Buying a marble bust

Something that I have always wanted is a marble bust (not alabaster) 19C or earlier.
At least 350mm tall.

What do I need to know before purchasing? What do I need to look out for?
I'm not in a hurry but I want to be prepared.

Something like this but not this one specifically ( it's just nice to post a pic)

Thanks

 

First, acquaint yourself with both marble and alabaster as materials, so you won't end up buying alabaster by accident.

Alabaster is gypsum, and it has a soft, powdery look. It is never shiny.
You see that powdery property even more when it is chipped, so look for chipped edges and corners, and see if they have that powdery look.
It is not as heavy as marble and the surface feels soft.

Marble is hard and crystalized, and you see that in the stone. Because it is hard it can be polished to a very shiny surface.
It doesn't chip as easily as alabaster, but if it does, the chipped areas show a much cleaner break.
It is heavier than alabaster.

Many sellers don't know that difference, so it's up to you.

Second, buy what appeals to you. Owning a work of art is like a love affair.

 

Today there are also marble dust and resin combinations that can be very convincing in appearance.

A lot of marble sculpture, busts of famous people, funerary art, was effectively mass produced using pantograph techniques, which makes it more problematic to find a unique piece by a solo artist (if that's what you hope for).

The standard of reproduction is high. You should be able to find nice examples at not exorbitant prices, but I have no idea what the price range is. Obviously, original work from a known artist will top the expense list.

This goes on today:
https://www.marble-sculpture.com/collections

From that site's "About us" section:
"Sculptured Arts Studio have developed a unique dry marble forming process, and over the past 20 years Sculptured Arts have lead the way, the quality, and finish of in the reproduction of sculptures."

I don't quite know what that means.

 

Neither do I. Such statues are usually made from bonded marble, so marble dust mixed with a polymer for bonding. Maybe they use the same materials under pressure, and no liquid or heat is involved.

 

Just to emphasize, can be. It is not always polished. Unpolished marble can look a lot like alabaster, so you might not want to buy anything based on photos alone unless it can be returned. Unpolished marble can get dirty in an intractable way as using soap on it is considered a no-no.

I have a full figure unpolished piece that is like this one:

https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/...e-marble-figure-lady-louisa-russell-59/154390

I have to keep her under plastic if I don't want her to be as black as NYC dust.

 

Absolutely.

Lovely.
And on some figures the face, arms and hands are polished, the clothing isn't.

Smart idea, although you have to look at her through plastic.

 

Ooooh, I love her!

 

Yeah that's a nice one but it's out of my price range

 

I'm looking for one that is genuinely antique I do not want one made post world war two and preferably from the 1800s or earlier.

 

That's pretty.
Is there no way you can keep it in a glass case or something it seems strange that you would have to keep it under plastic. How can you look at it?

 

I can see the outline of her through the plastic (dry cleaner bag) & take the bag off from time to time just to enjoy her.

My mother brought her home when I was about 11, so I'm well acquainted with her appearance. She could not have paid anything like the hammer price from the Christie's auction. My father always made fun of it as looking like it was stolen from a graveyard, but I always loved her.