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Sculpture
Decorative and fine sculpture in bronze, wood and stone.
Statues & Curiosities · Indicative US retail $100–$10,000
At a glance
- Family: Statues & Curiosities
- Periods most often found: Most date from 1850 to 1950.
- Typical price: about $600; range $100 to $10,000 and more for exceptional pieces
- What drives value: Artist, material
What it is
Decorative and fine sculpture filled 19th-century French interiors. Paris foundries (Barbedienne, Susse Frères, Thiébaut, Colin) cast editions of works by animaliers such as Barye, Mène and Rosa Bonheur, by academic sculptors and by Art Nouveau artists; the Art Deco period produced chryselephantine figures in bronze and ivory by Chiparus and Preiss; wood carvings and terracotta studies complete the field.
How to identify and date it
Signatures in the bronze, foundry stamps, reduction marks (the Collas mechanical-reduction seal) and edition numbers help identify; posthumous casts and modern fakes are common, often with soft detail and a uniform brown patina. Check the chasing, the patina, the base and any repairs.
Periods and styles
Most date from 1850 to 1950.
How much is it worth?
On the US retail market, most sculpture examples ask around $600. Simple or worn pieces start near $100, while documented, signed or exceptional examples can pass $10,000. The main value drivers are: artist, material. These are indicative ranges, not an appraisal; see our price guide for French antiques for the method.
Questions buyers ask: art deco sculpture value estimate; how much is the madonna and child sculpture worth. The answer depends on the points below, which are worth checking before you compare prices.
Before you buy
- Read signature and foundry
- Check casting and patina
- Ask about edition
Living with it
A bronze on a console or a library shelf anchors a room.
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How we write these guides: identification notes are general guidance written by French Country; a style name, a region or a resemblance does not by itself date or attribute a piece. Price ranges are indicative US retail asking prices for antique and vintage examples in sound condition (dealers, specialist marketplaces and auctions), estimated and rounded as of November 2026; check recent sold results before relying on a figure. They are not appraisals or offers to buy or sell: condition, provenance and documentation can move a value far outside the range. For insurance, estates or sales, ask an independent, qualified appraiser for a written valuation.