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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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
Recognized Seller Listings
Ken Warneke Face Painting "Female looking Left"
Located in Chicago, IL
Ken Warneke Face Painting "Female looking Left"
Chicago School of Painters
Ken Warneke Face Painting "Female Looking Left"
Category
1980s Vintage Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Masonite, Paint
Boeltz Style Large Shell Sculpture in Gold with Malachite Elements 1970s
Located in New York, NY
Large shell sculpture model No 22, 24-karat plated "exploded bronze" design with malachite accents, in the manner of Claude Victor Boeltz, France 1970's. Boeltz’s "exploded-bronze" p...
Category
1970s French Vintage Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Malachite, Gold Plate, Bronze
Artisan Wall Sculpture Of An Ancient Greek Man in Pewter On Wood 1950s
Located in New York, NY
Artisan made face of an ancient Greek man with a laurel wreath molded in pewter and set on a walnut backing, American 1950's. This captivating work is beautifully made.
Category
1950s American Vintage Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Pewter
Philip and Kelvin LaVerne "Nude #1" Wall-Hanging Sculpture 1960s (Signed)
Located in New York, NY
"Nude #1", a rare figural wall sculpture incorporating a femaile nude motif in solid pewter by Philip & Kelvin LaVerne, American 1960's (signed with original gallery label on back st...
Category
1960s American Vintage Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Pewter
"Young Mozart" Porcelain Sculpture by Lladro, Spain. Depicts Mozart at The Piano
By Lladro
Located in Incline Village, NV
Entitled "Young Mozart", or the Spanish presentation "Joven W. Mozart"; this was a limited edition hand painted porcelain made in 1992 and retired the same year; manufactured by Llad...
Category
1990s Spanish Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
"Young Bach" Porcelain Sculpture by Lladro, Spain Depicts Bach at The Pipe Organ
By Lladro
Located in Incline Village, NV
Entitled "Young Bach", or the Spanish presentation "Juan Sebastian Bach"; this was a limited edition hand painted porcelain made in 1994 and retired the same year; manufactured by Ll...
Category
1990s Spanish Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
Charlie Chaplain Porcelain Sculpture by Lladro, Spain Depicts Chaplain in Stance
By Lladro
Located in Incline Village, NV
Entitled "Charlie Chaplain", hand painted porcelain made in 1984 by Lladro, in Spain and retired in 1990 This is labeled 5233 and 025F; signed on the bottom by the sculptor, Juan Hue...
Category
1980s Spanish Vintage Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
"Garden Song" Porcelain Figure by Lladro Spain. Depicts Young Girl with Parasol
By Juan Huerta, Lladro
Located in Incline Village, NV
This was a limited edition hand painted porcelain made in 1992 and retired in 1995; manufactured by Lladro in Spain. Designed and sculpted by world renowned artist, Juan Huerta, it i...
Category
1990s Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
"Summer Stroll" Porcelain Figurine by Lladro, Spain, "Young Girl with Umbrella"
By Juan Huerta, Lladro
Located in Incline Village, NV
This was a limited edition hand painted porcelain made and retired in 1991 by Lladro in Spain. Designed and sculpted by world renowned artist, Juan Huerta, it is entitled "Summer Stroll...
Category
1990s Spanish Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
French Post-War Stylized Female Figures
By Laroche
Located in New York, NY
6 French Post-War design (1980/90s) bronze individually stylized female figures in poses standing on one foot on a round shaped base (signed LaROCHE) (priced each).
Category
20th Century French Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Large Holy Land Mother-of-pearl, Abalone Shell and Olive Wood Icon
Located in London, GB
A large Holy Land mother-of-pearl, abalone shell and olive wood icon
Jerusalem, early 20th century
Icon: height 55.5cm, width 52cm, depth 18cm
Case: height 15.5cm, width 61.5cm, depth 57.5cm
In fitted case, presented by the President of the Senate...
