Painted Figurative Sculptures

A charming early 20th-century German Christmas figurine Candlestick depicting a cheerful Santa gnome or elf riding atop a delightful pink pig. Beautifully crafted in bisque porcelain...

Unique panel depicting a Saint figure and Angels. Wonderful layers of its original color, France, circa 1650-1750 . Weathered, small losses. Treated against woodworm. Measurements in...

Tom of Finland. Bookend ‘Pekka’ Bookend, painted cast resin, height 12.8 in., base 6 x 6 x 0.8 in. Always Ready to Handle the Heaviest Load - Get Your Books Sandwiched and Add Some ...

An exceptionally detailed handcrafted maritime model of the Hamburg tugboat “Petra”, dated 1957. Measuring only 25 cm \(9\.84 in\.\) in length, this remarkable miniature demonstrate...

Presenting a high-end and important Japanese doll of Musha Ningyo Samurai Doll from the late Edo to the early Meiji period, a traditional Japanese warrior doll...

An impressive and large glazed ceramic sculpture titled “Havtyren” (Sea Bull) by Jean René Gauguin, created at Bing & Grøndahl, Denmark, in the 1930s. This iconic work is executed in...

Amazing 18th century carved wooden Baroque arm of a Saint figure. This piece was once part of a procession Saint figure. The arm is now placed at a wooden base and as visible on the ...

Presenting a heavy-duty quality and high-end and important Japanese doll of Musha Ningyo Samurai Doll from the late Edo to the early Meiji period, a traditional Japanese warrior doll...

This elegant Ronzan porcelain figure represents the peak of mid-century Italian ceramic artistry, characterized by its refined "Orientalist" aesthetic and masterful hand-painted exec...

Beautiful Baroque angel. Unique period piece made out of wood . Hand-carved and painted. Several old layers of paint visible Italy, circa 1700-1750 Weathered. Small losses Measureme...

Meissen Rococo Figural Sweetmeat Dish with Seated Maiden and Twin Floral Baskets, Germany, Circa 1880 Meissen Rococo Figural Sweetmeat Dish with Seated Maiden and Twin Floral Basket...

Monumental wall-mounted sculpture executed in painted papier-mâché by Mexican artist Sergio Bustamante (b. 1949). Titled "Sol Eclipse" (Solar Eclipse), this large-scale composition f...

An incredible mid-century modern sculpture by listed Mexican artist Manuel Felguérez depicting two children on a seesaw. The sculpture, depicting a boy and girl on a seesaw, or teete...

A pair of Antique Japanese Kimekomi Dolls, dated from the late Taisho to the early Showa period. Both are in great condition. Two cuties made by the traditional way of "Edo Kimekomi ...

Gerda Gerdago's 'Cosmic Dance': Art Déco austrian patinated bronze chryselephantine (ox bone and gold) sculpture manufactured by Arthur Rubinstein By: Gerda Gerdago, Arthur Rubinste...

1930s Art Déco cold-painted chryselephantine bronze and ox bone woman sculpture by Roland Paris, France By: Roland Paris Material: bronze, copper, metal, bone, paint Technique: cast...

Presenting a high-end and important Japanese doll of Musha Ningyo Samurai Doll sitting on a wooden stand from the Meiji period, a traditional Japanese warrior doll...

Wonderful hand carved winged angel head with its original color and gilding. France, circa 1750 Weathered and small losses and old repair. Treated against woodworm. Measurement here...

This is a porcelain figurine by Royal Dux, depicting two dancing women, often referred to as "Dancing Sisters" or "Dancing Ladies". This figural group was created by Elly Strobach K...

C-3PO, the legendary Star Wars protocol droid, handcrafted in porcelain. C-3PO first appeared in 1977 with the release of Star Wars: A New Hope, becoming one of the saga’s most reco...

Sergio Bustamante Monumental Carved Sun Sculpture, Mexico, Circa 1980s A large and compelling hand-carved and hand-painted sculptural sun figure attributed to the celebrated Mexican...

A pair of Antique Japanese Kimekomi Dolls, dated from the late Meiji to the early Taisho period. Both are in the good condition with some lost of outer fabric. Two cuties made by the...

Presenting a set high-end and important Japanese dolls of Musha Ningyo Samurai Dolls containing Yoshitsune and Bannerman on two wooden stands from the Edo period, a traditional Japanese warrior doll...

A lovely large 20" Mid-Century Italian majolica basket of lemons topiary centerpiece. No maker's mark. Freshen up your kitchen or breakfast room with this charming hand painted arran...

