• $ (USD)

  • Need some help

  • My personalised recommendations
    • My favourite artworks
    • My favourite artists
    • My favourite galleries
    • My favourite searches
    • Recommended for you

  • Loading...

Wood Sculpture

Wood and stone were the some of the first materials carved by humans to make tools. Although wood was very commonly used, only few objects survived through the centuries as its decomposes faster and can be destroyed more easily than bronze or stone for example.

Between 700 and 900, most woodcarvers lived in monasteries. Travelling from monastery to monastery, these carvers were few and far between. The was a relatively prescriptive style and many remaining sculpturesfrom this period are quite similar. This era was marked by the constraints of iconoclasm: many religious objects made of wood were destroyed because of the condemnation of representation of religious subjects.

Many sculptures have also been found in England and Scandinavian countries. Wood is also widely used in Africa to create masks, small statues and objects, as well as in India and by aboriginal artists in Australia.

In Europe, it was in the 15th and 16th centuries that wooden sculpture became highly developed, especially in Germany. This was thanks to Gothic sculptors such as Tilman Riemenschneider, Veit Stoss, Michael Pacher, Gregor Erhart and Jorg Zurn who pushed the medium to its limits, creating astonishingly detailed works.

Woodcarving reappeared in the 17th century in England as Baroque ornaments grew in popularity. Master Grinling Gibbons's was a leading artist of the time and one of the few woodcarvers to be widely recognised in his homeland. In France, Rococo brought woodcarving back into fashion, with designers such as Lelange, Foliot and Cressent, who focused on creating furniture.

Several modern artists also used wood, notably Brancusi, who was influenced by the classical tradition which emphasised the finish and materiality of the wood. Henry Moore preferred using this valuable material to create his abstract and evocative shapes, while Barbara Hepworth created incredibly modern works of art and Paul Gauguin used wood to reconnect with and learn from primitive techniques...

Wood is very different from other materials, such as resin or bronze, as it is quite fragile and requires a wide range of tools.The technique to be used differs according to the desired shape because the sculpture can take the form of a low-relief or be carved in the round (a sculpture on base that the viewer can walk around). One must first source planks of wood, flattened, dried and calibrated. Next a sketch of the sculpture is drawn onto the support, the bulk of the wood is then removed and the object is shaped more carefully using u-gouges to remove as much excess material. Next the finer details as well as shadow play are added using a range of tools including flat gouges, chisels, and carving knives.

Artsper features a wide selection of modern wooden sculptures byNando Stevoli, Gaspard Mitz, César Orrico, Marc Laffolay, Lesley Hilling or Valérie Carmet.

Collector’s Guide: Collecting Sculptures

Read more

Saved search

Your search is accessible from the favorites tab > My favorite searches

Unsaved search

A problem occurred

Hersk, Something To Suck 357, Sculpture

Hersk

Something To Suck 357, 2021
24.4 x 9.8 x 2 inch
Sculpture

$822

Karel Appel, From the Circus series. Flower Clown, Sculpture

Karel Appel

From the Circus series. Flower Clown, 1978
39.4 x 47.2 x 9.8 inch
Sculpture

$47,428

Valérie Hadida, Brindille 2 - 5/8, Sculpture

Valérie Hadida

Brindille 2 - 5/8, 2021
9.8 x 4.1 x 2.2 inch
Sculpture

$2,403

Jérémy Ferreira, Basketball Luxury Chanel Gold, Sculpture

Jérémy Ferreira

Basketball Luxury Chanel Gold, 2021
31.5 x 43.3 x 15.7 inch
Sculpture

$4,932

Irena Tone, Pure silver leaf Snail + Cooper leaf imitation Apple, Sculpture

Irena Tone

Pure silver leaf Snail + Cooper leaf imitation Apple, 2020
9.1 x 7.9 x 6.7 inch
Sculpture

