
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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Oda Nobunaga - sculpture Samouraï Raku
Laurence Schlimm Boland
Sculpture - 37 x 46 x 15 cm Sculpture - 14.6 x 18.1 x 5.9 inch
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Street Vitrine 'Quincallerie'
Benjamin Affagard aka Come
Sculpture - 25 x 25 x 5 cm Sculpture - 9.8 x 9.8 x 2 inch
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Versace uncle scrooge
Art By Son
Sculpture - 52 x 32 x 22 cm Sculpture - 20.5 x 12.6 x 8.7 inch
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Au bout du monde avec toi
Cécile Thonus
Sculpture - 93.5 x 18.3 x 13.5 cm Sculpture - 36.8 x 7.2 x 5.3 inch
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Ami, poète, esprit, tu fuis notre nuit noire...
Cécile Thonus
Sculpture - 30.5 x 17.1 x 11 cm Sculpture - 12 x 6.7 x 4.3 inch
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Elisa - African Head Wrap Series 1
Mosoti Kepha
Sculpture - 50 x 27 x 12 cm Sculpture - 19.7 x 10.6 x 4.7 inch
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Sphère N°1394 Vanité
Yann Perrier
Sculpture - 31 x 31 x 31 cm Sculpture - 12.2 x 12.2 x 12.2 inch
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Nyota yangu (my star)
Mosoti Kepha
Sculpture - 49 x 30 x 2.5 cm Sculpture - 19.3 x 11.8 x 1 inch
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Impression soleil couchant
Christian Nesler
Sculpture - 66 x 66 x 3 cm Sculpture - 26 x 26 x 1.2 inch
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Dorothy
Yann-Eric Eichenberger
Sculpture - 197 x 32 x 32 cm Sculpture - 77.6 x 12.6 x 12.6 inch
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Pénélope
Yann-Eric Eichenberger
Sculpture - 119 x 40 x 40 cm Sculpture - 46.9 x 15.7 x 15.7 inch
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Cyprés Feminin 2
Yann-Eric Eichenberger
Sculpture - 146 x 22 x 22 cm Sculpture - 57.5 x 8.7 x 8.7 inch
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E-Night
Yann-Eric Eichenberger
Sculpture - 182 x 40 x 40 cm Sculpture - 71.7 x 15.7 x 15.7 inch
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Beau temps Mer calme
Christian Nesler
Sculpture - 102 x 102 x 3 cm Sculpture - 40.2 x 40.2 x 1.2 inch
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Inclusion 05 Éternel
TieRi Trademark
Sculpture - 30 x 24 x 5 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 9.4 x 2 inch
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Incopression 420 Aton
TieRi Trademark
Sculpture - 27 x 25 x 5 cm Sculpture - 10.6 x 9.8 x 2 inch
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Spikelet sculpture
Irena Tone
Sculpture - 38.5 x 16 x 10.5 cm Sculpture - 15.2 x 6.3 x 4.1 inch
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Si je te rejoignais ?
Cécile Thonus
Sculpture - 49.6 x 16.3 x 13.5 cm Sculpture - 19.5 x 6.4 x 5.3 inch
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Fagot de bois espagnol sur socle argile
Damien Berrard
Sculpture - 9.5 x 20 x 5 cm Sculpture - 3.7 x 7.9 x 2 inch
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Ohne Titel / without title
Gerd Kanz
Sculpture - 20 x 20 x 4 cm Sculpture - 7.9 x 7.9 x 1.6 inch
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Ohne Titel / without title
Gerd Kanz
Sculpture - 25 x 25 x 4 cm Sculpture - 9.8 x 9.8 x 1.6 inch
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Ohne Titel / Without title
Gerd Kanz
Sculpture - 40 x 40 x 4 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch
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Life is beautiful
Simone De Rosa
Sculpture - 26 x 26 x 10 cm Sculpture - 10.2 x 10.2 x 3.9 inch
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J'irai par la montagne...
Cécile Thonus
Sculpture - 73.2 x 19.8 x 12 cm Sculpture - 28.8 x 7.8 x 4.7 inch
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Heureux l'homme occupé
Cécile Thonus
Sculpture - 45.3 x 14.1 x 14.1 cm Sculpture - 17.8 x 5.6 x 5.6 inch
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A Clymène: Mystiques barcarolles
Cécile Thonus
Sculpture - 38.5 x 15.3 x 10.4 cm Sculpture - 15.2 x 6 x 4.1 inch
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Chapelle de mon Amour
Cécile Thonus
Sculpture - 46.9 x 15.2 x 11 cm Sculpture - 18.5 x 6 x 4.3 inch
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Totem les ponts
Bernard Froment
Sculpture - 195 x 50 x 25 cm Sculpture - 76.8 x 19.7 x 9.8 inch
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Nella Nebbia di Milano
Bruno Munari
Sculpture - 55 x 78 x 8 cm Sculpture - 21.7 x 30.7 x 3.1 inch
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Where’s my 120.000$
Simone De Rosa
Sculpture - 60 x 60 x 12 cm Sculpture - 23.6 x 23.6 x 4.7 inch
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N°111 - série sculpture murale
Vincent Poyen
Sculpture - 80 x 80 x 4 cm Sculpture - 31.5 x 31.5 x 1.6 inch
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Don Quichotte - Sculpture équestre ferronnerie sur bois
Pierre Conte
Sculpture - 27 x 44 x 16 cm Sculpture - 10.6 x 17.3 x 6.3 inch
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Discover the styles & movements
Discover the selection of our experts
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.
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.
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.