Animal Sculpture for Sale
Animal sculpture is a sculptural style in its own right. This specific genre deserves the same recognition as nude, marble, bronze and resin sculptures.
The representation of animals and anthropomorphism has long been a source of inspiration for sculptural creations and yet it was once considered a minor genre in Western European decorative arts. Ironically, animal sculpture was of the utmost importance to Ancient civilizations. Countless ancient Egyptian buildings for example were adorned with animal sculptures, from grandiose representations of felines to Sphinxes. More generally within the visual arts, animals were rarely represented in their own right, and were often depicted accompanying or symbolizing mythological figures or even character traits.
Aside from its mythical representations, animal sculptures were also popular with suzerain states who used monumental bronze sculptures of lions or eagles to symbolise the immensity of their power.
However, it wasn't until 1831 that the sculptor Antoine-Louis Barye finally established animal sculpture as a noble art, thanks to his work "Tiger devouring a Gavial Crocodile" at the Salon de Paris. It was no longer fashionable to depict animals as unreal, mythological creatures in the decorative arts and instead naturalism and realistic representations of animals characterized the sculpture of the period. Ideas about nature's wealth and abundance meant that all creatures deserved to be carefully and meticulously recreated in the closest likeness possible. Mythical animal interpretations were left behind and artists concentrated on capturing the finer details of an animal's fur, muscles or mouth.
A new wave of renowned animal sculptors emerged. Pierre-Jules Mêne, Antoine Aigon and Jean Germain Demay are just a few examples of some of these pioneering artists. Particularly interested in 'exotic' species (snakes, gazelles, elephants, giraffes, hippopotamuses…), they all explored representing the natural world in a variety of different ways.
In the 20th century, realist tendencies gradually faded away and a new group of creative minds began to experiment with animal sculpture as part of the shift towards modern sculpture.
Numerous artists tried their hand at animal sculpture whilst applying new aesthetic criteria which was largely influenced by modern and contemporary art movements: Abstract art, Impressionism, Cubism, Expressionism. Guided by key surrealist influences, which could not have been further removed from the traditional styles of the past century, a new bestiary was created. Pablo Picasso and Alberto Giacometti were among the key figures who helped to reinvent the way artists endeavored to sculpt animals.
In contemporary animal sculpture, radically redefining artistic techniques and the way we represent living beings has taken precedence over realistic proportion sizes and lifelike features. Artists no longer refrain from accentuating a particular body part, removing a limb for example or creating an entirely new hybrid beast. However, many artists are also skilled at creating hyper-realistic animals that seem so real they almost appear to be alive.
To help you get an idea of the latest animal sculptures, take a look at Artsper's collection of sculpted animals, selected from some of the best contemporary art galleries and made by artists including Jaques Dufrane, Raymundo Fabian Melchor and Roxana y Jesus Hernandez.
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Bull Cooper
Jean François Piecourt
Sculpture - 39 x 73 x 32 cm Sculpture - 15.4 x 28.7 x 12.6 inch
€4,700
Stroll / Balade
Sylvie Gaudissart
