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.
£ 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
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
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
£ 1,100
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
Jo Brayshaw
Pair Bronzes, Musical Fawns. C1900.
£ 650
London City Antiques
Unusual Large Antique Edwardian Japanese Carved Linden Wood Bear
£ 685
Robert Belcher Antiques
A Very Large Classical Sculpture of a Medici Lion C 1850
£ 1,395
Elmgarden Antiques
Pair of Large Old Iron Eagle Statues or Pillar Caps
£ 1,250
Antique & Modern Living
A Meiji Bronze Elephant & Tigers Okimono
£ 3,250
AppleMan Antiques
Vintage French Art Deco Desk Calendar, Baby Elephant
£ 249
Jo Brayshaw
Superb Bronze, Gun Dog Retrieving. C1870
£ 1,075
AppleMan Antiques
Antique Bronze Alligator Rug Sculpture, Franz Bergmann
£ 599
AppleMan Antiques
Antique Victorian Crocodile Inkwell, Spelter
£ 499
Elmgarden Antiques
Life Size Italian Ceramic Hand Made Horse Head
£ 2,250
AppleMan Antiques
Vintage Bronze and Sterling Silver Cat Desk Fancy
£ 499
AppleMan Antiques
Art Deco Baby Polar Bear Desktop Model, Brass and Marble
£ 169
Wick Antiques Ltd
French Bronze Group of Two Wolfhounds by Mathilde Thomas-Soyer (1858-1940) with ‘Thiebaut Freres’
£ 5,400
French Bronze Group of Two Wolfhounds by Mathilde Thomas-Soyer (1858-1940) with ‘Thiebaut Freres’
£ 5,400
Wick Antiques Ltd
