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, Globetrotter, Bruno Helgen

Globetrotter

Bruno Helgen

Sculpture - 25 x 25 x 25 cm Sculpture - 9.8 x 9.8 x 9.8 inch

$2,574

Sculpture, Glace 1, Christian Michaud

Glace 1

Christian Michaud

Sculpture - 50.8 x 50.8 x 2.5 cm Sculpture - 20 x 20 x 1 inch

$895

Sculpture, Sever Series #02, Vhils

Sever Series #02

Vhils

Sculpture - 100 x 70 x 1 cm Sculpture - 39.4 x 27.6 x 0.4 inch

$7,605

Sculpture, In the Present, Gil Bruvel

In the Present

Gil Bruvel

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

$10,764

Sculpture, Roman, Rom av J.C

Roman

Rom av J.C

Sculpture - 35 x 45 x 35 cm Sculpture - 13.8 x 17.7 x 13.8 inch

$2,925

Sculpture, Panama III, Reda Amalou

Panama III

Reda Amalou

Sculpture - 180 x 210 x 50 cm Sculpture - 70.9 x 82.7 x 19.7 inch

$44,460

Sculpture, Mobile, Dario Perez-Flores

Mobile

Dario Perez-Flores

Sculpture - 45 x 45 x 8 cm Sculpture - 17.7 x 17.7 x 3.1 inch

$29,250

Sculpture, Cubic #4, Gil Bruvel

Cubic #4

Gil Bruvel

Sculpture - 71 x 28 x 28 cm Sculpture - 28 x 11 x 11 inch

$23,400

Sculpture, N°206, Mario Dilitz

N°206

Mario Dilitz

Sculpture - 200 x 177 x 70 cm Sculpture - 78.7 x 69.7 x 27.6 inch

$93,599

Sculpture, Tonka I, Scott Troxel

Tonka I

Scott Troxel

Sculpture - 121.9 x 63.5 x 3.8 cm Sculpture - 48 x 25 x 1.5 inch

$4,914

Sculpture, Tonka III, Scott Troxel

Tonka III

Scott Troxel

Sculpture - 121.9 x 63.5 x 3.8 cm Sculpture - 48 x 25 x 1.5 inch

$4,914

Sculpture, Tonka II, Scott Troxel

Tonka II

Scott Troxel

Sculpture - 121.9 x 63.5 x 3.8 cm Sculpture - 48 x 25 x 1.5 inch

$4,914

Sculpture, Magic Yayoi, Marie Serruya

Magic Yayoi

Marie Serruya

Sculpture - 44 x 31 x 15 cm Sculpture - 17.3 x 12.2 x 5.9 inch

$4,095

Sculpture, Mask #182, Gil Bruvel

Mask #182

Gil Bruvel

Sculpture - 41 x 41 x 20.5 cm Sculpture - 16.1 x 16.1 x 8.1 inch

$15,795

Sculpture, Face, Gregos

Face

Gregos

Sculpture - 30 x 30 x 4 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch

$994

Sculpture, N°195, Mario Dilitz

N°195

Mario Dilitz

Sculpture - 206 x 196 x 110 cm Sculpture - 81.1 x 77.2 x 43.3 inch

$88,919

Sculpture, Face, Gregos

Face

Gregos

Sculpture - 30 x 30 x 4 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch

$994

Sculpture, Coke! Brut 2020, JP Malot

Coke! Brut 2020

JP Malot

Sculpture - 28 x 28 x 2 cm Sculpture - 11 x 11 x 0.8 inch

$819

Sculpture, Eva rose, Roland Masson

Eva rose

Roland Masson

Sculpture - 70 x 9 x 9 cm Sculpture - 27.6 x 3.5 x 3.5 inch

$1,755

Sculpture, Aliage, Roland Masson

Aliage

Roland Masson

Sculpture - 70 x 11 x 6 cm Sculpture - 27.6 x 4.3 x 2.4 inch

$2,047

Sculpture, Fila, Roland Masson

Fila

Roland Masson

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

$994

Sculpture, Pow!  #Artvoyou, JP Malot

Pow! #Artvoyou

JP Malot

Sculpture - 30 x 40 x 4 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 15.7 x 1.6 inch

$936

Sculpture, Abstract, Arthur Frénoy

Abstract

Arthur Frénoy

Sculpture - 56 x 30 x 17 cm Sculpture - 22 x 11.8 x 6.7 inch

$585

Sculpture, Noir, Lesley Hilling

Noir

Lesley Hilling

Sculpture - 70 x 55 x 20 cm Sculpture - 27.6 x 21.7 x 7.9 inch

$3,100

Sculpture, Shiko 15, Kojun

Shiko 15

Kojun

Sculpture - 4 x 22 x 6.5 cm Sculpture - 1.6 x 8.7 x 2.6 inch

$889

Sculpture, Ku, Kojun

Ku

Kojun

Sculpture - 9 x 19.1 x 7 cm Sculpture - 3.5 x 7.5 x 2.8 inch

$831

Sculpture, Screws, Bruno Helgen

Screws

Bruno Helgen

Sculpture - 30 x 30 x 30 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 11.8 x 11.8 inch

$4,212

Sculpture, Cabin on the air, Jicé

Cabin on the air

Jicé

Sculpture - 92 x 90 x 15 cm Sculpture - 36.2 x 35.4 x 5.9 inch

$6,903

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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.