"Nail Fetish Bacongo-Zaire, " Glass, Wood, & Metal created circa 1910
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Nail Fetish Bacongo-Zaire" is a sculpture made of glass, wood, and metal created circa 1910. He
Metal
$37,800
H 58 in W 15 in D 13 in
"Nkondi Bakongo Fetish - Zaire, " Wood, Cloth, Nails, & Twine created in c. 1930
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Nkondi Bakongo Fetish - Zaire" is a sculpture created out of wood, cloth, nails, and twine in
Wood, Other Medium
Early 20th Century Male Baule Figure, Ivory Coast, Africa
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Early 20th century male baule figure, ivory coast, Africa A stylistically pleasing sculpture of a spiritual spouse (blolo bian) from the Baule culture. This excellent example is p...
Wood
$4,320
H 18 in W 3.66 in
"Jokwe Maternity, Angola, " Carved Wood created in Africa circa 1910
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Jokwe Maternity, Angola" is a wood sculpture from Africa created circa 1910. The figure kneels on the ground holding a baby in her arms. Her eyes are closed and she is wearing a com...
Wood
$4,725
H 18.5 in W 6.5 in D 5 in
"Bronze Statue - Ife, Nigeria, " Bronze Sculpture created circa 1920s
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Bronze Statue - Ife, Nigeria" is a bronze sculpture created in circa 1920. This figure has short legs and a short torso, but a large head. They held out their hands with two objects...
Bronze
$11,567Sale Price|20% Off
H 21.26 in W 4.34 in D 1.58 in
Statue Songye, Republic of Congo, Misangu Glass Beads & Chiefly Raffia Skirt
Located in Cotignac, FR
A Songye Male Power Figure, Democratic Republic of the Congo, the male figure with openwork arms and hands resting on the abdomen, typical facial features and a waterbuck (kobus elli...
Metal
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.