Busted!…how to use sculptures at home

From Belgian Pearls blog

From Velvet & Linen blog: Giannetti's Studio

Sculpture has been an art since prehistoric times, in fact all ancient cultures  produced an enormous number of masterworks, Egypt and Mesopotamia, pre-Columbian Americas, ancient Asia and of course ancient Greece and Rome. Today we can admire centuries and centuries of art but we also have access to modern and contemporary sculpture.

Since I'm always looking for unique accessories when decorating a room, I often use sculptures, large or small depending on the project, expensive or flea market finds depending on the budget or the style we want to achieve in that particular home. I am also always attracted of how designers  use  sculptures, in particular busts, in their projects. In fact the use of sculptures in marble, stone, precious metals, wood and any kind of material  can add a focal point to a room, it can just create a vignette or it can set the whole interior decoration’s mood.

Let’s examine some examples together:

Doug Wright designed a stunning living room with seagrass carpet, white linen slipcovers, antique tapestry and he also placed a classic marble head on the coffee table. 

Try to imagine the room without that sculpture…don’t you think it will miss something?

A dramatic light hits the Roman bust in the library of a classic interior in Rome.

Caldwell-Flake uses a weathered simple bust as juxtaposition to the rich warm veneer,

 the marble top and the lavish metallic wallpaper.

Art collector Claudia Gianferrari’s  house in Milan, full of books, art and sculptures,

in one image we can see four already.

Designer Paolo Moschino’s dining room in London features

a classic bust on a pedestal, overlooking the elegant, formal dining table.

A whimsical bathroom featured in Elle Decor,

with a stern bust in an otherwise vibrant space.

Jacques Grange’s eclectic apartment in Paris, classic, traditional, contemporary, edgy.

The Roman sculpture on the column gives verticality as does the graphic ceiling light.

Some of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’ superb collection of Greek and Roman sculptures,

 in a very elegant and traditional Manhattan penthouse.

A beautiful bronze boy’s head, as seen on my previous post A house of books (HERE).

An oil paint leaning on the antique chest, an old wood container with patina

and an ornate silver bowl compliment the sculpture.

 Gianni Versace villa, Lake Como, from my previous post The end of an era of excess (HERE).

Not a minimalist…he loved collecting antiques, everything is “real” here.

Arturo Martini’s superb sculpture on an antique “angoliera” of rich veneer.

 See more on my previous post The art's lady (HERE).

Kelly Wearstler classic: here she used a Greek bust, an antique chair and bright mosaic tiles.

Kelly Wearstler contemporary: here we have a sculpture totally different from the one above,

with a unique table and geometric paneling.

Shapes, straight lines, curves, they all work well together.

Barry Dixon design, what not to love…proportions, scale,

monochromatic palette with just a hint of fresh, pale green.

And now a few of my own images:

A green beryl head I bought in Brazil, I was told that in a million years it would become emerald!

I’ll wait… and in the meantime it sits on my fireplace mantle
on top of books and in front of an oil painting!

A client’s apartment in Venice with a signed and dated 1769 bust

sitting below a delicate 18th century oil painting.

While visiting Rubelli textiles in Venice I took a picture of this fireplace with a bust of a Doge. I was told that the Rubelli family tried to find the name of this important person, but without success, after much research they could not figure out who this Doge was… from my previous post Rubelli in Venice (HERE).

A client’s classic apartment in Milan with a terracotta bust of a young girl

and a 19th century delicate portrait.

A client’s sleek apartment in Milan with a classic sculpture above the hidden China cabinet,

white books, essential lines (and poor photography…).

And finally…a lovely bust seen at The Cross Decor & Design in Vancouver.

So…busted or not?

Do you have a bust in your home? How did you display it?

Let’s talk!

©2012 Brillante Interiors writes about new trends, timeless decor, iconic pieces, design ideas, or at times just musing about "a certain Italian way of doing things".

If you need help to enjoy your home more, please send me an email.  It will be an investment in happiness at home, a well designed house is always a good part of a great life and a beautiful room will make you happy every time you walk in!


If you receive this post by Email and wish to leave a comment please click HERE and go to the comments section.  I love to hear your thoughts.