Sculptures, Statues

A sculpture is a three-dimensional, man-made object selected for special recognition as art. more...

Materials of Sculpture

The materials of historical sculpture

Sculpture made for royal courts or large public works were often produced in expensive durable materials, primarily bronze and stone such as marble, limestone, porphyry, and granite. More rarely precious materials such as gold and ivory were used for chryselephantine works. More common and less expensive materials were used for sculpture for wider consumption, including woods such as oak, box and lime; terracotta and other ceramics and cast metals such as pewter and spelter.

Sculptors often built small preliminary works called maquettes of ephemeral materials such as plaster of paris, wax, clay and even plasticine, as Alfred Gilbert did for 'Eros' at Piccadilly Circus, London.

Contemporary materials

Most traditional sculpture materials are still in wide use today. However, advancements in technology and changes have broadened the range of materials sculptors can choose to use, including glass and sand, aluminum, polymers and many other synthetic materials, and liquid crystals.

It is common for film sculptors to carve large statuary from blocks of polystyrene: although not particularly durable, it is light and can be cut easily using a hot wire.

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