Decorative Sculptures and Statues
Shop decorative sculptures from Mikolia, resin busts, abstract forms and figurative pieces in black and white. A sculpture holds nothing and stores nothing; its only job is to be interesting from every angle, which is what separates it from an ornament.
The collection covers three distinct styles: classical busts, abstract and faceless figures, and narrative figurative pieces that depict a scene rather than a single portrait. For the full story behind each, see our guide to styling sculptures and statues.
Classical Busts
Greco-Roman and Renaissance busts are the most searched and most bought form of indoor sculpture. Four figures anchor the range, each with a distinct character worth matching to the room.
Apollo, the god of light, music and poetry, is calm and idealised, suited to a study or a quiet living room. Diana, goddess of the hunt, has a directness that works well as a hallway or console focal point. Venus is the softest of the four, suited to a bedroom or dressing table. David, taken from Michelangelo's Renaissance masterpiece, is the most recognisable sculpture in the world and needs a surface with the scale to carry it.
Abstract and Figurative Sculptures
Alongside the busts sits a different style entirely: faceless, abstract forms that express emotion through shape rather than detail. The Kissing Faces sculpture and the Face in Hand sculpture reduce a portrait to its essential lines, and suit a bolder, more editorial room than the classical busts.
A third group sits between the two: narrative pieces that depict a moment rather than a portrait, including the Seated Lady sculpture, the Climbing Figures sculpture and the Blossom Lady sculpture. These have the storytelling quality of a classical bust with more contemporary lines, and tend to be the easiest pieces to place in a room that has not committed to one style.
Made From Resin
Every piece in this collection is resin rather than stone or ceramic. Resin holds fine detail extremely well, from the folds of drapery on a classical bust to the clean lines of an abstract face, while being significantly lighter than stone or plaster. It is also considerably more durable than ceramic in everyday use, which matters on a shelf near a doorway or in a home with children or pets.
Black or White
Black sculptures create bold contrast against pale walls and light surfaces, making them the more graphic choice. White sculptures settle more softly into neutral schemes and stand out instead against a darker backdrop, a bookshelf or greenery. Choosing between them is really a decision about how much contrast the room already has, and keeping a group to one finish is what makes several different forms read as a considered display rather than a mismatched one.
What Size Sculpture to Choose
Under 30cm suits shelves, desks and bedside tables, small enough to sit within a group without dominating it. Between 30cm and 40cm is the most versatile range, large enough to anchor a console or sideboard on its own. Over 40cm is statement territory, needing a substantial surface and clear space around it. Measuring the surface first, rather than judging scale from a photograph, is the single most common mistake to avoid.
Styling a Sculpture
Give it height, on a pedestal or a small stack of books, rather than tucking it into a crowded shelf. Pair a rounded bust or a flowing abstract form with something straight-edged nearby, a square tray or a rectilinear console, since the contrast is what makes the sculptural shape read clearly. A single bust is elegant on its own; two at different heights, or a bust alongside an abstract piece, start to look like a considered collection.
Where Sculptures Work
In the living room, a console, sideboard or mantelpiece gives a bust the visibility it needs, particularly beside a sofa or fireplace. In a hallway, a single striking piece on an entryway console sets the tone before a guest has taken off their coat. In a home office or study, classical busts add the same gravity a good book collection does, and Apollo or David are the natural choices there.
In the bedroom, smaller and softer pieces work best on surfaces seen daily, where Venus and the more delicate abstract faces suit the setting. These pieces also work well in offices and reception areas, where a single sculptural object does more to soften a space than furniture alone.
Sculptures Alongside Other Decor
Sculptures sit within the wider home decor and accessories collection, alongside figurines and ornaments. A single vase, a small stack of books or a stem of artificial flowers beside a bust gives it context and stops the display from feeling static.
A Sculpture as a Gift
A resin bust or sculptural piece is a considered gift precisely because it is not something most people buy for themselves. It needs no explaining, and a classical bust in particular is close to a permanent fixture rather than a passing choice.
More at Mikolia
For a full guide to choosing size, finish and placement, read styling sculptures and statues at home. Browse the full home decor and accessories collection at Mikolia, with UK next day delivery.
