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.
Save your search and find it in your favorites
Save your search to find it quickly
Saved search
Your search is accessible from the favorites tab > My favorite searches
Unsaved search
A problem occurred
Les Belles au bois dormant
Aima Saint Hunon
Sculpture - 152 x 30 x 22 cm Sculpture - 59.8 x 11.8 x 8.7 inch
€19,000
Sm 611. Une jupe cloche en bleu
Jean-Paul Boyer
Sculpture - 113 x 70 x 70 cm Sculpture - 44.5 x 27.6 x 27.6 inch
€8,000
Trois vues de la Dame du pont de l'Alma. sculpture modulable 725
Jean-Paul Boyer
Sculpture - 111 x 32 x 60 cm Sculpture - 43.7 x 12.6 x 23.6 inch
€7,500
Applause for the Inevitable
Bevan Ramsay
Sculpture - 175 x 78 x 78 cm Sculpture - 68.9 x 30.7 x 30.7 inch
€5,500
Le philosophe
Alain Quercia
Sculpture - 138 x 44 x 40 cm Sculpture - 54.3 x 17.3 x 15.7 inch
€13,900
173
Mario Dilitz
Sculpture - 210 x 70 x 45 cm Sculpture - 82.7 x 27.6 x 17.7 inch
Price upon request
BearBrick #8
Gil Bruvel
Sculpture - 68.6 x 39.4 x 29.6 cm Sculpture - 27 x 15.5 x 11.7 inch
Price upon request
Tentatrice
Dirk De Keyzer
Sculpture - 67 x 25 x 25 cm Sculpture - 26.4 x 9.8 x 9.8 inch
Price upon request
Notre histoire... (Album d’enfants)
Olivier Messas
Sculpture - 36 x 30 x 5 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 11.8 x 2 inch
Sold
La vie en rose… (Album d’enfants)
Olivier Messas
Sculpture - 36 x 30 x 5 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 11.8 x 2 inch
Sold
Les enfants heureux… (Album d’enfants)
Olivier Messas
Sculpture - 36 x 30 x 5 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 11.8 x 2 inch
Sold
Shine Bright Like A Diamond
Gaspard Mitz
Sculpture - 24 x 34 x 6.5 cm Sculpture - 9.4 x 13.4 x 2.6 inch
Sold
From craft to art - Copper, tufa, wood
Karen Akhikyan
Sculpture - 34 x 13 x 12 cm Sculpture - 13.4 x 5.1 x 4.7 inch
Sold
Cubes Equilibre Translucide
Jean-Jacques Joujon
Sculpture - 60 x 25 x 25 cm Sculpture - 23.6 x 9.8 x 9.8 inch
Sold
Bringer of Blessings
Karen Akhikyan
Sculpture - 60 x 28 x 17 cm Sculpture - 23.6 x 11 x 6.7 inch
Sold
Natural Maple Collab Skate Deck
Shepard Fairey (Obey)
Sculpture - 23 x 77 x 3 cm Sculpture - 9.1 x 30.3 x 1.2 inch
Sold
The Future is Burning Red Horizons
Scott Troxel
Sculpture - 40.6 x 29.2 x 3.8 cm Sculpture - 16 x 11.5 x 1.5 inch
Sold
A Lovely Magnolia Blossom
Yasna Godovanik
Sculpture - 48 x 48 x 11 cm Sculpture - 18.9 x 18.9 x 4.3 inch
Sold
Porsche Martini Skate Board
Ian Philip
Sculpture - 82 x 20 x 3 cm Sculpture - 32.3 x 7.9 x 1.2 inch
Sold
Nailed it Series No.79
Sumit Mehndiratta
Sculpture - 34 x 89 x 4 cm Sculpture - 13.4 x 35 x 1.6 inch
Sold
Scudo Luminoso (LC20)
Landry Clément
Sculpture - 110 x 25 x 4 cm Sculpture - 43.3 x 9.8 x 1.6 inch
Sold
A Little Cloud Of Spring
Yasna Godovanik
Sculpture - 50 x 50 x 12 cm Sculpture - 19.7 x 19.7 x 4.7 inch
Sold
Vertige du temps
Christian Michaud
Sculpture - 158.8 x 61 x 5.1 cm Sculpture - 62.5 x 24 x 2 inch
Sold
Nailed it series No.77
Sumit Mehndiratta
Sculpture - 34 x 89 x 4 cm Sculpture - 13.4 x 35 x 1.6 inch
Sold
En duo... (Terre d’enfants)
Olivier Messas
Sculpture - 36 x 30 x 3 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch
Sold
Passionnément... (Terre d’enfants)
Olivier Messas
Sculpture - 36 x 30 x 3 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch
Sold
Orogenèse VII (SG123)
Sylvie Guyomard
Sculpture - 104.5 x 44.5 x 2 cm Sculpture - 41.1 x 17.5 x 0.8 inch
Sold
Orogenèse VI (SG122)
Sylvie Guyomard
Sculpture - 75 x 60 x 2 cm Sculpture - 29.5 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch
Sold
Portrait sculpture originale
C215
Sculpture - 64 x 27 x 10 cm Sculpture - 25.2 x 10.6 x 3.9 inch
Sold
Discover the styles & movements
Discover the selection of our experts
We Need You!
tizlu
Fine Art Drawings - 60 x 40 x 1.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 23.6 x 15.7 x 0.6 inch
€1,600
Breeze - Arm Chair
Poonam Choudhary
Design - 73.7 x 65 x 82 cm Design - 29 x 25.6 x 32.3 inch
€2,319
Nailed it Series No.81
Sumit Mehndiratta
Sculpture - 84 x 84 x 4 cm Sculpture - 33.1 x 33.1 x 1.6 inch
€1,000
Inspiration-expiration
Christian Michaud
Sculpture - 36.8 x 61 x 2.5 cm Sculpture - 14.5 x 24 x 1 inch
€764
Tactile memory #138
Natasha Zupan
Painting - 69.9 x 59.9 x 7.6 cm Painting - 27.5 x 23.6 x 3 inch
€6,306
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.