Antique Art and Sculptures
From fine oil paintings and delicate watercolours to bronze figures and carved marble busts, our collection of antique art and sculptures spans centuries of artistic achievement. Each piece has been selected by specialist dealers across the UK for its quality, condition and visual impact.
You'll find works from the Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian periods alongside earlier pieces, all offered with honest descriptions and clear photographs. These are original works of art that bring character and history into any interior.
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An Extra Large Oil on Canvas Painting Aft. Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, RA of Return from Hawking 177 X 263 X 12 cm
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A 19th Century French Bronze Bust
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A Patinated Bronze By Eugène Désiré Piron (french, 1875-1928)
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Antique Large Bronze Cowboy On Bucking Horse Sculpture After Remington Broncho Buster Western Equestrian Figure
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A Large Bronze Meiji Period Elephant
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A Large Pair Of Bronze Figures By Rousseau
Bronze Sculpture 'Ne Zha'
Naive Victorian portrait of a Gentleman on zinc panel
Antique Staffordshire Queen Victoria Figure Flatback Seated Ceramic Ornament Crown Cobalt Blue
A Bronze Bust Of Mercury By Jacques Marin
Beautiful C19th Oriental Pastel on Canvas
Antique Victorian Quality Bronze Figure of a Cossack on Horseback
Handsome Pair Of Large Chinese Tang Horses In Sancai Glaze
Pair Chinese Paintings Of Dignitaries
Antique Watercolour Painting In Hand Enamelled Polychrome Frame
Antique Painting After Titian Venus And Adonis Gilt Frame
Gilt Bronze Art Nouveau Urn Centrepiece Vase After Henry Dasson
Antique Marble Eagle Statue in Veined Carrara Marble, 19th Century
Vintage Farm Animal Bronze Horned Bull Statue With Black Marble Base After Barye
Antique Large Indian Kalamkari Temple Painting Hindu Story Textile Wall Art (2)
Unusually Low Pair Of Antique Pedestals Columns in Good Condition
Good Indian Silk Painting Maharajah & Elephants
Antique Austrian Terracotta Life-size Pug Dog Sculpture
Antique Austrian Terracotta Life-size Pug Puppy Dog Sculpture
Antique Continental Porcelain Plaque Madonna Della Segiola
Beautiful Miniature Painting Musicians In Woodland After Boucher
Collecting Antique Art and Sculptures
Buying antique art is one of the most personal forms of collecting. Unlike furniture, which must fit a space and serve a purpose, a painting or sculpture speaks to you or it doesn't. That said, there are practical things worth knowing before you buy.
For paintings, condition matters enormously. Look for stable canvas without tears or heavy flaking, and check whether the work has been cleaned or restored. A good dealer will be upfront about any restoration. Oil paintings from the 18th and 19th centuries often develop a fine network of surface cracks called craquelure, which is perfectly normal and adds to the character of the piece.
What to Look For in Antique Sculptures
Bronze sculptures should have a good, even patina. Victorian and Edwardian bronzes are particularly popular, with subjects ranging from classical figures to animalier pieces depicting horses, dogs and game birds. Check the base for foundry marks or artist signatures. Spelter (zinc alloy) pieces were produced as more affordable alternatives to bronze and can be attractive in their own right, but should be priced accordingly.
Marble and alabaster sculptures require careful handling and should be kept away from direct heat sources. Minor chips and wear are expected in genuinely old pieces and shouldn't necessarily put you off if the overall quality is strong.