Which marble is best for statues?

The most popular types of marble stone employed in sculpture are Pentelic, Parian and Carrara marble. During Classical Antiquity, the most famous type was the close-grained, golden-toned Pentelic variety, quarried at Mount Pentelicon in Attica.

How much does a marble statue cost?

It involves a lot of artistic time, warehouse space, engineering and administration. Price ranges are usually starting from 10-20k USD price range regardless of the size of the artwork.

How much does a life size marble statue cost?

WIRED ran an article back in February about 3D printed, life-sized statues, Take Your Selfie Game to the Next Level With a 3-D Printed Statue of Yourself | WIRED . In the caption of one picture they say that the life-sized ones start at $15,000 and for groups they can go as high as $75,000.

How are marble statues so detailed?

Once the general shape of the statue has been determined, the sculptor uses other tools to refine the figure. A toothed chisel or claw chisel has multiple gouging surfaces which create parallel lines in the stone. Tools called rasps and rifflers are then used to enhance the shape into its final form.

Why is marble good for statues?

Although rare and expensive, it was used widely in both architecture and sculpture. Marble was prized for its translucency, durability and naturalistic physical properties. The use of stone in architecture also allowed for decorative carvings on the facades and friezes of buildings.

How can you tell if a statue is marble?

If you are trying to determine if what you’re looking at is real marble, check for scratches or wear. If you scratch a knife across an area on the underside of the stone or in an area that will not be seen and you don’t see much damage, then the stone is likely man-made marble or granite.

How much does it cost to commission a statue?

There is just one major problem with commissioning – it costs a lot more than buying statues in stock. Commissioning a bronze statue can cost anywhere between $10,000 to over $100,000 depending on your specifications. The much more popular alternative is to buy ready-made.

How do you polish marble statues?

Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of mild dish detergent or stone cleaner and 1 gallon of warm water to a bucket. Dip a sponge or cloth into the soapy water and wipe over the marble statue. Rinse the sponge or cloth in the bucket often. Rinse the marble statue thoroughly to remove any residue and dry it with a towel.

What makes marble expensive?

What Factors Into the Cost of Marble? Color: When it comes to marble, less color is often considered more valuable. Marble slabs with little to no veining can be hard to find. Marble slab thickness: The thicker the slab, the more bold the statement — and the higher the cost.

What are the grades of marble?

There are three grades for natural stone: commercial, standard, and first choice. Commercial quality stone has a lot of defects in color and slab integrity.