Sculpture - 40 x 32 x 26 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 12.6 x 10.2 inch
€5,900
Cheval au trot en métal recyclé
Omar Aoufia
Sculpture - 330 x 80 x 223 cm Sculpture - 129.9 x 31.5 x 87.8 inch
€4,580
Golden Monkey
Valerian Sioridzé
Sculpture - 32 x 19 x 12 cm Sculpture - 12.6 x 7.5 x 4.7 inch
€1,250
Grâce africaine
Lee Berthille
Sculpture - 190.5 x 83.5 x 38 cm Sculpture - 75 x 32.9 x 15 inch
€5,500
Rhino Petrol Company Medio, Edition 8/8
Stefano Bombardieri
Sculpture - 70 x 30 x 60 cm Sculpture - 27.6 x 11.8 x 23.6 inch
€33,000
Fish Stone Sculpture
Kamo Aloyan
Sculpture - 28 x 21 x 12 cm Sculpture - 11 x 8.3 x 4.7 inch
€4,101 €3,486
Rockett- God save the bear
Max ArtLouis
Sculpture - 35 x 18 x 17 cm Sculpture - 13.8 x 7.1 x 6.7 inch
€1,800
Lionne assise 7/8
Isabelle Carabantes
Sculpture - 32 x 25 x 22 cm Sculpture - 12.6 x 9.8 x 8.7 inch
€5,400
Chouette Hulotte
François Galoyer
Sculpture - 29 x 14 x 10 cm Sculpture - 11.4 x 5.5 x 3.9 inch
€5,200
Le coq - bronze
Mireille Bassier-Tilmont
Sculpture - 25 x 14 x 5 cm Sculpture - 9.8 x 5.5 x 2 inch
€220
Big Rabbit, Pink Design
Raffaele Ardor
Sculpture - 48 x 38 x 32 cm Sculpture - 18.9 x 15 x 12.6 inch
€1,390
Fieles en la tormenta
Rodo Padilla
Sculpture - 40 x 37 x 20 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 14.6 x 7.9 inch
€4,200
Horse and Brick LV Brown and Tiffany Blue
Art Kristin
Sculpture - 20 x 30 x 9 cm Sculpture - 7.9 x 11.8 x 3.5 inch
€590
A l’affût / On the lookout
Sylvie Gaudissart
Sculpture - 38 x 26 x 20 cm Sculpture - 15 x 10.2 x 7.9 inch
€2,800
King slayer giant
Jorn Van Hoorn
Sculpture - 40 x 50 x 90 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 19.7 x 35.4 inch
€12,500
Singes de la Sagesse Crazy cool
Miko-R
Sculpture - 29 x 16 x 17 cm Sculpture - 11.4 x 6.3 x 6.7 inch
€2,200
Végas pop art Naomi Vogue
Christophe Comerro
Sculpture - 45 x 30 x 45 cm Sculpture - 17.7 x 11.8 x 17.7 inch
€980
Suricate Escalateurs III
Mauro Corda
Sculpture - 60 x 21 x 16 cm Sculpture - 23.6 x 8.3 x 6.3 inch
€13,500
Suricate Curieux II
Mauro Corda
Sculpture - 60 x 21 x 16 cm Sculpture - 23.6 x 8.3 x 6.3 inch
€11,400
Cheval volutes de métal
Jean Amiel
Sculpture - 100 x 70 x 70 cm Sculpture - 39.4 x 27.6 x 27.6 inch
€9,500
King owl - Roi hibou
Tauraï Mupaso
Sculpture - 41 x 20 x 15 cm Sculpture - 16.1 x 7.9 x 5.9 inch
€1,400
Baby owl - Bébé chouette
Tauraï Mupaso
Sculpture - 24 x 20 x 15 cm Sculpture - 9.4 x 7.9 x 5.9 inch
€900
Les deux kangourous roux
Damien Colcombet
Sculpture - 20 x 27 x 8 cm Sculpture - 7.9 x 10.6 x 3.1 inch
€6,400
Celestial Tentacles : Guardian of the Abyss
Hiro Ando
Sculpture - 100 x 150 x 150 cm Sculpture - 39.4 x 59.1 x 59.1 inch
€90,000
Le fantastique
Lee Berthille
Sculpture - 83 x 116 x 27 cm Sculpture - 32.7 x 45.7 x 10.6 inch
€3,500
Orang-outan sage
Valerian Sioridzé
Sculpture - 34 x 19 x 12 cm Sculpture - 13.4 x 7.5 x 4.7 inch
€1,050
Teddy Love marron chrome or
Nicolas Krauss
Sculpture - 50 x 33 x 20 cm Sculpture - 19.7 x 13 x 7.9 inch
€5,000
Teddy love Bleu Cote d'Azur
Nicolas Krauss
Sculpture - 50 x 33 x 20 cm Sculpture - 19.7 x 13 x 7.9 inch
€5,000
Hibou des marais
François Galoyer
Sculpture - 37 x 20 x 15 cm Sculpture - 14.6 x 7.9 x 5.9 inch
€5,500
Poisson aux yeux rouges
Christiane Guerry
Sculpture - 58 x 52 x 3 cm Sculpture - 22.8 x 20.5 x 1.2 inch
€1,020
Teddy love red emotion
Nicolas Krauss
Sculpture - 34 x 24 x 15 cm Sculpture - 13.4 x 9.4 x 5.9 inch
€2,400
Teddy love mat black
Nicolas Krauss
Sculpture - 34 x 24 x 15 cm Sculpture - 13.4 x 9.4 x 5.9 inch
€2,400
Ducklings / Les canetons
Sylvie Gaudissart
Sculpture - 79 x 21 x 78 cm Sculpture - 31.1 x 8.3 x 30.7 inch
€12,500
It's a dog life ... !
