Many inexperienced art buyers wonder why sculpture is so expensive. Creating even a small sculpture generally takes months at a minimum and mostly uses costly, high-grade materials. Because it involves three dimensions, conceiving the right idea is a huge challenge.

The artist must then convert the concept into a perfectly carved wooden or stone sculpture. If working in metal, they must shape a perfect clay model and produce flawless fibreglass moulds in which to cast or forge materials.

The sculptor may or may not have their own foundry. If they do, they will have invested vast sums of money and time setting up complex technology that is time consuming and costly to operate. If they don’t own their foundry, they risk considerable money upfront to fund the manufacturing operation, employ artisans and pay for materials.

The rough casting then needs to be smoothed and assembled with finishes applied and can involve dangerous and toxic processes. With all these risks, there is the added weight of a hefty investment of time, with no guarantee of a sale at the end.