Marble Busts

Over the years, a variety of materials have been employed by sculptors. Along with bronze, etched wood, and clay, marble is becoming more popular for sculpture. A wide range of important art trends and styles have been influenced by marble statues. This method was employed to create images of mythical beings and humans in ancient Mesopotamia.

Granite and limestone were just two of the various stones used by the Egyptians to create their statues. They did, however, sculpt pharaohs, gods, and guardians out of marble for tombs or temples on occasion. Egyptian marble busts have basic designs reminiscent of early Mesopotamian art. Figures were shown as flat outlines rather than actual and detailed figures. Sculptors began to pay more attention to marble throughout the Greek Archaic Art Period. However, the archaic marble busts that were being auctioned off at the time were not at all lifelike. Marble statues were more realistic than busts from past eras despite the lack of expressions and movement in their poses. The Classical Period in Greece saw a rise in the popularity of antique and vintage marble busts for online auction sales. During this time, artisans continued to produce lifelike busts with intricate embellishments.

Marble Busts Quick facts:

  • The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City has a marble bust portrait of a man dating from the middle of the first century.
  • Marble is a metamorphic rock that is primarily composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals.
176 Results
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  • B. H. Park Marble Bust of a Woman
    Estimate
    $1,200 - $1,400

    B. H. Park Marble Bust of a Woman

    Est.
    $1,200 - $1,400
    Case Auctions
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $600
  • Antique Carved Romanesque Marble Bust, "Robed Female with Crown"
    Estimate
    $1,500 - $2,000

    Antique Carved Romanesque Marble Bust, "Robed Female wi...

    Est.
    $1,500 - $2,000
    Rafael Osona Auctions
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $1,200
  • BETTY FLAUM (1898-1983) BRONZE SCULPTURE, ABSTRACT FEMALE NUDE
    Estimate
    $100 - $200

    BETTY FLAUM (1898-1983) BRONZE SCULPTURE, ABSTRACT FEMA...

    Est.
    $100 - $200
    Austin Auction Gallery
    0 Bids
    Starting Bid
    $80
  • CHARLES UMLAUF (D.1994) PERSONAL COLLECTION BRONZE, 'SEATED EVE II', 27"H
    Estimate
    $8,000 - $12,000

    CHARLES UMLAUF (D.1994) PERSONAL COLLECTION BRONZE, 'SE...

    Est.
    $8,000 - $12,000
    Austin Auction Gallery
    1 Bid
    Current Bid
    $5,000
  • Pair of Carved Marble Blackamoor Busts, Italian, 20th Century
    Estimate
    $1,000 - $2,000

    Pair of Carved Marble Blackamoor Busts, Italian, 20th C...

    Est.
    $1,000 - $2,000
  • Carved Brown Marble Bust of a Zulu Woman
    Estimate
    $1,000 - $1,500

    Carved Brown Marble Bust of a Zulu Woman

    Est.
    $1,000 - $1,500
  • White Marble Bust of a 19th Century Gentleman
    Price$240

    White Marble Bust of a 19th Century Gentleman

  • Antique Alabaster Sculpture Bust of a Woman on Black Marble Plinth, circa 1890
    Estimate
    $400 - $600

    Antique Alabaster Sculpture Bust of a Woman on Black Ma...

    Est.
    $400 - $600
  • Italian Carrara Marble Bust C. 1900, Eros Of Centocelle, H 20.5'' W 13''
    Estimate
    $600 - $800

    Italian Carrara Marble Bust C. 1900, Eros Of Centocelle...

    Est.
    $600 - $800
  • Eugenio Lombardi (Italian, 1853-1912) Marble Bust, Young Girl, 1883, H 16''
    Estimate
    $1,000 - $1,500

    Eugenio Lombardi (Italian, 1853-1912) Marble Bust, Youn...

    Est.
    $1,000 - $1,500
  • Eugenio Lombardi (Italian, 1853-1912) Carrera Marble Bust, 1883, Young Boy, H 16''
    Estimate
    $1,000 - $1,500

    Eugenio Lombardi (Italian, 1853-1912) Carrera Marble Bu...

    Est.
    $1,000 - $1,500
  • Fine Italian Carrara Carved Marble Bust of a Maiden in a Lace Hat C1890
    Estimate
    $800 - $1,200

    Fine Italian Carrara Carved Marble Bust of a Maiden in ...

    Est.
    $800 - $1,200
  • Professor Guiseppe Besli (Italian, 1857-1922) Marble Bust of Beatrice with Pedestal
    Estimate
    $400 - $600

    Professor Guiseppe Besli (Italian, 1857-1922) Marble Bu...

    Est.
    $400 - $600
  • Marble Bust of a Bearded Man
    Estimate
    $1,200 - $1,800

    Marble Bust of a Bearded Man

    Est.
    $1,200 - $1,800
    7 Bids
    Sold for
    $8,000
  • Bronze Bust of a Girl, After Houdon.
    Estimate
    $300 - $500

    Bronze Bust of a Girl, After Houdon.

