Chalkware is a type of decorative figurine or sculpture made from plaster of Paris or a similar material. It is typically painted and then distressed or weathered to give it an antique or vintage appearance.
Chalkware figurines were popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries and were often found in carnivals and fairs as prizes or souvenirs. They were also used as decorations in homes, particularly in the form of figurines or busts of famous historical figures.
Chalkware can be fragile and prone to chipping or breaking, so it is not a material that is widely used for functional objects.

36 items found:

These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

A greyhound statue, chalk ware with metallic finish, 20th…

20th Century Greyhound Statue with Metallic Finish, 77 cm High

A greyhound statue, chalk ware with metallic finish, 20th century, 77 cm high, 32 cm deep

'Fruit Boy' figural card holder, painted chalk ware, early 20th…

"Fruit Boy" Chalk Ware Card Holder - Early 20th Century

'Fruit Boy' figural card holder, painted chalk ware, early 20th century, 53 cm high

An Australian painted chalk ware plaque of an Aborigine in red…

Aboriginal Chalk Ware Plaque in Pine Frame

An Australian painted chalk ware plaque of an Aborigine in red pine frame, late 19th century 84 x 50 cm overall. Provenance: The John Stephens Collection

An Australian painted chalk ware statue of an Aborigine boy…

Australian Aborigine Boy with Koala Statue

An Australian painted chalk ware statue of an Aborigine boy with koala, mid 20th century, 17 cm high

'Kookaburra' statue, painted chalk ware, early 20th century, 26…

Early 20th Century Kookaburra Chalk Statue from Greenberg Collection

'Kookaburra' statue, painted chalk ware, early 20th century, 26 cm high. Provenance: The Joseph Greenberg collection

'Fruit Boy' calling card holder, painted chalk ware, early to…

"Fruit Boy" Chalk Ware Card Holder

'Fruit Boy' calling card holder, painted chalk ware, early to mid 20th century, 76 cm high

Art Deco chalk ware figural statue of a lady, painted in gold,…

Gold Lady Art Deco Statue - 39cm Height

Art Deco chalk ware figural statue of a lady, painted in gold, height 39 cm.

Charles G. Williams, chalk ware statue of a male nude with…

Bronzed Male Nude Statue by Charles G. Williams (1943)

Charles G. Williams, chalk ware statue of a male nude with bronzed finish, signed and dated 1943, 26 cm high

A kookaburra statue, painted chalk ware, late 20th century, 27…

Chalkware Kookaburra Statue, Late 20th Century, 27 cm High

A kookaburra statue, painted chalk ware, late 20th century, 27 cm high

Harold English, bust of an Aboriginal man, painted chalk ware,…

Aboriginal Bust by Harold English

Harold English, bust of an Aboriginal man, painted chalk ware, signed 'Harold English, 1969', 15 cm high

'Happy Jack', kookaburra statue, painted chalk ware, circa…

1920s Kookaburra Chalk Ware Statue

'Happy Jack', kookaburra statue, painted chalk ware, circa 1920s, 38 cm high

Three kookaburra statues, painted chalk ware, 29 cm high

Chalkware Kookaburra Trio - 29cm Statues

Three kookaburra statues, painted chalk ware, 29 cm high

A kookaburra statue, painted chalk ware, early to mid 20th…

Mid-century Kookaburra Chalkware Statue, 26cm

A kookaburra statue, painted chalk ware, early to mid 20th century, 26 cm high

'Kookaburra' statue, painted chalk ware, early 20th century, 26…

Early 20th Century Kookaburra Chalk Statue, 26cm High

'Kookaburra' statue, painted chalk ware, early 20th century, 26 cm high

A Continental chalk ware figural group, signed 'Triaka & Co.',…

Chalk Ware Figural Group by Triaka & Co

A Continental chalk ware figural group, signed 'Triaka & Co.', late 19th century, 48 cm high

'Elegante Berlinoise' painted chalk ware statue, late 19th…

Elegant Berlin Chalk Statue, Late 19th Century

'Elegante Berlinoise' painted chalk ware statue, late 19th century, 30 cm high

A chalk ware statue of a bathing beauty, circa 1920, 28 cm high,…

1920s Bathing Beauty Chalk Statue

A chalk ware statue of a bathing beauty, circa 1920, 28 cm high, 46 cm long

Pair of Art Nouveau chalkware statues of the water carriers,…

Art Nouveau Water Carrier Statues

Pair of Art Nouveau chalkware statues of the water carriers, circa 1900, the larger 23.5 cm high

