Italian Animal Sculptures

Beautiful Italian Aldo Tura dark timber desk lamp with pen holder 1950s. Fully functional.

Limited edition ceramic part of the "Pop Will Eat Himself" designed by Massimo Giacon and produced by Superego Editions. Signed and numbered. Biography Massimo Giacon was born i...

A pair of black and white animal sculptures by Archimede Seguso (1909-1999) Italy made circa 1970 comprising of two large ducks, in solid opaque...

Grand Tour bronze model of a Recumbent horse, realistically cast and modeled, raised on a faux marbleized base.  

This contemporary bronze sculpture of rhinoceros head faithfully reproduces – in almost real size - one of the largest mammals in the world. Proud and mighty, this rhino trophy head ...

This one-of-a-kind Italian Work of Art, a sculpture bird by Antonio Pavia, is a rare highly collectible object, entirely handcrafted, with an ostrich egg as the body, decorated with ...

Huge red and yellow hand blown pulled Murano glass sculpture of two parrots perched on glass branches. Italy, 1960s. The sculpture is well executed with the Sommerso and Murrine gla...

Pair standing.

Our artisan's pieces are a dream come true, as in Dragon Trainers. This ceramic piece is completely hand-crafted and painted with love and care.  

A group of four animal sculptures by Archimede Seguso (1909-1999) Italy made circa 1970 comprising ofa dog, bird, rabbit and seal in solid opaque glass, foil label to one example 'Ar...

Vintage Italian Venetian hand carved wood sitting monkey. Very well carved and realistic look. Painted finish with monkey sitting on silver gilt rock ba...

Vetrerie Toso, Italy, circa 1930s. It is made in blown glass and polychrome paste. A clear sign of the authenticity of the piece, its age and its creation is the presence of ash par...

Large sculpture of a majestic big cat. Over the years we have owned and sold a fair number of beautiful quality sculptures in all kinds of materials, but we never had the pleasure o...

Sea monster Carrara marble mouth fountain Italy, late 16th century It measures 13.8 x 31.5 x 18.9 in (35 x 80 x 48 cm) State of conservation: some small evident gaps and widespread signs of wear due to outdoor exposure. The gray marks crossing it do not come from restoration, but are rather the natural veins of the marble. This work has some morphological characteristics typically associated with the iconography of the sea monster: an elongated muzzle, sharp teeth, protruding eyes, elongated ears, and a coiled serpent's tail. An in-depth series of studies on artistic depictions of the sea monster attempted to verify how this symbol evolved in antiquity in the European and Mediterranean contexts and how it gradually changed its image and function over time. The iconography itself is mutable and imaginative and its history is rich with cultural and artistic exchange, as well as the overlapping of ideas. This occurred so much that it is difficult to accurately pinpoint the "types" that satisfactorily represent its various developments. However, we can try to summarize the main figures, starting from the biblical Leviathan and the marine creature that swallowed Jonah (in the Christian version, this figure was to become a whale or a "big fish", the “ketos mega”, translation of the Hebrew “dag gadol”). Other specimens ranged from the dragons mentioned in the Iliad (which were winged and had legs) to "ketos” (also from Greek mythology), the terrifying being from whose Latinized name (“cetus”) derives the word "cetacean". See J. Boardman, “Very Like a Whale” - Classical Sea Monsters, in Monsters and Demons in the Ancient and Medieval Worlds, in Papers presented in Honor of Edith Porada, Mainz am Rhein 1987, pp. 73-84). In Italy the monster underwent yet further variations: it can be found in Etruscan art on the front of some sarcophagi representing the companion of souls, while among the Romans we find the “Pistrice” (cited by Plinio in Naturalis Historia PLIN., Nat., II 9, 8 and by Virgilio in Eneide: VERG., Aen., III, 427), which appeared in the shape of a stylized hippocampus or a very large monstrous cetacean and evolved into a hideous being with a dragon's head and long webbed fins. During the Middle Ages, the sea monster was the object of new transformations: at this time, it is often winged, the head is stretched like a crocodile, the front legs are often very sharp fins - sometimes real paws - until the image merges with dragons, the typical figures of medieval visionary spirituality widely found throughout Europe (on this topic and much more, see: Baltrušaitis, J., Il Medioevo fantastico. Antichità ed esotismi nell’arte gotica, Gli Adelphi 1997). In Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries, the revival of classicism - representative of the humanistic and Renaissance periods - led to a different reading of these "creatures". Indeed, the sea monster was also to find widespread use as an isolated decorative motif, especially in numerous fountains and sculptures where dolphins or sea monsters were used as a characterizing element linked to water (on this theme see: Chet Van Duzer, Sea Monsters on Medieval and Renaissance Maps, London, The British library, 2013). From the morphological point of view, the "sea monsters" of this period are mostly depicted as hybrid figures, in which the body of a mythological or real being (a hippocampus, a sea snake, a dolphin), is joined to a head with a rather indistinct appearance. It was usually characterized by large upright ears, an elongated snout, sharp teeth and globular, protruding eyes; a complex and indefinite figure, both from the symbolic point of view and from that of its genesis. The work we are examining is placed as a cross between the medieval sea serpent and the Renaissance dolphin, with stylistic features which recall the snake as often used in heraldry (such as the "snake" depicted in the coat of arms of the Visconti - the lords and then dukes of Milan between 1277 and 1447 - and which, for some, may be derived from the representations of the “Pistrice” that swallowed Jonah). In the search for sources, Renaissance cartography and in particular woodcuts should not be neglected. See for example the monsters of Olaus Magnus, from the editions of the “Historia de gentibus septentrionalibus” (“History of the peoples of the north”) and the natural histories of Conrad Gesner, Ulisse...

