Is a marble sculpture always carved from marble?

Often not. Bronze is the most frequent word in titles across the category, and the marble in question is commonly the base or plinth under a cast figure. 'Carved' appears in only about a tenth of titles, so the material line in a description is worth reading closely.

What subjects come up again and again?

Portrait busts lead: Roman emperors, poets such as Dante and Shakespeare, Diana, and veiled maidens. Library busts of poets and philosophers are a recurring title phrase. The Grand Tour side repeats a set list. The Dying Gaul, Il Porcellino, the Dog of Alcibiades, the Medici and Canova lions and the Arrotino all appear across different dealers. Art Deco brings dancers, panthers and nudes.

How old are these pieces?

The dated field runs from 1750 to 1950. A handful of titles claim the 17th and 18th centuries, so pre-1800 material exists but is a small minority. The biggest single period entry is the unhelpfully broad '19th Century', which covers one title in five.

Why is alabaster listed with marble?

The two are frequently combined in one object, which is why a good many titles read 'marble and alabaster bust'. Alabaster is the softer, more translucent stone. It appears on its own too, in busts and figures listed under the same heading.

Does a signature change much?

Signatures are claimed in fewer than a tenth of titles, yet named sculptors account for most of the upper reaches of the range. Names appear in these listings as signed, or simply as attributed. The lowest-placed samples are anonymous: a marble bust of a young lady, a boy, a marble bust.

How many turn up for sale each year?

Around 63 pieces are listed a year on Sellingantiques, and 152 different dealers have handled them. That spread means no single specialist defines the field, and the mix of carved stone, Grand Tour reductions and Art Deco figures shifts with whoever is listing.

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Antique Marble Sculptures

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Carved stone and stone-mounted figures: white and coloured marble busts, statues, reliefs and animals, alongside a large body of bronze and spelter figures whose marble is the base they stand on.