10/31/2024 23:16:0

Vintage & Antique Sculptures for Sale

(786 items)

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. 

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Carved Wood Giraffe

£ 375

€438
$472
Carved Wood Giraffe

Carved Wood Giraffe

£ 375

€438
$472

FB Antiques

Fine Pair of Antique Victorian Carved Ebonised Figures

£ 2,495

€2,915
$3,138
Fine Pair of Antique Victorian Carved Ebonised Figures

Fine Pair of Antique Victorian Carved Ebonised Figures

£ 2,495

€2915
$3138

London City Antiques

Art Deco Fan Dancer, Brass Statue

£ 250

€292
$314
Art Deco Fan Dancer, Brass Statue

Art Deco Fan Dancer, Brass Statue

£ 250

€292
$314

Elmgarden

'The Sluggard' by Frederic Lord Leighton (1830-1896)

£ 1,450

€1,694
$1,824
'The Sluggard' by Frederic Lord Leighton (1830-1896)

'The Sluggard' by Frederic Lord Leighton (1830-1896)

£ 1,450

€1694
$1824

Antique & Modern Living

Bronze Figure of Flute Player by E. Piron

£ 725

€847
$912
Bronze Figure of Flute Player by E. Piron

Bronze Figure of Flute Player by E. Piron

£ 725

€847
$912

Antique & Modern Living

Austrian Art Deco Sculpture Dancing Lady Elegant Legs by Lorenzl

£ 5,000

€5,841
$6,289
Austrian Art Deco Sculpture Dancing Lady Elegant Legs by Lorenzl

Austrian Art Deco Sculpture Dancing Lady Elegant Legs by Lorenzl

£ 5,000

€5841
$6289

Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD

Ermanno Nason Female Glass Sculpture

Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd

Ermanno Nason Female Glass Sculpture

£ 440

€514
$553
Ermanno Nason Female Glass Sculpture

Ermanno Nason Female Glass Sculpture

£ 440

€514
$553

Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd

Henri Lechesne Spelter Seagulls Sculpture

Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd

Henri Lechesne Spelter Seagulls Sculpture

£ 1,220

€1,425
$1,535
Henri Lechesne Spelter Seagulls Sculpture

Henri Lechesne Spelter Seagulls Sculpture

£ 1,220

€1425
$1535

Newark Antiques and Interiors Ltd

French Bronze Sculpture " Drinking Panther" By Clovis Masson

£ 2,000

€2,336
$2,516
French Bronze Sculpture " Drinking Panther" By Clovis Masson

French Bronze Sculpture " Drinking Panther" By Clovis Masson

£ 2,000

€2336
$2516

Story Antique Clocks

Pair of 18th Century Carved Oak Plaques of Clasical Scenes

£ 400

€467
$503
Pair of 18th Century Carved Oak Plaques of Clasical Scenes

Pair of 18th Century Carved Oak Plaques of Clasical Scenes

£ 400

€467
$503

IM Chaney Antique Furniture

Large Black Forest Carved Eagle

£ 8,000

€9,345
$10,063
Large Black Forest Carved Eagle

Large Black Forest Carved Eagle

£ 8,000

€9345
$10063

Elmgarden

Virgin & Child in Walnut - 17th Century From France

€ 2,400

£2,055
$2,584
Virgin & Child in Walnut - 17th Century From France

Virgin & Child in Walnut - 17th Century From France

€ 2,400

£2055
$2584

Alain Michel Antiques

Fine Pair of Gilt Bronze Models of The Marley Horses

£ 5,950

€6,951
$7,484
Fine Pair of Gilt Bronze Models of The Marley Horses

Fine Pair of Gilt Bronze Models of The Marley Horses

£ 5,950

€6951
$7484

Sovereign Antiques

Large Pair of Indian Teak Raj Period Elephants c.1880

£ 1,650

€1,927
$2,075
Large Pair of Indian Teak Raj Period Elephants c.1880

Large Pair of Indian Teak Raj Period Elephants c.1880

£ 1,650

€1927
$2075

Robert Belcher Antiques

Large Art Nouveau Copper Crane Bird Oval Wall Sculpture Plaque

£ 750

€876
$943
Large Art Nouveau Copper Crane Bird Oval Wall Sculpture Plaque

Large Art Nouveau Copper Crane Bird Oval Wall Sculpture Plaque

£ 750

€876
$943

Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD

Good Quality Silver Pheasant Figure

£ 125

€146
$157
Good Quality Silver Pheasant Figure

Good Quality Silver Pheasant Figure

£ 125

€146
$157

Booth Antiques

Bronze by Eugène Désiré Piron (French, 1875-1928)

£ 725

€847
$912
Bronze by Eugène Désiré Piron (French, 1875-1928)

Bronze by Eugène Désiré Piron (French, 1875-1928)

£ 725

€847
$912

Antique & Modern Living

Vintage Christmas Santa Claus Advertising Shop Figure

£ 295

€345
$371
Vintage Christmas Santa Claus Advertising Shop Figure

Vintage Christmas Santa Claus Advertising Shop Figure

£ 295

€345
$371

Robert Pagden Antiques

Superb Bronze Lion on Marble Base

Matthew Coles Antiques

Superb Bronze Lion on Marble Base

£ 750

€876
$943
Superb Bronze Lion on Marble Base

Superb Bronze Lion on Marble Base

£ 750

€876
$943

Matthew Coles Antiques

Copper Alloy Figure of Standing Buddha - Java 10th-12th Century

£ 1,750

€2,044
$2,201
Copper Alloy Figure of Standing Buddha - Java 10th-12th Century

Copper Alloy Figure of Standing Buddha - Java 10th-12th Century

£ 1,750

€2044
$2201

Country House and Eastern Interiors

Black Labrador Puppy Door Stop

£ 350

€409
$440
Black Labrador Puppy Door Stop

Black Labrador Puppy Door Stop

£ 350

€409
$440

Elmgarden

Museum Javanese Gold Gilded Standing Dewi Tara Statuette

£ 1,995

€2,330
$2,509
Museum Javanese Gold Gilded Standing Dewi Tara Statuette

Museum Javanese Gold Gilded Standing Dewi Tara Statuette

£ 1,995

€2330
$2509

Country House and Eastern Interiors

Marble Bust of a Lady

Georgian Antiques

Marble Bust of a Lady

£ 1,250

€1,460
$1,572
Marble Bust of a Lady

Marble Bust of a Lady

£ 1,250

€1460
$1572

Georgian Antiques

Antique Sculptures FAQs


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.