What is relief work in sculpture?

In sculptures, relief work is a term for details on a work of art. It describes three-dimensional forms that extend from a flat surface. A piece shows off low or high relief depending on how far the three-dimensional elements protrude. Shop a selection of relief sculptures on 1stDibs.

What are the sculpture relief types?

There are three types of relief in sculpting: high, sunken and bas. The difference between the type of reliefs is how deeply carved the figures are on the surface. Shop a wide range of collectable sculptures on 1stDibs.

What are the 3 types of relief sculpture?

The three types of relief sculptures are low relief (the motifs are very slightly raised above the surface), high relief (the sculpture protrudes at least half of its own height from the surface) and sunken relief (the sculpture is actually below the surrounding surface).

What is a low bas-relief sculpture?

A low bas-relief sculpture refers to a carving that is crafted in such a manner that the artwork is barely protruding from the background piece. On 1stDibs, find a collection of low bas-relief pieces from some of the world’s top sellers.

Relief Sculpture Face

Jesus Christ Sculpture

Cream Desk

Bjorn Wiinblad Face

Subrata BiswasRelief, Face, Bronze Sculpture, Green by Contemporary Indian Artist "In Stock"

$905

H 10.5 in Dm 10.5 in

Relief, Face, Bronze Sculpture, Green by Contemporary Indian Artist "In Stock"

By Subrata Biswas

Located in Kolkata, West Bengal

Subrata Biswas - Relief - 10.5 Inches Diameter Bronze Sculpture Subrata Biswas’s three sculptures

Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Subrata BiswasRelief, Face, Bronze Sculpture, Green by Contemporary Indian Artist "In Stock"

$905

H 10.5 in Dm 10.5 in

Relief, Face, Bronze Sculpture, Green by Contemporary Indian Artist "In Stock"

By Subrata Biswas

Located in Kolkata, West Bengal

Subrata Biswas - Relief - 10.5 Inches Diameter Bronze Sculpture Subrata Biswas’s three sculptures

Category

2010s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

3 Faces Cast in Bronze Relief, mid century mystery artist, 20th Century

$1,200

H 19.25 in W 7.25 in D 1.33 in

3 Faces Cast in Bronze Relief, mid century mystery artist

Located in New York, NY

Mystery Artist Untitled, 20th century Bronze with wood and acrylic mounting Overall: 19 1/4 x 7 1/4 x 1 1/8 in. Bronze plate: 17 5/8 x 5 3/4 in. Numbered lower left: 7/30 Initialed l...

Category

20th Century Modern Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Vintage Boho Monumental Plaster Relief of Face

$1,250

H 16.25 in W 14.25 in D 6 in

Vintage Boho Monumental Plaster Relief of Face

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

This striking vintage plaster relief features an intricately sculpted face with dramatic and

Category

Late 20th Century American Modern Abstract Sculptures

Materials

Plaster

Jesus Christ Face Italian Bas-relief Religious Sculpture 1970 circa

$773

H 16.93 in W 13 in D 4.73 in

Jesus Christ Face Italian Bas-relief Religious Sculpture 1970 circa

Located in Milano, MI

A deeply carved Cembran pinewood Christ Head bas-relief, a religious wall hanging panel depicting a

Category

Late 20th Century Italian Decorative Art

Materials

Wood, Pine

Roger Capron - Ceramic Sculpture Visage Repousse or Empreinte

$4,200

H 13 in W 9.5 in D 6 in

Roger Capron - Ceramic Sculpture Visage Repousse or Empreinte

By Roger Capron

Located in Stratford, CT

Vintage ceramic sculpture - Face Relief by Roger Capron Vallauris, France.

Category

Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Busts

Materials

Ceramic

Janus Bifrons 18k Gold & Malachite Ring by Oltremare Gioielli, Made in Italy

$7,002 / item

Janus Bifrons 18k Gold & Malachite Ring by Oltremare Gioielli, Made in Italy

Located in Camisano Vicentino, VI

tones of the solid 18k gold. Sculptural Artistry The ring’s shank is a high-relief sculpture featuring

Category

2010s Italian Classical Roman Fashion Rings

Materials

Malachite, 18k Gold

Recent Sales

Modern High Relief Sculpture White Marble Female Face by Kryston TK, 1990

Unavailable

H 9.45 in W 7.49 in D 3.55 in

Modern High Relief Sculpture White Marble Female Face by Kryston TK, 1990

Located in Budapest, HU

Uniquely designed and executed carved white marble statue depicting a female head in a typical style of the artist, from Hungary. The creator was greatly influenced by South American...

