Paper Mache Angel
Vintage 1960s Mexican Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings
Metal
Recent Sales
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Italian Sculptures
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Figurative Sculptures
Paper
Antique 17th Century Italian Baroque Sculptures and Carvings
Other
21st Century and Contemporary French Busts
Iron
People Also Browsed
2010s Italian Renaissance Wall Mirrors
Glass
2010s Italian Minimalist Figurative Sculptures
Murano Glass
20th Century Spanish Hollywood Regency Wall Mirrors
Metal, Brass
2010s Mexican Modern Game Boards
Resin
Vintage 1960s American Brutalist Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Gold Leaf, Iron
Vintage 1930s Italian Art Deco Fireplaces and Mantels
Iron
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Models and Miniatures
Aluminum
Mid-20th Century Mexican Brutalist Decorative Boxes
Bronze
Vintage 1920s American Folk Art Signs
Wood, Paint
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Spanish Colonial Ceramics
Ceramic, Clay, Majolica
Vintage 1960s French Art Deco Signs
Plaster
Vintage 1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Art Glass
Mid-20th Century Mexican Tribal Tribal Art
Organic Material, Wood
Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Posters
Wood, Paper
Vintage 1970s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Art Glass
Antique Late 19th Century Fireplaces and Mantels
Brass, Wrought Iron
Finding the Right Sculptures for You
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.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Paper mache has its roots in China, with the inventors of paper itself. It then became popular in Europe, and it was through the Spaniards that paper mache entered Mexico. In Mexico, cartoneria or paper-mache sculptures are a traditional craft that goes back to the colonial period when the Spanish brought the art overseas. Shop a range of antique and modern paper mache on 1stDibs.
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