Creation and development of garden sculptures
Besides architecture, sculptures represented one of the most important connecting elements between nature and art. Consequently, they played a significant role in the history of garden art and contributed immensely to the experience of the overall "garden artwork".
Already in the gardens of ancient Greece, the garden sculpture was an essential decorative element. Gods, in honour of which there were feasts and contests, were depicted in the form of sculptures. During the reign of the Romans, it became fashionable to put up a garden statue in one's garden in order to show it to others. Therefore, a garden sculpture turned into a status symbol and became the expression of one's wealth and erudition.
From a loose collection of objects in the garden to a total artwork
At the beginning of the 15th century, people started to collect the sculptures that were scattered across ancient ruins. The collation of sculptures in gardens became downright fashionable during that time. Many a garden over time turned into a real museum because their owner put up the different sculptures in it. Even the popes began to start so-called antique collections by setting up either individual statues or groups of them who belonged together in their gardens.
During the Baroque period, people started to integrate sculptures into their garden design from the beginning on. As a consequence, a synthesis of the arts was created between the palace, the garden and the sculptures. The top priority of the incorporation of a garden sculpture was the glorification of the respective ruler. In doing so, the erection of a garden sculpture did not only have an aesthetic but also a political dimension. Furthermore, cosmological groups of figures were created within which the cosmos was portrayed as a defining organising principle. For this purpose, images from the antiquity were used as guidance.
At the end of the 18th century, the whole garden developed into a place of idleness and pleasure, which is why back then, mainly amusing figurines were used as decorations. Part of the ensemble of garden sculptures of that time were grotesque figures, musicians, shepherds or cherubs. Replicas of grottos and garden buildings assumed a special role as well. Additionally, gardens were equipped with fountains which were adorned with sculptures or whole groups of figurines.
Large-scale sculptures
Large-scale sculptures - as the name suggests - are characterised by their dimensions. Due to their size, large-scale sculptures have the biggest impact when they are situated in spacious gardens and parks, but they also bestow smaller gardens with an individual flair. In the interior they are most often found in entrance halls and living rooms.
Large-scale sculptures have already been created in different ways for many centuries. However, especially the type of material varies greatly. While, for example, Michelangelo used marble for the creation of his "David" in the 16th century, nowadays bronze, fibre glass and steel belong to the most popular and most often used materials. One of the most famous large-scale sculptures is the "Endless Column" which was created by sculptor Constantin Brancusi between 1937 and 1938. This sculpture is made of steel which has been additionally plated in gold.
Sculptures for the modern garden
Even today, the design of a garden is not only done by implementing flowers, plants and the arrangement of paths. Garden sculptures made of stone, metal, fibre glass or clay represent a beautiful contrast to the vegetation of a garden, bringing out the artistic main points and bestowing the garden with the right flair.
Different forms of modern garden sculptures
The offer of statues and sculptures for a garden ranges from abstract masterpieces and timelessly beautiful bronze figurines to the controversial garden gnomes who are both popular and at the same time greeted with smiles. The ever popular Buddha sculpture ensures a meditative calmness and relaxation. The portrayal of the meditating Buddha underlines the garden's role as a place of recreation. In addition, the Buddha sculpture provides an exotic atmosphere. Modern garden sculptures also often depict animals, which creates an original complementation of the garden as a living environment. Besides popular domestic animals like cats and dogs, exoticism plays a large role here as well. Particularly popular animal sculptures are lions, elephants and giraffes.
Funny garden figurines are the ones who provide a bit of humour. The most well-known are garden gnomes in several varieties; the more tasteful ones are near-natural molehills or geese heads that attempt to simulate a whole flock of geese.
Materials of a garden sculpture
Garden sculptures that are put on display in the open air are constantly exposed to weather effects. Therefore, they absolutely have to be made of weatherproof materials. There are several materials that are especially well-suited for this, such as natural stone, diverse metals or the light yet robust material fibre glass. Often, garden sculptures are also made of sandstone which can be modified easily. The tiny particles of the sandstone can be formed quite easily with harder objects. Additionally, sandstone as a raw material can be found quite frequently and, because of different inlays, it has a large variety of colour variations, patterns and textures. Another advantage of garden sculptures made of sandstone is that they can be easily adapted into their natural surroundings.
Granite, on the other hand, is a very hard material, because, in contrast to sandstone, its particles are more strongly connected. Therefore, the production of garden sculptures from granite is rather laborious. However, one advantage is that granite is highly weather-resistant. Another material, marble, developed from limestone which was heavily solidified by volcanic forces. Marble also exists in several different colours and patterns, and it has the advantage that it can be polished in order to get a smooth surface. Garden sculptures can also be made of metals like bronze or iron. Bronze is an alloy made of copper and tin, while iron is immune to rust in the form of stainless steel. The beauty of a bronze garden sculpture is that it builds up a patina after some time, whose colour depends on variations in temperature, humidity and several other factors.
Stone sculptures - weatherproof figurines for the garden
Stone is also an immensely popular material when it comes to the creation of sculptures and figurines for outdoor facilities. Due to their weight, stone figurines are often used as decorations in public places and garden-like parks. In order to ensure the necessary stability, sculptures made from stone have to be firmly anchored to the floor. Natural stone is not only popular as a material due to its resistance to every climate, but also because it is quite easy to clean. Dirt and moss can be removed by scrubbing them off with some water.
