European Sculptures

Depicting a visibly agitated Jonah in the mouth of the whale. The upper half of the whale opens revealing the lower shell interior. Marked: London 1896, Maker: James Samuel Bell

This handsome sculpture was realized in Russia in the 20th century. Created in blackened bronze, it features a male nude figure in the process of forging a sword. He is portrayed mid swing as he strikes the sword with a Hammer. His body torqued all of his muscles appear flexed. The male figure- with his chiseled physique- appears as the paradigm of male beauty- a true adonis. This sculpture offers a timeless motif- employed from Greek antiquity...

Murano Style Italy Blown Emerald Green Art Glass Dolphin on Clear Glass. Art glass sculpture depicting an abstract green dolphin in an artistic Murano glass on transparent wave base. Heavy large sculpture and a beautiful and unique piece of blown art fish figurine with unique textures and finishes that create a sense of depth and dimensionality. Mid-Century Modern vintage hand blown Murano glass fish figure on a clear glass stand and green body. This beautiful hand blown glass fish will be a great decorative object for a shelf, cocktail table, desk or anywhere in any room. Dimensions: 12" W x 7" H x 5.5" Depth. Murano Italy circa 1960s. Good condition. No Hallmark, no signature in the style of Archimede Seguso Fish...

Classic early 1910s Vienna bronze figurine. This polychromed cold painted bronze is probably something you need if you’re a Vienna bronze collector. Found at an estate sale in Vienna...

Mobile Kinetic Sculpture by Max Lipsey Dimensions: D 350 x W 350 x H 350 cm. Materials: Steel and lacquer. The mobile is available in different colors and sizes on request. Please c...

Rare Pair of Ralph Wood Staffordshire Medici Lions in Pink and Blue Bases, Attributed to Ralph Wood, Staffordshire, England, circa 1780 A rare and highly distinctive pair of Staffor...

Bronze sculpture of the big cat after Fernando Botero, 20th century. Bronze sculpture after Fernando Botero representing the big cat, 20th century. H: 15cm, W: 8cm, D: 8cm

Egg designed by the Swedish ceramicist Hans Hedberg, who lived and worked in Biot, France. This egg is 25 cm (10") high including the stand. It´s in excellent condition and it has a ...

Handmade porcelain creation inspired by a Hummingbird, belonging to Face 2 Face collection. Hummingbird belongs to Face 2 Face collection featuring three birds that combine synthetiz...

