Modern Figurative Sculptures
MODERN STYLE
The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw sweeping social change and major scientific advances — both of which contributed to a new aesthetic: modernism. Rejecting the rigidity of Victorian artistic conventions, modernists sought a new means of expression. References to the natural world and ornate classical embellishments gave way to the sleek simplicity of the Machine Age. Architect Philip Johnson characterized the hallmarks of modernism as “machine-like simplicity, smoothness or surface [and] avoidance of ornament.”
Early practitioners of modernist design include the De Stijl (“The Style”) group, founded in the Netherlands in 1917, and the Bauhaus School, founded two years later in Germany.
Followers of both groups produced sleek, spare designs — many of which became icons of daily life in the 20th century. The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics. While Bauhaus principals Marcel Breuer and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe created furniture from mass-produced, chrome-plated steel, American visionaries like Charles and Ray Eames worked in materials as novel as molded plywood and fiberglass. Today, Breuer’s Wassily chair, Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona chair — crafted with his romantic partner, designer Lilly Reich — and the Eames lounge chair are emblems of progressive design and vintage originals are prized cornerstones of collections.
It’s difficult to overstate the influence that modernism continues to wield over designers and architects — and equally difficult to overstate how revolutionary it was when it first appeared a century ago. But because modernist furniture designs are so simple, they can blend in seamlessly with just about any type of décor. Don’t overlook them.
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Style: Modern
Prayer, American Modern Streamlined Bronze Sculpture, circa 1980s
Located in New York, NY
An unusual streamlined modern depiction of a praying man in polished bronze. Original marble base. Very heavy. Unsigned.
Category
1980s American Vintage Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Granite, Bronze
Jose de Creeft Carved Wood Sculpture of Feet
Located in New York, NY
A carved wood sculpture of multiple interconnected feet, carved by Spanish-born American artist Jose de Creeft around the 1930s-1940s in the Mexican School...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Sailboat Weather Vane
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This stylish and chic solid brass and Lucite weather vane date to the 1930s-1940s and has been professionally polished and clear coated so no tarnishing. ...
Category
Early 20th Century American Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Brass
Bronze and Marble Culpture by McLean
By Douglas McLean
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A beautiful cast bronze and black marble sculpture of flower with woman by McLean from 1986.
The sculpture is signed McLean and dated 1986.
Dim: ...
Category
1980s American Vintage Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Sébastien Tamari, Femme Nu, French Modernist Patinated Bronze Sculpture, 1960s
By Sebastien Tamari
Located in New York, NY
Sébastien Tamari (French, 1900-1991)
1900 Birth in Baku of Sébastien Tamari (Russian Empire).
1920 He left his hometown due to political events. He travelled through the Caucas...
Category
1960s French Vintage Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Accolay Mask
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Green ceramic mask signed accolay.
Category
Mid-20th Century French Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic
Chromed Bronze and Marble Sculpture by James David Berenson Titled "Temperance"
By James David Berenson
Located in North Miami, FL
This is an amazing piece of sculpture by the artist James David Berenson titled "Temperance" that bends the harmonious, poetic, spiritual, moral, and philosophical issues that questi...
Category
1990s American Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Marble, Bronze, Chrome
Ceramic Sculpture
Located in Cathedral City, CA
Terracotta sculpture with hand painted details
Category
20th Century American Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta
Fountain in Bronze. "Crying Boy" 20th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
The figure has a great expressiveness, the child's face reflects panic and anguish, and is in foreshortening as if wanting to move away from the animal. The piece is held on a circul...
Category
20th Century European Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Original Vintage Bronze Sculpture by Abigail Varela
By Abigail Varella
Located in North Miami, FL
This lovely and dynamic 3 part bronze sculpture by Venezuelan sculptor Abigail Varela is not only a maquette for a larger outdoor 12 foot garden sculptu...
