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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Tennis player
Werkstätte Hagenauer
Sculpture - 28 x 27 x 8 cm Sculpture - 11 x 10.6 x 3.1 inch
$5,265
Garden party chez la Belle au bois dormant
Reine Mazoyer
Sculpture - 100 x 60 x 60 cm Sculpture - 39.4 x 23.6 x 23.6 inch
$5,850
Descendant of heroes
Oleg Kapustyak
Sculpture - 16 x 8 x 9 cm Sculpture - 6.3 x 3.1 x 3.5 inch
$1,755
Cheval Cubiste de Guernica Bois
Miguel Guía
Sculpture - 56 x 25 x 20 cm Sculpture - 22 x 9.8 x 7.9 inch
$5,382
Essence de la jeunesse bois
Miguel Guía
Sculpture - 58 x 28 x 20 cm Sculpture - 22.8 x 11 x 7.9 inch
$5,803
Ménine Air et Bois 41
Miguel Guía
Sculpture - 41 x 39.5 x 22 cm Sculpture - 16.1 x 15.6 x 8.7 inch
$3,744
Malgré ce qu'ils disent
Christian Michaud
Sculpture - 36 x 36 x 1.5 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 14.2 x 0.6 inch
$1,983
Nailed it Series No.76
Sumit Mehndiratta
Sculpture - 34 x 89 x 4 cm Sculpture - 13.4 x 35 x 1.6 inch
$877
That Time Again
Philip Hearsey
Sculpture - 45 x 21.5 x 8.5 cm Sculpture - 17.7 x 8.5 x 3.3 inch
$2,087
Entre 2 rives... (Album d’enfants)
Olivier Messas
Sculpture - 36 x 30 x 5 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 11.8 x 2 inch
$2,925
Guitariste Arlequin Grand Bois
Miguel Guía
Sculpture - 53 x 31 x 25 cm Sculpture - 20.9 x 12.2 x 9.8 inch
$5,827
Essence de la jeunesse bois 72
Miguel Guía
Sculpture - 172 x 44 x 34 cm Sculpture - 67.7 x 17.3 x 13.4 inch
$11,466
Ménine Air et Bois Grand
Miguel Guía
Sculpture - 64 x 60 x 34 cm Sculpture - 25.2 x 23.6 x 13.4 inch
$10,413
Here's your tea, darling!
Gaspard Mitz
Sculpture - 24 x 34 x 6.5 cm Sculpture - 9.4 x 13.4 x 2.6 inch
$819
Penguins Just Want To Have Fun
Gaspard Mitz
Sculpture - 24 x 34 x 6.5 cm Sculpture - 9.4 x 13.4 x 2.6 inch
$819
This is not a Phone
Scott Troxel
Sculpture - 25.4 x 14 x 11.4 cm Sculpture - 10 x 5.5 x 4.5 inch
$760
Something to lick mini #028
Hersk
Sculpture - 41 x 13 x 13 cm Sculpture - 16.1 x 5.1 x 5.1 inch
$819
Something to lick mini #030
Hersk
Sculpture - 41 x 13 x 13 cm Sculpture - 16.1 x 5.1 x 5.1 inch
$819
Something to lick mini #031
Hersk
Sculpture - 41 x 13 x 13 cm Sculpture - 16.1 x 5.1 x 5.1 inch
$819
Something to lick mini #023
Hersk
Sculpture - 41 x 13 x 13 cm Sculpture - 16.1 x 5.1 x 5.1 inch
$819
Variation Soleil Nocturne
Christian Michaud
Sculpture - 48.3 x 78.7 x 2.5 cm Sculpture - 19 x 31 x 1 inch
$1,384
Nailed it Series No.82
Sumit Mehndiratta
Sculpture - 79 x 56 x 4 cm Sculpture - 31.1 x 22 x 1.6 inch
$1,521
Nailed it Series No.92
Sumit Mehndiratta
Sculpture - 64 x 117 x 5 cm Sculpture - 25.2 x 46.1 x 2 inch
$1,486
Nailed it Series No.85
Sumit Mehndiratta
Sculpture - 84 x 84 x 4 cm Sculpture - 33.1 x 33.1 x 1.6 inch
$1,170
Nailed it Series No.84
Sumit Mehndiratta
Sculpture - 84 x 84 x 4 cm Sculpture - 33.1 x 33.1 x 1.6 inch
$1,170
Layered Optica 3 (1)
Sumit Mehndiratta
Sculpture - 91 x 91 x 4 cm Sculpture - 35.8 x 35.8 x 1.6 inch
$2,223
Layered Optics 6
Sumit Mehndiratta
Sculpture - 102 x 102 x 4 cm Sculpture - 40.2 x 40.2 x 1.6 inch
$2,223
Refaire le monde ensemble... (Terre d’enfants)
Olivier Messas
Sculpture - 36 x 30 x 3 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch
$2,925
Plus fort à deux... (Terre d’enfants)
Olivier Messas
Sculpture - 36 x 30 x 3 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch
$2,925
La promesse de l’infini... (Terre d’enfants)
Olivier Messas
Sculpture - 36 x 30 x 3 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch
$2,925
La déclaration... (Terre d’enfants)
Olivier Messas
Sculpture - 36 x 30 x 3 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch
$2,925
The Journey of Glamour
Yasna Godovanik
Sculpture - 48 x 48 x 1.5 cm Sculpture - 18.9 x 18.9 x 0.6 inch
$1,462
A Little Serenade Of Summer
Yasna Godovanik
Sculpture - 49 x 49 x 11 cm Sculpture - 19.3 x 19.3 x 4.3 inch
$1,696
I got ingot...To resell in 2029
Marie Serruya
Sculpture - 48 x 30 x 3 cm Sculpture - 18.9 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch
$2,808
Something to lick mini #031
Hersk
Sculpture - 41 x 13 x 13 cm Sculpture - 16.1 x 5.1 x 5.1 inch
$819
Something to lick mini #027
Hersk
Sculpture - 41 x 13 x 13 cm Sculpture - 16.1 x 5.1 x 5.1 inch
$819
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tizlu
Fine Art Drawings - 60 x 40 x 1.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 23.6 x 15.7 x 0.6 inch
$1,872
Breeze - Arm Chair
Poonam Choudhary
Design - 73.7 x 65 x 82 cm Design - 29 x 25.6 x 32.3 inch
$2,500
Nailed it Series No.81
Sumit Mehndiratta
Sculpture - 84 x 84 x 4 cm Sculpture - 33.1 x 33.1 x 1.6 inch
$1,170
Inspiration-expiration
Christian Michaud
Sculpture - 36.8 x 61 x 2.5 cm Sculpture - 14.5 x 24 x 1 inch
$824
Tactile memory #138
Natasha Zupan
Painting - 69.9 x 59.9 x 7.6 cm Painting - 27.5 x 23.6 x 3 inch
$6,800
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.