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.

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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

$1,550

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

$5,007

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

$2,146

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

$3,886

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, Aperadog yellow, Aperato

Aperadog yellow

Aperato

Sculpture - 70 x 50 x 50 cm Sculpture - 27.6 x 19.7 x 19.7 inch

$1,550

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

$358

Sculpture, S Portrait, Joël Froment

S Portrait

Joël Froment

Sculpture - 34 x 24 x 4 cm Sculpture - 13.4 x 9.4 x 1.6 inch

$1,669

Sculpture, Betty boom, Jicé

Betty boom

Jicé

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

$4,172

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

$3,517

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

$2,384

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

$417

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

$1,073

Sculpture, Horos, Arthur Frénoy

Horos

Arthur Frénoy

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

$429

Sculpture, Infernale, VAM

Infernale

VAM

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

$4,172

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

$2,027

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

$387

Sculpture, Ourson Loulou, Ravi

Ourson Loulou

Ravi

Sculpture - 28 x 25 x 8 cm Sculpture - 11 x 9.8 x 3.1 inch

$262

Sculpture, Joy 2, Michael Levchenko

Joy 2

Michael Levchenko

Sculpture - 65 x 25 x 12 cm Sculpture - 25.6 x 9.8 x 4.7 inch

$4,600

Sculpture, Voyou 2, JP Malot

Voyou 2

JP Malot

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

$1,431

Sculpture, Onde Cyan, KX2

Onde Cyan

KX2

Sculpture - 61 x 61 x 10 cm Sculpture - 24 x 24 x 3.9 inch

$7,868

Sculpture, Onde dark blue, KX2

Onde dark blue

KX2

Sculpture - 61 x 61 x 10 cm Sculpture - 24 x 24 x 3.9 inch

$7,868

Sculpture, Le Cavalier, Arson

Le Cavalier

Arson

Sculpture - 60 x 25 x 8 cm Sculpture - 23.6 x 9.8 x 3.1 inch

$2,265

Sculpture, Nuance 18, Jack Jacquot

Nuance 18

Jack Jacquot

Sculpture - 39 x 30 x 2 cm Sculpture - 15.4 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

$417

Sculpture, Tangaroa, Arthur Frénoy

Tangaroa

Arthur Frénoy

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

$358

Sculpture, Tem, Arthur Frénoy

Tem

Arthur Frénoy

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

$298

Sculpture, Ménis, Arthur Frénoy

Ménis

Arthur Frénoy

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

$286

Sculpture, Zoé, Arthur Frénoy

Zoé

Arthur Frénoy

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

$358

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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.