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Rococo Sculptures

ROCOCO STYLE

Rococo was an aesthetic movement in the fine and decorative arts in the 18th century that found its inspiration in nature and fostered an overall lightness and delicacy of form, construction and ornament in interior design. Rococo furniture, while greatly influenced by trends in Italy and Germany, is often called Louis XV style — the movement having reached its best expression during that sybaritic French king’s reign.

The term “rococo” is thought to be a portmanteau of the French words rocaille and coquilles — “rock” and “shells” — organic motifs frequently used in architecture and design of the style.

When it comes to authentic Rococo furniture's characteristics, it is above all sensuous and social. The furniture of earlier eras in Europe had been heavy in every sense; the Rococo period saw the appearance of light-framed upholstered armchairs, side chairs and occasional tables that could easily be moved to form conversational circles.

The signal detail of Rococo furniture design is the gently curved cabriole, or S-shaped chair-, table-, and cabinet-leg. It imitates the bend of a tree limb or a flower stem. In a further reference to nature, furnishings were often asymmetrical and painted white, or in soft, pastel shades. Rococo has become a timeless style, and as the furniture pieces presented on 1stDibs demonstrate, its playful, sculptural forms can provide visual excitement to contemporary, clean-lined spaces.

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Style: Rococo
Creator: Bow Porcelain
Bow Complete Set of Porcelain Figures "The Four Elements", Rococo, circa 1765
Located in London, GB
This is a very rare and impressive complete set of large figures called The Four Elements, made by the Bow Porcelain factory in about 1765. It consists of Ceres representing Earth, V...
Category

1760s English Antique Rococo Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Bow Pair of Porcelain Figures of Liberty & Matrimony, Rococo 1760-1764
Located in London, GB
This is a fabulous pair of figures of Liberty and Matrimony made by the Bow Porcelain factory between 1760 and 1764. These figures were a popular pair portraying marriage. The bow...
Category

1760s English Antique Rococo Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Bow Porcelain Figure of Venus with Doves, Rococo, 1756-1764
Located in London, GB
This is a rare and beautiful figure of Venus with two doves, made by the bow porcelain factory between 1756 and 1764. We see Venus standing holding her robe with one hand, a flower p...
Category

1760s English Antique Rococo Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Bow Porcelain Figure of Juno with Eagle 'Jupiter', Rococo Ca 1765
Located in London, GB
This is a very rare and impressive large figure of Juno with an eagle, made by the Bow Porcelain factory in about 1765. This figure formed part of a series of the Four Elements, with...
Category

1760s English Antique Rococo Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Bow Pair of Porcelain Figures, Arlecchino and Columbina, Rococo ca 1758
Located in London, GB
This is a wonderful pair of figures of Arlecchino and Columbina, made by the Bow Porcelain factory in about 1758. These figures formed part of a series of the Commedia dell'Arte, a very popular series of theatrical figures that served as decoration at the dinner table in the 18th Century. The Bow Porcelain Factory was one of the first potteries in Britain to make soft paste porcelain, and most probably the very first to use bone ash, which later got perfected by Josiah Spode to what is now the universally used "bone china". Bow was the main competitor of the Chelsea Porcelain Factory, but where Chelsea made very fine slipcast porcelain, Bow made a different soft paste porcelain that tended to be softer and could be pressed into moulds. Bow served a larger public generally at lower prices. The factory was only in operation between 1743 and 1774, after which the tradition got incorporated into some of the later famous potteries such as Worcester and Derby. These figures were used to adorn the dinner table when dessert was served; groups of figures served to express something about the host, the guests, or to direct the conversation. The Italian Commedia Dell'Arte, a comical form of masked theatre, was very popular in those days and Bow copied many figures of the German Meissen series that were brought out in the decades before. This pair dates from about 1758, which was at the height of Bow's ability to make beautiful figurines often copied from Chelsea or Meissen. The pair is modelled after a Meissen pair by Kaendler. The porcelain is translucent with a beautiful milky glaze - Bow was probably the first pottery using bone in its porcelain recipe. Arlecchino (Harlequin) is playing the bagpipes, dressed in an odd costume of mismatched chintz and playing cards and wearing a funny black trumpet...
Category

1750s English Antique Rococo Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Bow Porcelain Figure of Boy or Putto on C-Scroll Base, Georgian circa 1760
Located in London, GB
This is a wonderful little figure of a boy or putto made by the Bow Porcelain factory in about 1760. The Bow Porcelain Factory was one of the first potteries in Britain to make soft...
Category

1760s English Antique Rococo Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Figure Columbine with her Hurdy Gurdy, Bow Porcelain Factory, circa 1756
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
From the Commedia dell’arte, shown seated on a tree stump and playing her favourite instrument. Probably after Kandler, who described the model as a Tyrolean maiden playing a lyre. ...
Category

Mid-18th Century English Antique Rococo Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Figure: Running Girl, Bow Porcelain Factory, circa 1756
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
Small figure of a young woman wearing a puce-sprigged white skirt, lifted slightly with her left hand, pale pink jacket with typical Bow opaque blue collar and cuffs. We've called...
Category

Mid-18th Century English Antique Rococo Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Decorative Basket, Bow Porcelain Factory, circa 1760
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
A pierced basket standing on a well-formed rococo base. Perhaps for potpourri, although the internal decoration suggests another use. We think probably oranges, chestnuts, etc. Pr...
Category

Mid-18th Century English Antique Rococo Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Related Items
Porcelain Group, "The noble rococo game of chess", German Manufacturer
Located in Berlin, DE
Large, decorative porcelain group, "The noble game of chess". German porcelain manufacturer. Undamaged.
Category

