Statuettes
For thousands of years, people have honoured influential personalities or even deities with artistically crafted representations - often in the form of statues. What sets a statue apart from other sculptural forms is that it not only shows details such as the face or the upper body, it rather depicts the character in life-size or even larger-than-life and anatomically complete. Furthermore, a statue is always a free-standing sculpture. There are no limits to the dimensions of statues - for example, the Statue of Liberty in New York or the Hermann Monument in the Teutoburg Forest. However, if the figure is very small, it is usually referred to as a statuette or figurine.
Besides the purely artistic value of a statue, representative and symbolic aspects play a major role. The statues often serve the purpose of honouring the portrayed characters and ensuring a pervasive presence. They are usually placed in central squares or in front of public buildings, where they are clearly visible. Many examples of large sculptures made of stone, clay or marble are known since antiquity, shedding light on the various functions of statues. The representations of rulers or esteemed citizens of a city, for example, served to display the legitimacy of their power, social status, or achievements. However, the statues of gods or mythical figures were reminders of traditions and values and served a purely aesthetic artistic pleasure. Nowadays, the functional aspect of statues usually retreats somewhat into the background in favour of their decorative character.
Here at ars mundi, you can choose from numerous originals by contemporary artists as well as reproductions and museum replicas. You can buy statues featuring motifs that belong to the most famous in art history, such as Johann Gottfried Schadow's "Quadriga" (which today stands atop the Brandenburg Gate), the famous "Venus de Milo", Emil Nolde's "Java Dancer" or Auguste Rodin's "Adam or the Great Shadow". In addition, other well-known names are represented among the artists, such as Markus Lüpertz, Ernst Barlach, Edgar Degas, Niki de Saint Phalle and Günter Grass. The statues we offer are made of various materials such as bronze, wood, bonded bronze, brass, or artificial marble. Whether a classic motif or a modern interpretation: A statue is always a striking eye-catcher and a decorative interior object.