An American chalk ware statue of a female nude, 20th century,…

American Chalk Statue: Nude Female, 20th Century

An American chalk ware statue of a female nude, 20th century, 77 cm high

An Art Deco chalk ware statue, circa 1930s, 43 cm high, 70 cm…

Art Deco Chalk Ware Statue, 1930s, 43x70cm

An Art Deco chalk ware statue, circa 1930s, 43 cm high, 70 cm wide

A Continental chalk ware fishing boy statue with glass fishbowl,…

Antique Fishing Boy Statue with Fishbowl

A Continental chalk ware fishing boy statue with glass fishbowl, circa 1900, 46 cm high

A Story Of Love', painted chalk ware statue, 20th century, 38…

Love's Story

A Story Of Love', painted chalk ware statue, 20th century, 38 cm high

Large chalkware bust of a man, height :55 cm

Grand Chalkware Man Bust

Large chalkware bust of a man, height :55 cm

A framed Victorian Chalkware relief carved bust, late…

Victorian Chalkware Relief Carved Bust in Circular Frame

A framed Victorian Chalkware relief carved bust, late 19th/Early 20th century, the relief carving portrait, depicting a young female, housed in a circular frame. The frame 40 cm diameter

A pair of Napoleonic style chalk ware statues with hand painted…

Napoleonic Chalk Ware Statues, Late 19th/Early 20th Century

A pair of Napoleonic style chalk ware statues with hand painted finish, late 19th/early 20th century, 98 cm high

Fruit Boy' chalk ware statue, early 20th century, 52 cm high

Early 20th Century Fruit Boy Chalk Statue - 52cm

Fruit Boy' chalk ware statue, early 20th century, 52 cm high

A classical Greek statue of a male nude, painted chalk ware,…

Greek Male Nude Statue, 19th Century

A classical Greek statue of a male nude, painted chalk ware, late 19th century, 74 cm high

A painted chalkware bust of a native American plains Indian,…

Plains Indian Chalkware Bust, Early 20th Century

A painted chalkware bust of a native American plains Indian, early 20th century, 54 cm high,

Sir Henry Parkes bust and book. Fragmentary Thoughts, Sir Henry…

Sir Henry Parkes Bust and Book

Sir Henry Parkes bust and book. Fragmentary Thoughts, Sir Henry Parkes, pub by S E Lees, Sydney 1889. Gift inscription from Parkes to Hugh Taylor. Also chalkware bust signed Allom, height 25 cm (bust)

An Art Deco gilded chalkware figure of a dancer, 38 cm high…

Gilded Art Deco Dancer Figure (with losses)

An Art Deco gilded chalkware figure of a dancer, 38 cm high (some losses to paint work)

A French Art Nouveau chalk ware female bust, inscribed' Depose'…

Art Nouveau Female Bust, Depose Inscription, 65cm High

A French Art Nouveau chalk ware female bust, inscribed' Depose' to base, some losses, 65 cm high

A pair of chalkware hand painted parrot statues, early 20th…

Hand Painted Parrot Chalkware Statues, Early 20th Century

A pair of chalkware hand painted parrot statues, early 20th century, 28 cm high

A pair of painted chalkware busts of a Middle Eastern couple,…

Middle Eastern Couple Chalkware Busts by Universal Statuary Co

A pair of painted chalkware busts of a Middle Eastern couple, impressed 'Universal Statuary Co. Chicago 1954', 19 cm high

A pair of antique Chalkware relief panels. Late 19th to early…

Antique Middle Eastern Relief Panels

A pair of antique Chalkware relief panels. Late 19th to early 20th century. The large plaques dramatically framed with palm trees and draped curtains depicting exotic Middle Eastern scenes: a figure of a woman upon a horse, and a man upon a camel holding…

An Esther Hunt chalkware bust of 'Butterfly', circa 1930s, the…

Esther Hunt Butterfly Chalkware Bust

An Esther Hunt chalkware bust of 'Butterfly', circa 1930s, the handpainted and moulded figure of a young Asian girl with a wistful gaze attired in a Prussian blue and floral robe and a jewelled and floral cloche; inscribed signature verso and painted name…

A Chalkware female blackamoor floor lantern, circa 1930-1940s,…

Exotic Blackamoor Floor Lantern with Art Deco Glass Shade

A Chalkware female blackamoor floor lantern, circa 1930-1940s, the exotic figure dressed in a flouncy leafy skirt, a puff sleeved blouse and a turban, her right arm raised and holding an Art Deco amber and tan glass ball shade; upon an integral base and…