To produce a really competent 3D representation of something is extremely hard. Not only does the artist need to understand the unique bone and muscle structures of the animal as is moves and rests, but also needs to capture the true character and essence of the creature at that moment in time. On top of this common features such as fur, feathers and markings need to be simplified to suggest merely their presence as such detail would otherwise become overwhelming.
Because animals have played a central role in human experience there are plenty of famous animal sculptures as diverse as the Sphinx in Egypt to the bronze bull at Wall Street. But while these may win our affections from their scale and physical presence, sometimes even tiny handheld animal sculptures can win our hearts just as much for their fragility and attention to detail. Indeed, to produce a peaceful curled up cat the size of a coin is far harder than creating it in full size. We have some great 20th Century examples where this is the case.
Whether made of Bronze, stone, wood or something else, at LoveAntiques our knowledgeable dealers understand what makes the difference between a good animal sculpture and a great one.
Antique and Unique
Austrian Bronze Pair of Grouse
£ 135
Aeology at Relic Antiques
19th Century Black Forest 'St.Bernard Rescue Dog' Carved Eperne'
£ 1,650
19th Century Black Forest 'St.Bernard Rescue Dog' Carved Eperne'
£ 1,650
Aeology at Relic Antiques
London City Antiques
Large Antique Bronze Study of Nude Male on Horseback
£ 5,895
£ 1,895
Large French Art Deco Sculpture of Spelter Panther Set on Black Marble Base
£ 1,895
Burgett Langfield
Elmgarden Antiques
Weathered Standing Statue of a French Hunting Spaniel
£ 950
Cloverleaf Home Interiors
Statue Carved 19th Century Spanish Horse Head c.1850
£ 395
Vintage Garden UK
Large Fabulous Pair Metal Cranes
£ 5,995
Rams Head Antiques
Antique Carved & Hand Painted Decoy Duck
£ 285
Aeology at Relic Antiques
Pair of Black Forest Carvings of Stags Fawns & Eagles
£ 695
Graham Deakin Antiques
Bronze Bear at 21cm in Length
£ 125
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
Owl Surrealist Sculpture
£ 1,250
London City Antiques
Unusual Large Antique Edwardian Japanese Carved Linden Wood Bear
£ 685
London City Antiques
Large Antique Edwardian Quality Carved Linden Wood Japanese Bear Carrying a Fish
£ 1,385
Large Antique Edwardian Quality Carved Linden Wood Japanese Bear Carrying a Fish
£ 1,385
London City Antiques
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Gaulish Chief Bronze After Emmanuel Fremiet
£ 2,995
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
Giovanni Cappelletti - Buck & Doe Bronze on Marble Base
£ 3,200
Giovanni Cappelletti - Buck & Doe Bronze on Marble Base
£ 3,200
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
Giovanni Cappelletti - Largish Imposing Bronze - Bull,cow & Calf
£ 5,950
Giovanni Cappelletti - Largish Imposing Bronze - Bull,cow & Calf
£ 5,950
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
Rees Antiques
Wooden Bird of Pray on Stand
£ 175
Koos Limburg Jnr
Bogorodskoe Carving, Russian Folk Art Very Fine Carved Troika
£ 3,750
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
Antique Tribute Newfoundland Rescue Reuben Decker's Dog Bronze Sculpture
£ 2,000
Antique Tribute Newfoundland Rescue Reuben Decker's Dog Bronze Sculpture
£ 2,000
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
Robert Belcher Antiques
Pair of Pottery Hand Sculpted Figures of Heraldic Lion & Unicorn
£ 950
Pair of Pottery Hand Sculpted Figures of Heraldic Lion & Unicorn
£ 950
Robert Belcher Antiques
Robert Belcher Antiques
Austrian Cold Painted Bronze Budgerigars Perched on a Leafy Branch
£ 1,695
Austrian Cold Painted Bronze Budgerigars Perched on a Leafy Branch
£ 1,695
Robert Belcher Antiques
Robert Belcher Antiques
19th Century English Pewter Study of a Classical Lion, Circa 1840
£ 395
19th Century English Pewter Study of a Classical Lion, Circa 1840
£ 395
Robert Belcher Antiques
Robert Belcher Antiques
A Large Chinese Tang Dynasty Style Sancai Glazed Pottery Horse
£ 1,895
A Large Chinese Tang Dynasty Style Sancai Glazed Pottery Horse
£ 1,895
Robert Belcher Antiques
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
Small Bronze Equine Letter Wax Intaglio Seal
£ 2,000
Robert Belcher Antiques
A Pair of Austrian Bronze Cold Painted Budgerigars Circa 1920
£ 1,495
A Pair of Austrian Bronze Cold Painted Budgerigars Circa 1920
£ 1,495
Robert Belcher Antiques
Nomad Art & Vintage
Pair of Vintage 1960's Arthur Wood Wally Mantel Dogs
£ 365
Graham Deakin Antiques
Rare Murano Gilt Dolphin
£ 295
Marylebone Antiques
Art Deco French Sculpture of German Shepherds
£ 675
Antique & Modern Living
A Very Large Meiji Bronze Elephant Okimono
£ 4,750
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Japanese Meiji Period Bronze Elephant by Genryusai Seiya
£ 950
Japanese Meiji Period Bronze Elephant by Genryusai Seiya
£ 950
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Marylebone Antiques
Vintage Italian Bronze Horse Sculpture
£ 1,100
£ 5,500
Stunning 19th Century French Bronze Sculpture of Lion & Lioness by G.Gardet
£ 5,500
Burgett Langfield
artsncraftsfurniture
Bronze Figure Monkey
£ 175
Robert Belcher Antiques
Vintage Italian Terracotta Spaniel Gun Dog , Life Size
£ 1,250
London City Antiques
Antique Victorian Quality Bronze Figure of a Cossack on Horseback
£ 1,450
Antique Victorian Quality Bronze Figure of a Cossack on Horseback
£ 1,450
London City Antiques
Trade Antiques
4 Owl Inkwells Black Forest Glass Eyes 1880
£ 425
£ 895
Robert Belcher Antiques
Equestrian Specimen Carved Marble Study of Stallion & Mare
£ 765
Prometheus Antiques
Black Forest Carved Wood Inkwell in the Form of a Cat
£ 295
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
Patinated Verdigris Bronze Race Horse & Jockey Group with Stable Hands Sculpture
£ 5,000
Patinated Verdigris Bronze Race Horse & Jockey Group with Stable Hands Sculpture
£ 5,000
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD