Antiquing

Antiques -> Antiquities -> Greek

Greek sculptures are amazing works of art, almost all of which reside in museums or private collections. A collector would do well to find painstaking reproductions of famous sculptures, or art depicting them. The history of these art pieces is interesting, though, whether you’d like to own a reproduction, a new piece created in the Greek style, or whether you’re simply interested in developing a new appreciation for the sculptures of the masters.

The earliest of the Greek sculptures we know of today dates back to 900 BC, and unlike the white marble structures that most recognize, it was made from terra cotta. The sculpture, which was unearthed from two separate graves where pieces had been buried, is known as the Lefkandi Centaur, because it’s believed that it represents Chiron the centaur from mythology. This also makes it the first time Greek myth appeared in an art form, if the experts’ guesses are correct about what the sculpture represents.

The Geometrical period, which ranged from about 900 to 700 BC, saw most Greek sculptures done in either terra cotta, ivory or bronze. The bronze sculptures were usually left as offerings to the gods. Many sculptures were of horses or men, but a variety of animals were also represented.

The Daedalic period saw Eastern influence in the depiction of the flowing hair and wigs and very triangular jaws on figures. Then the Archaic period of Greek art and sculptures gave way for more rigid figures and more Egyptian influence, in art that usually depicted myths, or sometimes even just daily life. And the Classical period saw Greek sculptures become more realistic and lifelike. It was this period that produced some of the most amazing and beautiful sculptures in the world, and likely the ones that you can look at and instantly recognize as Greek. The first sculptors whose names are widely known today came from this period in Greek history.

It’s also interesting to note that when you see Greek sculptures, they’re typically all white. But archaeologists have discovered that most such sculptures were actually originally painted a variety of colors. By using very detailed testing, some have even been able to reproduce the paint and colorings used on Classical statues. The sculptures are white now merely because the paint has dried with age and fallen away, some experts say.

Greek sculptures are timelessly beautiful, and any home can benefit from this type of artwork. If you’re looking for a piece to use on a table as a centerpiece, or a frieze to adorn a wall, then choosing a sculpture that speaks to you or fits the atmosphere you want to convey is the most important thing.

If you want to collect Greek statuary to display as a group for its own sake, do some research into the sculptors and pieces that are most well-known. Online auctions like eBay are a great place to look for Greek art in general, as well as reproduction Greek sculptures or sculptures done in one of the different Greek styles.

Originally posted 2008-12-30 05:00:38. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Gothic Art Antiques -> Decorative-Arts Gothic art refers to any art, whether it’s a painting, a sculpture, or some other medium, created from about the mid-12th century through the end of the 14th century. Art was still created over the next century that’s often called International Gothic, but this type of art......
• Antique Mirrors Antiques -> Decorative Arts -> Mirrors Antique mirrors are a highly collectible item, with many of the frames boasting decorative carving and detail much like elaborate, wooden picture frames of old. A mirror itself is little more than glass covering a reflective surface and not very impressive—many of us carry......
• Chinese Antique Jade Antiques -> Asian -> Chinese Chinese antique jade isn't just beautiful in its own right, but carries a deep cultural significance for the Chinese people. Historically, it was used for jewelry, in religious ceremonies, culturally, monetarily, and was believed to hold great mystical and healing powers. Today, it's still an......
• Antique Chinese Parrot Antiques -> Asian -> Chinese If you are interested in a unique Asian collectible that is sure to get plenty of discussions going, antique Chinese parrots are an excellent choice. These delightful decorative collectibles come in many different shapes and styles and many are vibrantly colored and well designed. Most......
• Chinese Chest Antiques -> Asian -> Chinese: Chests A Chinese chest can improve the look of any room, in addition to providing storage space and serving as a conversation piece, especially if it's an antique. A chest can function as more than just storage, it can be used as a coffee or......

• Andy Warhol Paintings Memorabilia -> Entertainment Memorabilia Andy Warhol paintings today are housed in museums, owned by private collectors and released as prints for public consumption. He was born Andrew Warhola in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1928. Though he died in 1987 from complications after gall bladder surgery, his name is still well known......
• Annual Credit Report Review by Samantha A. Bow If you searched the web for a free credit report, you would find countless amounts of websites out there they claim they will get you your free credit reports. They have commercials and all sorts of ads all over the place. What is causing all these......
• Must Have Toys For 5 Years Old & Under Guest post by Shona Daily-Germino Keeping the young ones busy especially during the summer can be really challenging. This article lists a few must have toys to keep you child busy. Remember to choose toys that are safe and age appropriate for your children. Also just a quick note, watch......
• Collecting Greek Coins There are three different points in time that Ancient Greek coins are divided into. The first period of time for the history of ancient Greek coins is known as the Archaic period. This particular period of time expands from when coinage first appeared in the Greek World in 600 BCE......
• Shadow Art Shadow art is a unique form of sculptural art where the 2D shadows cast by a 3D sculpture are essential for the artistic effect. We introduce computational tools for the creation of shadow art and propose a design process where the user can directly specify the desired shadows by......

• Figures, Sculpture 1900-Now African Cultures, Ethnicities Collectibles
• Figures, Sculpture Black Americana Cultures, Ethnicities Collectibles
• Sculptures, Statues African Ethnographic Antiques
• Greek Antiquities Antiques
• Reproduction Antiques