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International Style Figurative Sculptures

INTERNATIONAL STYLE

The International Style, a modernist movement within architecture and furniture design that was given its name by American architect Philip Johnson and historian Henry-Russell Hitchcock, was born during the 1920s and ’30s. It gained steam initially in Europe and then in the United States as a response to the first World War. Building projects associated with the movement, as well as vintage International Style chairs, tables and other furnishings, are minimal and pared back. 

Pioneers of the International Style — architect Walter Gropius and his Bauhaus colleagues Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Marcel Breuer, De Stijl advocate and Dutch architect J.J.P. Oud and visionary designer Le Corbusier — stripped away decorative elements and placed considerable value on functionality and clean lines, integrating the use of industrial materials like steel, concrete and large sheets of glass in their work. Quite aptly, this mode of design and architectural style coincided with an era now known as the Machine Age and became a global symbol of modernism. The primary motive of its practitioners was to address the changing needs of a rapidly industrializing society, especially the demand for office complexes and apartments in large cities, through economical, technologically advanced, yet aesthetically pleasing designs for furniture and buildings. 

“Space and light and order. Those are the things that men need just as much as they need bread or a place to sleep,” said Le Corbusier of the philosophy behind his practical modernist architecture

The International Style’s designers and architects were inspired by the advantages afforded them by the era’s new technology and industrial machinery as well as state-of-the-art materials. Le Corbusier was fond of framing his buildings in steel but reinforced concrete made far more economic sense. He is probably most admired for the iconic private homes and commercial buildings that he designed or codesigned with his cousin Pierre Jeanneret, which are spread across the world, from New York City to Paris to Chandigarh, India. Today, Breuer’s Wassily Lounge chair; the elegant LC series created by Le Corbusier, Jeanneret and Charlotte Perriand; and Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona chair, crafted with his romantic partner, designer Lilly Reich, are emblems of progressive modernist design and all make prominent use of tubular steel. Vintage originals are the prized cornerstone of collections.

“The International Style is probably the first fundamentally original and widely distributed style since the Gothic,” posited Johnson in the book that accompanied “Modern Architecture: International Exhibition,” an architectural show he cocurated with Hitchcock that featured the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, Richard Neutra and others. While the term “International Style” had previously been circulating in Europe, when the show opened at the Museum of Modern Art in 1932, it yielded a much broader application of this important style of design. 

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Style: International Style
French Cast Iron Figural Flatback Rust Patina Garden Panel
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A cast iron flatback panel originally from a balcony rail in France. Dating to the mid-late 19th century, these decorative objects were used as building or garden elements. Heavy, weighing about 25 pounds, and aged with a beautiful patina, the panel shows a robed figure within an ornate scrolled frame. Imagine it as a piece of outdoor sculpture, used as a fireback, turned into a table base, or framed in a garden gate. Measures: 26.5 inches H x 15.5 inches W x 1.25 inches deep. In very good antique condition with the desired rusted patina.
Category

1850s French Antique International Style Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Iron

Narciso italian pompeian reproduction bronze circa 1900.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible old bronze reproduction by Narciso found in Pompei 1862.
Category

1860s Italian Antique International Style Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Jonathan Adler Acrylic Pop Art Pill Sculpture, 150 MG Red
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Get your daily prescription of surrealism with Jonathan Adlers’ lustrous homages to fab pharmaceuticals. Crafted from solid acrylic in poppy colors with laser-etched dosages. Use as ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American International Style Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Acrylic

Guido Cacciapuoti italian porcelain "Putan" circa 1950
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Guido Cacciapuoti porcelain representing "Putan" circa 1950 signed and sealed.
Category

1950s Italian Vintage International Style Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Italian 19th Fauno in bronze circa 1850.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible FAUNO in bronze made in Italy circa 1850 playing flutes.
Category

1850s Italian Antique International Style Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Jonathan Adler Acrylic Pop Art Pill Sculpture, 150 MG Yellow
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Get your daily prescription of surrealism with Jonathan Adlers’ lustrous homages to fab pharmaceuticals. Crafted from solid acrylic in poppy colors with laser-etched dosages. Use as ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American International Style Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Acrylic

Cenedese Murano glass set of pears with bubbles circa 1950
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible set Cenedese Murano glass pears multicolor circa 1950
Category

1950s Italian Vintage International Style Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Murano Glass

Auguste Rodin french museu reproduction in plaster and wood signed "Le Penseur"
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible museu reproduction in plaster and wood by Auguste Rodin sculpture "Le Penseur" circa 1950 signed in the piece.
Category

1950s French Vintage International Style Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Plaster

Maghault Fils france Art Deco bronze "Don Quixote" circa 1930
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible bronze signed MAGHAULT FILs circa 1930 Art Deco "Don Quixote"with two marbles base.
Category

1930s French Vintage International Style Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Antonio Canova italian brown bronze circa 1850 "Gladiator"
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible and big italian brown bronze after Antonio Canova circa 1850 representing "Gladiator"
Category