$1,047 $1,164

Patrick Salamone, Ice Lolly Bublles S.p N°196, Sculpture

Patrick Salamone

Ice Lolly Bublles S.p N°196, 2021
29.1 x 10.2 x 2.4 inch
Sculpture

$1,113

Rosanna Lahaye, Minautore, Sculpture

Rosanna Lahaye

Minautore, 2019
21.3 x 13.8 x 13.8 inch
Sculpture

$756

Ingravidesa, Metamorphosis, Sculpture

Ingravidesa

Metamorphosis, 2019
25.6 x 2.4 x 1.2 inch
Sculpture

$2,277

C215, Kid, Sculpture

C215

Kid, 2019
26.4 x 10.6 x 3.9 inch
Sculpture

$4,427

Todd Gray, Hashtag, Sculpture

Todd Gray

Hashtag, 2016
26 x 20.1 x 7.9 inch
Sculpture

$12,394

Aldo Chaparro, Totem, Sculpture

Aldo Chaparro

Totem, 2020
78.7 x 11.8 x 11.8 inch
Sculpture

$36,677

Philarthrop, Condensed Love, Sculpture

Philarthrop

Condensed Love, 2020
8.7 x 8.7 x 3.9 inch
Sculpture

$443

Bault, Sans titre, Sculpture

Bault

Sans titre, 2020
57.1 x 14.2 x 0.8 inch
Sculpture

$3,415

Marc Boffin, Chanel Board, Sculpture

Marc Boffin

Chanel Board, 2020
31.5 x 7.9 x 2 inch
Sculpture

$696

Shaka, Corps Noir, Sculpture

Shaka

Corps Noir, 2019
47.2 x 47.2 x 15.7 inch
Sculpture

$16,442

Our recommendations Pablo Reinoso, The Looping One, Sculpture

Pablo Reinoso

The Looping One, 2020
17.7 x 112.2 x 29.1 inch
Sculpture

$113,826

Corneille, Chants d’oiseaux, Sculpture

Corneille

Chants d’oiseaux, 1992
21.3 x 26.8 x 4.7 inch
Sculpture

$10,750

Sergio Moscona, Personaje Quiteno, Sculpture

Sergio Moscona

Personaje Quiteno, 2010
14.6 x 11.8 x 3.9 inch
Sculpture

$2,150

Emmanuel Bour, Le gardien des sources, Sculpture

Emmanuel Bour

Le gardien des sources, 2018
21.7 x 23.2 x 15.4 inch
Sculpture

$9,486

Evrard & Koch, Hors Cadre #1.3, Sculpture

Evrard & Koch

Hors Cadre #1.3, 2015
51.2 x 31.5 x 15.7 inch
Sculpture

$12,015

André Robillard, Pistolet USA Rapide, Sculpture

André Robillard

Pistolet USA Rapide, 2015
9.8 x 7.1 x 2.6 inch
Sculpture

$2,024

Sank, Plante carnivore, Sculpture

Sank

Plante carnivore, 2020
24.8 x 11.8 x 15.7 inch
Sculpture

$2,277

Mistergoo, Tupac shoes, Sculpture

Mistergoo

Tupac shoes, 2020
14.4 x 20.5 x 4.3 inch
Sculpture

$734

Daniel Tostivint, Sans titre, Sculpture

Daniel Tostivint

Sans titre, 2019
15.7 x 7.9 x 3.9 inch
Sculpture

$493

Christian Nesler, Nuageux en fin de journée, Sculpture

Christian Nesler

Nuageux en fin de journée, 2015
27.6 x 27.6 x 1.2 inch
Sculpture

$3,794

Alberonero, Scala, Sculpture

Alberonero

Scala, 2019
32.7 x 22.4 x 12.2 inch
Sculpture

$3,288

Fabrice Anneville-Constance, Harmonica, Sculpture

Fabrice Anneville-Constance

Harmonica, 2021
37.4 x 37 x 1.6 inch
Sculpture

$2,782

Manuela Paul-Cavallier, Cubik, Sculpture

Manuela Paul-Cavallier

Cubik, 2019
3.5 x 3.5 x 3.5 inch
Sculpture

$506

Dominique Blais, Entropê, Sculpture

Dominique Blais

Entropê, 2015
50.2 x 20.5 x 20.5 inch
Sculpture

$16,062

Wilds, Tectonic plates I, Sculpture

Wilds

Tectonic plates I, 2015
43.3 x 47.2 x 5.9 inch
Sculpture

$15,114

Pierre Demonchaux, Miroir Convoyeur II (PDE21), Sculpture

Pierre Demonchaux

Miroir Convoyeur II (PDE21), 2015
27.6 x 27.6 x 1.2 inch
Sculpture

$759

Our recommendations Martina Merlini, Untitled, Sculpture

Martina Merlini

Untitled, 2019
25.6 x 15.7 x 11.8 inch
Sculpture

$3,099

Quentin Garel, Flamant rose II, Sculpture

Quentin Garel

Flamant rose II, 2013
66.9 x 15.7 x 35.4 inch
Sculpture

$44,266

Thomas Danel, TD05, Sculpture

Thomas Danel

TD05, 2018
23.2 x 23.2 x 6.3 inch
Sculpture

$2,782

Alain Derda, Cochon Blanc, Sculpture

Alain Derda

Cochon Blanc, 2020
9.8 x 23.6 x 9.8 inch
Sculpture

$2,150

Onemizer, Bart I Love Skate 2, Sculpture

Onemizer

Bart I Love Skate 2, 2020