Category

1990s Hungarian Modern Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Marble

David AdickesSmall Square Three Dimensional Relief Wall Sculpture of a Female Face, 2019

Sold

H 8.88 in W 10.5 in D 4.5 in

Small Square Three Dimensional Relief Wall Sculpture of a Female Face

Located in Houston, TX

Small square three dimensional relief wall sculpture depicting an abstracted female face with short

Category

2010s Abstract Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Cast Stone

William Ludwig Signed Polished Patinated Bronze Sculpture Relief Emerging Face

Sold

H 23 in W 11 in D 11 in

William Ludwig Signed Polished Patinated Bronze Sculpture Relief Emerging Face

By William Ludwig

Located in West Hartford, CT

Signed William Ludwig (1935-2011) polished patinated bronze wall relief/sculpture, circa 1981

Category

Vintage 1980s American Wall-mounted Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

19th Wooden Relief Carved Angel Face

Sold

H 10 in W 15 in D 3 in

19th Wooden Relief Carved Angel Face

Located in Surrey, BC

Architectural wooden fragment depicting a carved face maintaining a rich patina throughout. This

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Canadian Folk Art Mounted Objects

Hand Carved Solid Wood Jesus Christ Face Wall Relief Plaque Sculpture

Sold

H 19 in W 11.75 in D 3.25 in

Hand Carved Solid Wood Jesus Christ Face Wall Relief Plaque Sculpture

Located in San Diego, CA

Hand carved solid wood Jesus Christ face wall plaque sculpture, circa 1970s not signed beautiful

Category

20th Century American Romantic Wall-mounted Sculptures

Materials

Driftwood

Wall Sculpture Face in Relief Designed by Siri Derkert, Sweden, 1966

Sold

H 13.59 in W 9.65 in D 4.73 in

Wall Sculpture Face in Relief Designed by Siri Derkert, Sweden, 1966

By Siri Derkert

Located in Stockholm, SE

Wall sculpture face in relief designed by Siri Derkert, Sweden. 1966. Made from lacquered metal

Category

Vintage 1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall-mounted Sculptures

Materials

Concrete, Metal

Mondigiani Style Bronze Relief of Face

Sold

H 10.24 in W 5.52 in D 1.78 in

Mondigiani Style Bronze Relief of Face

Located in London, GB

Bonze wall relief of face in the style of Mondigiani.

Category

Vintage 1980s European Wall-mounted Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Modernist Ceramic Face -Visage Wall Relief in the Style of Pablo Picasso

Sold

H 14.97 in Dm 14.57 in

Modernist Ceramic Face -Visage Wall Relief in the Style of Pablo Picasso

Located in Esbjerg, DK

A large circular visage/face wall relief measuring 38x37 cm. It is executed in glazed ceramic and

Category

Late 20th Century Scandinavian Modern Wall-mounted Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Bjørn Wiinblad Unique Ceramic Wall Relief in the Form of Face, Model A3

Sold

H 4.34 in Dm 5.91 in

Bjørn Wiinblad Unique Ceramic Wall Relief in the Form of Face, Model A3

Located in København, Copenhagen

Bjørn Wiinblad unique ceramic wall relief in the form of face. Model A3. Measuring: 15 x 11 cm

Category

Early 2000s Danish Scandinavian Modern Wall-mounted Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Bjørn Wiinblad Unique Ceramic Wall Relief in the Form of Face, Model A2

Sold

H 4.73 in Dm 4.73 in

Bjørn Wiinblad Unique Ceramic Wall Relief in the Form of Face, Model A2

Located in København, Copenhagen

Bjørn Wiinblad unique ceramic wall relief in the form of face. Model A2. Measures: 12.5 x 12 cm