Category
Early 20th Century Israeli Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Mother-of-Pearl, Olive, Abalone
Silver-Gilt and Enamel Austro-Hungarian Horse Drawn Carriage Model
Located in London, GB
A silver-gilt and enamel Austro-Hungarian horse drawn carriage model
Austro-Hungarian, Early 20th Century
Case: 28cm high x 89cm wide x 44...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Gold, Silver, Enamel
TF02 Glazed Stoneware Figura Totem by Pascale Girardin
Located in Brooklyn, NY
TF02 Sculpture designed and produced by Canadian artist Pascale Girardin features a partially glazed stoneware body. The entire structure is handmade. The handprints sculptured in th...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Canadian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stoneware
Philip & Kelvin LaVerne Sculpture "The Runner" in Bronze 1970s 'Signed'
Located in New York, NY
One-of-a-kind sculpture, The Runner, in hand-brazed and textured bronze by Philip & Kelvin LaVerne, American 1970's (signed "Philip + Kelvin LaVerne" on ba...
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Bubble Clothes Stand in Black Aniline Structure, by Skrivo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The bubble standing clothes stand is available in black aniline wooden spheres, with a lacquered structure in white, black, silk grey, dusty grey or intense blue.
Born in Croatia...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Wood
"Lolita" Patinated Bronze Sculpture by Francoise Abraham
By Françoise Abraham
Located in Palm Desert, CA
This beautiful sculpture entitled "Lolita" by Francoise Abraham reflects an original and unique perspective on the human form in movement. Born in 19...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
32 Ananke Glass Vase, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
The Ananke Glass Vase was originally designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1986. The vase is glass blown, and signed on the base, for further information please see authenticity info below....
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Glass
Contemporary Carved Wood Figural Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
Contemporary carved wood abstract figural sculpture.
Category
20th Century American Modern Figurative Sculptures
Sirio Glass Flower Vase, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
The Sirio glass vase was originally designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1982. Signed on the edge of the Stand: "E. Sottsass per Memphis Milano”. For further information please see authen...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Glass
25 Astimelusa Glass Vase, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
The Astimelusa Glass Vase was originally designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1986. The vase is part of the “Vetri Glass” collection, and made out of blown Murano glass. Signed “E.Sottsass...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Blown Glass
21 Clesitera Glass Vase by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
The Clesitera glass vase with pendant, was originally designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1986. The vase is blown glass, and signed on the base, for further information please see authent...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Glass
Deneb Glass Vase, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
The Deneb vase in multicolored glass was originally designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1982 for Memphis. Signed “E.Sottsass per Memphis Milano”.
Ettore Sottsass was born in Innsbruck in...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Glass
12 Amaltea Vase, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
The Amaltea Vase was designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1986. The vase is part of the “Amaltea Glass” collection. Made in Murano. Signed “E.Sottsass per Memphis”. Signed on the base.
Et...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Glass
13 Malide Vase, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
The 13 Malide glass vase was originally designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1986. The vase is part of the “Malide Glass” collection. Made in Murano glass, and signed on the base “E.Sottsa...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Glass
14 Astidamia Vase, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
The Astidamia glass vase was originally designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1986. The vase is part of the “Astidamia Glass” collection. Made in blown Murano glass, and signed “E.Sottsass ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Glass
26 Niobe Glass Vase, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
The Niobe Glass Vase was originally designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1986. The vase is made out of blown glass and signed on the base. For further information please see authenticity i...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Glass
33 Neobule Glass Vase, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
The Neobule Glass Vase was originally designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1986. The Vase is glass blown and signed on the base, for further information please see authenticity info below....
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Glass
31 Imera Glass Vase, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
The Imera Glass Vase was originally designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1986. The vase is made out of blown glass, and signed on the base, for further information please see authenticity ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Blown Glass
Mizar Glass Vase, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
The Mizar vase was originally designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1982. The piece features clear and blue glass with multicolored handles.
