Humans appear to be the only species interested in representing themselves in Art. The earliest known figurative sculpture found so far dates back over 35,000 years and since then we have never stopped recreating models of ourselves out of other materials. It is of course amazing how one basic body form can create an endless array of poses and positions, each uniquely suggestive of the person’s mood and personality. The most common materials for figural work are bronze, wood and stone, with each creating very different effects.
While competence alone can create an accurate representation of the body in sculptural form, it takes a true artist to give the piece a sense of presence and life. The most famous including Michelangelo, Degas, Rodin, Moore and others recognised this. In Europe the Renaissance allowed sculptors to consider the sense of allegory and movement in the frozen moment and also how to manipulate the finish to help suit that mood. Therefore, when looking at a great sculpture you are not just seeing the physical likeness of someone, but often a glimpse into their personality as well. If the 19th Century was all about recreating energy-charged classical pieces, by the 20th Century allegory was replaced with tenderness, humour and abstraction, capturing and portraying more personal moments.
At LoveAntiques we have a fine selection of Antique and Vintage sculptures from knowledgeable dealers across the UK and beyond.
Trade Antiques
Pair of Country Oak Primitive Carved Statues 1780
£ 485
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
Large Late 17th Century Flemish Oak Figure of Winged Angel
£ 5,950
Large Late 17th Century Flemish Oak Figure of Winged Angel
£ 5,950
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
£ 4,750
Milton Horn (American 1906-1995) Monumental Bronze Sculpture - Burning Bush
£ 4,750
Lefays Fine Arts
Antiques & Chic
Bronze Indian Chief
£ 795
Antiques & Chic
Victorian Signed Bronze of an Olympian
£ 895
Lefays Fine Arts
M. R. Locke (act.1930) Bronze Baby Faun Staring Into a Pool
£ 345
London City Antiques
Antique Victorian Quality Bronze Figure
£ 575
Lefays Fine Arts
Miyao Eisuke Meiji Japanese Gilt Bronze Okimono Warrior
£ 2,450
£ 1,350
20th Century Art Sculptures
Art Deco Silvered Bronze Pierette by Louis Fontinelle
£ 1,295
20th Century Art Sculptures
Art Deco Gilt Bronze Nude Dancer by Joseph Decomps
£ 2,250
20th Century Art Sculptures
Art Deco Bronze Dancer Signed S. Melani
£ 1,695
20th Century Art Sculptures
Art Deco Bronze Hunter & Eagle by Michel Decoux
£ 1,295
20th Century Art Sculptures
Antique Gilt Bronze 'Tambourine Dancer' by Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse
£ 1,995
Antique Gilt Bronze 'Tambourine Dancer' by Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse
£ 1,995
20th Century Art Sculptures
Antiques & Chic
Country House Bronze Statue on Wooden Pedestal
£ 3,295
Treehouse Antiques
Pair of Hand Carved Oak Angels
£ 695
Treehouse Antiques
Antique Carved Oak Angel
£ 380
Antiques & Chic
Art Deco Bronze - Signed Aktien Gesellschaft Gladenbeck
£ 695
20th Century Art Sculptures
Gilt Bronze Kneeling Angel by Jean Francois Theodore Gechter
£ 1,295
Gilt Bronze Kneeling Angel by Jean Francois Theodore Gechter
£ 1,295
20th Century Art Sculptures
Antiques & Chic
Victorian Signed Bronze A.collas, Brevett to the Base
£ 895
Vintage Garden UK
Large Pair Chinese Terracotta Soldiers
£ 895
The Antique Warehouse
Spelter Figurine: 1890 French Spelter Figurine of a Greek Goddess on a Wooden Plinth
£ 155
Spelter Figurine: 1890 French Spelter Figurine of a Greek Goddess on a Wooden Plinth
£ 155
The Antique Warehouse
The Antique Warehouse
Spelter Figurine: Wonderful French Spelter Figurine on Ebonised Wooden Plinth 1880
£ 175
Spelter Figurine: Wonderful French Spelter Figurine on Ebonised Wooden Plinth 1880
£ 175
The Antique Warehouse
London City Antiques
Spectacular Pair of Large Antique Quality Orientalist Polychromed Plaster Arabesque or Moorish Figures
£ 4,850
Spectacular Pair of Large Antique Quality Orientalist Polychromed Plaster Arabesque or Moorish Figures
£ 4,850
London City Antiques
£ 985
Heavy Antique Putto Figure, Italian, Lead Cherub Statue, Neoclassical c.1850
£ 985
London Fine Ltd
£ 895
Antique Siamese Dancer Statue, Thai, Bronze Deity Figure - Victorian c.1850
£ 895
London Fine Ltd
Kernow Furniture
Balinese Deity Figure
£ 165
Trade Antiques
5ft Italian Original Paint Carved Saint 1830
£ 22,500
Philip Allison Antiques and Decorative Arts
Classical South East Asian Khmer Temple Maiden Deity Torso
£ 650
Classical South East Asian Khmer Temple Maiden Deity Torso
£ 650
Philip Allison Antiques and Decorative Arts
Antiques & Chic
Huge Pair of Bronze Statues Holding Lights on Bases
£ 8,750
Debenham Antiques Ltd
17th Century Carved Limewood Gothic Figure
£ 7,995
£ 280
Marlborough Antiques & Interiors
Benin Bronze Warrior
£ 895
Vintage World
Stunning Vintage Sculpture Figurine Statue
£ 149
Vintage World
Decoration Vintage Sculpture Figurine Statue
£ 149
£ 800
£ 299
Pair of 19th Century French Empire Gilt Bronze & Marble Classical Statue Figurines
£ 299
Artsonline.org.uk
Cheshire Antiques Consultant
19th Century Carved Religious Figure Saint Holding Shield Crossed Keys of Heaven
£ 925
19th Century Carved Religious Figure Saint Holding Shield Crossed Keys of Heaven
£ 925
Cheshire Antiques Consultant
Wick Antiques Ltd
Meiji Period Bronze of a Seated Man Smoking
£ 1,450
Indigojollyphant Antiques
Fine Bronze Harlequin by Benson Landes (1927-2013) Bronze Clown
£ 795
Fine Bronze Harlequin by Benson Landes (1927-2013) Bronze Clown
£ 795
Indigojollyphant Antiques