A fine antique German porcelain figurine. By Meissen. In the form of a barefoot young girl in a dirndl dress carrying a wicker basket full of many different flowers. Atop a Rococo-style gilt plinth. Marked to the base with Meissen's blue underglaze crossed swords mark / an impressed 9 / an incised 'No. 5'. Simply a wonderful antique Meissen figurine...

Art Deco Figurine of 'Mata Hari' by Capodimonte / Naples Porcelain Company Italy, circa 1925 An exceptional work, displaying grace and movement, subtly hand- painted. The seductive turban and gold earring wearing dancer draped in a White and Iron-Red Moon and Star motif garment, on a tasseled pillow. Hence our Mata Hari, attribution/suggestion. The name Mata Hari, is a Malay expression for the sun. Literally meaning “eye of the day"/ dawn of the day' This exquisite figure, depicts the The dancer (Mata Hari ?) as the sun-wearing the moon and stars. Marked with the variation Blue underglaze Crown & N. In remarkable well cared for condition, some minor wear to the gilt. The figurine stands...

Signed African Stone Sculpture by Morning Chijumani, Zimbabwe, 20th Century Height: 24 cm Width: 13 cm Material: Carved stone Signature: MORNING CHIJUMANI Origin: Zimbabwe, Southern...

STELIO MOLA - Vintage hand painted majolica figure of a Sardinian gentleman - medium size - featuring elaborate hand crafted and hand painted details throughout - signed on the base ...

Tom of Finland. Bookend ‘Pekka’ Bookend, painted cast resin, height 12.8 in., base 6 x 6 x 0.8 in. Always Ready to Handle the Heaviest Load - Get Your Books Sandwiched and Add Some ...

A pair of Antique Japanese Kimekomi Dolls, dated from the late Taisho to the early Showa period 1940s. Both are in good condition with some lost on the boy's left fist. Two cuties ma...

Presenting a high-end and important Japanese doll of Musha Ningyo Samurai Doll from the late Edo period, a traditional Japanese warrior doll crafted with intricate mixed-media armor,...

Tom of Finland. Bookend ‘Durk’ Bookend, painted cast resin, height 12.8 in., base 6 x 6 x 0.8 in. Always Ready to Handle the Heaviest Load- Get Your Books Sandwiched and Add Some Pl...

Art Deco tall Italian animal Figurine Ceramic Parrot Macaw on a tree trunk Material: porcelain, ceramic, tin glazed Design: Cacciapuoti style...

A monumental, very tall, quite engaging African Bansonyi serpent snake sculpture/ headdress/ mask by the Baga people who reside along the coast of Guinea Bissau. The Baga snake...

A beautiful and exceptionally 18 inches tall classic traditional Kokeshi doll from Northern Japan. Handcrafted of wood and hand-painted in the the early 20th century, covered with a ...

A delightful cold-painted bronze modelled as a young Arab boy seated in quiet concentration, absorbed in reading from a parchment held delicately in his hands. Signed with the Bergma...

Entitled "Columpio Feliz" which translates to "See-Saw", this lovely porcelain sculpture was a limited edition; hand painted and hand made porcelain issued in 1974 and retired in 199...

A finely cast early 20th Century Austrian bronze study of a standing Pigeon. The bronze with excellent hand chased surface detail and fine rich golden cold painted colour, signed wit...

Beautiful Italian porcelain figurine by Giuseppe Armani, crafted in the Capodimonte style, depicting a tender mother and child scene. The composition captures an intimate moment of m...

An attention-grabbing bottle stopper „Eye", model #4538, designed by Carl Aubock II back in the early 1950s. A charming object, handcrafted by Werkstätte Auböck in Vienna / Austria. ...

Unique panel depicting a saint figure and Angels. Wonderful layers of its original color, France, circa 1650-1750 . Weathered, small losses. Treated against woodworm. Measurements in...

A set of Italian hand‑painted porcelain figures by Porcelain d’Arte, circa mid-20th century, Bassano, Italy. Set are hand‑painted porcelain figures by Porcelain d’Arte, the Bassano...

Josef Lorenzl Art Deco bronze sculpture. Size: Height 33cm. The cold painted bronze sculpture is mounted on a Brazilian green onyx plinth. All in an o...

Unique ceramic sculpture by Lisa Larson, created in Gustavsberg, Sweden, in 1998. The sculpture depicts a small child seated on the back of a dog. The con...

Presenting a high-end and important Japanese doll of Musha Ningyo Samurai Doll from the Meiji period, a traditional Japanese warrior doll crafte...

This wonderful, whimsical, and naughty bronze by the Bergman Foundry is a real joy. Highly detailed casting and meticulously painted bronze has the added feature of a toy, you can p...

18th century Italian bronze-gold crucifix with coordinating gold leaf shells and crystal points mounted on a crystal geode. The gold leaf shells adorn the crucifix and the base of th...

