Search 0
26,106  PAGES BROWSED TODAY PAGES TODAY • 106 ANTIQUES UPLOADED TODAYNEW ARRIVALS
Sorted by
Per page
JOIN AS A SELLER DEALER LOGIN
Selling Antiques Logo
0
Saved
GIFTS
106 ITEMS ADDED TODAY
Home
Return
Dealer Login
500+ Shops
Dealers
Newly Added
0
Saved
Antiques dealer?
Join as a Seller
Sort Order
Items Per Page
sellingantiques.co.uk
Browse Categories
Sort order
Relevant Links
Items per page
ID #SA1242999
FOR SALE
£3,400
Email Phone
Save
C. 1850, Articulated, (86cm) Artist's Lay Figure (French)
For sale by White Space Antiques
for sale €3,978     $4,318
£3,400
White Space Antiques

White Space Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Feb 2026
Browse dealers 78 items
  • About Us
    Curate your white space
↓ Relevant Links
Id #SA1242999
PDF SHARE
SAVE

C. 1850, Articulated, (86cm) Artist's Lay Figure (French)

19th century
Description

C. 1850, Articulated, (86cm) Artist's Lay Figure (French)

Hand carved in pine, this fully articulated, artist's lay figure is in complete original condition. It is missing one little finger on both hands, but it would seem these are historic losses and are barely noticeable.

Such figures were traditionally used by artists to study human anatomy and poses, making this a rare example of 19th-century craftsmanship and functional design.

DIMENSIONS:

86cm High

CONDITION:

Wear commensurate with age. Missing two little fingers. No major cracks or breaks. Stunning patina gained through age and handling.

PROVENANCE:

From the private collection of a discerning art and antiques collector in the United States.

Date of Manufacture

White Space Antiques has dated this French Artist Lay Figure to the 1850s.

Independent Date Check ID 09700993
Dealer's Item Date1850s
Sellingantiques Date1850s
Sellingantiques agingItem 145-190 years old
Test ResultsPassed dating check
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to THE 1850s:
Hand-carved facial details and ears: sculpted artisan work of the mid-nineteenth century.
Wooden mortise and tenon jointing: traditional articulated construction before modern metal ball-joints.
Rubbed finish on the shoulders and knees: many decades of studio handling.
Dark oxidised colour in the hollows: undisturbed age across the timber.

This is an independent date report produced by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. The process uses the photographs shown on this page. The system is never told the date the dealer has declared. This report shows that the two dates corroborate.

Physical Dimensions
Height
86cm (33.86")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1242999
Description
C. 1850, Articulated, (86cm) Artist's Lay Figure (French)

Hand carved in pine, this fully articulated, artist's lay figure is in complete original condition.

“
It is missing one little finger on both hands, but it would seem these are historic losses and are barely noticeable.
White Space Antiques
fig 1. A French circa 1850 carved dark wood articulated artist lay figure shown in a seated position.
fig 1. C. 1850, Articulated, (86cm) Artist's Lay Figure (French)

Such figures were traditionally used by artists to study human anatomy and poses, making this a rare example of 19th-century craftsmanship and functional design.

DIMENSIONS:

86cm High

CONDITION:

Wear commensurate with age. Missing two little fingers. No major cracks or breaks. Stunning patina gained through age and handling.

PROVENANCE:

From the private collection of a discerning art and antiques collector in the United States.

Date of Manufacture

White Space Antiques has dated this French Artist Lay Figure to the 1850s.

Independent Date Report ID 09700993
Dealer's Item Date1850s
Sellingantiques dating1850s
Sellingantiques agingItem 145-190 years old
Test ResultsPassed dating check
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to the 1850s:
Hand-carved facial details and ears: sculpted artisan work of the mid-nineteenth century.
Wooden mortise and tenon jointing: traditional articulated construction before modern metal ball-joints.
Rubbed finish on the shoulders and knees: many decades of studio handling.
Dark oxidised colour in the hollows: undisturbed age across the timber.

This is an independent date report produced by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. The process uses the photographs shown on this page. The system is never told the date the dealer has declared. This report shows that the two dates corroborate.

Height
86cm (33.86")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1242999
White Space Antiques
White Space Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Feb 2026

Curate your white space

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the White Space Antiques Profile Page

PDF SHARE
SAVE
A French circa 1850 carved dark wood articulated artist lay figure shown in a seated position.
1 / 5
Archive I A French circa 1850 carved dark wood articulated artist lay figure shown in a seated position.