Metal sculptures - noble eye-catchers in gardens and parks
Metals, including precious metals, are also frequently used for the production of garden sculptures. In this process, the works of art are cast in a workshop or production facility and are then processed accordingly. In most cases, a casting mould is created during the casting process, which is then filled with the liquid metal. Subsequently, the sculpture is allowed to harden before giving it its finishing touches.
After the curing process, the sculpture is being freed from the mould and then finished. During this last step, the sculpture can be refined by the addition of gold or silver as well as by giving it a certain colouration by adding paint. After the completion of the metal sculpture, the figurine has to be maintained regularly to ward off any soiling or abrasion of the material's surface.
Modern large-scale sculptures made from fibre glass
Modern garden sculptures are nowadays often made from fibre glass. This material is produced artificially from plastic and glass fibres. Thereby, the fibre glass material has several advantages: it is inexpensive, easy to process and weighs a lot less than metal or stone. Its production process is similar to that of other materials: first, a basic mould is created which is then filled with the fibre glass and then finished individually. Due to the several different ways of production, the use of fibre glass for the creation of garden sculptures and figurines has become a real alternative to natural materials nowadays.
Wooden sculptures
Yet not only the casting process can be used to create garden sculptures. Wood can be used as well if the sculpture is supposed to look particularly natural, and the resulting objects can be erected both in the interior as well as the exterior. However, one has to keep in mind that wooden sculptures that will be placed outside have to be made waterproof first. At Bronze Shop we have specialised in garden sculptures made from bronze and fibre glass. While figures made from bronze look more noble and classical, the ones made from fibre glass are more modern and colourful.
Noble, historical and modern - garden sculptures and figurines
Nowadays, extravagant and classical sculptures characterise the gardens of many people, yet they all differ in the choice of their materials, their size, shape or function. Most often, modern garden figurines or large-scale sculptures have firmly established themselves as a part of public places or facilities within a city, as they have been made for this specific purpose. Figurines and large-scale sculptures, which come in different shapes and designs, are suitable for the exhibition in gardens. The selection of the diverse offers ranges from abstract works of art made from steel and classical figurines made from bronze or marble to colourful fibre glass sculptures.
Great artists in the field of sculptures
Many great sculptors and artists created fascinating works which are still cherished, collected and exhibited in people's gardens or parks. The sturdiness and steadiness of the individual sculptures and figurines is very high, so they are able to withstand weather effects and variations in temperature. During the creation of their works, all artists worked in a very precise and meticulous way. Every piece of art of the sculptors is a noble eye-catcher and is therefore quite suitable for an exhibition in the garden, where it attracts attention and can be presented especially well.
Alfredo Pina: famous for his busts
The Italian artist Alfredo Pina, who lived from 1883 until 1966, is known for his famous busts. For instance, he created bronze sculptures of famous personalities like Ludwig van Beethoven or Richard Wagner, which are still in demand today. His world-famous bust of Victor Hugo can be found at the Metropolitan Museum in New York. Apart from that, he also created figurines and several large-scale sculptures which are ideal and robust accessories for the garden.
Milo: modern art made of bronze
Portuguese artist and sculptor Milo, whose real name is Miguel Fernando Lopez, produced particularly beautiful bronze sculptures which are an important part of contemporary art. After studying artistic craftsmanship, he chose to create erotic nudes and animal sculptures, which can also serve as wonderful and astonishing garden figurines. Above all, Milo is famous for his bronze sculpture "Female Nude Bending over a Rock", which is also great as a garden decoration.
Furthermore, Milo also created the fascinating work "Abstract Marble Elephant Made of Bronze" which captivates by its detailed and very precise design.
Edgar Degas: blind sculptor with a fondness of female dancers
Edgar Degas was a French painter and sculptor who created a new level of sculptures and figurines. During his youth, he solely focussed on painting, but when he became blind he turned to sculptures and mainly created figurines of women, or rather of female dancers. The bronze casting of his "Fourteen-year-old Female Dancer" from 1878 is one of his most well-known works. Another popular work of his is the bronze sculpture "Ballerina" which exudes a peaceful kind of atmosphere in a large garden.
Martin Klein: colourful sculptures for the garden
The works of Saxony-based sculptor Martin Klein are characterised by his preferred material of choice, fibre glass. In addition to that, he also creates sculptures from bronze and paints landscapes. The bronze sculptures, who predominantly show female erotic nudes, are often used as decorations in gardens or in living rooms. The German painter and sculptor was born in 1979 and is especially well-known for his fibre glass work "Apple on Base", which is supposed to be a visual representation of humankind's fall from grace. This work is, because of its material, also suitable as a modern garden sculpture that is fascinating to look at. Another famous sculpture by Martin Klein is "Vibrations", which was designed and produced with a heavy focus on details.
Garden statues for sale online
At Bronze Shop, you can find classical and noble as well as modern and colourful figurines and bronze garden statues for sale. Every single figurine has been photographed from different perspectives in order to give you a detailed overview of its appearance. Among other things, in our shop you will find bronze garden statues for sale by Martin Klein, Milo, Alfredo Pina and Edgar Degas - the large selection ensures that everyone can find their personal favourites. You can extensively inspect all your ordered sculptures and figurines at home in order to convince yourself of their high quality. Additionally, we offer you a right of return of 14 days.
After your purchase, we will pack up your ordered sculpture within 48 hours and hand it over to the shipping company. We also offer you several different payment options, so you are able to choose the one that best suits your preferences. We offer all common payment options: purchase on account, PayPal, direct debit, credit card payment, cash on delivery or cash in advance. For large amounts you can also fall back on our convenient instalment payment option.