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Busts

Sculptors have been fashioning busts for many hundreds of years but most of those we offer are from the era of Art Nouveau. Deco busts are less frequently seen but from time to time can be found and we like to offer them when we can. Traditionally, looking back through history, busts often depicted heroic, scholarly or otherwise important figures, mostly men. However, the Art Nouveau artists were, to a much greater degree, captivated by the beauty and mystery of women and it was women who they mostly chose as their subjects. The wonderfully expressive faces, some modest looking or even shy, others quietly pensive, and yet others still with a knowing and confident look, offer a world of variety and we’ve always found that a carefully chosen bust displays as a real focal point and makes a great conversation piece. Interior designers have long seen their use as an ideal finishing touch to complete a design scheme. They can vary in size from small cabinet busts at around 14-15 cm. up to pretty much life size. Unsurprisingly, over the years many have received the odd knock or scuff but these minor age-related defects should not be of great concern. We offer what we hope is an interesting selection in terracotta, bronze, plaster and other media and with a wide range of values.

Pair of Orientalists

Fine looking pair of small  size Orientalist polychrome painted terracotta busts showing superb detail, numbered but otherwise unmarked. Raised on contoured plinths atop a two tier socle, they appear to be of noble lineage, dressed…

Goldscheider Terracotta Bust ‘Les Cerises’

Splendid and large Art Nouveau terracotta bust from Goldscheider by the artist Affortunato Gori. Titled ‘Les Cerices’, the rather serious looking young maiden is modelled with the modest, almost shy look that the Art Nouveau…

Terracotta Bust by Schoop for Bernhard Bloch

Art Nouveau terracotta bust of a young girl decorated with a spray of roses and rose buds. She’s a pretty girl with slightly downcast eyes and her hair in the chignon style that was so…

Goldscheider Bedouin Woman

Fabulous Orientalist terracotta bust from Goldscheider of a north African Bedouin woman wearing a large scarf on her head together with a loose shawl below her shoulders. She has a quite stunning face, combining strength…

Orientalist Pair

Fine pair of Austro-Hungarian terracotta Orientalist busts of a man and a woman dating from the late 19th. century. Both are looking slightly to their right,  he with a slight frown on his strong face…

‘Les Pensées’ by Aristide de Ranieri

Attractive good quality French Art Nouveau terracotta bust of a young lady decorated with pansy flowers, titled simply ‘Les Pensées’. With her fine strong features and long pale auburn hair falling forward over one shoulder,…

Bronze ‘Silvia’ by Villanis

Good Art Nouveau patinated bronze bust titled ‘Silvia’ by Emmanuel Villanis (1858-1914). The young girl’s face has that usual very distinctive Villanis look, with her eyes slightly lowered and an expression of quiet confidence. Signed…

Goldscheider Terracotta Dutch Girl

Terracotta bust by the artist F. du Prémont for Goldscheider dating from 1897-98. Finished in shades of dark bronze and gold, the young Dutch girl is modelled wearing an off-the-shoulder frock and cape and a…

‘L’Esprit de Marrons’ by Cherc

Art Nouveau terracotta bust of a smiling young maiden titled ‘L’Esprit de Marrons’ by the artist Cherc for Goldscheider. Dating from 1901 this delightful study shows her adorned with chestnuts and leaves, celebrating in the…

‘Ondine’ by Campagne

Lovely Austrian terracotta bust of a mythological water nymph titled ‘Ondine’. She has a captivating look and appears to have just emerged from below the water, with lily flowers and leaves in her hair and…

‘Douce Pensée’ by Gori

Charming Art Nouveau bust of a pretty girl by the Italian sculptor Affortunato Gori. Titled ‘Douce Pensée’ which translates to ‘Sweet Thoughts’, this is a good quality terracotta head and shoulders with fine detail.   The…

Van der Straeten Bronze Bust

Patinated bronze bust of a young woman wearing a wide headband in her ornate hair. Very nicely cast and showing excellent detail to the features and with a pleasing patination. Set on a slightly tapering…

Butterfly Maiden

Good size French plaster bust titled “Papillon”, signed verso by the artist C. Jacobs and dated 1913.  The young girl, with long thick hair, has her head slightly turned and a butterfly with its wings…

Bronze by Villanis

This is a good Art Nouveau bronze bust titled “Marguerite” by the French sculptor Emmanuele Villanis, dating from around 1900. The young maiden, with a soulful, dreamlike expression is wearing sunflowers in her hair and…

Spelter Sheherezade

Small cabinet sized spelter bust titled “Mille et une Nuits” (One thousand and one Nights) depicting Sheherezade by the French sculptor E. Villanis. The lady’s long hair tumbles over one shoulder from beneath her ornate…

French Bust by Fouche

Nice quality French terracotta bust in a subtle pale bronze colour, signed by the artist – looks to be F. Fouche or possibly Foucie but it is a little unclear. Modelled towards the end of…

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