Kota Reliquary Figure
1970s Tribal Figurative Sculptures
Copper
People Also Browsed
Mid-20th Century Congolese Tribal Urns
Ceramic
Mid-20th Century Malian Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
Mid-20th Century Cameroonian Tribal Armchairs
Wood
Antique 19th Century Sierra Leonean Tribal Tribal Art
Stone, Soapstone
20th Century Ivorian Tribal Tribal Art
Wood
Mid-20th Century Nigerian Tribal Tribal Art
Wood
Vintage 1970s Ghanaian Stools
Wood
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
20th Century Cameroonian Tribal Art
Organic Material
Late 20th Century Guinean Tribal Animal Sculptures
Metal
Early 20th Century Ivorian Tribal Figurative Sculptures
Wood
20th Century Ghanaian Masks
Wood, Paint
Mid-20th Century Nigerian Tribal Tribal Art
Wood
Mid-20th Century Sculptures and Carvings
Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century Congolese Tribal Tribal Art
Wood
Early 20th Century Ivorian Tribal 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.