A rare and very fine bronze corpus of Christ after a model by Michelangelo, cast ca. 1597-1600 by Juan Bautista Franconio and painted in 1600 by Francisco Pacheco in Seville, Spain. The present corpus reproduces a model attributed to Michelangelo. The best known example, lesser in quality, is one on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET). The association of this corpus with Michelangelo was first brought to light by Manuel Gomez-Moreno (1930-33) who studied the wider circulated casts identified throughout Spain. The attribution to Michelangelo was subsequently followed by John Goldsmith-Phillips (1937) of the MET and again by Michelangelo expert, Charles de Tolnay (1960). While Michelangelo is best known for his monumental works, there are four documented crucifixes he made. The best known example is the large-scale wooden crucifix for the Church of Santa Maria del Santo Spirito in Florence, made in 1492 as a gift for the Prior, Giovanni di Lap Bicchiellini, for allowing him to study the anatomy of corpses at the hospital there. In 1562, Michelangelo wrote two letters to his nephew, Lionardo, indicating his intention to carve a wooden crucifix for him. In 1563 a letter between Lionardo and the Italian sculptor Tiberio Calcagni, mentions this same crucifix (a sketch of a corpus on the verso of a sheet depicting Michelangelo’s designs for St. Peter’s Basillica [Palais des Beaux-Arts in Lille] may reproduce this). That Michelangelo was working on small corpora in the last years of his life is further evidenced by the small (26.5 cm) unfinished wooden crucifix located at the Casa Buonarroti, considered his last known sculptural undertaking. Michelangelo’s contemporary biographer, Giorgio Vasari additionally cites that Michelangelo, in his later years, made a small crucifix for his friend, Menighella, as a gift. Surviving sketches also indicate Michelangelo’s study of this subject throughout his career, most notably during the end of his life but also during the 1530s-40s as he deepened his spiritual roots. The occasional cameo of crucified Christ’s throughout his sketched oeuvre have made it challenging for scholars to link such sketches to any documented commissions of importance. All the while, in consideration that such objects were made as gifts, it is unlikely they should be linked with commissions. Nonetheless, a number of theories concerning Michelangelo’s sketches of Christ crucified have been proposed and some may regard the origin of the present sculpture. It has been suggested that the corpus could have its impetus with Michelangelo’s work on the Medici Chapel, whose exclusive design was given to the master. It is sensible smaller details, like an altar cross, could have fallen under his responsibility (see for example British Museum, Inv. 1859,0625.552). Others have noted the possibility of an unrealized large marble Crucifixion group which never came to fruition but whose marble blocks had been measured according to a sheet at the Casa Buonarroti. A unique suggestion is that Michelangelo could have made the crucifix for Vittoria Colonna, of whom he was exceedingly fond and with whom he exchanged gifts along with mutual spiritual proclivities. In particular, Vittoria had an interest in the life of St. Bridget, whose vision of Christ closely resembles our sculpture, most notably with Christ’s proper-left leg and foot crossed over his right, an iconography that is incredibly scarce for crucifixes. The suggestion could add sense to Benedetto Varchi’s comment that Michelangelo made a sculpted “nude Christ…he gave to the most divine Marchesa of Pescara (Vittoria Colonna).” Of that same period, two sketches can be visually linked to our sculpture. Tolnay relates it to a sketch of a Crucified Christ at the Teylers Museum (Inv. A034) of which Paul Joannides comments on its quality as suggestive of preparations for a sculptural work. Joannides also calls attention to a related drawing attributed to Raffaello da Montelupo copying what is believed to be a lost sketch by Michelangelo. Its relationship with our sculpture is apparent. Montelupo, a pupil of Michelangelo’s, returned to Rome to serve him in 1541, assisting with the continued work on the tomb of Pope Julius II, suggesting again an origin for the corpus ca. 1540. The earliest firm date that can be given to the present corpus is 1574 where it appears as a rather crudely conceived Crucifixion panel, flanked by two mourners in low-relief and integrally cast for use as the bronze tabernacle door to a ciborium now located at the Church of San Lorenzo in Padula. Etched in wax residue on the back of the door is the date, 27 January 1574, indicating the corpus would have at least been available as a model by late 1573. The Padula tabernacle was completed by Michelangelo’s assistant, Jacopo del Duca and likely has its origins with Michelangelo’s uncompleted tabernacle for the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels in Rome. The impetus for the Padula tabernacle’s Crucifixion panel begins with a series of late Crucifixion sketches by Michelangelo, depicting a scene of Christ crucified and flanked by two mourners (see British Museum Inv. 1895.0915.510; Ashmolean Museum Inv. 1846.89, KP II 343 recto; Windsor Castle RCIN 912761 recto; and Louvre Inv. 700). A faintly traced block possibly intended for sculpting the sketch of the crucified Christ on its recto was discovered by Tolnay on a version of the composition at Windsor Castle. The Windsor sketch and those related to it appear to have served as preparatory designs for what was probably intended to become the Basilica of St. Mary’s tabernacle door. Vasari documents that the project was to be designed by Michelangelo and cast by his assistant, Jacopo del Duca. Michelangelo died before the commission was complete, though on 15 March 1565, Jacopo writes to Michelangelo’s nephew stating, “I have started making the bronze tabernacle, depending on the model of his that was in Rome, already almost half complete.” Various circumstances interrupted the completion of the tabernacle, though its concept is later revitalized by Jacopo during preparations to sell a tabernacle, after Michelangelo’s designs, to Spain for Madrid’s El Escorial almost a decade later. The El Escorial tabernacle likewise encountered problems and was aborted but Jacopo successfully sold it shortly thereafter to the Carthusians of Padula. An etched date, 30 May 1572, along the base of the Padula tabernacle indicates its framework was already cast by then. A 1573 summary of the tabernacle also describes the original format for the door and relief panels, intended to be square in dimension. However, a last minute decision to heighten them was abruptly made during Jacopo’s negotiations to sell the tabernacle to King Phillip II of Spain. Shortly thereafter the commission was aborted. Philippe Malgouyres notes that the Padula tabernacle’s final state is a mixed product of the original design intended for Spain’s El Escorial, recycling various parts that had already been cast and adding new quickly finished elements for its sale to Padula, explaining its unusually discordant quality, particularly as concerns the crudeness of the door and relief panels which were clearly made later (by January 1574). Apart from his own admission in letters to Spain, it is apparent, however, that Jacopo relied upon his deceased master’s designs while hastily realizing the Padula panels. If Michelangelo had already earlier conceived a crucifix model, and Jacopo had access to that model, its logical he could have hastily employed it for incorporation on the door panel to the tabernacle. It is worth noting some modifications he made to the model, extending Christ’s arms further up in order to fit them into the scale of the panel and further lowering his chin to his chest in order to instill physiognomic congruence. A crude panel of the Deposition also follows after Michelangelo’s late sketches and is likewise known by examples thought to be modifications by Jacopo based upon Michelangelo’s initial sculptural conception (see Malgouyres: La Deposition du Christ de Jacopo del Duca, chef-d’oeuvre posthume de Michel-Ange). Jacopo’s appropriation of an original model by Michelangelo for more than one relief on the Padula tabernacle adds further indication that the crucifix was not an object unique to Jacopo’s hand, as few scholars have posited, but rather belongs to Michelangelo’s original...