A large and impressive late 19th Century bronze study of the famous Venus de Milo sculpture of antiquity with excellent rich brown patina and good hand finished surface detail, inscribed F.Barbedienne foundry ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Height: 95 cm Width: 28 cm Depth: 28 cm Condition: Excellent Original Condition Circa: 1890 Materials: Bronze Foundry: F.Barbedienne SKU: 7741 ABOUT The Barbedienne Foundry is a famous 19th century bronze foundry, whose statues and art objects became rapidly very renowned. This bronze studio co-worked with other trades, and put his name to a great variety of works, such as furnishing in particular. Attending every World's Fair of its time, the Barbedienne Foundry was regularly awarded, notably at the World's Fair of 1855 where it was awarded the Great Medal of Honor. A Parisian bronze maker and caster, Ferdinand Barbedienne (1810-1892) creates a firm in 1839 in collaboration with Achille Collas, the inventor of the mechanical method to obtain copies of sculptures at a smaller scale. With this groundbreaking proceed, they facilitated an unprecedented production. Under the “Collas et Barbedienne” name, they specialized in Antiquity copies and perfected new chemical methods for the color and patina finish of their bronzes. As a true Romantic, Ferdinand Barbedienne is committed to democratization of arts, he thus realizes numerous Antiquity copies and stimulates his contemporaries’ works broadcasting. A great deal of famous sculptures are hence cast by the Barbedienne Foundry. All his life, Barbedienne co-worked with the greatest artists, sculptors or designers of his time, such as Edouard Lievre, Ferdinand Levillain, Attarge, Aizelin, Barye or Fremiet. Statues aside, he products a great deal of decorative artifacts, such as clocks, vases, mirrors, etc. Since 1855, Ferdinand Barbedienne collaborates with the famous decoration designer Louis-Constant Sévin (1821-1888). Joining the firm as a sculptor-designer, he stays loyal to it his life long, always finding more new designs for daily objects, which hence become true art works. Sevin’s creations, specialized in the “Neo-Greek” style, were particularly appreciated for antiquity reference in decorative arts, just like the great mirror preserved by the Orsay Museum. He also teams up with enamelers including Alfred Serre, and develops a set of “cloisonnés” enamels that made the headlines at the World's Fair of 1862 in London, which was the very beginning of the art of enamel’s return. In collaboration with Serre, Barbedienne realized between 1878 and 1889 the Monumental Clock in Renaissance style, decorated with enamels, which is preserved in the Paris City Hall. Venus de Milo Facts about Venus de Milo sculpture. For much of the world, the mystery of the Venus de Milo lies in her missing arms. But there’s much more to this iconic statue than a couple of absent appendages. 1. Venus de Milo‘s title is a bit misleading. It’s popularly believed that this Grecian statue depicts the Greek Goddess of love and beauty, who was often rendered half-naked. However, the Greeks would have called this deity Aphrodite. Nonetheless, the Roman-inspired Venus de Milo caught on. 2. She’s named in part for where she was discovered. On April 8, 1820, a farmer named Yorgos Kentrotas came across the statue in pieces within the ruins of an ancient city on the island of Milos (formerly known as Melos). 3. Alexandros of Antioch is credited with her creation. A sculptor of the Hellenistic period, Alexandros is believed to have carved this masterpiece between 130 and 100 BCE. The inscription on the plinth—the slab on which the statue rested—that identified him as Venus de Milo‘s creator was lost nearly 200 years ago. 4. She might not be Venus. Some have suggested the sculpture is not Aphrodite/Venus, but Amphitrite, the sea goddess who was particularly adored on Milos. Still others have proposed she’s Victory, or perhaps a prostitute. With her arms long missing, would-be context clues have been lost for centuries. A spear could have meant one thing, a spool of thread another. If she held an apple—as some reports claim—it could mean she was Aphrodite, holding the award given to her by Paris before the Trojan War began. To this day, it’s a matter of passionate debate. 5. She became a gift to the King of France. When Kentrotas called upon a French naval officer to help him unearth the spectacular sculpture, he began a chain of events that would eventually lead to the Marquis de Rivière presenting Venus de Milo to Louis XVIII. In turn, the ruler gave the statue to the Louvre, where it is on display to this very day. 6. The loss of her limbs is the fault of the French. Kentrotas did find fragments of an arm and a hand when he uncovered the statue in the ruins, but as Venus de Milo was being reassembled, those arms were discarded for having a “rougher” appearance. Modern art historians believe that the variation of finish does not mean those arms did not belong to Venus, but both the arms and the original plinth have been lost since the piece moved to Paris in 1820. 7. The original plinth was ditched on purpose. Sight unseen, early 19th century art historians decided the newly discovered Venus must have been the work of Greek artist Praxiteles, and publicized the work as such. This attribution would have placed the piece in the Classical period (5th through 4th centuries BCE), which was more respected artistically than the Hellenistic period. To save face and better promote Venus de Milo—even at the cost of misinforming the public—the plinth was removed before it was presented to the King. 8. Venus de Milo was meant to make up for a national embarrassment. During his conquests, Napoleon Bonaparte had plundered one of the finest examples of Greek sculpture, Venus de’ Medici, from Italy. In 1815, the French government returned that beloved sculpture, but in 1820, France embraced the chance to fill the hole its absence left in the French culture and national pride. As such, Venus de Milo was promoted as being even greater than Venus de’ Medici upon her Louvre debut. The ploy worked, and the piece was met with almost universal praise from artists and critics. 9. Renoir was not impressed. Perhaps the most famous of Venus de Milo‘s detractors, the celebrated Impressionist painter dismissed this delicate depiction of grace and female beauty as “a big gendarme.” 10. She went into hiding during World War II. By the autumn of 1939, war threatened to descend on Paris, so Venus de Milo along with some other priceless pieces, such as Winged Victory of Samothrace and Michelangelo’s Slaves, were whisked away for safekeeping at various châteaux in the French countryside. 11. She’s been robbed! Venus is missing more than just her arms. She was originally draped in jewellery including a bracelet, earrings and a headband. These flourishes are long lost, but the holes for fixing them to the piece remain in the marble, giving clues to the missing accessories. 12. She lost her colour. While it’s easy for today’s art admirers to think of Greek statues as white, the marble was often painted in the style of polychromy. However, no trace of the original paint scheme remains on Venus de Milo today. 13. She’s taller than most people. Even with her slight slouch, Venus de Milo stands at 6 feet 8 inches tall. 14. She could be a copy. Art historians have noted that Venus de Milo bears a striking resemblance to Aphrodite of Capua, which is a Roman era copy of a possibly late 4th century BCE bronze Greek original. That would be at least 170 years before Alexandros carved his goddess, leading some to speculate that both statues are actually replicas of an older statue...

This unique fossil piece of scallops (also called Saint Jacques shells, or scientifically : gigantopecten restitutensis) is from around 20 millions years ago. It was found in the sou...