Category
1980s Venezuelan Vintage Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Benson A. Selzer, Woman IX, Contemporary Patinated Bronze Sculpture, 1980s
By Benson A. Selzer
Located in New York, NY
Benson A. Selzer (1921-1999) was an American artist, known for sculpture and painting.
Category
1980s American Vintage Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Bruno Zach Deco Bronze Sculpture, 1925, Native American Subject
By Bruno Zach
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Beautifully cast deco Austrian bronze titled: “Indian Brave on Charging Horse.”
Sitz on a marble plinth. The figure has a cold painted buckskin colored shirt and pant.
Signed on base “B. Zach Argentor Wien...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Hand-Carved Wood Contemplative Seated Nude Sculpture by Aldo Calo
By Aldo Calo
Located in New York, NY
Hand-carved wood sculpture of a seated contemplative woman by an unknown artist.
Seated woman on a rectangular plinth
wood.
Measures: 17" x 4 1/2" x 7 1/2".
The woman seated pr...
Category
1960s American Vintage Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Downtown - Handmade Glass Skyline of Lower Manhattan, Contemporary, Modern
Located in New York, NY
Handmade custom skyline of lower Manhattan composed of blown and hot sculpted glass objects. Grouping consists of 50 various pieces to compose the skyline as shown, along with a port...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Blown Glass
Odysseus, a unique black hand-blown glass sculpture by Cathryn Shilling
Located in London, GB
Odysseus, is a unique black glass sculpture by the British artist Cathryn Shilling. A handblown and free-form shaped glass sculpture with 'glass fabric' decoration worked onto the glass body while hot. A spectacular fusion of blown and kiln formed glass techniques incorporating Cathryn Shilling's signature woven glass. With her Cloaked Collection, Shilling takes mythical tragic figures as her inspiration. This piece is based on Odysseus.
Cathryn Shilling began her arts career as a graphic designer but went on to study glass after moving to Connecticut with her family. On returning to the UK she studied kiln-formed glass at Kensington and Chelsea College and blown glass with Peter Layton at the London Glassblowing Workshop. She set up studio in London in 2007 from where she has gone on to create a huge body and variety of work.
Shilling experiments with colour and technique to produce beautiful one off sculptures. Her innovative pieces push the glass beyond our usual comfort zones. With some sculptures, glass rods are woven together like fabric, mimicking the flexibility and movement of cloth. The apparent frailty of the glass is balanced by the strong dynamic forms, differing levels of light picking out layers of colour. With other works, bubbles are trapped in swathes of watery hues. Her colour palette and choice of forms are very much informed by the various natural states in which water is found: icebergs, waterfalls and whirlpools for example.
Shilling’s work has been collected and widely exhibited internationally including: Ireland Glass Biennale 2019 at Dublin Castle The 3rd Session of China·Hejian Craft Glass Design & Creation Exhibition and Competition, Ming Shangde Glass Museum, Cangzhou City, Hebei Province, China 2019 TACTILE at Glazenhuis, Lommel, Belgium New Aquisitions 2017 at Glasmuseum Lette, Coesfield, Germany Peter Bremers...
Category
2010s British Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Art Glass, Blown Glass
Ceramic Sculpture by Agostino Ferrari, Unique Piece, Italy
By Agostino Ferrari
Located in Milan, Italy
Ceramic sculpture created by Agostino Ferrari. Unique piece. Signed and numbered.
Category
Early 2000s Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic
Etched Marble Lover's Embrace by Bernard Simon
Located in Asbury Park, NJ
Fine example of the rough and polished sculpting work of Bernard Simon, featuring two figures joined in an embrace, mounted on a square wood block and able to rotate on metal pin.
...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Figurative Sculptures
20th Century Bronze Sculpture of Nude Woman
Located in Roma, IT
Bronze sculpture.
Category
20th Century European Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Lauro Malusi Table Lamp and Sculpture Olive Tree
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Table lamp and sculpture belonging to the famous Italian cellist.