Beautiful Murano glass art block depicting two colored fishes in an aquarium with its own algae and corals. Amazing rare piece attributed to Gino Cenedese. The label confirms the n...

This cast Continental silver sculpture is unsigned, but presumed to have originated from Europe, likely Austria or Italy, and dating to approximately 1920 and done in the period Art ...

Our artisan's pieces are a dream come true, as in The Frog Prince. This ceramic piece is completely hand-crafted and painted with love and care.  

Coniglieschio model glazed ceramic sculpture from The Pop Will Eat Himself Collection by Massimo Giacon for Superego Editions. Limited edition of 50 pieces. Signed and numbered. Biography Massimo Giacon was born in Padova in 1961. Since 1980 he has been working in Milan, as a comic strip writer, illustrator, designer, artist and musician. Since the early 1980 he has contributed in the renovation of the Italian comic...

Scroll down and click "view all from Seller" to see more than 400 other unique products. (2.2) Giovannoni's Kong is, surprisingly, technological and almost human. It shines in front of itself just as if the power went out. It's out of scale to be a toy, out of scale to be a lamp, but it is also out of scale to be a gorilla. With its 20.8" (53 cm) height, Kong XS...

Swan Murano glass Licio Zanetti murano glass brass red.

1970s Murano glass elephant sculpture.

Gorgeous handblown Murano art glass fish statue. A beautiful decorative item in clear glass with gold inside and blue strips. Made in Murano, Italy, 1960s.

This is a joyful bronze sculpture; this art work has signed by the well known Italian artist Concetto Pozzati. Title Lucky Charm. This is a multiple of a numbered edition of 1.000 p...

A striking Italian 18th century giltwood and polychrome statue of two eagles. The statue is raised by a most decorative polychrome ground and branch like designed base. Above are two...

Playful true-to-life silver armadillo that serves as a lighter other than being a decorative artwork in its own right. Expertly made by the Florentine...

Cubist Italian bison bull ceramic sculpture in Art Deco style with blue, turquoise to dark blue color glossy glaze with partly light crackle, executed in Italy, circa 1970s. The beau...

Limited edition ceramic part of the "Pop Will Eat Himself" designed by Massimo Giacon and produced by Superego Editions. Biography Massimo Giacon was born in Padova in 1961. Sin...

Dolphin and seahorse is a original decorative object realized in the half of 20th century. Made in Italy. Original art glass with silver glitter. The set includes a dolphin...

This large scale, chic and stylish piece takes its cue from the Art Deco, Hollywood Regency periods. The piece is cast in plaster and hand painted. The seahorse itself is finished in...

