Unlike items cast using a mould and hot metals, carved items require the artist to slowly chip away at the block of material to ‘reveal’ the artwork within. This is usually achieved using metal chisels and a mallet to add more force to the blow but can also include chip carving where just a chisel with no mallet is used, and whittling which uses a sharp knife instead of a chisel. The most common materials to carve are wood and stone and examples of these have been found to date back many thousands of years. No matter what the age, the skill of the artist is to understand how the material has been formed and where the natural weaknesses are so they can work in harmony with them. Those working in wood will know that carving with the grain is far more effective than against the grain (which chips more easily) and that a tighter grain will hold more detail. Similarly a competent stone mason will know how soft or hard each type of stone is and how it should break or chip even before they hit it.
For those who collect carvings the love is often both for the skill of the craftsperson to bring that piece to life, as well as the way it has continued to age over time. The inherent moisture and internal pressures in wood will cause it to crack and bend over time as if still somehow alive, and stone left out in the weather will slowly wear away the details and become home to moss, lichen and more. It is this ability for carvings to constantly evolve even after they have been completed which make antique and vintage pieces so much more special than new examples.
At LoveAntiques we have a fine selection of Antique and Vintage carvings for all your needs.
Robert Belcher Antiques
A 19th Century African Tribal Carved Fertility Figure, C1880
£ 950
Koos Limburg Jnr
Extremely Fine Larger Then Normal Oak Chip Carved Dutch Frisian Mangle Board With Text, Initials And Date 1734
£ 750
Extremely Fine Larger Then Normal Oak Chip Carved Dutch Frisian Mangle Board With Text, Initials And Date 1734
£ 750
Koos Limburg Jnr
Robert Belcher Antiques
Elephant Made from Hardwood - Indian, Raj Period c.1890
£ 695
All About Vintage Essex
Vintage Chinese Soapstone Seal Carved Foo Dog Lion & Cub Figure
£ 25
All About Vintage Essex
Pair of Vintage Chinese Carved Wood Figural Spheres Budai & Immortal Carvings
£ 55
Pair of Vintage Chinese Carved Wood Figural Spheres Budai & Immortal Carvings
£ 55
All About Vintage Essex
All About Vintage Essex
Vintage Chinese Nephrite Jade Immortal Figure with Fan
£ 60
Elmgarden Antiques
Wall Carving. Viking
£ 340
£ 99
£ 295
Marylebone Antiques
Vintage Bronze & Driftwood Sculpture by A. Altmann
£ 450
Georgian Antiques
Mother & Cub Hand-carved Wooden Black Forest Bears
£ 250
Georgian Antiques
Black Forest Carved Wood Bear with Folding Top
£ 190
21st Century Gallery
Original Wood Sculpture Driftwood’ by Harry Walton (1920-2009) Signed & Dated Verso 1960 Provenance; Bought from His Studio
£ 220
Original Wood Sculpture Driftwood’ by Harry Walton (1920-2009) Signed & Dated Verso 1960 Provenance; Bought from His Studio
£ 220
21st Century Gallery
21st Century Gallery
Original Wood Sculpture ‘Head & Shoulders’ by Gerald Nason (b.1938) c.1965 Signed on the Base
£ 225
Original Wood Sculpture ‘Head & Shoulders’ by Gerald Nason (b.1938) c.1965 Signed on the Base
£ 225
21st Century Gallery
Celia Rose Antiques
Japanese Carving Two Frogs on Lily Pad
£ 65
Millers Antiques
Original 19th Century Decoy Duck
£ 350
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
18th Century Italian Carved Figure of Putto
£ 815
Georgian Antiques
Carved Wooden Model of Horse
£ 435
Celia Rose Antiques
Japanese Hand Carved Okimono NO 2
Celia Rose Antiques
Japanese Hand Carved Okimono
£ 500
Trade Antiques
Pair of Wood Carvings Height 35" Oak 1820-1830
£ 885
Harmony Antiques
Vintage Statue & Pedestal
£ 195
£ 650
£ 119
£ 650
Koos Limburg Jnr
Interesting Early Walnut Carving Netherlandish, Brabant c.1500
£ 4,250
CES Home & Garden Limited
Vintage Caracalla Roman Emperor Composite Marble di Latte Bust
£ 895
Vintage Caracalla Roman Emperor Composite Marble di Latte Bust
£ 895
CES Home & Garden Limited
Prometheus Antiques
Black Forest Carved Wood Bear
£ 495
Wick Antiques Ltd
Charming Swiss Black Forest Carved St. Bernard Dog Relaxed Lying Down with Its Head Resting & Taking a Long Snooze
£ 2,400
Charming Swiss Black Forest Carved St. Bernard Dog Relaxed Lying Down with Its Head Resting & Taking a Long Snooze
£ 2,400
Wick Antiques Ltd
Elmgarden Antiques
Carved & Painted Cigar Store American Indians
£ 10,000
Robert Belcher Antiques
A Pair of Swiss or Black Forest Carved and Polychrome and Gilt Painted Jester Figures
£ 1,195
A Pair of Swiss or Black Forest Carved and Polychrome and Gilt Painted Jester Figures
£ 1,195
Robert Belcher Antiques
Salisbury Antiques Centre
James Butler RA (1931-2022) - Large Bronze of St Peter & St Paul, York Minster Edition
£ 3,200
James Butler RA (1931-2022) - Large Bronze of St Peter & St Paul, York Minster Edition
£ 3,200
Salisbury Antiques Centre
Marylebone Antiques
Antique French Bronze Sculpture
£ 975
Elmgarden Antiques
Primitive Architectural Carved Wood Mounted Sculpture
£ 500
Elmgarden Antiques
A Hand Carved Live Wood Iguana
£ 1,450
Martlesham Antiques
19th Century Ceremonial Launching Mallet and Chisel
£ 850
Koos Limburg Jnr
High Quality Carving And Painted Large Sculpture Of An Indonesian Janger Dancer, Circa 1930
£ 3,250
High Quality Carving And Painted Large Sculpture Of An Indonesian Janger Dancer, Circa 1930
£ 3,250
Koos Limburg Jnr
Rams Head Antiques
Chinese Polychrome Carved Figure of Deity Qing Period
£ 465