Papa Mesk
Sculpture - 25 x 43 x 15 cm Sculpture - 9.8 x 16.9 x 5.9 inch
€1,200
Cavallet de la vall (Valley Horse)
Martí Rom
Sculpture - 44 x 45 x 10 cm Sculpture - 17.3 x 17.7 x 3.9 inch
€1,700
Bou del Tassili rumiant (Ruminating Tassili Bull)
Martí Rom
Sculpture - 22 x 28 x 15 cm Sculpture - 8.7 x 11 x 5.9 inch
€1,300
Baby Bull Dog
Jean-Michel Pradel-Fraysse
Sculpture - 32 x 20 x 18 cm Sculpture - 12.6 x 7.9 x 7.1 inch
€4,500
Fragment de gorille
Florence Jacquesson
Sculpture - 48 x 35 x 20 cm Sculpture - 18.9 x 13.8 x 7.9 inch
€11,000
Fragment orang-outan
Florence Jacquesson
Sculpture - 52 x 40 x 20 cm Sculpture - 20.5 x 15.7 x 7.9 inch
€15,000
Naissance éléphanteau
Florence Jacquesson
Sculpture - 20 x 10 x 22 cm Sculpture - 7.9 x 3.9 x 8.7 inch
€6,500
Billet Luxe Queen Tom et Jerry
Taydna
Sculpture - 35 x 70 x 1 cm Sculpture - 13.8 x 27.6 x 0.4 inch
€190
La Reine de la Nuit
Hadrien David
Sculpture - 43 x 17 x 37 cm Sculpture - 16.9 x 6.7 x 14.6 inch
€2,700
Ballon Dog Gold and Chupa Chups
Koen Betjes
Sculpture - 13 x 13 x 9 cm Sculpture - 5.1 x 5.1 x 3.5 inch
€415
La légende du colibri noir et jaune dégradé
Marion Cros
Sculpture - 28 x 15 x 15 cm Sculpture - 11 x 5.9 x 5.9 inch
€1,900
Omaggio a Colbert Piccolo 8/8
Stefano Bombardieri
Sculpture - 20 x 55 x 16 cm Sculpture - 7.9 x 21.7 x 6.3 inch
€23,000
B.U.M.
Marcelo Martin Burgos
Sculpture - 88 x 83 x 35 cm Sculpture - 34.6 x 32.7 x 13.8 inch
€27,800
Toro mosaïque multicolore
Jean Amiel
Sculpture - 75 x 70 x 70 cm Sculpture - 29.5 x 27.6 x 27.6 inch
€4,800
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Kong Christmas 2024 Gold edition
Richard Orlinski
Design - 19 x 13.5 x 7 cm Design - 7.5 x 5.3 x 2.8 inch
€510
Need help with Animal Sculpture for Sale ?
Who are the animal sculptors?
Animal sculptors, called animaliers, create works depicting wildlife in bronze, ceramic, or other materials. Among the most famous are François Pompon, Rembrandt Bugatti, and Richard Orlinski.
What are the three main types of sculptures?
The three main types of sculpture are sculpture in the round (sculpture in volume, visible from all angles), bas-relief (sculpture slightly protruding from a background) and high-relief (sculpture in great relief, almost detached from the background).
Who is Jacques Owczarek?
Jacques Owczarek is a French sculptor born in 1969, renowned for his clean-lined bronze animal sculptures. His work combines strength and elegance, capturing the essence of animals with great technical mastery.
Who is the most famous animal sculptor of all time?
Antoine-Louis Barye is considered the most famous animal sculptor of all time. A master of bronze in the 19th century, he revolutionized the depiction of animals with his realism and sense of movement.