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.
Campbell Vintage
Decorative Bird Hand Carved & Painted
£ 140
Campbell Vintage
Painted & Hand Carved Folk Art Bird
£ 140
Campbell Vintage
Hand Carved & Monochrome Painted Decorative Bird
£ 140
Campbell Vintage
Hand Carved & Painted Decorative Duck
£ 140
Campbell Vintage
Hand Carved & Painted Decorative Bird
£ 150
Campbell Vintage
Hand Carved & Decorated Bird Using Straw
£ 110
Campbell Vintage
Folk Art Decorative Bird Carved & Painted
£ 140
Campbell Vintage
Hand Carved & Painted Folk Art Decorative Bird
£ 145
Campbell Vintage
Hand Carved & Painted Folk Art Decorative Bird
£ 145
Campbell Vintage
Hand Carved & Painted Decorative Bird
£ 145
Campbell Vintage
Hand Carved & Painted Decorative Bird
£ 145
Antique & Modern Living
19th Century Austrian Cold Painted Bronze
£ 495
Walton House Antiques Ltd
19th Century 'Grand Tour' Bloodstone Desk Paperweight
£ 385
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
Mother Otter with Pup Stone Garden Ornament
£ 600
£ 495
Antique Dog Figure, English, Nickelled Iron, Pointer, Hound Ornament, Edwardian
£ 495
London Fine Ltd
Rams Head Antiques
Stylish Pair of Chinese Bronzed Deer
£ 495
£ 90
The Gentleman Terrier
A Super Antique Terrier Dog Card or Letter Holder, Gilt Cast Metal, 19th Century
£ 95
A Super Antique Terrier Dog Card or Letter Holder, Gilt Cast Metal, 19th Century
£ 95
The Gentleman Terrier
£ 7,500
Draft Horse, A Powerful Bronze Sculpture In the Style of Renee Sintenis 1888-1965
£ 7,500
Koos Limburg Jnr
Whites Antiques
Mirror Pair of Carved Hardwood Water Buffalo
£ 530
Philip Allison Antiques and Decorative Arts
Yorkshire Critters Carved Oak Figure of a Majestic Cow
£ 250
Yorkshire Critters Carved Oak Figure of a Majestic Cow
£ 250
Philip Allison Antiques and Decorative Arts
Beresford Antiques Ltd
Vintage Leather Model of Deer - Possibly Libertys
£ 495
Antique & Modern Living
Small Black Forest Carved Bear
£ 395
Treehouse Antiques
Franze Bergman Bronze English Bulldog
£ 425
Treehouse Antiques
Antique Bronze Model of Terrier
£ 165
Whites Antiques
Mirrored Pair of Vintage Well Weathered Recumbent Lions
£ 1,045
£ 165
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
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
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 LTD
£ 1,250
£ 1,795
Antiques & Chic
Bronze Indian Chief
£ 795
Antiques & Chic
Bronze Pair of Tigers, Large in Size, Superb Detail
£ 2,995