1850s Italian Antique International Style Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Set of Four Thai Gilt Wood Musician Sculptures
Located in New York, NY
Four Thai gilt wood sculptures depicting figures playing instruments, mounted with green, blue, and colorless glass cabochon accents, fitted with hooks for wall mounting. Dimensions...
Category

Early 20th Century International Style Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Giltwood

Biscuit two men fighting with knives
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
incredible couple of two men fighting with knives in white biscuit.
Category

1930s French Vintage International Style Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Miron italian bronze reproduction representing Discobulo with onix base
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible italian bronze after Miron with onix base representing Discobulo circa 1930
Category

1930s Italian Vintage International Style Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Contemporary Swimming Pool Table by RAIN, Small Side Table
By RAIN
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
The contemporary swimming pool table which also functions as a small contemporary styled side table. The inspiration for this collection comes fro...
Category

2010s Brazilian International Style Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Metal

Pair of Murano glass bicolor apples with bulicante.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible pair of Murano glass of apples bicolor with bubbles circa 1970.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage International Style Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Murano Glass

Clown in Murano glass attributed to Seguso Vetri dArte circa 1950.
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible sculpture in Murano glass attributed to Seguso Vetri dArte circa 1950
Category

1950s Italian Vintage International Style Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Murano Glass

E. Aurelio italian Art Deco brown bronze male circa 1930
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible sculpture in italian bronze signed E. Aurelio Art deco circa 1930 depicting naked boy sitting on edge of cliff.
Category

1930s Italian Vintage International Style Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Archimede Seguso sculpture in Murano opalino glass circa 1950
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible sculpture by Archimede Seguso circa 1950 in opalino Murano glass in big size and perfect conditions, To collectors.
Category

1950s Italian Vintage International Style Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Murano Glass

Art Deco bronze woman naked signed B Forslund circa 1930
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
incredible bronze Art Deco signed B Forslund representing woman naked.
Category

1930s Swedish Vintage International Style Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Le Faguays bronze Art Deco "Pierrot e Columbine" signed
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible Art Deco bronze signed Le Faguays from 1930 original representing "Pierrot and Columbina"
Category

1930s French Vintage International Style Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Terracota polychromed bust of woman with flowers signed
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible and big bust of woman with multicolor flowers in terracota signed A.TALLARI 1992
Category

1990s Brazilian International Style Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Terracotta

Jean Bologne Hermes italian bronze
By Jean de Bologne
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible sculpture representing Hermes in Italian Bronze after Jean Bologne with marble base.
Category

16th Century Italian Antique International Style Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

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American Cast Iron and Gilt Fire Society Marker, Baltimore, C. 1830
Located in Hollywood, SC
American cast iron and gilt fire society marker. Baltimore, early 19th century Markers were placed on homes to prove coverage of fire insurance.
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Murano Blue Red Gold Silver Flecks Italian Art Glass Fish Paperweight Sculpture
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Guido Gambone Green Snake Vase, 1950s, Mid-Century Modern Ceramic Vessel, Italy
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Guido Gambone green snake vase, 1950s, Mid-Century Modern ceramic vessel, Italy. Guido Gambone (Italian, 1909 - 1969) Green and white snake design ceramic vase. Signed (Signature and donkey) on bottom. Stunning piece with gorgeous, rare green glaze and elegant lines that are elegantly accentuated by the snake that curls around the waist and body of the vessel. Museum-worth masterpiece by one of the most influential ceramicists of the 20th century. Dimensions: 12" H; Provenance: Collection of John 'Parker' Prindle, Jr., Boston, MA. Gambone's unique style is a combination of ancestral ceramic techniques and Etruscan or abstract decorations composed of primary and secondary colors. Ne fused traditional ceramic methods with amorphous forms that echoed equally the art of the past and of his modern day. His dynamic objects, in which he often experimented with glazes and patterns, garnered great popularity and today are treasured holdings in important private and museums collections around the globe. The year 1950 also marked the showcase of one of Gambone’s collaborative works at a group exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum in New York, and the following year Gambone enjoyed his first solo showing at the Galleria Il Milione in Milan. By the end of the decade, Gambone had achieved international acclaim for his pieces. He upheld his dedication to his work until 1967, when the La Tirrena...
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Jonathan Adler Couture Ceramic Vase
Located in Westport, CT
Jonathan Adler Couture ceramic vase handmade for a friend. One of four pieces form the early 1980s rare.
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Late 20th Century American International Style Figurative Sculptures

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19th c. Gilt Bronze Vase
Located in Fairfax, VA
A beautiful two color bronze vase. Crafted in France during the 19th century and featuring bronze doré, this piece is truly a work of art.
Category

19th Century French Antique International Style Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Italian Porcelain Maiden with Child Statue, 1850s
Located in LEGNY, FR
Beautiful 19th century Italian porcelain Maiden and her child statue from the 1850s. A damage at the back of the maiden has been renovated. Beautiful qu...
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1850s European Antique International Style Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