Category

Early 2000s Danish Scandinavian Modern Wall-mounted Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Bjørn Wiinblad Unique Ceramic Wall Relief in the Form of Face, Model A3

Sold

H 4.34 in Dm 5.91 in

Bjørn Wiinblad Unique Ceramic Wall Relief in the Form of Face, Model A3

Located in København, Copenhagen

Bjørn Wiinblad unique ceramic wall relief in the form of face. Model A3. Measuring: 15 x 11 cm

Category

Early 2000s Danish Scandinavian Modern Wall-mounted Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Bjørn Wiinblad Unique Ceramic Wall Relief in the Form of Face, Model A2

Sold

H 4.73 in Dm 4.73 in

Bjørn Wiinblad Unique Ceramic Wall Relief in the Form of Face, Model A2

Located in København, Copenhagen

Bjørn Wiinblad unique ceramic wall relief in the form of face. Model A2. Measures: 12.5 x 12 cm

Category

Early 2000s Danish Scandinavian Modern Wall-mounted Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Gil BruvelWaking Up, 2025

Sold

H 11.03 in W 9.06 in D 7.09 in

Waking Up

By Gil Bruvel

Located in PARIS, FR

This striking artwork features a relief sculpture of a human face, crafted with remarkable

Category

2010s Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Wood

One of a Kind Custom Wood & Leather Desk with Black Forest Relief Sculptures

Sold

H 30 in W 61.5 in D 21 in

One of a Kind Custom Wood & Leather Desk with Black Forest Relief Sculptures

Located in Hopewell, NJ

19th century Black Forest relief sculptures adorning the face: a fox head, fishes and bird. Leg

Category

Vintage 1980s American Black Forest Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Mahogany, Oak

Bronze Table or Desk Plaque with Young Winston Churchill Sculpture in Reliëf

Sold

H 6.7 in W 4.5 in D 0.1 in

Bronze Table or Desk Plaque with Young Winston Churchill Sculpture in Reliëf

Located in Lisse, NL

plaque depicting a young Winston Churchill smoking. His wonderfully sculptured face in reliëf really

Category

Mid-20th Century European Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Bronze

Male Face in Relief

Sold

H 17 in W 15 in D 1 in

Male Face in Relief

Located in Seattle, WA

We discovered a couple of these sculptures this summer, one in wax and another in clay. Charcoal

Category

Vintage 1970s American Sculptures

Large Bent Steel Relief Sculpture of Woman's Face

Sold

H 34 in W 17 in D 6.5 in

Large Bent Steel Relief Sculpture of Woman's Face

By John Risley

Located in Pasadena, CA

This piece is a large bent steel relief sculpture of woman's face with blue eyes and red lips. In

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Wall-mounted Sculptures

Materials

Steel

Face in Relief with Human Teeth

Sold

H 12 in W 11 in D 1 in

Face in Relief with Human Teeth

Located in Seattle, WA

Sculpted stylized face with human teeth.

Category

Late 20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures

Materials

Wood, Plaster, Paint

Right-Side Male Face in Relief

Sold

H 17 in W 15 in D 1.5 in

Right-Side Male Face in Relief

Located in Seattle, WA

We discovered a couple of these sculptures this summer, this one in clay and another in wax

Category

Vintage 1970s American Sculptures

Large 16th Century German Carved Basswood Saint Sebastian Sculpture

Sold

H 38.19 in W 9.26 in D 2.96 in

Large 16th Century German Carved Basswood Saint Sebastian Sculpture

Located in London, GB

Century. Well carved deep relief sculpture, with detailed & characterful face & hair. Nice patina to the

Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier German Renaissance Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Wood

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Relief Sculpture Face For Sale on 1stDibs

With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the relief sculpture face you’re looking for. A relief sculpture face — often made from ceramic, metal and bronze — can elevate any home. Whether you’re looking for an older or newer relief sculpture face, there are earlier versions available from the 19th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 21st Century. When you’re browsing for the right relief sculpture face, those designed in Scandinavian Modern, Folk Art and Mid-Century Modern styles are of considerable interest. Many designers have produced at least one well-made relief sculpture face over the years, but those crafted by Siri Derkert and William Ludwig are often thought to be among the most beautiful.