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, Nuance 12, Jack Jacquot

Nuance 12

Jack Jacquot

Sculpture - 54 x 43 x 2 cm Sculpture - 21.3 x 16.9 x 0.8 inch

€500

Sculpture, Cycle 4, Christian Michaud

Cycle 4

Christian Michaud

Sculpture - 61 x 91.4 x 5.1 cm Sculpture - 24 x 36 x 2 inch

€1,330

Sculpture, Sans titre, Bault

Sans titre

Bault

Sculpture - 145 x 36 x 2 cm Sculpture - 57.1 x 14.2 x 0.8 inch

€2,700

Sculpture, Pixi, Thierry Corpet

Pixi

Thierry Corpet

Sculpture - 37 x 18 x 10 cm Sculpture - 14.6 x 7.1 x 3.9 inch

€1,200

Sculpture, Gig Totem V, Thierry Corpet

Gig Totem V

Thierry Corpet

Sculpture - 154 x 29 x 23 cm Sculpture - 60.6 x 11.4 x 9.1 inch

€2,000

Sculpture, Big Totem 3, Thierry Corpet

Big Totem 3

Thierry Corpet

Sculpture - 174 x 35 x 24 cm Sculpture - 68.5 x 13.8 x 9.4 inch

€1,800 €1,530

Sculpture, Big iris, Thierry Corpet

Big iris

Thierry Corpet

Sculpture - 150 x 20 x 17 cm Sculpture - 59.1 x 7.9 x 6.7 inch

€1,200

Sculpture, Tarrka, Scott Troxel

Tarrka

Scott Troxel

Sculpture - 23 x 23 x 1 cm Sculpture - 9.1 x 9.1 x 0.4 inch

€2,400

Sculpture, Life Bill, Ghost Art

Life Bill

Ghost Art

Sculpture - 174 x 88 x 11 cm Sculpture - 68.5 x 34.6 x 4.3 inch

€6,500

Sculpture, Sunset Mind, Gil Bruvel

Sunset Mind

Gil Bruvel

Sculpture - 28 x 23 x 18 cm Sculpture - 11 x 9.1 x 7.1 inch

€9,200

Sculpture, In the Forest, Gil Bruvel

In the Forest

Gil Bruvel

Sculpture - 28 x 23 x 18 cm Sculpture - 11 x 9.1 x 7.1 inch

€9,200

Sculpture, Waking Up, Gil Bruvel

Waking Up

Gil Bruvel

Sculpture - 28 x 23 x 18 cm Sculpture - 11 x 9.1 x 7.1 inch

€9,300

Sculpture, Chrysalite, Arman

Chrysalite

Arman

Sculpture - 120 x 78 x 34 cm Sculpture - 47.2 x 30.7 x 13.4 inch

€38,000

Sculpture, Elements, Victor Prodanchuk

Elements

Victor Prodanchuk

Sculpture - 34 x 78 x 8 cm Sculpture - 13.4 x 30.7 x 3.1 inch

€3,394

Sculpture, Alma, Arthur Frénoy

Alma

Arthur Frénoy

Sculpture - 38 x 12 x 10 cm Sculpture - 15 x 4.7 x 3.9 inch

€500

Sculpture, October, Pinto

October

Pinto

Sculpture - 41 x 8 x 5 cm Sculpture - 16.1 x 3.1 x 2 inch

€900

Sculpture, Navy Citron, Scott Troxel

Navy Citron

Scott Troxel

Sculpture - 76.2 x 113 x 6.4 cm Sculpture - 30 x 44.5 x 2.5 inch

€4,500

Sculpture, Pink Dous, Olga Radionova

Pink Dous

Olga Radionova

Sculpture - 50 x 16 x 16 cm Sculpture - 19.7 x 6.3 x 6.3 inch

€900

Sculpture, Nuance 3, Jack Jacquot

Nuance 3

Jack Jacquot

Sculpture - 53.5 x 39 x 2 cm Sculpture - 21.1 x 15.4 x 0.8 inch

€500

Sculpture, Nuance 14, Jack Jacquot

Nuance 14

Jack Jacquot

Sculpture - 47 x 35.5 x 2 cm Sculpture - 18.5 x 14 x 0.8 inch

€500

Sculpture, Formations, Joyce Fournier

Formations

Joyce Fournier

Sculpture - 30.5 x 30.5 x 5.1 cm Sculpture - 12 x 12 x 2 inch

€556

Sculpture, Grâce, Lutfi Romhein

Grâce

Lutfi Romhein

Sculpture - 85 x 38 x 16 cm Sculpture - 33.5 x 15 x 6.3 inch

€4,375

Sculpture, Textile, Rom av J.C

Textile

Rom av J.C

Sculpture - 110 x 110 x 8 cm Sculpture - 43.3 x 43.3 x 3.1 inch

€1,600

Sculpture, Pas 02.23, Yves Tilly

Pas 02.23

Yves Tilly

Sculpture - 34 x 12 x 7 cm Sculpture - 13.4 x 4.7 x 2.8 inch

€980

Sculpture, Pas 03.23, Yves Tilly

Pas 03.23

Yves Tilly

Sculpture - 10 x 31 x 3.5 cm Sculpture - 3.9 x 12.2 x 1.4 inch

€980

Sculpture, Eclosion - Gold, VanBinh

Eclosion - Gold

VanBinh

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

€1,350

Sculpture, Ilios, Arthur Frénoy

Ilios

Arthur Frénoy

Sculpture - 73 x 20 x 11 cm Sculpture - 28.7 x 7.9 x 4.3 inch

€800

Sculpture, Skate mask marron, Tarek

Skate mask marron

Tarek

Sculpture - 50 x 22 x 3 cm Sculpture - 19.7 x 8.7 x 1.2 inch

€450

Sculpture, Yugen orme 20-2, Agnès K.

Yugen orme 20-2

Agnès K.

Sculpture - 35 x 20 x 6 cm Sculpture - 13.8 x 7.9 x 2.4 inch

€600

Sculpture, Yugen orme 25, Agnès K.

Yugen orme 25

Agnès K.

Sculpture - 35 x 25 x 6 cm Sculpture - 13.8 x 9.8 x 2.4 inch

€700

Sculpture, Voyage, Bruno Helgen

Voyage

Bruno Helgen

Sculpture - 20 x 20 x 20 cm Sculpture - 7.9 x 7.9 x 7.9 inch

€1,800

Sculpture, Take a trip, Bruno Helgen

Take a trip

Bruno Helgen

Sculpture - 20 x 20 x 20 cm Sculpture - 7.9 x 7.9 x 7.9 inch

€1,800

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.