Statue Buying Guide:

If you have ever had the chance to tour estates and manors throughout Europe you will see that many are furnished with incredible statues. Some of the most famous statues are the David by Michaelangelo which stands in the Accademia museum in Florence and the Statue of Liberty which is located in New York Cities harbor. Museums in the United States and worldwide are loaded with statues from Egypt, Greece, Rome and many other countries. Religious statues have always been my personal favorite whether made from marble, wood, or bronze. I was lucky enough to tour the top museums in Paris, Rome, and Florence to see firsthand just how beautiful these works of art can be up close. You can buy duplicates of many of the most famous statues either at the museums or over the Internet. Beyond statues you might put inside your house there are lots to choose from that go outdoors or in your garden area. We researched the various websites that carry statues and have details below of what they carry, prices, and much more.

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The indoor statues are great for displaying on tables or in other prominent areas of your home. You can use statues as bookends, candleholders, wall decor, sconces, etc. The religious statues we found in most online stores are of Jesus, Mary, Saints, or Angels. Many homeowners choose to buy a pedestal or column to place the statues on. One of the first statues I ever bought was a replica of The Thinker by Auguste Rodin. The statue is done in bronze and stands only about 18 inches high but looks great in my study with all my books. Statue.com lists their Top 10 statues as The Statue of David, The Venus de Milo, The Thinker, The Pieta, The Kiss, Lady Justice Statue, The Discus Thrower (an ancient Greek statue), Hermes, and Savannah Bird Girl Statue. They have a great collection of Roman statues, nudes, animal statues of eagles, horses, dogs, and more, mythical statues of creatures like gargoyles, dragons, unicorns, and fairies. Statuedepot.com is another website dedicated to religious statuary. They focus on angels, saints, and Jesus and statues are made to order with a 4-6 week estimate delivery date. Their work is not cheap as most of the Jesus Christ statues we found on the site sell for $800 or more. They also carry many of the saints like St. Joseph, St. Francis, St. Anne, and St. Peter. For a nice selection of outdoor statues we recommend Gardenstatueshop.com with hundreds of garden statues to choose from. Some of their smaller outdoor statues are $50 or so but the majority are well over $200 to $300. If shopping online isn't your cup of tea, go to your local nursery. Our nearby nursery called Al's Garden Center carries from nice statues for your garden. Years ago I got interested in outdoor statues when my mom ordered a gorgeous set of Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs that ended up sitting in the garden of my childhood home for 2 decades before we moved. I was amazed at well done the statues where and they were quite large too. Many of the larger statues are built with rebar to strengthen them in case they are knocked over by accident. One of the greatest sculptors in the history of the world was Gian Lorenzo Bernini and some of his famous works can be found in Italy (Rome) at the Borghese Gallery and Museum. Even the replicas of his work are expensive with an 11" version of the Rape of Proserpine selling for $1600. Down below we delve into more specific statues and pricing guides for each.

Religious Statues:

One of the most common religious artifacts you will find in peoples home is a statue of Jesus Christ on the crucifix. Most are small and unassuming but the belief and power they represent is very powerful to those that own them. Another popular type of religious statue are those of Buddha sitting in the "Lotus" position. You can find Buddha statues in a variety of sizes and even poses - prices start at about $20 and move upwards for the larger statues. One of favorite Jesus statues can be found at Statue.com and it's called the Jesus Christ Corpus 22" Statue ($83). The bronze finish on this sculpture looks great indoors or out. The Sacred Heart Of Jesus Sculpture costs a little more and is made with bonded Carrera marble.

Garden and Outdoor Statues:

Buying a garden statue is a lot different than purchasing one for the insideof your house. To begin with, you probably have much more room in your yard for larger statues than you do inside your house. Outdoor statues are fun to arrange with animals, children, cherbus, gnomes, and even fairies. Some are shaped like planter boxes while others are stand alone statues that are 5 feet tall. They are usually made from cast stone, fiberglass, resin, stone, glass, or metal. If you have the money then real marble statues are the best. I own a bird bath and recently purchased 2 small doves that sit in the bath area and I also own a few small rabbits that I have placed throughout my yard. Garden statues add pesonal style to your yard and make it a more peaceful place for relaxing. One of my favorite garden statues is on Gardenstatueshop.com and it's called the Cherub Birdfeeder Garden Statue ($80). It is made with cast stone and stands 13 inches high and weighs about 25 pounds. My kids love to play around this statue and I feel like it has a good center of gravity so it would be hard for them to knock over. One of the best selling garden statues on the site is St Francis 25 inch Garden Statue which sells for $120.

Greek and Roman Statues:

If you are a fan of ancient history then buying a Greek or Roman statue will surely bring plenty of conversations from your guests when they notice it. Statue.com carries Greek statues from the Archaic Period the Classical Period (Discus Thrower), and Hellenistic Period. Musuem-Replicas.com is a fabulous website with detailed copies of the orginals in varying sizes. These are for the truly rich as prices are into the $1000's even for the smallest replicas. Even if you are not in the financial status to afford these beauties, take a look at the Apollo and Daphne sculpture on the site (originally done by Bernini). For those that like the look of marble check out Marblearte.com - the site offers lots of beautiful sculpted artwork and they do custom work if you have something in mind that isn't listed.

Do you have a quality site or product that belongs in this guide? We are always happy to evaluate or review new products and websites. Feel free to contact us at the email address below and let us know about you. If you have a demo product you'd like us to look at, please contact us before sending anything. Thank you.

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