Butter sculpture is the art of creating three-dimensional forms from butter, with a rich history spanning centuries and cultures.

Butter sculpting dates back to ancient civilizations, including Tibet, Babylon, and Roman Britain, where food was molded into artistic shapes for religious, ceremonial, or decorative purposes In Europe, the earliest documented butter sculptures appeared in 1536, used as elaborate banquet centerpieces during the Renaissance and Baroque periods  The modern public art form in the United States began around the 1870s, pioneered by Caroline Shawk Brooks, who created bas-relief butter sculptures for exhibitions The practice gained popularity at state fairs and world’s fairs, often showcasing life-sized animals and thematic figures to promote agricultural abundance.