Stone sculpture is three-dimensional art carved from natural stone, such as marble, limestone, sandstone, alabaster or granite. It may be freestanding, as a statue or bust, or carved in relief on a panel or building, and it is one of the oldest and most enduring forms of artistic expression.
The classical sculpture of ancient Greece and Rome shaped much of the European tradition, and Grand Tour collectors of the eighteenth century acquired both ancient fragments and contemporary marble copies of famous antiquities to furnish their houses and gardens. Italian workshops continued to supply marble busts, figures and vases to British and American buyers throughout the nineteenth century, while native stones such as Portland and Bath stone were used for garden statuary, church monuments and architectural ornament. Values depend on the quality of carving, the stone, the subject, any attribution and condition. Outdoor pieces naturally weather, and a softened surface with lichen is often desirable, but frost damage, erosion of features and poor repairs reduce value. Buyers should also consider weight and stability, since even modest pieces need a sound base and careful handling when moved.
