Ignacio Gallo Bronze

Ignacio Gallo was born in Valladolid, Spain in the 19th century. He worked from 1910–35 specialising in statuettes of bathers, dancers, nudes and pagan goddesses. While working in Paris in the mid to late 1920s, he created the piece of two women dancing. Gallo’s creations in bronze were made at the Marcel Guillemard Foundry which has an interesting history of its own. Guillemard worked first with Andre Fau in the early 20s until they ended their partnership in 1926 at which time he received a financial infusion from the Etling Foundry and continue to work with Etling that also produced the work of Bouraine, Le Faguays, Colinet and Chiparus. Gallo was in good company with these notable sculptors and two of the finest foundries in France. Guillemard was also the chief of design and decor for Primavera, the stylish shops of the French Department Store Printemps. Gallo also had an important role at the 1925 Paris Exposition des Arts Decorative.

Styling your home with vintage, new and antique sculptures means adding a touch that can meaningfully transform the space. By introducing a sculptural work as a decorative finish to any interior, you’re making a statement, whether you tend toward the dramatic or prefer to keep things casual with modest, understated art.

A single, one-of-a-kind three-dimensional figurative sculpture mounted on your dining room wall is a guaranteed conversation piece, while a trio of abstract works arranged on your living room bookshelves can add spontaneity to the collection of first-edition novels or artist monographs you’re displaying as well as draw attention to them. Figurative sculptures are representational works that portray a specific person, animal or object. And while decorating with busts, which are sculpted or cast figurative works, hasn’t exactly topped the list of design trends every year, busts are back. According to designer Timothy Corrigan, “They give humanity in a way that a more abstract sculpture can’t give.” Abstract sculptures, on the other hand, are not meant to show something specific. Instead, they invoke a mood or scene without directly stating what they are portraying.

Busts made of stone or metal may not seem like a good fit for your existing decor. Fortunately, there are many ways for a seemingly incongruous piece to fit in with the rest of your room’s theme. You can embrace a dramatic piece by making it the focal point of the room, or you can choose to incorporate several elements made out of the same material to create harmony in your space. If an antique or more dramatic piece doesn’t feel like you, why not opt for works comprising plastic, fiberglass or other more modern materials?

When incorporating sculpture into the design of your home — be it the playful work of auction hero and multimedia visionary KAWS, contemporary fiber art from Connecticut dealer browngrotta arts or still-life sculpture on a budget — consider proper lighting, which can bring out the distinctive aspects of your piece that deserve attention. And make sure you know how the size and form of the sculpture will affect your space in whole. If you choose a sculpture with dramatic design elements, such as sharp angles or bright colors, for example, try to better integrate this new addition by echoing those elements in the rest of your room’s design.

Get started on decorating with sculpture now — find figurative sculptures, animal sculptures and more on 1stDibs today.