Sculpture is the art of creating three-dimensional forms by carving, modelling, casting or assembling materials such as stone, marble, bronze, wood, terracotta, plaster and metal. It ranges from monumental public statues and garden figures to portrait busts, decorative cabinet bronzes and small carved objects.
The main techniques are subtractive, such as carving marble or wood, and additive, such as modelling clay or wax, which may then be cast in bronze using the lost-wax or sand-casting methods. The nineteenth century saw a great expansion of the market, with foundries producing editions of works by sculptors such as Barye and Mêne, and reduction machines allowing famous classical statues to be reproduced at domestic scale. When assessing antique sculpture, consider the quality of modelling and finish, the condition of the surface and patina, any signatures, foundry marks or numbers, and whether a cast is early or a later reproduction. Good sculpture brings presence and movement to any interior.
