"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.
1910s Tribal Figurative Sculptures
Metal
"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.
Metal
"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 circa 1930.
Wood, Other Medium
$3,250
H 24.5 in W 6.5 in D 6.5 in
"Ekamka Fetish - Nigeria, " Carved Wood Figure created circa 1910
Located in Milwaukee, WI
This Ekamka Fetish sculpture was carved from wood by an unknown Nigerian artist. It depicts a figure holding a mask. The figure has two symbolic horns protruding from his head and he...
Wood
African D.R. Congo Nkisi Koso 2-Headed Dog Wood Fetish Figure
Located in Queens, NY
African Democratic Republic of Congo 20th Century carved wood nail fetish figure in 2-headed dog form (\"Nkisi Koso\"), its torso wrapped with rope entwined around embedded metal nai...
Glass
Kota Reliquary Figure Sculpture Mahongwe People Gabon
Located in Atlanta, GA
On offer is an African wooden and metal sculptural work called Boho na bwete from Northern part of Gabon made by Mahongwe people. Boho na bwete means Face of Ancestors in local lang...
Bronze, Copper
$3,250
H 28 in W 9 in D 5.5 in
African Gabon Kota Mahongwe Hongwe Bwete Reliquary Guardian Figure Sculpture
Located in Studio City, CA
A truly fantastic, engaging, and uniquely made African Kota Mahongwe Hongwe Reliquary Guardian Figure/ Sculpture made by the Kota (Bakota) peoples who inhabit the northeastern region...
Brass, Copper
$450
H 10 in W 3.25 in D 3 in
Yoruba Male Figure, an Ibeji or Twin Figure, Nigeria, Africa, Weathered, Beads
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Yoruba weathered and eroded old male figure, an Ibeji or twin figure, Nigeria, Africa, well loved heavy patina and use. Strong face with projecting eyes. A finely carved Yoruba male...
Wood
African Gabon 20th Century Carved Wood Ambete Reliquary Figure
Located in Queens, NY
African Gabon 20th Century carved wood Ambete reliquary figure features an oval head with inlaid cowrie shell eyes, a fiber necklace, forward thrust shoulders with bent arms, rope be...
African Congo Songye Carved Wood Fetish Figure, 20th Century Art
Located in Queens, NY
African Congo 20th Century carved wood Songye ceremonial fetish figure made with inlaid horn and various materials to promote fertility, vanquish enemies or protect the village. Wea...
Horn
African Carved Wood Male Sculpture
Located in San Francisco, CA
This African carved wood figure represents a male ancestor or spirit spouse statue. Standing at an impressive 26.5 inches tall, figures of this size and posture typically serve as fo...
Wood
$2,610
H 18.5 in W 6.25 in
"Baule Colonial Sculpture Ivory Coast, " Carved Wood Statue created circa 1910
Located in Milwaukee, WI
This sculpture was created by an unknown Baule artist from Ivory Coast. It depicts a man in a suit with a white hat. He stands with his hands in his pockets. 18 1/2" x 6 1/4" sculpt...
Wood
African D.R. Congo Carved Wood Nkisi Male Nail Fetish Figure
Located in Queens, NY
African Democratic Republic of the Congo 20th Century male nail fetish guardian figure (\"Yombe Nkisi Nkonde\") carved from a single piece of wood, encased and hidden beneath a netwo...
Metal
$500
H 12 in W 6 in D 3.25 in
African Cameroon 20th Century Carved Wood & Beaded Namur Doll Female Figure
Located in Queens, NY
African Cameroon 20th Century carved wood Namur female fertility doll in a stylized curved form, wrapped with white, yellow & red beaded necklaces. Wear to finish with losses
Early 20th Century Boukonfo Loba African Figural Wood Sculpture
Located in Dallas, TX
Early 20th century African carved wood figural sculpture attributed to the Boukonfo Loba tradition. The composition depicts two stylized human figures joined in a dynamic, sculptural...
Wood
African Kota Mahangwe Reliquary Figure, Carved Wood, 20th Century
Located in Queens, NY
African Gabon / Congo 20th Century Kota Mahangwe carved wood reliquary guardian figure in flattened geometric form with protruding eyes and nose, a rope-wrapped finial, decorative te...
Metal
$7,850
H 24 in W 7 in D 10 in
"Bacongo Statue, Used as Fetish - Zaire, " Wood, Glass Feathers, & Cloth
Located in Milwaukee, WI
This wood statue, used as a fetish, was created by an unknown Bacongo artist in Zaire. The Kongo people (also Bakongo) are a Bantu ethnic group primarily defined as the speakers of K...
Fabric, Glass, Wood, Found Objects
African D.R. Congo Nkisi Nail Fetish Figure, 20th Century Tribal Art
Located in Queens, NY
African Democratic Republic of the Congo 20th Century carved wood 2-headed nail fetish guardian figure (\"Yombe Nkisi Nkonde\"), a roped bundle on his back entwined around embedded m...
Metal
African Congo 20th Century Carved Songye Kwfebe Figural Plaque
Located in Queens, NY
African Congo 20th Century wood Songye Kwfebe plaque carved in flattened figural form with a rectangular shape features a horned, incised head with beaded necklace, 2 smaller relief ...
Ash
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.