Sculpture Blue Wading with base structure in solid brass and porcelain and with bird' structure in hand-painted porcelain with brass details.

1940s Art Déco Torino painted and glazed ceramic figurine 'Ambretta Dancer' by Sandro Vaccetti for the firm Essevi, Italy By: Sandro Vaccetti Material: ceramic, paint, enamel, clay ...

This image displays a Huge set of vintage Chinese porcelain statues known as the Sanxing, or the Three Star Gods, representing Fu, Lu, and Shou. These figures are central to Chinese ...

Very pretty and decorative early 20th century French articulated life-size mannequin's arm in dark brown painted and plastered heavy solid wood. To lay or hang and use for extraordi...

Born in 1992 in Macerata in the Marche region, the Italian artist carried out a path that between studies of Surveyor and Architecture led him to a long collaboration with a craft co...

Cold painted Austrian bronze sculpture by Franz Bergman depicting a carpet trader. The piece shows great attention to detail and craftsm...

A beautiful pair of hand-painted ceramic Asian male figures, Chinoiserie style, circa mid-20th century, British Hong Kong. Hand painted in both rich and bri...

A rare surviving example of early luxury‑brand display art, this French advertising statue from the 1920s captures the refined theatricality of the Art Deco era. Created in plaster w...

This is an Art Deco porcelain dancer figurine, likely produced by Fasold & Stauch. 1940-1950 Fasold & Stauch was a German porcelain factory...

Santa Claus limited edition porcelain figurine with a sweet little girl in his arms kissing him decorated with red enamels on Santa's costume.

German Rococo-style porcelain figurine of a couple at a dressing table, circa the 1950s, attributed to Älteste Volkstedter Porzellanmanufaktur. This adorable porcelain figure group f...

Tamara Karsavina, a Ballets Russes Dancer, impersonating the "Firebird" in the Ballet by Igor Strawinsky. Porcelain Figure by Dimitri Iwanow for Lomonosov, St. Petersburg Manufactory...