    Est.
    $300 - $500
  • Burmese Mandalay Buddha Head Marble Sculpture on Stand
    Estimate
    $200 - $300

    Burmese Mandalay Buddha Head Marble Sculpture on Stand

    Est.
    $200 - $300
  • Vintage Brass Figurine on Marble Base, Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
    Estimate
    $200 - $500

    Vintage Brass Figurine on Marble Base, Miguel de Cervan...

    Est.
    $200 - $500
  • Georges Morin (German, 1874-1950) Bronze And Marble Bust Ca. 1925, "a Deco Era Woman.", H 23" W 16" Depth 8"
    Estimate
    $1,000 - $2,000

    Georges Morin (German, 1874-1950) Bronze And Marble Bus...

    Est.
    $1,000 - $2,000
  • Diana The Huntress, Neoclassical Carved Marble Sculpture C1890
    Estimate
    $800 - $1,200

    Diana The Huntress, Neoclassical Carved Marble Sculptur...

    Est.
    $800 - $1,200
  • Alabaster bust of Beatrice
    Estimate
    $100 - $200

    Alabaster bust of Beatrice

    Est.
    $100 - $200
  • Italian Carved Marble And Alabaster Bust of a Woman, Laurel Leaf Crown, Ca. Early 20th C., H 7.5" W 7" Depth 3.75"
    Estimate
    $300 - $400

    Italian Carved Marble And Alabaster Bust of a Woman, La...

    Est.
    $300 - $400
  • After Antonio Frilli (Italian, 1860-1920) 'Augustus Caesar' Alabaster Bust
    Estimate
    $400 - $600

    After Antonio Frilli (Italian, 1860-1920) 'Augustus Cae...

    Est.
    $400 - $600
  • Oswald Schimmelpfennig, bronze, marble sculpture
    Estimate
    $2,000 - $3,000

    Oswald Schimmelpfennig, bronze, marble sculpture

    Est.
    $2,000 - $3,000
  • Joseph J. Emmanuel (Descomps) Cormier (1869-1950), Bronze and Marble Dancer, 1925
    Estimate
    $3,000 - $5,000

    Joseph J. Emmanuel (Descomps) Cormier (1869-1950), Bron...

    Est.
    $3,000 - $5,000
  • Gerhard Adolf Janensch (German, 1860-1933) Bronze Bust, Early 20th C., "Kaiser Wilhelm II", H 8.5" W 7" Depth 4.5"
    Estimate
    $500 - $1,000

    Gerhard Adolf Janensch (German, 1860-1933) Bronze Bust,...

    Est.
    $500 - $1,000
  • Adolfo Cipriani (Italian, 1880-1930) Carved Marble Busts Ca. 1900-1910, "Women with Floral Bonnets", H 16" 1 Pair
    Estimate
    $300 - $600

    Adolfo Cipriani (Italian, 1880-1930) Carved Marble Bust...

    Est.
    $300 - $600
  • An Egyptian limestone head of a pharaoh
    Estimate
    $5,000 - $15,000

    An Egyptian limestone head of a pharaoh

    Est.
    $5,000 - $15,000
  • After Jean-Antoine Houdon (French, 1741-1828) Bronze Bust "Diana the Huntress", H 15" L 9" Depth 6"
    Estimate
    $100 - $200

    After Jean-Antoine Houdon (French, 1741-1828) Bronze Bu...

    Est.
    $100 - $200
  • Antique Figural Bronzed Metal & Marble Mantel Clock, Sapho by Villano, c1890
    Estimate
    $600 - $800

    Antique Figural Bronzed Metal & Marble Mantel Clock, Sa...

    Est.
    $600 - $800
  • Jacob Epstein, (British, 1880-1959) Bronze On A Marble Base C. 1936, H.I.M. Haile Selassie Emperor Of Abyssinia, H 46'' L 28'' Depth 15''
    Estimate
    $10,000 - $15,000

    Jacob Epstein, (British, 1880-1959) Bronze On A Marble ...

    Est.
    $10,000 - $15,000
  • Bronze Ballerina Sculpture After Degas, Dated 1906
    Estimate
    $600 - $1,200

    Bronze Ballerina Sculpture After Degas, Dated 1906

    Est.
    $600 - $1,200
  • After Auguste Moreau "Whispering Children" Bronze
    Estimate
    $150 - $300

    After Auguste Moreau "Whispering Children" Bronze

    Est.
    $150 - $300
  • Robert Montgomery (20th c.) Bronze
    Estimate
    $200 - $400

    Robert Montgomery (20th c.) Bronze

    Est.
    $200 - $400
  • Pierre Auguste Renoir, bronze
    Estimate
    $6,000 - $8,000

    Pierre Auguste Renoir, bronze

    Est.
    $6,000 - $8,000