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Bust
Portrait busts in marble, plaster or bronze.
Statues & Curiosities · Indicative US retail $150–$5,000
At a glance
- Family: Statues & Curiosities
- Periods most often found: Most date from 1800 to 1930.
- Typical price: about $600; range $150 to $5,000 and more for exceptional pieces
- What drives value: Material, signature
What it is
Portrait busts in marble, plaster, terracotta and bronze depict classical gods and philosophers, composers, writers, statesmen and, in France, Marianne, the symbol of the Republic who stood in every town hall. Grand Tour busts copied from Roman antiquities, 19th-century academic portraits by sculptors such as Houdon (and his copyists) and Carpeaux, and plaster busts from artists' studios are common types.
How to identify and date it
Carved marble shows tool marks and often a signature on the side or back; plaster busts should have an old patina, perhaps a maker's stamp, and should not be bright white; bronze busts carry foundry marks. Check for chips at the nose, ears and edges, cracks, and repairs at the neck or socle.
Periods and styles
Most date from 1800 to 1930.
How much is it worth?
On the US retail market, most bust examples ask around $600. Simple or worn pieces start near $150, while documented, signed or exceptional examples can pass $5,000. The main value drivers are: material, signature. These are indicative ranges, not an appraisal; see our price guide for French antiques for the method.
Before you buy
- Check chips and repairs
- Read signature or stamp
- Confirm the base belongs
Living with it
A bust on a pedestal in a library or a hallway adds classical gravitas; a plaster bust softens a modern 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.