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.

Search by Image

Save your search and find it in your favorites

Une place au soleil… (Album d’enfants)

Olivier Messas

Sculpture - 36 x 30 x 5 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 11.8 x 2 inch

€1,600

Butterfly Park 9

Sumit Mehndiratta

Sculpture - 65 x 65 x 5 cm Sculpture - 25.6 x 25.6 x 2 inch

€1,750

Claudia

Jack Jacquot

Sculpture - 70 x 62 x 4 cm Sculpture - 27.6 x 24.4 x 1.6 inch

€1,800

Fouque Wittig

Philippe Buil

Sculpture - 18 x 24 x 20 cm Sculpture - 7.1 x 9.4 x 7.9 inch

€1,000

Skate Lewis Hamilton Ferrari

Ian Philip

Sculpture - 75 x 20 x 6 cm Sculpture - 29.5 x 7.9 x 2.4 inch

€1,200

Nailed it Series No.83

Sumit Mehndiratta

Sculpture - 64 x 64 x 4 cm Sculpture - 25.2 x 25.2 x 1.6 inch

€850

Mojoli IV

Thierry Corpet

Sculpture - 68 x 49 x 6 cm Sculpture - 26.8 x 19.3 x 2.4 inch

€800

Se remémorer

Christian Michaud

Sculpture - 101.6 x 76.2 x 3.8 cm Sculpture - 40 x 30 x 1.5 inch

€1,489

Parcourir

Christian Michaud

Sculpture - 48.3 x 109.2 x 5.1 cm Sculpture - 19 x 43 x 2 inch

€1,638

Butterfly Park 8

Sumit Mehndiratta

Sculpture - 65 x 65 x 5 cm Sculpture - 25.6 x 25.6 x 2 inch

€1,750

Something to lick structurée

Hersk

Sculpture - 120 x 45 x 10 cm Sculpture - 47.2 x 17.7 x 3.9 inch

€2,500

Something to suck medium #108

Hersk

Sculpture - 93 x 34 x 7 cm Sculpture - 36.6 x 13.4 x 2.8 inch

€1,500

Something to suck mini #475

Hersk

Sculpture - 62 x 22 x 5 cm Sculpture - 24.4 x 8.7 x 2 inch

€1,200

Happy Game IV

Gor Avetisyan

Sculpture - 53 x 10 x 10 cm Sculpture - 20.9 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch

€700

LV butterflies

Shelby

Sculpture - 100 x 100 x 3 cm Sculpture - 39.4 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch

€2,900

Entre frères et soeurs… (Album d’enfants)

Olivier Messas

Sculpture - 36 x 30 x 5 cm Sculpture - 14.2 x 11.8 x 2 inch

€1,800

Existence01

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Sculpture - 33 x 51 x 3.6 cm Sculpture - 13 x 20.1 x 1.4 inch

€350

Big Colors 1

Thierry Corpet

Sculpture - 150 x 21 x 11.5 cm Sculpture - 59.1 x 8.3 x 4.5 inch

€1,800

Ahava Horizon

Shelby

Sculpture - 81 x 130 x 3 cm Sculpture - 31.9 x 51.2 x 1.2 inch

€3,200

Piaf Révolution L

Valerie Marty

Sculpture - 34 x 20 x 14 cm Sculpture - 13.4 x 7.9 x 5.5 inch

€1,350

Pivoine

Nathanael Koffi

Sculpture - 56.5 x 25.5 x 0.5 cm Sculpture - 22.2 x 10 x 0.2 inch

€550

Existence16

Yasuo Kiyonaga

Sculpture - 23 x 25 x 3 cm Sculpture - 9.1 x 9.8 x 1.2 inch

€500

No Valid Name #3

Natasha Lelenco

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

€1,200

Nuance 17

Jack Jacquot

Sculpture - 48 x 33 x 2 cm Sculpture - 18.9 x 13 x 0.8 inch

€500

Optical Construction

Sumit Mehndiratta

Sculpture - 114 x 114 x 11.5 cm Sculpture - 44.9 x 44.9 x 4.5 inch

€2,900

Optical Construction 2

Sumit Mehndiratta

Sculpture - 114 x 114 x 11.5 cm Sculpture - 44.9 x 44.9 x 4.5 inch

€2,900

Nailed it series No.163

Sumit Mehndiratta

Sculpture - 65 x 127 x 5 cm Sculpture - 25.6 x 50 x 2 inch

€3,300