Sculpture en pierre reconstituée style antique XXème

Early pair of Italian Modernist Polypropylene chairs designed by Carlo Bartoli for Kartell Italia in the 1970s model 4875, unusual color, art furniture, Nic...

An Art Deco Bronze Sculpture by Joé Descomps of a nude lady wearing a loose green patinated cloak and matching coloured head scarf. Signed 'Joé Descomps' to bronze. Set over a varieg...

A very fine French Animaliers bronze study of a stallion standing behind a post and rail fence exhibiting excellent hand finished surface detail and good...

Classic early 1910s Vienna bronze figurine. This polychromed cold painted bronze is probably something you need if you’re a Vienna bronze collector. Found at an estate sale in Vienna...

A natural or slightly oversized male mannequin head in painted pottery/plaster. Distinct Art Deco styling with exaggerated features. Made in France...

Carl Aubock Sculpture "Man With Stick" 4060. This beautifully crafted sculpture first conceived in the 1950's by Carl Aubock is a wonderful examp...

Exceptionally rare Scottish 20th Century Bronze Statue by the Acclaimed Scottish Sculptor, Ann Henderson RA (1926-1976). Title: Flowers. This sculpture was exhibited at The Royal Aca...

A symbol of strength and energy, the majestic head of the horse is represented in a fragmented cut that brings modernity to the entire sculpture. Since ancient times, it was believed...

Absolutely adorable and stylish mid-century Danish Royal Copenhagen porcelain rabbit figurine by renowned artist Knud Kyhn (Danish, 1880-1969) and dating from around 1965-1975. The ...

Artisanally sculpted soapstone from Finland on a metal base. Organic in shape. Unique due to the color gradation in the sober color palette. Each piece is unique in shape. 3 availabl...

A fantastic vintage ceramic/stoneware figurine/ sculpture depicting an owl made by Thomas Hellström for Nittsjö Sweden. This is one of Hellströms' famous animals for Nittsjö Keramik,...

A striking example of 1980s Italian decorative art, this black panther sculpture captures dynamic movement and bold elegance in equal measure. Crafted with meticulous attention to fo...

Naturalia consists of one-off pieces in a variety of colors, expressing Michela Cattai’s fascination with nature in all of its unpredictable forms and manifestations. Each piece was ...

The 1st century AD marble original of this bronze is now in the Vatican. That marble was excavated in 1865 near the Villa of Livia in the Prima Porta hills outside of Rome but there ...

Hand-crafted sculpture specimen of natural red coral branches mounted on 18th century gilt wood fragment base. 11.5 inches in height. Perfect for your "Cabinet of Curiosities".

Vanità Tazza Contemporary Glass Sculpture by Simone Crestani Unique Piece In the Vanità Tazza, Simone Crestani reflects on the delicate interplay between beauty and impermanence. Cr...

Original 19th century French bronze, " Jeune Femme a la Mandoline", sculpture of a young girl seated with a mandolin resting on her lap by Auguste Moreau (1834-1917) France and retai...

Royal Copenhagen porcelain figurine. Lying dachshund. Model number 1408. Dated 1964. Measures: 11.5 x 6.5 cm. In excellent cond...

Museum quality and condition work of religious art with amazing, hand carved details. This amazingly hand carved wooden wall plaque is not only of great quality and condition, it also has a patina that is unlike anything you ever saw. Over the decades we have sold a number of unique and interesting crucifixes, but we had not yet come across one that is inside such a beautiful branches and leaf frame in the Swiss Black Forest style. For us to have found it in this amazing condition again felt like a blessing and we are grateful to be able it to offer it to our 1stdibs clientele first. At the centre of this Christian-work-of-art-wall-plaque and behind the original, mouth-blown convex glass 'window' is an even more detailed sepiolite sculpture of Christ on the cross. The details in this crucifix sculpture...

Classic early 1980s Italian Majolica ceramic dog statue figurine. Nice addition to your room or entry hall. Made of Majolica ceramic, hand painted. ...

A traditional gilt bronze sculpture by Emmanuel Frémiet standing on a marble base, portraying St. Hubert riding a horse while he shows a flag depicting Jesus crucified, symbolizing h...

Art Deco female figure - Sculpture bookends, France, 1920s. Pair of female bookends in silver plated finish, great pose in the Art Deco style, made in France. We have specialized in...

Very cool space age brass and lucite small globe weather station , barometer made in West Germany , Post war piece. great and unique piece.

Granite sculpture of a Sphinx in the taste of ancient Egypt, 20th century. Granite sculpture of a Sphinx in the taste of ancient Egypt, 20th century. H: 28cm, W: 59cm, D: 16,5cm Pr...

A large fine Art Deco patinated bronze figure of "The Riverman" by Maurice Guiraud-Rivière (French, 1881-1947), circa 1920 in date. This powerful sculpture is modelled and cast a...