Measures in cm: Statue cm 40 Lamp cm 82 Basis cm 18 x 18
Notes
Giovanni Lauro Malusi was born in Cervia on Ju...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Olive
Frederico Cantu Large Impressive 1986, Bronze of a Mother Nursing
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A large and impressive work by the California or Mexican noted artist Frederco Cantu (1907-1989). It is signed and dated 1986. Quite large and heavy.
A brief bio follows from askant:
Federico Cantú...
Category
1980s American Vintage Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Cubist Wood Sculpture of a Nude by Russian American Sculptor Boris Blai, 1930s
By Boris Blai
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A carved wooden cubist sculpture of a seated nude woman by Boris Blai (1893-1985).
This carving likely dates to the 1920s-1930s (during Blai's time in Philadelphia).
Most likely constructed of sections of laminated basswood stained with a dark stain, it has an integral plinth with button feet and a carved signature the base.
The sharp angular lines of the body are starkly contrasted by the soft-edged, almost nondescript depiction of the head and face.
Blai was born in Russia and studied in academies in St. Petersburg, Paris, and eventually under Auguste Rodin. After WWI, Blai emigrated to the US, where aside from his prolific art production, he was also instrumental in the founding of the Tyler School of Art at Temple University, the Long Beach Island...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Abstract Rider, 20th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Small bronze sculpture of a rider on his horse in an abstract and soft design. The surface of the rider is structured with concave indentations; the horse is marked with horizontal l...
Category
20th Century European Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
"Olympian" Unique Steel Mesh Structure
By David Begbie
Located in London, GB
Born in Edinburgh, David Begbie studied at the capital`s art school from which he emerged with a unique sculptural technique and the beginnings of a new visual language using steel-m...
Category
Late 20th Century European Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Steel
Figural Upturned Hands Sculpture Titled "The Future Is in Your Hands"
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This stylish and chic piece has been given the title of "The Future is in Your Hands" and it will make a great conversation piece that will spark many a thoughts of the past and pres...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Crystal
Mid-Century Modernist Ceramic Crouching Woman Sculpture
Located in North Bergen, NJ
A very cute "cubist" sculpture in metallic color. Great for a coffee table or on your desk. Adds a very nice touch to your current decor. Metallic color sculpture "cubist"
.
Category
1990s Modern Figurative Sculptures
Bronze "We Two Together" Sculpture
Located in North Bergen, NJ
Stunning faux bronze resin sculpture called "We Two Together" depicting a man and a woman holding hands. The front forms a face with eyes, a nose and mout...
Category
2010s Modern Figurative Sculptures
Roger & Kane Ceramic Sculpture by Matteo Cibic for Superego Editions, Italy
Located in Milan, Italy
Ceramic piggy bank designed by Matteo Cibic and produced by Superego Editions.
Limited edition of 50 pieces.
Signed and numbered.
Biography
Matteo Cibic was born in Parma, Italy, ...
Category
Early 2000s Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic
"Woman Slicing Bread" Sculpture by Ramon Lago
By Ramon Lago
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A ceramic sculpture of a rotund woman slicing bread by the Cuban-American sculptor, Roman Lago.
Height: circa 13 1/4 in.
Items purchased from David Sterner Antiques...
Category
20th Century American Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic
Bunny Adelman Bronze Sculpture Ballet Dancer
By Bunny Adelman
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This stylish and chic bronze by the American sculpture Bunny Adelman was acquired from a prominent Palm Beach estate. Here the sculptor has captured his subject in mid-step as she s...
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Marble, Bronze
CAS Vietri Large Ceramic Vase, Artistic Studio Italy Sculpture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Nice and large Ceramic vase , y C.A.S Vietri.
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic
Contemporary Sculpture by Anton "The Red King" in Metal and Red Resin
Located in Miami, FL
In red resin, acryl and metal by the contemporary artist Anton.
The artist works of art is an humoristic character standing in many different situations, always funny, in bright col...
