Asante Gold Weight
Late 19th Century Tribal Figurative Sculptures
Brass, Bronze, Copper
People Also Browsed
Antique Mid-19th Century English High Victorian Taxidermy
Other
Early 18th Century Baroque Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Beninese Tribal Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
Early 20th Century Tribal Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
Mid-20th Century Figurative Sculptures
Metal
Early 20th Century Tribal Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
Early 20th Century Gabonese Tribal Abstract Sculptures
Brass, Copper
Late 20th Century Beninese Tribal Sculptures and Carvings
Ebony
Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Tribal Art
Wood
Mid-20th Century Ghanaian Tribal Figurative Sculptures
Glass, Wood
1910s Tribal Figurative Sculptures
Wood
Late 20th Century Beninese Tribal Busts
Bronze
Early 20th Century American Renaissance Revival Tableware
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century Symbolist Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Early 20th Century Burkinabe Primitive Masks
Wood
Early 20th Century Ivorian Other Tribal Art
Wood
Finding the Right Figurative-sculptures for You
Figurative sculptures mix reality and imagination, with the most common muse being the human body. Animals are also inspirations for these sculptures, along with forms found in nature.
While figurative sculpture dates back over 35,000 years, the term came into popularity in the 20th century to distinguish it from abstract art. It was aligned with the Expressionist movement in that many of its artists portrayed reality but in a nonnaturalistic and emotional way. In the 1940s, Alberto Giacometti — a Swiss-born artist who was interested in African art, Cubism and Surrealism — created now-iconic representational sculptures of the human figure, and after World War II, figurative sculpture as a movement continued to flourish in Europe.
Lucian Freud and Francis Bacon were some of the leading figurative artists during this period. Artists like Jeff Koons and Maurizio Cattelan propelled the evolution of figurative sculpture into the 21st century.
Figurative sculptures can be whimsical, uncanny and beautiful. Their materials range from stone and wood to metal and delicate ceramics. Even in smaller sizes, the sculptures make bold statements. A bronze sculpture by Salvador Dalí enhances a room; a statuesque bull by Jacques Owczarek depicts strength with its broad chest while its thin legs speak of fragility. Figurative sculptures allow viewers to see what is possible when life is reimagined.
Browse 1stDibs for an extensive collection of figurative sculptures and find the next addition to your collection.