teimuraz Sarishvili

Torso

Teimuraz Sarishvili

Sculpture - 65.5 x 22.5 x 13 cm Sculpture - 25.8 x 8.9 x 5.1 inch

$7,605

Sculpture, Voyou Brut!, JP Malot

Voyou Brut!

JP Malot

Sculpture - 30 x 40 x 3 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

$1,287

Sculpture, Voyou, JP Malot

Voyou

JP Malot

Sculpture - 32 x 42 x 1.3 cm Sculpture - 12.6 x 16.5 x 0.5 inch

$1,292

Sculpture, Dauphin, Christiane Guerry

Dauphin

Christiane Guerry

Sculpture - 50 x 64 x 28 cm Sculpture - 19.7 x 25.2 x 11 inch

$1,498

Sculpture, Morning Sun, Daksha Line

Morning Sun

Daksha Line

Sculpture - 13 x 12 x 3 cm Sculpture - 5.1 x 4.7 x 1.2 inch

$445

Sculpture, Exil, Anne Millot

Exil

Anne Millot

Sculpture - 45 x 45 x 5 cm Sculpture - 17.7 x 17.7 x 2 inch

$1,170

Sculpture, Douceurs, Anne Millot

Douceurs

Anne Millot

Sculpture - 43 x 40 x 7 cm Sculpture - 16.9 x 15.7 x 2.8 inch

$1,170

Sculpture, Untitled, Pere Aragay

Untitled

Pere Aragay

Sculpture - 40.5 x 22 x 29 cm Sculpture - 15.9 x 8.7 x 11.4 inch

$1,521

Sculpture, Hanging Goofy, Angela Gomes

Hanging Goofy

Angela Gomes

Sculpture - 44 x 26 x 40 cm Sculpture - 17.3 x 10.2 x 15.7 inch

$20,475

Sculpture, Vessel #10, Oliver Lott

Vessel #10

Oliver Lott

Sculpture - 64 x 31 x 27 cm Sculpture - 25.2 x 12.2 x 10.6 inch

$4,914

Sculpture, La vague, Marc Bourlier

La vague

Marc Bourlier

Sculpture - 29 x 54 x 4 cm Sculpture - 11.4 x 21.3 x 1.6 inch

$2,106

Sculpture, La mue du Papillon, Looki

La mue du Papillon

Looki

Sculpture - 25 x 15 x 10 cm Sculpture - 9.8 x 5.9 x 3.9 inch

$409

Sculpture, Gray Wolf, Zulfiya Spowart

Gray Wolf

Zulfiya Spowart

Sculpture - 115 x 95 x 3 cm Sculpture - 45.3 x 37.4 x 1.2 inch

$3,814

Sculpture, Blue Face, Kat Zhivetin

Blue Face

Kat Zhivetin

Sculpture - 40 x 30 x 5.8 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 11.8 x 2.3 inch

$350

Sculpture, Betty boom, Jicé

Betty boom

Jicé

Sculpture - 62 x 60 x 15 cm Sculpture - 24.4 x 23.6 x 5.9 inch

$4,095

Sculpture, We love Harley, Art By Son

We love Harley

Art By Son

Sculpture - 40 x 25 x 70 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 9.8 x 27.6 inch

$3,451

Sculpture, Nuance 13, Jack Jacquot

Nuance 13

Jack Jacquot

Sculpture - 46 x 44 x 2 cm Sculpture - 18.1 x 17.3 x 0.8 inch

$409

Sculpture, Totem, Victor Prodanchuk

Totem

Victor Prodanchuk

Sculpture - 51 x 40 x 17 cm Sculpture - 20.1 x 15.7 x 6.7 inch

$3,500

Sculpture, PeZ, Patopalomo

PeZ

Patopalomo

Sculpture - 52 x 84 x 2 cm Sculpture - 20.5 x 33.1 x 0.8 inch

$1,053

Sculpture, Infernale, VAM

Infernale

VAM

Sculpture - 240 x 120 x 120 cm Sculpture - 94.5 x 47.2 x 47.2 inch

$4,095

Sculpture, Shiko 678, Kojun

Shiko 678

Kojun

Sculpture - 19.5 x 25.5 x 26.5 cm Sculpture - 7.7 x 10 x 10.4 inch

$1,989

Sculpture, Pingouin Blanc, Alain Derda

Pingouin Blanc

Alain Derda

Sculpture - 100 x 40 x 30 cm Sculpture - 39.4 x 15.7 x 11.8 inch

$2,340

Sculpture, Reflet de lune, Looki

Reflet de lune

Looki

Sculpture - 40 x 16 x 10 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 6.3 x 3.9 inch

$409

Sculpture, Tangaroa, Arthur Frénoy

Tangaroa

Arthur Frénoy

Sculpture - 36 x 14 x 14 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 5.5 x 5.5 inch

$421

Sculpture, Tem, Arthur Frénoy

Tem

Arthur Frénoy

Sculpture - 45 x 5 x 8 cm Sculpture - 17.7 x 2 x 3.1 inch

$339

Sculpture, Shard 2, Arthur Frénoy

Shard 2

Arthur Frénoy

Sculpture - 30 x 9 x 6 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 3.5 x 2.4 inch

$257

Sculpture, Selene, Arthur Frénoy

Selene

Arthur Frénoy

Sculpture - 22 x 18 x 7 cm Sculpture - 8.7 x 7.1 x 2.8 inch

$339

Sculpture, Shard 1, Arthur Frénoy

Shard 1

Arthur Frénoy

Sculpture - 35 x 7 x 3 cm Sculpture - 13.8 x 2.8 x 1.2 inch

$339

Sculpture, Ménis, Arthur Frénoy

Ménis

Arthur Frénoy

Sculpture - 18 x 24 x 3 cm Sculpture - 7.1 x 9.4 x 1.2 inch

$339

Sculpture, Zoé, Arthur Frénoy

Zoé

Arthur Frénoy

Sculpture - 34 x 7 x 6 cm Sculpture - 13.4 x 2.8 x 2.4 inch

$421

Sculpture, Horos, Arthur Frénoy

Horos

Arthur Frénoy

Sculpture - 35 x 16 x 8 cm Sculpture - 13.8 x 6.3 x 3.1 inch

$421

12/29
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.