PRICE OF A BRONZE STATUE OF A WOMAN
When you first discover the price of a bronze sculpture, the amount can come as a surprise. Several thousand euros are generally required to acquire an original work by a contemporary artist, while larger sculptures can cost several tens of thousands of euros.
This price does not simply reflect the amount of bronze used. Behind a sculpture are the artist’s creative work, the casting process at the foundry, a defined and limited edition, as well as the sculptor’s career.
Understanding the price of a bronze sculpture therefore begins with understanding what that price represents.
From creation to bronze
Before being cast in bronze, a sculpture is first created and modelled by the artist. Producing it in bronze then involves a foundry and several successive stages: mould-making, wax, casting, chasing, assembly where necessary, and finally the patina.
Size naturally affects the cost of this process. A large sculpture requires more material, and some operations become more substantial. The weight and characteristics of the model can also significantly affect the amount of work required.
The foundry also uses various raw materials, energy — particularly gas — and many hours of skilled labour. Added to these production costs is the artist’s creative work.
→ Discover the stages involved in creating a bronze sculpture
The number of examples
The type of edition also affects the price. An original bronze sculpture is produced in a limited number of examples, whereas a multiple may be produced in a larger edition.
When more examples are planned, some of the costs involved in creating the model can be spread across a greater number of bronzes. The type of edition therefore also contributes to the positioning of the sculpture.
However, within the same original edition, the number of the example — 1/8 or 6/8, for instance — has no effect on its value.
→ Understand the difference between an original and a multiple
The artist’s work and career
The price of a sculpture is not determined solely by its production cost. It also reflects the artist’s work and evolves with their career.
Years of creative work, exhibitions, collaboration with galleries, acquisitions and recognition all gradually contribute to establishing the prices at which an artist’s sculptures are offered.
This question is closely related to that of an artist’s market value, which depends on broader factors within the art market.
How much does a bronze sculpture actually cost?
Production costs, the type of edition and the artist’s career therefore help explain why a bronze sculpture can cost several thousand or even several tens of thousands of euros. But what does this mean in actual figures?
Alain Choisnet’s sculptures currently range from €4,000 to €30,000, depending on the size and model. A bronze sculpture measuring around 60 cm is priced at approximately €7,000, while a life-size sculpture can approach €30,000.
These figures provide an indication, as acquisition terms vary depending on the model.
Is the price the same when buying from the artist as from a gallery?
A sculpture may be offered at a different price depending on whether it is acquired directly from the artist or through a gallery.
A gallery provides representation, exhibition and sales services and receives a commission on sales. Gallery prices may therefore be higher than those offered when acquiring a sculpture directly from the artist.
This is the case with Alain Choisnet’s sculptures. Acquiring a sculpture directly also provides an opportunity to speak with him and discover all the sculptures available in his exhibition space.
The acquisition terms for each sculpture are available directly on his website.