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Neoclassical Figurative Sculptures

NEOCLASSICAL STYLE

Neoclassical design emerged in Europe in the 1750s, as the Age of Enlightenment reached full flower. Neoclassical furniture took its cues from the styles of ancient Rome and Athens: symmetrical, ordered, dignified forms with such details as tapered and fluted chair and table legs, backrest finials and scrolled arms.

Over a period of some 20 years, first in France and later in Britain, neoclassical design — also known as Louis XVI, or Louis Seize — would supersede the lithe and curvaceous Rococo or Louis XV style.

The first half of the 18th century had seen a rebirth of interest in classical antiquity. The "Grand Tour" of Europe, codified as a part of the proper education of a patrician gentleman, included an extended visit to Rome. Some ventured further, to sketch the ruins of ancient Greece. These drawings and others — particularly those derived from the surprising and rich archaeological discoveries in the 1730s and ’40s at the sites of the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum — caused great excitement among intellectuals and aesthetes alike.

Neoclassical furniture is meant to reflect both grace and power. The overall appearance of neoclassical chairs, tables and cabinetry is strong and rectilinear. These pieces are, in effect, classical architecture in miniature: chair and table legs are shaped like columns; cabinets are constructed with elements that mirror friezes and pediments.

Yet neoclassicism is enlivened by gilt and silver leaf, marquetry, and carved and applied ornamental motifs based on Greek and Roman sculpture: acanthus leaves, garlands, laurel wreaths, sheaves of arrow, medallions and chair splats are carved in the shapes of lyres and urns. Ormolu — or elaborate bronze gilding — was essential to French design in the 18th and 19th centuries as a cornerstone of the neoclassical and Empire styles.

As you can see from the furniture on these pages, there is a bit of whimsy in such stately pieces — a touch of lightness that will always keep neoclassicism fresh.

Find antique neoclassical furniture today on 1stDibs.

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Style: Neoclassical
Basalt Portrait Medallion, Tiberius Augustus, Wedgwood, circa 1775
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
A fine large self-framing portrait medallion of the Emperor Tiberius Augustus, second emperor of Rome. Unmarked, as were many of these medallions.
Category

Late 18th Century English Antique Neoclassical Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Stoneware

Allegory of Grapes Harvest, Gilt Terracotta, 20th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Atelier Prométhée, author. Gilt and patinated terracotta sculpture representing games of putti. Allegory of the Grapes Harvest figuring a girl tipping a basket of grapes while a...
Category

Late 20th Century Neoclassical Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Terracotta

”Child Portrait” Marble and Bronze, Spain, 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
"Girl with flowers on a basket". Sculpture in white marble and bronze, on base, Spain, 19th century. The pedestal, in the shape of a column with a smooth shaft, elevates the sculpture and highlights it with its elegance of lines and lack of exaggerated decorative elements (aside from some moldings in what would be the capital and the marbled marble change in the upper piece, on which the sculpture is located). The figure of the girl, carved in a white marble of great quality, is sitting, looking towards the distance, and with a bouquet of flowers in her arms and a medal hanging from a cord around her neck. When sitting on a basket with flowers the figure is softened, in addition to enhancing it with the chromatic contrast existing between the flowers and the basket (patinated bronze) and the figure. The hair of the girl, with a pictorial waves without a powerful chiaroscuro, contrasts with the detail of the dress, perfect both in the ruffles of the neck and in the embroidery of the fabric and with which, in addition, an "informal" touch has been added to show fallen a strait and the skirt wrinkled. This lack of formality fits perfectly with the theme, and is slightly accentuated by presenting the figure with socks (or stockings, dropped) and without shoes. The realism of the face (attenuated with a slight idealization) suggests that it is a child portrait. The pictorial treatment of the figure and the roses relate it to artistic approaches that emerged during the 19th century and with a certain aesthetic and skill level. Stylistically, it is possible to relate it to the environment and the influence of two key figures of 19th-century Spanish art for their invoice, traits, technical mastery and originality: Agustín Querol...
Category

19th Century Spanish Antique Neoclassical Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Pair of 19th Century Carved Alabaster Statues of Classically Draped Females
Located in Hudson, NY
Made in Italy circa 1860 this pair of figures are of good size and color with many Fine details. Certainly made as an export or tourist item speaking of the ancient days the pair wou...
Category

19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Alabaster

Pair of Louis Philippe Bronze and Marble Candelabra
Located in Essex, MA
Each with cherub holding a flowering branch, on a white cylindrical marble base with square marble plinth.
Category

1790s French Antique Neoclassical Figurative Sculptures

Neoclassical figurative sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Neoclassical figurative sculptures for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage figurative sculptures created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, building and garden elements and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, stone and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Neoclassical figurative sculptures made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Italy pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original figurative sculptures, popular names associated with this style include Bow Porcelain, Wedgwood, Ferdinand Barbedienne, and Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for figurative sculptures differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $195 and tops out at $228,710 while the average work can sell for $4,975.

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