Category
2010s French Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Resin, Acrylic
Sculpture by Dick Shanley, circa 1984, Tall Wood Sculpture, USA, Laminated Wood
By Dick Shanley
Located in New York, NY
Tall laminated wood sculpture of a woman, "Ellie," by Dick Shanley, circa 1984, USA. The platform is missing.
This is a very beautiful tall sculpture. Th...
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Hand Blown Glass Bonsai Sculpture 2023#07 by Simone Crestani
Located in Venezia, IT
Hand Blown Glass Bonsai Sculpture 2023#07 by Simone Crestani
Hand-blown glass sculpture representing a bonsai tree.
Artist: Simone Crestani
Material: Borosilicate glass
Technique: ...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Art Glass, Blown Glass
Hand Blown Glass Bonsai Sculpture 2023#06 by Simone Crestani
Located in Venezia, IT
Hand Blown Glass Bonsai Sculpture 2023#06 by Simone Crestani
Hand-blown glass sculpture representing a bonsai tree.
Artist: Simone Crestani
Material: Borosilicate glass
Technique: ...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Art Glass, Blown Glass
Hand Blown Glass Bonsai Sculpture 2023#08 by Simone Crestani
Located in Venezia, IT
Hand Blown Glass Bonsai Sculpture 2023#08 by Simone Crestani
Hand-blown glass sculpture representing a bonsai tree.
Artist: Simone Crestani
Material: Borosilicate glass
Technique: ...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Art Glass, Blown Glass
Hand Blown Glass Bonsai Sculpture 2023#04 by Simone Crestani
Located in Venezia, IT
Hand Blown Glass Bonsai Sculpture 2023#04 by Simone Crestani
Hand-blown glass sculpture representing a bonsai tree.
Artist: Simone Crestani
Material: Borosilicate glass
Technique: ...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Art Glass, Blown Glass
KAWS Companion 2007 XXL
By KAWS
Located in Weesp, NL
Kaws Companion XXL painted cast vinyl. Stamped : MEDICOM TOY 2007 © KAWS ..07.
Companion is in perfect condition. We will ship this beauty insured in a custom made wooden crate.
...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Plastic
Bronze Sculpture of a Woman
Located in New York, NY
Bronze sculpture of a woman, unsigned. Measures: 12" H x 4" W.
Category
19th Century Antique Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Modern Bronze Sculpture of 'Allegory of Night' by Bernadette Zachara, 1977
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Modern bronze sculpture of 'Allegory of Night' by Bernadette Zachara, 1977
USA, 20th century
The flying figure of night historically symbolizes the passage of time. The woman in F...
Category
20th Century American Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
21st Century Unique Sculpture Coexistence Laocoön by Park Seungwan
By Seungwan Park
Located in Paris, FR
21st Century unique Sculpture Coexistence Laocoön by Park Seungwan
Realized by the artist Park Seungwan in 2018.
White and beige marble
Laser and traditional techniques
Measure...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Marble
Murano Hand Made Art Glass LTD Unique Piece " Artist tribute "
Located in Venice, VE
Our aim is the emotion, through glass, lighten by the spirit of art.
1295 Murano is a furnace, a design lab and an interior point of view
regarding to the most exclusive producti...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
HOLLY HUNT Hunters Totem in Wood, Cotton & Rope by Christian Astuguevieille
Located in Chicago, IL
HOLLY HUNT Hunters totem in wood, cotton & rope by Christian Astuguevieille
Additional Information:
Materials: Wood, cotton & rope
Dimensions: 10.5 W x 99 H inch
Note: Unique scul...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Rope
Giuman, Memento Mori Trittico Evolution, Murano Glass Lost Wax Cast, 2010
By Giorgio Giuman
Located in Tavarnelle val di Pesa, Florence
Interesting glass interpretation from Giuman. The Murano artist who refined the lost wax casting in glass.