C. 1850, Articulated, (86cm) Artist's Lay Figure (French)

Archive II A French circa 1850 carved dark wood articulated artist lay figure shown in a seated position. View II
Archive III A French circa 1850 carved dark wood articulated artist lay figure shown in a seated position. View III
Archive IV A French circa 1850 carved dark wood articulated artist lay figure shown in a seated position. View IV
Archive V A French circa 1850 carved dark wood articulated artist lay figure shown in a seated position. View V
Enlarged Archival View
White Space Antiques

White Space Antiques
Telephone 07760 835542
Location
Westbury
Wiltshire
United Kingdom

By appointment only.
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/whitespace
Verified Since Feb 2026
Items For Sale 78
Items Sold 3
White Space Antiques
White Space Antiques
Verified Since Feb 2026
View Dealer Info
Location: Westbury, Wiltshire, United Kingdom, , By appointment only.
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/whitespace
Verified
Feb 2026
For Sale
78
Sold
3
A French circa 1850 carved dark wood articulated artist lay figure shown in a seated position.
C. 1850, Articulated, (86cm) Artist's Lay Figure (French)
Ref: SA1242999
A French circa 1850 carved dark wood articulated artist lay figure shown in a seated position.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Detail View 4
Archival Detail

Strictly Vetted Dealers

Every single antique dealer on our platform is individually approved by our internal team. We verify their professional trade history, ethical standards, and photographic quality to ensure a secure, high-standard buying environment. Upon joining, every dealer agrees to a strict 9-point code of conduct. While issues can occasionally arise, our dealers typically resolve them swiftly and directly with the buyer. In fact, since our founding in 2002, Sellingantiques has only had to step in to help resolve an issue on roughly five occasions—a true testament to the quality of our dealers and their dedication to your happiness.

Secure Transit

Our dealers are highly experienced in packing and shipping fragile, high-value antiques. Because you are in direct contact with the dealer, you will be able to easily go through all available shipping and insurance options together to ensure your item arrives safely.

The Sustainable Choice

Antiques are the ultimate green purchase. By choosing historical pieces over newly manufactured goods, you completely eliminate the carbon footprint of modern mass production while preserving exceptional, timeless craftsmanship.

Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectArtist Lay Figure
  • Period19th century
  • Style19th Century French
  • MaterialCarved Wood, Metal
  • ColourDark Brown
  • MotifsArticulated jointing, Carved facial features, Ball and socket mechanics, Proportioned anatomy
  • SizeH 86 cm (34 in)

This nineteenth century French artist lay figure is a fully articulated sculptural object hand carved from pine. The surface displays a dark brown tone with visible wood grain, weathered patination, and historic losses to the little fingers on both hands. Structured with ball and socket mechanics, the figure includes carved facial features, segmented limbs, and proportioned anatomy designed for studying human form and posture. The joints allow for distinct positioning, shown here posed in a seated posture with extended legs and articulated fingers. Measuring 86 cm in height, the piece serves as a decorative display object suited for placement on a bookshelf, desk, or display table within a study, library, or living space. The construction highlights nineteenth-century utility and craftsmanship, retaining its original configuration without major structural breaks or alterations. It provides a tactile historical element for interiors oriented towards traditional, academic, or collector-focused aesthetics.

FAQs

An artist lay figure is a proportioned, jointed three-dimensional mannequin used as a drawing aid by painters and sculptors to study anatomical posing, foreshortening, and fabric drapery.

Nineteenth-century French lay figures were typically hand-carved from solid hardwoods such as beech or walnut, featuring wooden peg or metal ball-and-socket joints to allow articulation.

Authentic pieces feature carved anatomical details, traditional jointing mechanics such as concealed brass pins or carved wooden joints, and natural patination from historical studio use.

An antique lay figure functions as a sculptural curiosity and is best displayed seated on a sideboard, bookshelf, or desk alongside classical art objects and books.

Keep the carved figure in a stable climate away from direct heat sources to prevent wood movement, applying a light clear beeswax polish periodically to maintain the surface timber.
items
Add keywords to the filter
Price
£100
£250000
Era
Period
Style
Material
Origin
Stock Location
Recently Added
Online Payments
Categories