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.
Wick Antiques Ltd
Black Forest Linden Wood Eagle
£ 6,800
Whites Antiques
Extra Large Sitting Figure of Whippet Finely Modelled
£ 1,200
Whites Antiques
Charmingly Naïvely Hand Carved Recumbent Wooden Dog c.1930
£ 625
Campbell Vintage
Hand Painted Vintage Folk Art Decoy Duck
£ 145
London City Antiques
Quality Pair of Antique Victorian Bronze Storks / Cranes
£ 1,150
Roger Grimes Antiques
Bronze Netsuke Modeled as Wild Boar
£ 475
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
Two Early 20th Century Decoy Pigeons
£ 465
Artsonline.org.uk
Large Rare Pair of Early 19th Century Asian Indian Polychrome Carved Horses with Riders
£ 7,900
Large Rare Pair of Early 19th Century Asian Indian Polychrome Carved Horses with Riders
£ 7,900
Artsonline.org.uk
Merchant House Antiques
Art Deco Carved Panther
£ 795
Cheshire Antiques Consultant
French 19th Century Bronzel Sculpture Bull by Isidore Jules Bonheur
£ 8,500
French 19th Century Bronzel Sculpture Bull by Isidore Jules Bonheur
£ 8,500
Cheshire Antiques Consultant
£ 1,250
Lefays Fine Arts
Armand Lemo (french 1881-1935) Bronze Borzoi Dog
£ 1,795
Antiques & Chic
Bronze Indian Chief
£ 795
Antiques & Chic
Bronze Pair of Tigers, Large in Size, Superb Detail
£ 2,995
Artsonline.org.uk
Style of 8th / 9th Century Tang Dynasty Horse - Chinese Terracotta Patinated Cast Metal
£ 329
Style of 8th / 9th Century Tang Dynasty Horse - Chinese Terracotta Patinated Cast Metal
£ 329
Artsonline.org.uk
Lefays Fine Arts
19th Century Bronze Spaniel Dog Calling Card / Letter Holder
£ 575
Lefays Fine Arts
Sally Arnup (British 1930–2015) Bronze Norfolk Terrier Dog
£ 1,750
£ 2,500
.jpg "Art Deco Bronze Lion by Jeanne Hugues")
20th Century Art Sculptures
Art Deco Bronze Lion by Jeanne Hugues
£ 895
.jpg "Art Deco Gilt Bronze Herons Signed E. Garin")
20th Century Art Sculptures
Art Deco Gilt Bronze Herons Signed E. Garin
£ 495
.jpg "Early 20th Century Silvered Pheasant Sculpture Signed Frecourt")
20th Century Art Sculptures
Early 20th Century Silvered Pheasant Sculpture Signed Frecourt
£ 695
Early 20th Century Silvered Pheasant Sculpture Signed Frecourt
£ 695
20th Century Art Sculptures
Antique & Modern Living
Japanese Meiji Period Bronze Elephant
£ 1,495
Vintage Garden UK
Pair Stone Seated Lions on Plinths
£ 695
Vintage Garden UK
Pair Stone Seated Lions on Plinths
£ 695
£ 125
.jpg "Art Deco Tiger Signed Rousseau")
20th Century Art Sculptures
Art Deco Tiger Signed Rousseau
£ 1,995
£ 950
Carradale Farm Antiques Ltd
Large Bronze Greyhound on Marble Base
£ 775
£ 235
Rams Head Antiques
Antique Chinese Lion Dog Giltwood
£ 595
Cheshire Antiques Consultant
British Art Deco Sporting Prized Racing Greyhound Stud Bronze Sculpture
£ 1,925
British Art Deco Sporting Prized Racing Greyhound Stud Bronze Sculpture
£ 1,925
Cheshire Antiques Consultant
£ 3,000
Graham Smith Antiques Ltd
Japanese Bronze Mandarin Duck Okimono
£ 395
Lambert & Co.
'Arkle' Oak Carving
£ 2,250
Norfolk Trade Antiques
Austrian Cold Painted Bronze Trout
£ 395
Prometheus Antiques
Austrian Cold Painted Bronze Figure of Antelope
£ 550
Wick Antiques Ltd
Black Forest Linden Wood Model of Hawk
£ 2,200
Elmgarden
Arts & Crafts Leather Model of Horse
£ 595
Cheshire Antiques Consultant
Mid Century Sporting Equine Bronze Horse Head Bust Sculpture
£ 1,250
Mid Century Sporting Equine Bronze Horse Head Bust Sculpture
£ 1,250
Cheshire Antiques Consultant
Antique and Unique
Austrian Cold Painted Bronze Fox
£ 125