Monkey Cloisonne
Early 20th Century Chinese Metalwork
Copper
Recent Sales
Early 2000s Animal Sculptures
Metal
Vintage 1950s Chinese Animal Sculptures
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary English Folk Art Side Tables
Iron
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and...
Onyx
Antique Early 1900s Italian Aesthetic Movement Chairs
Walnut
Vintage 1980s Italian Modern Lounge Chairs
Felt
20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Figurative Sculptures
Gesso, Shell, Wood
Antique 19th Century Chinese Qing Floor Lamps
Wood, Giltwood, Lacquer
20th Century Animal Paintings
Oil
2010s American Armchairs
Oak
Antique 18th Century French Rustic Flooring
Limestone
Early 20th Century European Arts and Crafts Fireplaces and Mantels
Stone
Antique Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Vases
Earthenware
Antique 18th Century Italian Lanterns
Metal
Antique 19th Century Italian Chairs
Wood
Antique Early 1900s French Napoleon III Table Lamps
Bronze
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Wall Brackets
Wood
20th Century Japonisme Lanterns
Copper
Finding the Right Animal-sculptures for You
Invite the untamed wonders of the animal kingdom into your home — and do so safely — with the antique, new and vintage animal sculptures available on 1stDibs.
Artists working in every medium from furniture design to jewelry to painting have found inspiration in wild animals over the years. For sculptors, three-dimensional animal renderings — both realistic and symbolic — crisscross history and continents. In as early as 210 B.C., intricately detailed terracotta horses guarded early Chinese tombs, while North America’s native Inuit tribes living in the ice-covered Arctic during the 1800’s wore small animal figurines carved from walrus ivory. Indeed, animal sculpture has a long history, and beginning in the 19th century, the art form started becoming not only fashionable but artistically validated — a trend that continues today. At home, animal sculptures — polished bronze rhinos crafted in the Art Deco style or ceramic dogs of the mid-century modern era — can introduce both playfulness and drama to your decor.
In the case of the frosted glass sculptures crafted by artisans at legendary French glassmaker Lalique, founded by jeweler and glass artist René Lalique, some animal sculptures are purely decorative. With their meticulously groomed horse manes and detailed contours of their parakeet feathers, these creatures want to be proudly displayed. Adding animal sculptures to your bookcases can draw attention to your covetable collection of vintage monographs, while side tables and wall shelving also make great habitats for these ornamental animal figurines.
Some sculptures, however, can find suitable nests in just about any corner of your space. Whimsical brass flamingos or the violent, realist bronze lions created by Parisian sculptor Antoine-Louis Barye are provocative and versatile pieces that can rest on windowsills or your desk. Otherwise, the brass cat shoehorns and bronze porcupine ashtrays designed by Viennese artist Walter Bosse are no longer roaming aimlessly throughout your living room, as they’ve found a purpose to serve.
Embark on your safari today and find a fascinating collection of vintage, modern and antique animal sculptures on 1stDibs.
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