Isidore-Jules Bonheur (French, 1827–1901) A Rare Gilt and Patinated Bronze Jockey on A Horse, circa 1875. Introducing a truly exceptional and highly s...

Stunning classical style display column with a wonderful and warm patina. This marvelous piece of early 20th century workmanship is another fine example of the quality that was made in those days. All handcrafted out of oak and beautifully patinated from top to bottom this antique stand is a real eyecatcher and over the many decades the patina has only made this antique more attractive. This highly stylish, strong and very stable stand will easily take one of your heavier sculptures as well. The combination of the circular, heavy stem with its classical carvings and cannelures and the square base and table top make this stylish antique an absolute joy to own and look at. Apart from a few minor imperfections, this antique display stand...

Mid-20th century Torino ceramic semi-nude woman sculpture 'Portatrice Africana' by C.I.A. Manna By: C.I.A. Manna Material: ceramic, paint Technique: gilt, glazed, hand-crafted, molded, painted, pressed, unglazed Dimensions: 6 in x 22 in Date: mid-20th century Style: Mid-Century Modern, Space Age Place of origin: Italy This mid-20th century Italian ceramic sculpture titled 'Portatrice Africana' was handcrafted by C.I.A. Manna in Torino, Italy. Molded from ceramic clay and meticulously hand-painted, it depicts a semi-nude african woman carrying a large clay vessel...

" Ego " An Art light blue glass sculpture in the shape of a Head seen in profile One of a kind by artist Ursula Huber executed in Berengo's furnace in Mur...

This exquisite leather horse statue is a beautifully handcrafted piece, showcasing exceptional detail and craftsmanship. Every feature is carefully designed to create a lifelike and ...

A Pair of 19th Century Italian Hand-Carved and Hand-Polished Carrara Marble Models of Children Reading and Writing, Signed A. Piazza, After Antonio Canova. Antonio Canova (1757–1822...

A late Victorian Bronze Pointer by Pierre Jules Mene (1810-1879). Excellent patination, signed 'P.J. Mene' to base. Dimensions: H 11cm W 22cm D 9.5cm Origin: French Date: Circa...

Beautiful old and heavy garden ornament, statue of a cute pig depicted with a pumpkin and corn cobs, made of cast iron, the statue has a beautiful rusty age patina, estimated first h...

Fine quality pair of French 19th century gilt bronze (electrotype technique) relief plaques. Children in backyard farm, garden scene.

A beautiful ceramic vase in lovely Art Deco-style designed by Einar Luterkort, the vase is designed at Upsala Ekeby in the 1930s. It is 27 cm (10.8") high and about 15 cm (6") in di...

Set of 3 vintage hand blown Murano glass ducks infused with gold flecks, with Swarovski crystal eyes / Made in Italy, circa 1980s "Murano Glass" etc...

A beautiful, decorative midcentury Rimini blue glazed fish sculpture. Designed by Aldo Londi, manufactured by Bitossi Ceramiche / Italy in the 19...

Marked: London, 1847, maker: Robert Garrard.

Very beautiful art deco statue in cracked ceramic representing a woman coming out of the bath. Signed Louis Rivet on the base. Very good quality and large s...

This elegant modernist frosted crystal leopard was realized in France by the legendary maker Lalique, circa 1980. It depicts a hunting panther, crawling low to the ground on all four...

A Very Rare and Important Marble Relief of the ‘Resurrection of Christ’ Attributed to the Master of the Mascoli Altar Marble Venice, Italy Second half of the 15th Century SIZE: ...

Mischievous creature sculpture, by Aurelio Teno, unsigned, Spanish, circa 1960s. Constructed of a seashell, silver or silvered bronze, and semi precious stone eyes on an agate base. ...

Nike of Samothrace in Terracotta, late 19th Century Total height with base: 220 cm Good condition for its period Original patina Italian Terracotta Toscan The Victory of Samothrac...

French Art Deco sculpture by Enrique MOLINS-BALLESTE, France, ca.1920. Spelter and marble. Marble base. "Young lady and fans". Width: 17.6"(44.8cm), Height: 8.1"(20.5cm), Depth: 5.2"...

Premium Craftsmanship for Sophisticated Strength Training These exclusive dumbbells are designed by kenko and manufactured in Berlin, Germany. Made from finely machined stainless ste...

Charming German Art Deco Porcelain Half Doll – Marked "Germany 3851" This delightful German porcelain half doll captivates with her petite size, making her all the more charming. Sh...

Exquisite and unique, this Italian intricately hand-carved conch shell depicting the Roman goddess of Day and Night dates back to the 19th century and showcases the exceptional craft...

Fun marble sculpture painted with colorful geometric figures.