Since Ancient times humans have moulded the materials around them to create 3D representations of the world that matters to them. From energetic animals and figures to far more serious Busts and abstractions, Sculpture offers probably the most engaging form of art. It is extremely tactile as well as created in the round, and this helps provides both a sense of physical weight and presence to the piece. It also allows light and shadow to envelope the item.
Throughout history there have been countless Masters of sculpture creating in materials as diverse as wood, stone, metal and resins. Of these the most respected today is Bronze and Marble. Bronze is essentially a mixture of copper and tin and has been in use for at least seven centuries.
In contrast items carved in wood or stone require the artist to carefully chip away at the piece until the form is created. Compared to Bronze these materials are whittled down slowly and methodically but can be just as prone to failure with a single misguided blow of the mallet. This is particularly true with Stonework where the craftsman needs to understand the natural striations in the rock to predict where the crack or fissure of each blow will occur.
Robert Belcher Antiques
William Tell with His Son, a Black Forest Carving
£ 1,050
Robert Belcher Antiques
A Large Pair of Italian Terracotta Decorative Lions
£ 2,650
O Keeffe Antiques
French Set Of 4 Bronze Antique Wall Sconces
£ 1,950
Time to Admire Ltd
Thoroughbred Horse by Pierre-Jules Mene
£ 320
Lee Wright Antiques Ltd
Large Scale 19th Century Carved Wood Stag’s Head
£ 3,600
£ 1,975
Alain Michel Antiques
Angelot En Bois Sculpté - 18th Siècle
€ 900
Elmgarden Antiques
Good Classical Weathered Bust of Lady
£ 700
Antique & Modern Living
A Fine Large Bronze Figure Of A Dancing Fawn
£ 1,850
Salisbury Antiques Centre
Sculpture of Guan Yin
£ 360
Vintage House
Resin Chinese Emperor Figure
£ 45
Georgian Antiques
Coco de Mer on Stand
£ 600
Elmgarden Antiques
A Pair of Very Elaborate French Bronze Brackets
£ 900
Marylebone Antiques
Vintage Brutalist Bronze Fish Sculpture by Mario Agostinelli
£ 695
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
17th Century Carved Oak Figure of Bishop
£ 1,870
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
19th Century Artist Lay Figure
£ 1,030
Patrick Howard Antiques
Antique Pair of Figural French Bronze Ormolu Marble Classical Maiden Female Figures
£ 1,875
Antique Pair of Figural French Bronze Ormolu Marble Classical Maiden Female Figures
£ 1,875
Patrick Howard Antiques
Warner & Watts Antiques
Antique Chinese Giltwood Carved Figure, Qing Dynasty, Possibly Quan Yin
£ 150
Antique Chinese Giltwood Carved Figure, Qing Dynasty, Possibly Quan Yin
£ 150
Warner & Watts Antiques
£ 3,250
Alain Michel Antiques
Bronze Mortar - Italy - 16th Century
€ 4,800
Robert Belcher Antiques
19th Century Majolica Pottery Figure of Gnome c.1880
£ 485
Robert Belcher Antiques
Alfred Dubucand: Bronze Study of Egyptian Boy & His Donkey - French
£ 2,150
Alfred Dubucand: Bronze Study of Egyptian Boy & His Donkey - French
£ 2,150
Robert Belcher Antiques
London City Antiques
Antique Victorian Quality Bronze Figure
£ 575
Elmgarden Antiques
Large European Mediaeval Oak Carving of Christ in the Tomb
£ 5,000
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
16th Century Reliquary Bust of the Blessed Virgin
£ 1,940
The Old Yard
Pair of Early 20th Century Terracotta Busts
£ 225
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
Pair of 17th Century Wooden Romanesque Figures
£ 1,810
£ 10,000
€ 870
€ 1,600
Solid Silver Hindu Figure, Deity or Ritual Dancer - India or Nepal 1960s
€ 1,600
IberAntiques
Trade Antiques
Bronze of a Classical Maiden Reading a Book 1830
£ 885
Swans of Oakham
19th Century Japanese Root Carving
£ 600
£ 7,000
£ 45,000
Robert Belcher Antiques
A Pair of Black Forest Hand Carved Linden Wood Bears Circa 1900
£ 795
A Pair of Black Forest Hand Carved Linden Wood Bears Circa 1900
£ 795
Robert Belcher Antiques
€ 10,500
Girl with Tambourine, by Paul Philippe. Art Deco Chryselephantine. Circa 1925
€ 10,500
IberAntiques
Aeology at Relic Antiques
18th Century Carved Walnut Pediment from France
£ 625
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
A Pair of Classical Bronze Figures
£ 2,365
London City Antiques
Spectacular Pair of Large Antique Quality Orientalist Polychromed Plaster Arabesque or Moorish Figures
£ 4,850
Spectacular Pair of Large Antique Quality Orientalist Polychromed Plaster Arabesque or Moorish Figures
£ 4,850
London City Antiques
JMR Antiques Ltd
Huge Pair of 20th Century Medici Lion Statues
£ 4,995
What are the 4 basic types of sculpture?
Sculptures are categorised into four basic types including moulded, cast, assembled, or carved. A typical moulded sculpture would be hand-cast with wax, clay, Papier-Mache, or plaster usually using a wooden mould. Antique cast sculptures were typically cast in Bronze, Brass or Spelter (a combination of zinc and lead). The model would first be carved and created from wax which was then encased in clay. The wax is melted off and the mould is then filled with the hot metal. Carved art is produced by cutting or chipping away a piece of stone, wood, or other solid material until the sculpture is created. Assembled sculptures involve combinations of different materials to create a three-dimensional style. Sculptures in glass are created by manipulating the molten glass into the shape desired or filling a mould with the glass.
Where to buy Bronze statues?
There are many places where you can buy Bronze Statues but when looking for genuine antique examples it is important to purchase them from reputable dealers like ours on LoveAntiques. This is because bronzes are still being produced new today so can easily be confused as being old if you don’t have the relevant skills to tell the difference. There are also sadly many fakes and copies out there usually of the more desirable makers and statues. These have been produced for many years so may have begun to acquire some of its own genuine patina (as well as the faux patina given to it when made). Most new bronzes are given a coat of patinating fluid which is brushed on and will darken the metal to a deep brown/black. There is no depth or variation to this finish but over time it will wear and soften. Therefore with a bit of skill it is possible to spot new from old bronzes, but a skilled professional will also give you the peace of mind necessary and point out the features which make their items genuine.
How to date antique statues?
Dating an antique statue will depending on several factors and sadly often years of experience. The main things to consider are the materials used and how it has aged, the overall artistic quality and detail of the piece, as well as how accurate the poses or details are. All materials and finishes age over time and understanding how the main material used ages will help a lot. Wood will not only crack but will also attract dust to give a unique look, paintwork will chip and details will wear if handled. The timber will also darken. Stone and marble left outdoors will weather in different depending on how soft it is, and metal will usually oxidize. Kept indoors these materials won't weather much but an accumulation of dust and particles in the atmosphere may darken the finish. Once you have ascertained the degree of aging then it is important to understand the fine details and attributes of that statue. Many modern statues tend not to be as detailed because they are more interested in creating movement and abstract forms, but also copies of older pieces will usually lack the necessary attention to detail because time is money. If you have an antique statue which you believe is old then it is a good idea to show it to a reputable dealer who should be able to confirm its age and authenticity.