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.
CES Home & Garden Limited
Imposing Italian Bronze Verdigris Lions
£ 39,995
Elmgarden Antiques
Silver Lion Fish Model Signed by Mario Bucellati
£ 3,500
Whites Antiques
Elegant Mid-Century Brass Sculptures of Deer & Fawn with Warm Patina on Wenge Plinths
£ 620
Elegant Mid-Century Brass Sculptures of Deer & Fawn with Warm Patina on Wenge Plinths
£ 620
Whites Antiques
Paul Watson Antiques & Interiors Norfolk
Victorian Gilt Bronze Owl Paperweight
£ 225
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Antique Austrian Terracotta Life-size Pug Dog Sculpture
£ 1,450
Antique Austrian Terracotta Life-size Pug Dog Sculpture
£ 1,450
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Antique Austrian Terracotta Life-size Pug Puppy Dog Sculpture
£ 750
Antique Austrian Terracotta Life-size Pug Puppy Dog Sculpture
£ 750
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Antique French Bronze Sculpture Arab Horseman After Barye & Guillemin, 73 cm
£ 2,500
Antique French Bronze Sculpture Arab Horseman After Barye & Guillemin, 73 cm
£ 2,500
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Vintage Farm Animal Bronze Horned Bull Statue With Black Marble Base After Barye
£ 400
Vintage Farm Animal Bronze Horned Bull Statue With Black Marble Base After Barye
£ 400
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Japanese Meiji Animal Bronze Sculpture Elephant & Tigers by Genryusai Seiya
£ 950
Japanese Meiji Animal Bronze Sculpture Elephant & Tigers by Genryusai Seiya
£ 950
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Vavasseur Antiques
Magnificent Bronze Statue of an American Bison After Alfred Barye c.1900
£ 1,850
Magnificent Bronze Statue of an American Bison After Alfred Barye c.1900
£ 1,850
Vavasseur Antiques
Marylebone Antiques
Pair of Antique Chinese Carved Wood Foo Dog Statues
£ 1,650
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Large Cowboy Bronze ‘Bronco Buster’ after Frederic Remington, Early–Mid 20th
£ 1,500
Large Cowboy Bronze ‘Bronco Buster’ after Frederic Remington, Early–Mid 20th
£ 1,500
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Frank Storey Ltd
Zande or Mangbetu Workshop Attribution, Northern Democratic Republic of Congo/ Southern Sudan, Tall Carved Limba Column, Mid-20th Century
£ 1,150
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
A C1940 Attractive Terracotta Bear Stick Stand
£ 3,250
£ 895
Antique Greyhound Figure, French, Bronze, Dog Paperweight, Ornament c.1880
£ 895
London Fine Ltd
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
Bronze Reptile Crocodile Fountain Head Spout Water Feature Garden Sculpture in the Manner of Antoine-Louis Barye c.1920
£ 5,000
Bronze Reptile Crocodile Fountain Head Spout Water Feature Garden Sculpture in the Manner of Antoine-Louis Barye c.1920
£ 5,000
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
Wick Antiques Ltd
Fine Pair of 19th Century Black Forest Walnut Game Plaques Attributed to Johans Fluck of Brienz
£ 3,450
Fine Pair of 19th Century Black Forest Walnut Game Plaques Attributed to Johans Fluck of Brienz
£ 3,450
Wick Antiques Ltd
Time to Admire Ltd
Vintage Hand Painted Plinth, Modelled on the Bust of a Canine in Early Racing Driver Head Gear
£ 135
Vintage Hand Painted Plinth, Modelled on the Bust of a Canine in Early Racing Driver Head Gear
£ 135
Time to Admire Ltd
Elmgarden Antiques
French Fireside Hunting Dog Statue
£ 345
Elmgarden Antiques
French Fireside Hunting Dog Statue
£ 345
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
19th Century French Bronze Frog Sculpture c.1850 – Parisian Workshop – Modelled in the Manner of Moigniez
£ 3,800
19th Century French Bronze Frog Sculpture c.1850 – Parisian Workshop – Modelled in the Manner of Moigniez
£ 3,800
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Antique Marble Eagle Statue in Veined Carrara Marble, 19th Century
£ 1,200
Antique Marble Eagle Statue in Veined Carrara Marble, 19th Century
£ 1,200
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Elmgarden Antiques
Iron Bull Desk Ornament with Bronze Finish Patina
£ 300
Sovereign Antiques
' Black Panther ' Hot Cast Bronze Signed by Artist Circa Last Century
£ 495
' Black Panther ' Hot Cast Bronze Signed by Artist Circa Last Century
£ 495
Sovereign Antiques
Antique & Modern Living
A Superb Bronze Lion By Paul-Édouard Delabrièrre
£ 1,750
The Old Yard
Life Size Cast Iron Rams Head Wall Hanging
£ 385
Sovereign Antiques
Horse and Jockey 1923 Derby Winner
£ 1,750
London City Antiques
Large Antique Quality Carved Linden Wood Japanese Bear Carrying a Fish
£ 1,385
Large Antique Quality Carved Linden Wood Japanese Bear Carrying a Fish
£ 1,385
London City Antiques
£ 7,500
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
Italian Bronze Horse Head c.1950 in the Style of Romanelli, Florentine Equestrian Mastery
£ 4,600
Italian Bronze Horse Head c.1950 in the Style of Romanelli, Florentine Equestrian Mastery
£ 4,600
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
Mark Stacey Antiques & Decorative
After Antonio Canova, Grand Tour Lion
£ 165
Bentleigh Antiques
A Pair of Large Teak Elephants Mid Century 57cm 22.5inches High
£ 695
In a Nutshell Antiques & Interiors Ltd
Large Leather Horse by Liberty London
£ 795
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
Early 19th Century Neoclassical Bronze Winged Lion of Saint Mark – Venetian Grand Tour Bronze
£ 2,000
Early 19th Century Neoclassical Bronze Winged Lion of Saint Mark – Venetian Grand Tour Bronze
£ 2,000
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
Elmgarden Antiques
4ft Tall Hand Carved Wooden Cobra
£ 560
Time to Admire Ltd
Bronze Sculpture of a Georgian Period Hussar on Horseback
£ 1,300
Elmgarden Antiques
2 Heavy Cast Iron Horse’s Head Wall Bracket Shelves
£ 1,250
Elmgarden Antiques
Pair of Large Old Weathered Eagle Statues or Pillar Caps
£ 775
Elmgarden Antiques
Pair of Weathered Guardian Lions
£ 2,200
London City Antiques
Unusual Large Antique Edwardian Japanese Carved Linden Wood Bear
£ 685
