Since Ancient times humans have moulded the materials around them to create 3D representations of the world that matters to them. From energetic animals and figures to far more serious Busts and abstractions, Sculpture offers probably the most engaging form of art. It is extremely tactile as well as created in the round, and this helps provides both a sense of physical weight and presence to the piece. It also allows light and shadow to envelope the item.
Throughout history there have been countless Masters of sculpture creating in materials as diverse as wood, stone, metal and resins. Of these the most respected today is Bronze and Marble. Bronze is essentially a mixture of copper and tin and has been in use for at least seven centuries.
In contrast items carved in wood or stone require the artist to carefully chip away at the piece until the form is created. Compared to Bronze these materials are whittled down slowly and methodically but can be just as prone to failure with a single misguided blow of the mallet. This is particularly true with Stonework where the craftsman needs to understand the natural striations in the rock to predict where the crack or fissure of each blow will occur.
Antique & Modern Living
Small Black Forest Carved Bear
£ 395
Treehouse Antiques
Franze Bergman Bronze English Bulldog
£ 425
London City Antiques
Antique Victorian Quality Bronze Figure
£ 575
Antique & Modern Living
19th Century Carrara Marble Bust of John Milton (Poet)
Rams Head Antiques
Chinese Bronze Warrior on Horseback
£ 495
Cheshire Antiques Consultant
French Chrome Androgynous Face Mask on Stand
£ 400
£ 1,450
Antique & Modern Living
Charming Bronze Figure by Antoine Bofill (1875-1925)
£ 1,475
Treehouse Antiques
Antique Bronze Model of Terrier
£ 165
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
Late 19th Century Goldscheider Terracotta Boy Sitting
£ 1,500
Late 19th Century Goldscheider Terracotta Boy Sitting
£ 1,500
Knight Fine Antiques & Collectables
£ 935
Goldscheider Polychromed Ceramic / Terracotta Minstrel Austrian 1890-1910
£ 935
Whites Antiques
Whites Antiques
Mirrored Pair of Vintage Well Weathered Recumbent Lions
£ 1,045
£ 165
Wick Antiques Ltd
Black Forest Linden Wood Eagle
£ 6,800
JMR Antiques Ltd
19th Century Signed Bronze Sculpture of Zeus
£ 1,495
London City Antiques
Antique 19th Century Outstanding Quality Bronze Dancing Maidens Statue Signed by Clodion
£ 5,500
Antique 19th Century Outstanding Quality Bronze Dancing Maidens Statue Signed by Clodion
£ 5,500
London City Antiques
Whites Antiques
Extra Large Sitting Figure of Whippet Finely Modelled
£ 1,200
£ 3,000
Whites Antiques
Charmingly Naïvely Hand Carved Recumbent Wooden Dog c.1930
£ 625
Jo Brayshaw
Japanese Bronze & Pewter Dragon Vase c.1900
£ 425
Treehouse Antiques
Small 19th Century Grand Tour Bronze Spinario
£ 425
Treehouse Antiques
19th Century Grand Tour Bronze
£ 395
Campbell Vintage
Glazed Pottery Bust of Roman Emperor on Stand
£ 265
Campbell Vintage
Hand Painted Vintage Folk Art Decoy Duck
£ 145
Vintage House
Terracotta Nude Sculpture by Eric Penny
£ 65
Jo Brayshaw
Coco De Mer c.1900
£ 425
London City Antiques
Quality Pair of Antique Victorian Bronze Storks / Cranes
£ 1,150
Kernow Furniture
Pair of Indonesian Wall Plaques
£ 185
Kernow Furniture
Large Weeping Buddha
£ 495
Vintage Garden UK
Large Bust of David on Plinth
£ 995
Cheshire Antiques Consultant
Early 19th Century Bronze Sculpture Bust of William Roscoe by William Spence
£ 4,950
Early 19th Century Bronze Sculpture Bust of William Roscoe by William Spence
£ 4,950
Cheshire Antiques Consultant
Antique & Modern Living
Late 19th Century French Bronze Figure by Henri Ple
£ 2,450
POA
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
Trade Antiques
Pair of Country Oak Primitive Carved Statues 1780-1800
£ 485
Roger Grimes Antiques
Bronze Netsuke Modeled as Wild Boar
£ 475
Jo Brayshaw
Art Deco Book Ends. C1930
£ 450
Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd
Two Early 20th Century Decoy Pigeons
£ 465
Vintage Garden UK
Large Pair of Chinese Terracotta Soldiers
£ 895
Merchant House Antiques
Art Deco Bronze Gladiator Signed "Desire Grisard"
£ 4,750
What are the 4 basic types of sculpture?
Sculptures are categorised into four basic types including moulded, cast, assembled, or carved. A typical moulded sculpture would be hand-cast with wax, clay, Papier-Mache, or plaster usually using a wooden mould. Antique cast sculptures were typically cast in Bronze, Brass or Spelter (a combination of zinc and lead). The model would first be carved and created from wax which was then encased in clay. The wax is melted off and the mould is then filled with the hot metal. Carved art is produced by cutting or chipping away a piece of stone, wood, or other solid material until the sculpture is created. Assembled sculptures involve combinations of different materials to create a three-dimensional style. Sculptures in glass are created by manipulating the molten glass into the shape desired or filling a mould with the glass.
Where to buy Bronze statues?
There are many places where you can buy Bronze Statues but when looking for genuine antique examples it is important to purchase them from reputable dealers like ours on LoveAntiques. This is because bronzes are still being produced new today so can easily be confused as being old if you don’t have the relevant skills to tell the difference. There are also sadly many fakes and copies out there usually of the more desirable makers and statues. These have been produced for many years so may have begun to acquire some of its own genuine patina (as well as the faux patina given to it when made). Most new bronzes are given a coat of patinating fluid which is brushed on and will darken the metal to a deep brown/black. There is no depth or variation to this finish but over time it will wear and soften. Therefore with a bit of skill it is possible to spot new from old bronzes, but a skilled professional will also give you the peace of mind necessary and point out the features which make their items genuine.
How to date antique statues?
Dating an antique statue will depending on several factors and sadly often years of experience. The main things to consider are the materials used and how it has aged, the overall artistic quality and detail of the piece, as well as how accurate the poses or details are. All materials and finishes age over time and understanding how the main material used ages will help a lot. Wood will not only crack but will also attract dust to give a unique look, paintwork will chip and details will wear if handled. The timber will also darken. Stone and marble left outdoors will weather in different depending on how soft it is, and metal will usually oxidize. Kept indoors these materials won't weather much but an accumulation of dust and particles in the atmosphere may darken the finish. Once you have ascertained the degree of aging then it is important to understand the fine details and attributes of that statue. Many modern statues tend not to be as detailed because they are more interested in creating movement and abstract forms, but also copies of older pieces will usually lack the necessary attention to detail because time is money. If you have an antique statue which you believe is old then it is a good idea to show it to a reputable dealer who should be able to confirm its age and authenticity.