20th Century German Rococo Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Orientalist Royal Worcester Porcelain Figures of Water Carriers
Located in London, GB
These two refined Orientalist figures represent a male and female in Eastern dress, each holding a ceramic water jug. The pair was modelled by British ceramic designer James Hadley, ...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Rococo Sculptures

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Antique 18th Century Bow English Porcelain Figure of a Flute Player
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An antique English porcelain figurine. By Bow. In the form of a boy clothed in 18th century garb and holding a flute. We've noted losse...
Category

18th Century English Antique Rococo Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Rococo Style Bisque Porcelain Female Figures
Located in London, GB
Pair of Rococo style bisque porcelain female figures French, late 19th century One figure: Height 19cm, width 14cm, depth 10cm Other figure: Height...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Rococo Sculptures

Materials

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Derby Porcelain Candlesticks with Figures of Musicians, circa 1760-1765
Located in Downingtown, PA
Derby Porcelain candlesticks with figures of musicians, circa 1760-1765 The pair of Derby Porcelain figures of musicians are on an openwork scroll base, the man is playing the bagp...
Category

1760s English Antique Rococo Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Royal Dux, Dancing Rococo Couple in Porcelain, 1940s
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Royal Dux. Dancing Rococo couple in porcelain, 1940s. Stamped. In very good condition. The woman measures: 21 x 12 cm. The man measures: 23 x 12 cm.
Category

1930s Czech Vintage Rococo Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Large Pair of 19th Century Meissen Porcelain "Day & Night" Figures of Putti
Located in New York, NY
A Fantastic and Large Pair of 19th Century Meissen Porcelain "Day & Night" Figures of Putti. Each is beautifully hand-carved and hand-painted by the finest Meissen artists. They are both gorgeous with draped attire and a plethora of various day and night based attributes. Day is seen wearing a pink...
Category

1870s German Antique Rococo Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Derby English Porcelain Figure of Children in a Garden
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique English porcelain figurine. By the Derby Porcelain Works. With 3 children in a garden accompanied by a lamb and a cat. The boy is reclining against a tall flowery plant and holding a pipe or scoop in his hand. Simply a great antique Derby figurine...
Category

19th Century English Antique Rococo Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of German Porcelain Figures of Seated Pugs
Located in Essex, MA
Each seated with bells on there collars.
Category

1880s European Antique Rococo Sculptures

Materials

Other

German Porcelain Figure of Don Quixote, circa 1900
Located in New York, NY
Marked Hutschenreuther and impressed by the designer Carl Werner.
Category

Early 1900s German Antique Rococo Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Meissen Porcelain Figure of a Classical Boy Holding Flowers
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A very fine and scarce antique German porcelain classical figure of a boy holding flowers by world renowned porcelain makers Meissen and dating fro...
Category

1850s German Antique Rococo Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Meissen Porcelain Figure of a Classical Boy Holding Flowers
Meissen Porcelain Figure of a Classical Boy Holding Flowers
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H 6.11 in W 2.37 in D 2.56 in
Porcelain Group 'Capriccio' Boy on Ibex Rosenthal Selb Germany Circa 1914
Located in Vienna, AT
Admirable Art Nouveau Figure Group by Rosenthal. Naked faun-like boy sitting on the back of an ibex, straining his upper body backwards and supporting himself with both arms on the h...
Category

1910s German Vintage Rococo Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Previously Available Items
Bow Porcelain Figure, Shepherd Boy Piper with Dog, circa 1755
Located in London, GB
This is a wonderful figure of a shepherd boy piper made by the Bow Porcelain factory in circa 1755. The Bow Porcelain Factory was one of the first pott...
Category

1750s English Antique Rococo Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Bow Porcelain Figure, Musician with Flageolet and Tabor, circa 1760
Located in London, GB
This is a wonderful figure of a musician made by the Bow Porcelain factory in circa 1760. The Bow Porcelain Factory was one of the first potteries in Britain to make soft paste po...
Category

1760s English Antique Rococo Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Bow Porcelain Figure of Goat and Kid, Georgian Era, circa 1765
Located in London, GB
This is a wonderful porcelain figure of a goat and kid made by the Bow Porcelain factory in circa 1765, which was the Georgian Era. This figure would make a wonderful holiday gift...
Category

1660s English Antique Rococo Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Bocage Figure Children in Turkish Costume, Bow Porcelain, circa 1770
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
A girl and boy in Turkish costumes, standing amidst flowers on a Rococo base enriched in puce and gilt and in front of a flowering bocage of enameled ...
Category

Mid-18th Century English Antique Rococo Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Figure, Smell, Bow Porcelain Factory, circa 1753
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
Young woman raising a flower to her nose, as smelling from a set of the senses (with hearing, sight, taste and touch). Heavily moulded, in the white, with traces of bianco outline de...
Category

Mid-18th Century English Antique Rococo Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Set of Four 18th Century English Porcelain Bow Figures of the "Rustic Seasons"
Located in Katonah, NY
The Bow "Rustic Seasons" group were made as a table ornaments. Their purpose was to start up conversation among the guests during a dinner party. Each of the four figures in the "Sea...
Category

Mid-18th Century English Antique Rococo Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Rococo sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Rococo 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 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 ceramic, porcelain and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Rococo sculptures made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and Germany pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original sculptures, popular names associated with this style include Interi, Meissen Porcelain, Johann Joachim Kändler, and Michel Victor Acier. 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 sculptures differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $240 and tops out at $195,000 while the average work can sell for $2,497.

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