Mario Furlan

Walter Furlan was born in 1931 in Chioggia, a small town near Venice. He started to work in a furnace called VAMSA very early. He apprenticed from one of the most famous glass masters on the island, Romano Tosi, better known as Mamaracio. Towards the end of the second world war, from 1940–45, he worked in the furnace Gino Cenedese, where he met Alfredo Barbini along with the old masters from Vamsa. During this period, Furlan learned the particular technique called a massello, that is, he learned how to shape a quantity of glass that was not blown and therefore quite difficult to handle. In 1963, he exhibited his works of art in the official Glass Display on Murano Island sponsored by the Venetian Institute for work and later on in the Arts and Crafts Exhibition in Reggio, Calabria. At the beginning of the 70s, Furlan cooperated with Maestro Angelo Seguso and designer Mario Pisoni in the glass factory Seguso Art Glass. The works of Furlan are to be found in museum collections all over the world.

Figurative sculpture is a modern art form in which artists create work that is typically representative of the visible world. However, sculptures that are considered to be figurative in style can definitely be inclusive of abstract elements. A wide range of antique, new and vintage figurative sculptures has been made over the years by both well-known and emerging artists, and these pieces can prove striking and provocative as part of your home decor.

Realistic representation in visual art has a very long history. And while figurative artists, whether figurative painters or sculptors, find inspiration in humans, animals and real-life objects, good figurative sculptures can make us think differently about how the real world should look. Just as figurative paintings might include Photorealistic human likenesses, they can also include elements of Surrealism and can suggest a creative and alternative reality. Figurative sculptures aren’t always realistic impressions of our world — depictions of the human form in classical Greek sculpture, for example, might emphasize beauty and physical perfection.

There are a variety of figurative sculptures on 1stDibs created by artists working in a number of styles, including Art Deco, Art Nouveau, mid-century modern and more. A large figurative sculpture can introduce an excellent focal point in a guest bedroom, while smaller works might draw the eye to spaces such as wall shelving or a bookcase that people may otherwise overlook.

When decorating your living room, dining room, home office and study areas with figurative sculptures, don’t be afraid to choose bold colors to inject brightness into neutral spaces. Texture is another factor to consider when purchasing figurative sculptures. A highly textural work of ceramics or wood will catch the eye in a sleek modern space, whereas a smooth, flat glass sculpture can offer an often much-needed contrast in a room that already has many textures.

On 1stDibs, find antique, new or vintage figurative sculpture or other kinds of sculpture for your home decor today.