Classically shaped oval bowl is a master class of technique and elegance, designed by Ercole Barovier (1889-1974) circa 1948 for Barovier, Toso & Co. It has an edging of white on the...

Beautiful vintage Murano handblown Sommerso red amethyst Italian art glass guinea or quail bird sculpture. Attributed to the Salviati company. Has origina...

Glazed terra cotta seated Great Dane sculpture.

Scroll down and click "view all from Seller" to see more than 400 other unique products. (2.2) The teddy bear, the emotional object par excellence, is reinterpreted by Stefano Giova...

splendid pair of original sculptures from the 1960s designed by De Stijl Firenze, made of brass and hand-worked and painted wood measure of the tal...

Large bronze figurative sculptural fountain by Canpiola Italian, c. 1910 Measures: Height 130cm, width 67cm, depth 54cm This impressive bronze fountain is finished with a beauti...

Set of three Murano horses head sculptures by Sergio Costantini & Vetro Artistico Murano 1980s.

A beautiful piece of art glass by Elio Raffaeli. Signed on the base and smoky in tone. In good age appropriate condition with some minor marks particularly to the base. Approximately...

A fine midcentury vintage Italian ceramic figure of a resting puppy dog by Giovanni Ronzan. This figure is well modeled with molded and painted feature...

Natural specimen from Wunderkammer. A pair of taxidermy stuffed Pogona Vitticeps reptils, mounted on an olive briar and swiss pine wooden base. Sulfur glass eyes. Specimen for labora...

Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown opalescent white and caramel Italian art glass bunny rabbit sculpture / figurine. Documented to designer Archimede ...

Bronze sculpture. 2/3 multiple and artist sign.

Mid century tiger sculpture or object of art crafted in terra cotta, decorated with brown and white stripes and glazed.

21st Century white kingfisher sculpture by Ceramica Gatti, Italy. Unique piece made in Italy, this pottery piece was designed by Andrea Anastasio at the historical Bottega Ceramica G...

A group of porcelain 19th century Rape of a sabine 77 cm high. Italian porcelain.

Pair of Italian abstract fish sculptures, hand blown and crafted in multiple colors of Murano glass by Sergio Constantini Signed “Constantini Muran...

Small Murano bird Italian vintage glass bird figurine from Murano with intricate patterns. Very good condition, no chips or cracks.

Italian glazed ceramic pitcher in seagull form by Bruno Gambone (circa 1970s). A very rare Bruno Gambone piece never before encountered by this gallery...

Mario Buccellati Silver Squirrel, silver texted fur with glass eyes, enamel nose and gilt acorns. Signed on one leaf Mario Buccellati, 925, and 15-MI ...

Early 19th century carved lion figure An early 19th century hand carved Italian or Spanish representation of a seated lion figure. Anthropomorphism features which are typical of this period. Polychrome paint still visible across its surface with aged repairs and wear as expected, the gesso is visible in sections. Visible ribcage typical of the regions, the possibility this figure could have been part of a larger carved piece of décor furnishing or architecture display...

Large ceramic plate in the shape of a yellow fish, Italy, 1970.

Sculpture white pure bred Horse all made in hand painted porcelain. Exceptional piece.

The jellyfish is the main element of the Mosche Bianche's "Medusa" Collection: fluid, delicate but also dangerous and deadly. It represents the water, the circle of life. The spe...

21st century yellow snake sculpture by Ceramica Gatti, Italy. Unique piece made in Italy, this pottery piece was designed by Andrea Anastasio at the historical Bottega Ceramica Gatti...

This fun cartoon style hen is in blown Murano glass with modern vivid colors, the turquoise aqua blue overlaid body is worked with extensive degrading apple green murrine and dark re...

Each stylized elongated bird in a soft coral-to-clear glass.

Decorative Italian fish sculpture made of 18th and 19th century fragments. Very unique!

Beautiful and very cute Murano hand blown Sommerso red, orange to clear Italian art glass bunny rabbit sculpture / figurine. Documented to the Cenedese...

Two adorable little ducks. Made by Murano, Italy, 1980s. Hollywood Regency style. Chrystal glass with 24-carat gold. Very nice set. Excellent condition.