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.
£ 795
Antique & Modern Living
A Very Well Carved Black Forest Bear
£ 495
Wick Antiques Ltd
Fine & Large Meiji Period Bronze of Two Tigers by Genryusai Seiya
£ 12,800
Fine & Large Meiji Period Bronze of Two Tigers by Genryusai Seiya
£ 12,800
Wick Antiques Ltd
Cheshire Antiques Consultant
British Desmo Lucifer Hummingbird Sheartail Bird Car Mascot
£ 925
British Desmo Lucifer Hummingbird Sheartail Bird Car Mascot
£ 925
Cheshire Antiques Consultant
Art Deco and More Ltd
Art Deco Bronze Pheasant by Irénée Rochard
£ 595
Cheshire Antiques Consultant
Asprey Bronze Classic Car Begging Scottie Dog Caesar Mascot
£ 2,000
Asprey Bronze Classic Car Begging Scottie Dog Caesar Mascot
£ 2,000
Cheshire Antiques Consultant
Cheshire Antiques Consultant
Life Size Bird Peregrine Falcon With Hoods Hunting Sculpture
£ 750
Life Size Bird Peregrine Falcon With Hoods Hunting Sculpture
£ 750
Cheshire Antiques Consultant
Pushkin Antiques Ltd
20th Century German Solid Silver Fox Table Ornament, Hanau c.1900
£ 3,795
20th Century German Solid Silver Fox Table Ornament, Hanau c.1900
£ 3,795
Pushkin Antiques Ltd
London City Antiques
Antique Set of Fifteen 19th Century Miniature Carved Oak Black Forest Bears
£ 1,695
Antique Set of Fifteen 19th Century Miniature Carved Oak Black Forest Bears
£ 1,695
London City Antiques
£ 1,895
French Art Deco Gilded Bronze Sculpture Of Birds Resting On A Branch. Signed Marec
£ 1,895
Burgett Langfield
London City Antiques
Unusual 19th Century Antique Carved Black Forest Bear
£ 695
Wick Antiques Ltd
A Large and Impressive Meiji Period Bronze Bison by Sano Takachika for the Kakuha Company
£ 12,500
A Large and Impressive Meiji Period Bronze Bison by Sano Takachika for the Kakuha Company
£ 12,500
Wick Antiques Ltd
Wick Antiques Ltd
Fine Black Forest Walnut Eagle, Shown Perched on a Rocky Outcrop with the Wings Raised and the Head Turned to the Right, Swiss c.1880
£ 9,500
Fine Black Forest Walnut Eagle, Shown Perched on a Rocky Outcrop with the Wings Raised and the Head Turned to the Right, Swiss c.1880
£ 9,500
Wick Antiques Ltd
£ 1,950
London City Antiques
Quality Set of Three Antique Oak Carved Black Forest Bears
£ 1,395
£ 2,200
£ 795
Small Antique Hippopotamus Figure, African, Soapstone, Hand Carved, Victorian
£ 795
London Fine Ltd
Cheshire Antiques Consultant
19th Century Austrian Cold Painted Bronze Model Hunting Pointing Dog
£ 750
19th Century Austrian Cold Painted Bronze Model Hunting Pointing Dog
£ 750
Cheshire Antiques Consultant
Wick Antiques Ltd
Taishō Period Silvered Bronze Storks
£ 4,800
Wick Antiques Ltd
Black Forest Linden Wood Model of Standing Bull
£ 2,850
Cheshire Antiques Consultant
19th Century Gilt Bronze Eagle Bird Desk Envelope Seal Stamp Sculpture
£ 1,245
19th Century Gilt Bronze Eagle Bird Desk Envelope Seal Stamp Sculpture
£ 1,245
Cheshire Antiques Consultant
Epilogue One Antiques
19th Century Brass Table Lighter, Temple Lion Aquamanile
£ 425
Rees Antiques
Carved Eagle on Mahogany Stand
£ 195
£ 695
Antique Great Dane Figure, English, Bronze, Decorative, Dog Statue, Victorian
£ 695
London Fine Ltd
IM Chaney Antique Furniture
Indian White Metal Filigree Peacock
£ 145
Cheshire Antiques Consultant
1920's Miniature Austrian Bronze Ptarmigan Bird Sculpture
£ 600
£ 76
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
Large Vintage Rubber Tiger
£ 815
Sturmans Antiques Ltd
Lalique Amber Opalescent Sitting Frog
£ 189
Cheshire Antiques Consultant
Antique Austrian Bronze Kiwi Bird Sculpture
£ 750
Wick Antiques Ltd
Large Meiji Period Bronze Tiger by Genryusai Seiya
£ 9,800
Wick Antiques Ltd
Indian Carved Hardwood Elephant with Bone Tusks & Toe Nails
£ 7,800
Debenham Antiques Ltd
Pair Of Mid 20th Century Carved Solid Wood Lions
£ 8,495
£ 195
Antiques @ Art
Waterford Crystal "Racehorse & Jockey" Sculpture
£ 195
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
Folk Art Canada Goose Decoy
£ 440
Epilogue One Antiques
Mare With Foal, After Peter Clodt Von Jurgensburg
£ 420
Youngs Antiques
A Large 17th Century Panel of St Odorada.
£ 3,500
Prometheus Antiques
Fine Bronze of Reclining Dog
£ 695
Rarebits
Large Hot Cast Bronze Retriever
£ 235