32.1 x 8.1 x 1.8 inch
Sculpture

$2,011

Egor Plotnikov, La route vers la mer, Sculpture

Egor Plotnikov

La route vers la mer, 2019
6.7 x 7.9 x 7.9 inch
Sculpture

$949

Sylvie Abadie-Bastide, Totem Bleu Majorele, Sculpture

Sylvie Abadie-Bastide

Totem Bleu Majorele, 2018
23.6 x 2 x 1.6 inch
Sculpture

$455

Rainier Lericolais, Suspension, Sculpture

Rainier Lericolais

Suspension, 2014
20 x 8 x 1.2 inch
Sculpture

$2,529

Sei Arimori, Paysage à angle droit, Sculpture

Sei Arimori

Paysage à angle droit, 2019
6.7 x 9.3 x 3.5 inch
Sculpture

$1,012

Michele Cossyro, Golden Cosmic Fold, Sculpture

Michele Cossyro

Golden Cosmic Fold, 2019
22 x 22 x 0.1 inch
Sculpture

$4,553

Olivier de Sagazan, Fer et bois, Sculpture

Olivier de Sagazan

Fer et bois, 2008
38.2 x 7.9 x 6.3 inch
Sculpture

$4,427

Isabell Beyel, Untitled, Sculpture

Isabell Beyel

Untitled, 2017
55.1 x 39.4 x 5.9 inch
Sculpture

$34,148

Antoine Vidal, April (AV04), Sculpture

Antoine Vidal

April (AV04), 2017
15 x 3.1 x 2.8 inch
Sculpture

$7,588

Alexandre Ferrand, C.D Silk Skate, Sculpture

Alexandre Ferrand

C.D Silk Skate, 2021
31.5 x 7.9 x 2 inch
Sculpture

$949

Théo Drucker, Water, Sculpture

Théo Drucker

Water, 2020
31.5 x 55.1 x 1.6 inch
Sculpture

$2,529

Nino Franchina, Composition with Nails, Sculpture

Nino Franchina

Composition with Nails, 1970
18.5 x 3.1 x 2 inch
Sculpture

$3,668

Le Mouvement, La Rencontre de Adam et Morgane, Sculpture

Le Mouvement

La Rencontre de Adam et Morgane, 2019
16.1 x 25.6 x 6.7 inch
Sculpture

$4,300

Marianne Cresson, Branche n°6, Sculpture

Marianne Cresson

Branche n°6, 2018
66.5 x 26 x 22 inch
Sculpture

$885

Grégoire Lavigne, Abri 1, Sculpture

Grégoire Lavigne

Abri 1, 2019
4.3 x 8.3 x 6.7 inch
Sculpture

$190

Jean-Luc Parant, Sans titre, Sculpture

Jean-Luc Parant

Sans titre, 2020
15.4 x 37 x 2 inch
Sculpture

$5,919

Charles Khoury, Untitled, Sculpture

Charles Khoury

Untitled, 2019
20.9 x 6.3 x 6.7 inch
Sculpture

$2,500

Présence Panchounette, L'ancienne comédie, Sculpture

Présence Panchounette

L'ancienne comédie, 1988
42.1 x 28 x 26.8 inch
Sculpture

50,000 - $ 100,000

Rietje Geurts, Grote Ruggensteun, Sculpture

Rietje Geurts

Grote Ruggensteun, 2014
33.5 x 11 x 6.7 inch
Sculpture

$14,039

Yanne Kintgen, Echange embrouillamineux, Sculpture

Yanne Kintgen

Echange embrouillamineux, 2019
12.2 x 23.6 x 6.3 inch
Sculpture

$6,956

Christian Renonciat, Carton déchiré en deux, Sculpture

Christian Renonciat

Carton déchiré en deux, 2018
31.5 x 80.7 x 2 inch
Sculpture

$21,500

Oliver Ney, Supreme, Sculpture

Oliver Ney

Supreme, 2021
36.6 x 36.6 x 1.2 inch
Sculpture

$3,668

Mlle Terite, Sans titre, Sculpture

Mlle Terite

Sans titre, 2018
26 x 6.5 x 0.4 inch
Sculpture

$632

Gonzalo Borondo, Sanguine, Sculpture

Gonzalo Borondo

Sanguine, 2020
11 x 10.6 x 22.8 inch
Sculpture

$10,877

Stefan Ivanov, Situation III from the Project Placebo, Sculpture

Stefan Ivanov

Situation III from the Project Placebo, 2016
41.3 x 15 x 13.4 inch
Sculpture

$6,703

Giacomo Balla, Pair of Placeholders, Sculpture

Giacomo Balla

Pair of Placeholders, 1930
8.9 x 3.4 x 0.1 inch
Sculpture

$6,324

Nadine Ackermans, Automate, Sculpture

Nadine Ackermans

Automate, 2019
22.4 x 11.8 x 8.3 inch
Sculpture

$696

Gyfle, Nunc Est, Sculpture

Gyfle

Nunc Est, 2019
35.4 x 32.3 x 0.2 inch
Sculpture

$2,770

Benjamin Grivot, Crate ES 1955, Sculpture

Benjamin Grivot

Crate ES 1955, 2019
40.9 x 15.7 x 4.3 inch
Sculpture

$5,818

60 Artworks on 1883

Scroll on the top of the page

Not feeling very inspired? Get your personalised selection today