What You Need to Know About Collectible Sculpture

Sculptures are three-dimensional objects crafted from solid material. Sculptures can be carved from stone or wood, modeled clay, molded plaster, cast or welded bronze, or other metals. They can also be an assemblage of different assorted materials.

All sorts of sculptures--collectible or not--are for sale on eBay. How can a buyer, especially one new to collecting, judge what piece has value or will acquire value? One way is to use eBay guides and beyond to learn about sculpture and how to remain guarded against fakes.

Many Styles Of Sculpture Available

For a collector, one of the advantages of shopping on eBay is the chance to look over hundreds of pieces before deciding what to buy. Shoppers can jump from one style to another, beginning with abstract sculpture, for example. From there, offerings in metal, wood, or other materials are just a click away. A link to the vintage abstract category is there as well.

Categories like glass sculptures, marble, and even classic Greek statues are listed on the left. The goal is to explore so that the collector can discover particular styles that speak to him or her, identifying the objects that they would like to have in their home. Sculpture, unlike paintings, can be enjoyed from many angles, as these forms of art are not flat and take up space.

Buyers should educate themselves about styles and materials; Plenty of information is available on eBay itself, like the Bronze Sculptures Collectors Guide or the Hindu Gods Stone Sculpture. Starting at eBay's Guides-Decorative Collectibles, the field is wide. Any style can be entered in the search box, or a shopper can can go straight to the best-selling sculpture list.

Some sculptures are unique--there is only one of them. Others are multiples--that is, the cast or mold that the artist created was used to make several sculptures. Multiples are usually numbered, as in the case of these bronze sculptures.

Authenticity

One fact that most guides point out: collectors must be wary of fakes. Although eBay offers buyer protection, shipping and return charges can be substantial and the process takes time. Far better to avoid fakes to begin with.

Art has a value. Shoppers can get a good idea of how much sculptures are worth by browsing on eBay. If a price seems too low to be true, it probably isn't. The piece could be a fake.

Fakes aren't unique to the art world, of course. Designer jeans and haute couture fashions can be counterfeited. An advantage a customer has when buying original sculpture is documentation. Any signed sculpture should come with an Artist's Statement or a Certificate of Authenticity, preferably both. If the paperwork isn't listed, buyers can query the seller about it and ask questions before bidding. Any truly valuable work of art should come with documentation to vet its authenticity.

Of course, determined crooks can forge such paperwork too. The best protection for buyer is to make themselves as knowledgeable as possible about the type of sculpture they are collecting.

Artists On eBay

Sculptors sell their own work on eBay, and buying directly from the creator is one way for a buyer to be sure they are indeed getting an original. The term for such artists is SRA: Self Representing Artist. This can be a win-win for those collectors who want contemporary work by rising stars, and also for the artists themselves. The sale is direct, the artist gets exposure and payment, and the buyer is assured of an original piece.

Faux Galleries On eBay

Many highly regarded and well-known art dealers are online. Unfortunately, as this Buyers Guide on Antique Bronzes points out, a few sellers on eBay falsely present themselves as galleries or antique dealer, The customer can check the vendor out by looking beyond the merchant score. Be alert to language that misleads, or ads that are too similar to ads from other dealers, or prices that are too low.

Above all, buyers should be suspicious of anyone who claims to sell a rare antique on eBay. Yes, it could happen--but such items are usually sold offline to private collectors at top dollar.

Conclusion

Collecting sculpture on eBay can be rewarding and enriching, but collectors should keep their eyes open and gather all the information they can. Artists that sell direct on eBay provide great opportunities for collectors. eBay offers customers an easy way to check out prices and styles of sculpture in the comfort of their home, but buyers should always do their due diligence to protect themselves against fakes.