The Black Road: Iron, Classical Male Bust, Resin Sculpture with Rust Iron Patina
Located in Chicago, IL
This extraordinary sculptural portrait head takes its beginnings from classical antiquity. Attention to detail and complete understanding of the human figure are evident. The sculpture, which is made of resin and patinaed with a rusted iron can be shown on a base or lying down. Dean Kugler The Black Road: Iron, 2021 Resin and Iron Patina 20h x 16w in 60.96h x 40.64w cm DK0041 Dean Kugler is a seasoned interdisciplinary artist, painter, and figurative sculptor. His 3D work is featured primarily at Gallery Victor Armendariz in Chicago. In the last three years, Dean has also been featured at Abend Gallery in Denver, The Figge Art Museum, and Bereskin Gallery in Iowa. He has shown at SOFA Chicago in 2017, 2018, and 2019 and participated in ArtPrize in 2013, 2014, and 2015. He sees himself primarily as a sculptor due to the challenges he finds and thrives on within the process. In all its beauty, crudeness, and subtleties, the figure offers infinite opportunities to express feelings and emotions. There is also a physicality to sculpture that requires the work to be experienced through movement in order to reveal more about the piece. Dean has always been drawn to the interactive nature of large-scale sculpture that is available to the public - he loves the idea that his work entices the observer to go beyond what they can see and add tactility to the experience. By using both realism and abstraction, he creates a visual that challenges the viewer to resolve what they are seeing. Therefore, providing a greater connection between the artist and the viewer. Education 1993 – AA from Blackhawk College. 1995 – BFA from Western Illinois University. Texts 1995 – “Drawing: Skills, Means, Freedom”. Jan Clough / Ann Mullin. pub. 1995. 1993 – “Images” College publication featuring multiple pieces. 1992 – “Images” College publication featuring multiple pieces. Bibliography Dec 2022 - American Art Collector. “Room to grow”. Pages 48 and 49. 1 Oct 2018 – River Cities Reader. Article discussing a group show titled “Earth, Wind, and Fire” at Bereskin Gallery. 18 Aug 2018 – River Cities Reader. Article by Mike Schulz about my show titled “Relic” at the Quad City Arts. 1 Nov 2017 – Dispatch-Argus and QCOnline, Coverage of my showing at SOFA. 16 Dec 2016 – River Cities Reader. Article by Rick Martin about one-man art show titled “It Figures” at Black Hawk College. 22 June 2016 – Dispatch-Argus. Coverage of my one-man show titled “Animal Farm.” 22 Sept 2015 – Quad-City Times. “Body of work”. Article by David Burke about a one-man art show at Black Hawk College. 30 October 2014 – WVIK radio and online. Coverage of the ribbon-cutting for “Gravity” installation at the Rivercenter in Davenport, IA. 28 Sept 2014 – TV interview on WZZM13 in Grand Rapids covering ARTPRIZE and my sculpture, Gravity at the Gerald Ford...
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Art Deco Italian Ceramic Animal Figurine Macaw Parrot Porcelain Bird Figure
Located in Wommelgem, VAN
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Mid-20th Century Italian International Style Figurative Sculptures

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Vienna Bronze Hare, circa 1900
Located in Marseille, FR
Vienna bronze hare, circa 1900.
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Early 20th Century Austrian International Style Figurative Sculptures

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Bronze

Vienna Bronze Hare, circa 1900
Vienna Bronze Hare, circa 1900
H 2.96 in W 5.12 in D 1.97 in
Previously Available Items
Jean Bologne Hermes italian bronze
By Jean de Bologne
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible sculpture representing Hermes in Italian Bronze after Jean Bologne with marble base.
Category

16th Century Italian Antique International Style Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Francesco La Monaca Bronze Nude Woman Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
Francesco La Monaca (Italian, 1882-1937) patinated bronze statue sculpture depicting a nude female figure striding forward with arms raised over her head, signed "La Monaca" and mark...
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Early 20th Century International Style Figurative Sculptures

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Bronze

Laotian Carved Giltwood Seated Buddha Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
Antique Laos hand-carved and gilt lacquered wood sculpture depicting the enlightened Buddha figure seated atop a tiered base. Provenance: From the collection of Le Lieu and Malcolm B...
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Early 20th Century International Style Figurative Sculptures

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Giltwood

Jonathan Adler Acrylic Pop Art Pill Sculpture, 300 MG Blue
Located in Philadelphia, PA
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Rare Asian Dancer Table Lamp Brown-Black-Gold Colored Myanmar Early 20th Century
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A table lamp like a piece of jewelry an eye-catcher. A small, moving Buddhist dancer-sculpture became the focus of a table lamp. The object from Myanmar...
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Mats Jonasson Crystal Tiger Glass Plaque Sculpture
Located in San Diego, CA
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Glass

Pair of 20th Century Gold Leaf Bronze Table Lamps in the Style of Giacometti
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Located in Los Angeles, CA
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Midcentury Italian Majolica Faïence Ear of Corn in a Basket Topiary Pyramid
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International Style figurative sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique International Style figurative sculptures for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage figurative sculptures created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, building and garden elements, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used International Style figurative sculptures made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and France pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original figurative sculptures, popular names associated with this style include Jonathan Adler, Archimede Seguso, Antonio Canova, and Francesco La Monaca. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for figurative sculptures differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $125 and tops out at $17,000 while the average work can sell for $2,700.

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