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Bust

A bust is a form of sculpture modelled on person’s head, neck and part of the chest and shoulders. As a portrait type, it dates back to classical Greek and Roman antiquity although it can also be found in non-European ancient cultures.

Busts come in many materials including bronze, terracotta, wood, wax and marble. In the UK, they were particularly popular in the 18th and 19th century with the best Georgian and Victorian examples of well known figures continuing to command strong interest among collectors as well as museums.


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Portrait bust provenance with Peel appeal

06 June 2022

This late 18th century portrait bust of a gentleman by a sculptor from the circle of Joseph Nollekens (1737-1823) is traditionally thought to depict the prominent British Whig statesman Charles James Fox (1749-1806).

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Colnaghi’s Renaissance showcase includes bust by Donatello

04 April 2022

Old Masters dealership Colnaghi is collaborating with Direzione regionale Musei Veneto and Venetian Heritage on an exhibition of Renaissance sculptures to coincide with the 59th Venice Biennale.

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The faces of Napoleon’s family

07 February 2022

Small bust in bronze and wax model were produced by the goldsmith to the emperor

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Cordier busts are keenly contested

10 January 2022

Pair of bronzes of north African subjects are consigned by a branch of sculptor’s family.

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San Lorenzo rises afresh

13 December 2021

A recently rediscovered life-size terracotta bust of San Lorenzo, c.1440, by early Renaissance sculptor Donatello stars at Colnaghi’s exhibition.

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Frink tribute emerges from a bungalow

04 October 2021

John Rolfe from Wotton Auction Rooms had been asked to undertake a valuation for probate in a bungalow near Salisbury when he made an intriguing discovery.

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Sisters' sampler skills on show at Mallams' auction

30 August 2021

Samplers made by siblings or generations of the same family can attract a significant commercial premium.

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Marble bust among notable items gained by Cheffins in referral from Christie’s

19 July 2021

Cheffins (24.5% buyer’s premium) in Cambridge has enjoyed some fine referrals from Christie’s in recent times.

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Washington: the head of state

29 March 2021

This bust of the first American president George Washington (1732-99) is titled to the base, and signed and dated 'R Trentanove Fecc in Roma, 1827'.

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Regency marble busts resurface together at auction

29 March 2021

The Winter Antiques Sale at Duke’s (25% buyer’s premium) was topped by consecutive bids of £17,000 each for two Regency white marble busts.

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Bust thought to be Henri IV on offer at French auction

14 September 2020

Aguttes stages a sale of paintings, works of art and furniture titled Passion Patrimoine taking place at Neuilly-sur-Seine on the outskirts of Paris on September 22.

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Film producer buys Seacole bust for 101 times the estimate

10 August 2020

A terracotta sculpture of Mary Seacole (1805-81) sparked fierce competition at Dominic Winter.

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Bust of British-Jamaican Crimean War heroine Mary Seacole sells for £101,000 at auction and heads to Nightingale Museum

04 August 2020

A terracotta sculpture of Mary Seacole (1805-81), who nursed dying and wounded soldiers during the Crimean War, will go on display in the Florence Nightingale Museum after it was sold at auction last week.

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French sculptor's bust of George Washington to be offered in Rhode Island sale

09 March 2020

This 19th century bronze bust of George Washington cast by the French metal founder Ferdinand Barbedienne after the model by the French sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon (1741-1828) will feature in the Bruneau and Co sale at Cranston, Rhode Island, on March 14.

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Nelson bust sails high to top sale

17 February 2020

While furniture and books fully justified its title, The Oxford Library Sale at Mallams (22.5% buyer’s premium) was led by a surprise star: a rather lowly regarded gesso bust of the sort that would have been a minor decoration to such a room.

Bust of Paul Phélypeaux de Pontchartrain

Bust of leading French statesman by the king’s sculptor fetches £2m in Paris auction

22 November 2019

A rare early 17th century bronze bust of a French statesman discovered in a French country house was knocked down at €2.4m (£2.07m) hammer at the Drouot auction centre in Paris this week.

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The web shop window: Alabaster bust of Napoleon

30 September 2019

Thousands of items are available to buy from dealers online. Here we pick out one that caught our eye this week.

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Going for bust with a £96,000 bid in Essex auction

16 September 2019

This Italian marble bust of an emperor, catalogued as 17th century after the antique, provided a moment of saleroom drama at Sworders’ Fine Interiors auction in Stansted on September 10.

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Hadrianic Dionysos head offered at Cottone’s auction

16 September 2019

One of the highlights of Cottone’s sale in Geneseo, New York, on September 28 will be this marble head of Dionysos, a Roman copy of a late classical (4th century BC) Greek archetype.

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Head of French statesman: Country house discovery of bronze ‘Bordoni’ bust emerges after 400 years

09 September 2019

A rare early 17th century bronze bust of a French statesman has been discovered in a French country house and will be offered for auction at Drouot in Paris in November with an estimate of €500,000-800,000.