Very fine work. Artist Giuorgio Giuman was able to do the casting without ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Murano Glass, Art Glass
Florimel Organic Bowl in Mahogany
By Roman Erlikh
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Florimel series inverts a narrative of purely utilitarian object into artistic interpretation of interplay of colors, light, and shadows on organic-based 3-dimentional forms. Bowl I ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Mahogany
Pino Signoretto, Livio de Marchi Design Pauly, Boot in Chalcedony Opaline Murano
Located in Tavarnelle val di Pesa, Florence
Directly from the Pauly's art vignette in San Marco square.
Pauly exhibit of Signoretto translation of De Marchi was in Saint Mark’s square in Venice, April 2000.
While photogra...
Category
1990s Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Murano Glass, Art Glass
Pino Signoretto, Livio de Marchi Design for Pauly, Limited Edition 1/9 Signed
Located in Tavarnelle val di Pesa, Florence
Directly from the Pauly's art vignette in San Marco square.
Pauly exhibit of Signoretto translation of De Marchi was in Saint Mark’s square in Venice, April 2000.
This is a Livi...
Category
1990s Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Art Glass, Murano Glass
Architectural Ceramic Sculpture with Palladium and Gold Glaze by Judy Engel
By Judy Engel
Located in Hudson, NY
Hand built, one of a kind ceramic sculpture by renowned NY artist Judy Engel. "Building #17" is a stunning hand built abstract architectural piece with a glamorous and unique formula...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic
Modern Enamelled Iron "Sunbather" Sculpture
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Modern enameled Iron "Sunbather" sculpture, Three dimensional sculpture of a topless woman with blonde hair, reminiscent of Lichtenstein. Removable from ...
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Iron
Giant Hippo Sculpture in Orange Lucite
Located in New York, NY
Posh Pachyderm. A mesmerizing must-have for sizzling safari chic, our giant acrylic hippo looks fab anchoring a tablescape or makes a great focal point i...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Acrylic
21st Century Filippo Feroldi Medium Vase Murano Glass Various Colors
Located in Brembate di Sopra (BG), IT
21st century Filippo Feroldi ZUCCA medium vase murano glass various colors.
Designed by Filippo Feroldi, the Zucche set came from the desire to create a vase that can exist as an ob...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Murano Glass
21st Century Filippo Feroldi Small Vase Murano Glass Various Colors
Located in Brembate di Sopra (BG), IT
21st century Filippo Feroldi Zucchino small vase Murano glass various colors.
Designed by Filippo Feroldi, the Zucche set came from the desire to create a vase that can exist as an ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Murano Glass
21st Century Filippo Feroldi Large Vase Murano Glass Various Colors
Located in Brembate di Sopra (BG), IT
21st century Filippo Feroldi Zuccone large vase Murano glass various colors.
Designed by Filippo Feroldi, the Zucche set came from the desire to create a vase that can exist as an o...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Murano Glass
Golfer Wood Sculpture
Located in Paris, FR
Wood sculpture representing a Golfer, beautiful movement and wood.
Unknown signed artist.
Category
1970s French Vintage Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Palisander
Giacometti inspired Bronze Statue by German Artist Uta Falter- Baumgarten
Located in Jesteburg, DE
Giacometti inspired bronze by German artist Uta Falter- Baumgarten (*1921)- great visual impact.
Category
Late 20th Century German Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
L.O.V.E. by Maurizio Cattelan/1/39 Scale Music Box, Edition by Seletti
Located in Kansas City, MO
L.O.V.E. Music Box. Produced as a statement against Fascism. It is the Fascist salute with all but one finger cut off. The hand turns as the music plays. This is a 1:39 Scale Reprodu...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Metal
Modern figurative sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Modern 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, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, ceramic and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern figurative sculptures made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original figurative sculptures, popular names associated with this style include Mosche Bianche, Superego Editions, Lladro, and Europa Antiques. 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 $99 and tops out at $434,607 while the average work can sell for $2,755.
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