Antique sculpture appraisal, online
That bronze figure on the mantel or the marble bust you inherited may be worth far more, or far less, than it first appears. Our team researches your antique sculpture and returns a thoroughly researched value report within three days.
Structured research, reviewed for clarity
We begin with the photographs you send us: the piece from several angles, the underside of the base, and any marks. Our team compares it against recorded sales of similar works, weighs the material, period, and condition, and reads any foundry stamp, edition number, or signature we can find. You receive a plain-English report with an estimated value range and the reasoning behind it, reviewed by our team before it reaches you.
What affects the value of an antique sculpture
A sculpture's worth rarely comes down to a single detail. Our team weighs several factors together, because a strong showing in one can be undone by a weakness in another.
Material & method
A hand-cast lost-wax bronze, a block of carved Carrara marble, and a mass-produced spelter figure sit in very different value tiers even when they look alike on a shelf. The material and how the piece was made shape both its cost to produce and what collectors will pay.
Maker, foundry marks & signature
A cast signature, a foundry stamp such as those used by the great 19th-century Paris founders, or an edition number can transform a decorative object into a documented work. Our team reads these marks and checks them against the records for the model.
Condition, patina & originality
Original surface matters. A warm, undisturbed patina on bronze, or an unrepaired nose and fingers on a marble bust, adds value, while recasting, stripped surfaces, and later restoration reduce it. We assess what is original and what has been altered.
Original cast, later edition, or reproduction?
Many popular models were cast during the artist's lifetime, again by the estate, and then copied for decades by unrelated foundries. A period cast and a modern aftercast of the same figure can differ enormously in value. Rather than a full identification guide, our report tells you where your particular piece sits, based on its marks, surface, and casting quality compared with recorded examples.
Inherited a sculpture or a collection?
Estates often include a mix of bronzes, marble busts, carved wood, and plaster maquettes with no paperwork. You do not need to sort out which pieces matter first. Send us clear photographs of each, including the base and any marks, and our team researches them and returns a value range for each item. When you are ready, submit your sculpture to begin.
A few reports we've delivered
Illustrative: late 19th-century French patinated bronze figure after a well-known model, signed in the cast
$800 - $2,500
Illustrative: Italian carved Carrara marble portrait bust, 19th century, on a socle base
$1,500 - $6,000
Illustrative: Continental carved oak saint figure, 18th century, with some old losses and worm
$600 - $2,000
Illustrative: Art Deco spelter dancer on a marble base, 1920s to 1930s, unsigned
$150 - $500Estimated ranges shown to guide research — not official appraisals for insurance, tax, or legal use. Illustrative examples.
Questions, answered honestly
How old does something have to be to be an antique?
As a rule of thumb, an antique is generally at least 100 years old. Items roughly 20–99 years old are usually called “vintage,” and the line shifts by category — but age alone never sets value. A 60-year-old designer piece can be worth far more than a century-old everyday object.
What affects the value of my item?
Value comes from a combination of factors: who made it, its age and rarity, condition, originality, provenance (its documented history), and — most of all — what comparable pieces have actually sold for recently. Our research weighs each of these to produce an estimated range.
I’ve inherited a collection — what do I do?
Start with the pieces you’re most curious about, or the ones you suspect are most valuable. Submit them individually, or for more than ten items use our white-glove service and we’ll research the whole batch together at a tailored rate.
Is this an official appraisal?
No. Every report is a thorough, researched estimate to guide your research — not an official appraisal for insurance, tax, or legal purposes. For those uses you’ll want a certified appraiser, and our report is a great, fast first step before that.
How accurate is a researched value report?
Our research is based on real comparable sales and a structured assessment of condition, era, and maker. It’s designed to give you a credible, well-researched estimate quickly. Like any estimate it isn’t a guarantee of sale price, which is why we always give a range rather than a single number.
“I had a vase from my grandmother and no idea where to start. The report was detailed, fast, and honest about the range.”
“Three days, a fair price, and a genuinely useful breakdown of comparable sales. Far better than waiting weeks.”
“Loved that it was upfront about being an estimate. It gave me exactly what I needed before talking to an auction house.”
Illustrative examples shown during launch — verified customer reviews will replace these as reports are delivered.
Find out what your sculptures is worth
A thorough, researched value report in 3 days. From $29, no subscription.
Submit Your Item →