Ettore Sottsass was born in Innsbruck in 1917. In 1939 he graduated in architecture at the Politecnico di Torino One of the most influential and important figures of the last century, Architect and Designer, he has participated in all radical movements whether created from the 1970s and 1980s. In 1981 he founded the Memphis group, a group that has radically changed the scenario of Italian and world design. Honored with numerous international awards, was winner of the Golden...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Glass
TF03 Glazed Stoneware Figura Totem by Pascale Girardin
Located in Brooklyn, NY
TF03 Sculpture designed and produced by Canadian artist Pascale Girardin features a partially glazed stoneware body. The entire structure is handmade. The handprints sculptured in th...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Canadian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stoneware
TF09 Glazed Stoneware Figura Totem by Pascale Girardin
Located in Brooklyn, NY
TF09 Sculpture designed and produced by Canadian artist Pascale Girardin features a partially glazed stoneware body. The entire structure is handmade. The handprints sculptured in th...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Canadian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stoneware
30 Pasifila Glass Vase, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
The Pasifil Glass Vase was originally designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1986 for Memphis. It's part of the “Vetri Glass” collection, made in blown Murano glass. Signed on the base, for ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Glass
TF01 Glazed Stoneware Figura Totem by Pascale Girardin
Located in Brooklyn, NY
TF01 Sculpture designed and produced by Canadian artist Pascale Girardin features a partially glazed stoneware body. The entire structure is handmade. The handprints sculptured in th...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Canadian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Stoneware
5 Atamante Glass Vase, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
5 Atamante vase is in blown glass, and originally designed in 1986 by Ettore Sottsass. Signed on the base, for further information please see authenticity info below.
Ettore Sott...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Blown Glass
Antoniucci Volti, Sculpture in Bronze, 1970
By Antoniucci Volti
Located in Encino, CA
Antoniucci VOLTI ( 1915-1989 )
Original bronze sculpture with green patina depicting a nude figure.
Signed "Volti" and numbered "6/6" with Art Foundry / Toronto pastille. Circa 1978...
Category
1960s French Vintage Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Better Off Dead, a Unique Glass Still Life Installation Art Work by Elliot Walk
Located in London, GB
'Better Off Dead' is one of the British artist and Blown Away II series winner, Elliot Walker's ongoing body of still life artworks. These compositions have the poise of classical pa...
Category
2010s British Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass
11 Erinna Glass Vase, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
The Erina vase is blown glass, originally designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1986. The vase is part of the “Vetri Glass” collection. Made in Murano, its hand blown with techniques from m...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Blown Glass
Alioth Glass Vase, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
The Alioth Glass Vase was designed by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis in 1983. The Venetian glass vase features blue fusions and black threads. Signed on the base.
Ettore Sottsass was b...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Glass
Altair Glass Flower Vase, by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis Milano Collection
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
The Altair Glass Flower Vase was designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1982. Signed on the base, please see below for further information.
Ettore Sottsass was born in Innsbruck in 1917. I...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Glass
Alpha Centaury Glass Flower Vase, by Marco Zanini for Memphis Milano Collection
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
The Alpha Centaury Glass Flower Vase was designed by Marco Zanini in 1982. Signed on the base, please see below for further information.
Marco Zanini was born in Trento in 1954. He ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Glass
34 Agelada Glass Vase, by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
The Agelada Glass Vase with pendant was originally designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1986 for Memphis. It's part of the “Vetri Glass” collection. Made in blown Murano glass, and signed ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Glass
46 Nami Glass Vase, by Marco Zanini from Memphis Milano
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
The Nami Glass Vase was originally designed by Marco Zanini in 1986 for Memphis. Sculptural vase features a conical base on a glass pedestal, with opal glass plate topped by a green ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Glass
Sculpture Designed by Henning Koppel for Georg Jensen, Denmark, 1970s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Sculpture designed by Henning Koppel for Georg Jensen, Denmark, 1970s.
Sterling silver and ebony.
Dimensions:
H 16 cm/ 6 1/4",
L 10 cm/ 4".
Category
1970s Danish Vintage Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Silver
Philip & Kelvin LaVerne Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
"Three Graces," Unique Sculpture by Philip & Kelvin LaVerne. Bronze sculpture of abstract figures on pedestal base. Artist-signed on base. Published: Sculpture II, The Art of Philip ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Earthenware Sculpture by Lennart Olausson
By Lennart Olausson
Located in Stockholm, SE
Soulful earthenware sculpture of a face by Lennart Olausson. Glazed turquoise with a slight shimmer.
Lennart Olausson (born 1944) is a Swedish artist, educated at Konstfack 1961-1...
Category
Early 2000s Swedish Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Earthenware
Woman and Architecture or the Architecture by Joseph Csaky, 1926
By Joseph Csaky
Located in Paris, FR
Sculpture in bronze with black patina
Signed and numbered 3/8. Stamped with the foundry stamp Blanchet and marked AC (Atelier Csaky)
The model from 1926, the present cast is a Post...
Category
1920s French Vintage Modern Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
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
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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