Skip to main content
Video Loading
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 16

Pygmalion and Galatea Sculpture by Manuel Carbonell, 1963

$1,995
£1,512.29
€1,763.73
CA$2,863.37
A$2,886.83
CHF 1,643.80
MX$35,090.67
NOK 19,404.25
SEK 19,348.54
DKK 13,183.68

About the Item

Manuel Carbonell – Pygmalion and Galatea (1962–63) This striking rendition of Pygmalion and Galatea, sculpted by Cuban-American master Manuel Carbonell, captures mythos and modernism in a single, elegant form. Cast in Durastone (or similar hydro‑cal/glazed medium), the sculpture evokes the transformation of stone to life—an apt metaphor for the artist’s own creative journey. Carbonell, educated at Cuba’s prestigious San Alejandro and celebrated alongside peers like Wifredo Lam and Agustín Cárdenas, dedicated his career to bridging classical figuration with powerful modern abstraction. His work carries the monumental gravitas of Henry Moore, the distilled form of Brancusi, and yet possesses its own uniquely lyrical force Graduating from Classical myth, Pygmalion and Galatea portrays the eternal romance of creator and creation. The amorphous figures flow physically together, their surfaces polished and glinting, while the base retains a rugged, unrefined quality—grounded yet transcendent. Visually, “Pygmalion and Galatea” functions both as mythic narrative and sculptural ornament. It works beautifully placed alone on a pedestal, as a centrepiece atop a wide console, or amid bookshelves and architectural niches. Its wood-like finish harmonizes with warm woods, patinated metals, or darker stone, while its mythic subject matter lends a romantic and timeless dimension to interiors that value symbolism, form, and heritage. Dimensions: Approximately 74.6 cm × 27.9 cm × 30.5 cm (29⅜″ H × 11″ W × 12″ D) Created around 1962–63 under the Austin Productions collaboration, this work was part of a limited run that has become exceptionally rare. Many examples have been lost or damaged over time, rendering surviving pieces like this extraordinarily desirable The sculpture encapsulates a moment where figure and fluidity merge, demonstrating Carbonell’s mastery of both form and abstraction—inviting both contemplative reflection and sweeping visual impact. Placement & Presence: Carbonell passed away in November of 2011. Interest in his work has since sky rocketed. This 1963 piece, “Pygmalion and Galatea” was created by Born in Cuba in 1918. His talents led him to become a celebrity in his native Cuba. However Carbonell was exiled to the U.S. following Castro’s rise. Here Carbonell’s notoriety really took flight. Ultimately he was featured in several one man shows at the much famed Schoneman Galleries, MoMA, Galeria Internacional (Venezuela), Randall Galleries, among several others.
  • Creator:
    Manuel Carbonell (Artist),Austin Prod (Maker)
  • Similar to:
    Auguste Rodin (Artist)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 29 in (73.66 cm)Diameter: 13 in (33.02 cm)
  • Style:
    Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Plaster,Glazed
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1963
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Excellent overall condition.
  • Seller Location:
    Chattanooga, TN
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU2255346414162

More From This Seller

View All
Manuel Carbonell Pygmalion and Galatea Modern Durastone Sculpture

Manuel Carbonell Pygmalion and Galatea Modern Durastone Sculpture

By Auguste Rodin, Austin Prod, Manuel Carbonell

Located in Chattanooga, TN

Absolutely stunning sculpture by Latin American Master artist Manuel Carbonell. Regarded as one on the greatest sculptors of the 20th Century, Carbonell passed away in November of 20...

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Plaster

Mid-20th Century Embracing Lovers Clay Modeled Signed Sculpture

Mid-20th Century Embracing Lovers Clay Modeled Signed Sculpture

By Auguste Rodin

Located in Chattanooga, TN

This figural sculpture captures a moment of poetic intimacy. The piece presents two lovers entwined in a timeless embrace, their forms rendered in smooth, softly quality of clay. The...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Clay

René Lalique Style Signed Resin Sculpture of Two Lovers 81cm Tall

René Lalique Style Signed Resin Sculpture of Two Lovers 81cm Tall

By René Lalique, Auguste Rodin

Located in Chattanooga, TN

This towering figural sculpture captures a moment of poetic intimacy, fashioned in a René Lalique–style aesthetic. Standing approximately 81 cm tall, the piece presents two lovers en...

Category

Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Resin, Hardwood

Haunting Nude Abstract Figural Modernist Plaster Sculpture and Pedestal Base

Haunting Nude Abstract Figural Modernist Plaster Sculpture and Pedestal Base

By George Foster, Claire McArdle 1

Located in Chattanooga, TN

This Modern, figural female sculpture exhibits beauty in the simplicity and grace of its form. The artist manages to evoke the the subtle essence of femininity while simultaneously e...

Category

Vintage 1970s Unknown Futurist Busts

Materials

Plaster, Hardwood

Fantasy Female Bust Sculpture by Daniel Painter, Futurist Design

Fantasy Female Bust Sculpture by Daniel Painter, Futurist Design

By Daniel Painter

Located in Chattanooga, TN

This commanding female bust by Daniel Painter—titled “Fantasía”—is a striking synthesis of modern sensuality and classical poise. Cast in a rare combination of plaster and fiberglass, the sculpture merges tactile delicacy with structural permanence. Painter’s hand is evident in every contour: the elongated neck, stylized hair, and serene gaze evoke both ancient Greek ideals and mid-century surrealist dreamscapes. The work’s monumental scale and sculptural luminosity elevate it beyond decorative art; it becomes a meditation on beauty, imagination, and form. Under ambient light, the matte surface catches soft shadows across the figure’s cheekbones and shoulders, revealing Painter’s mastery of proportion and rhythm. This piece belongs as comfortably in a refined modernist interior as it does in a contemporary gallery context. The artist began with a mold created from a human model...

Category

2010s American Futurist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Fiberglass, Foam

You May Also Like

Austin Productions Embracing Figures by Manuel Carbonell

Austin Productions Embracing Figures by Manuel Carbonell

By Austin Productions, Manuel Carbonell

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Manuel Carbonell for Austin Productions Embracing Couple. Signed and dated 1986, but i have seen variations of this sculpture dated to the early 1960's In very nice original condi...

Category

Vintage 1980s American Mid-Century Modern Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Plaster

Midcentury Sculpture Nude Woman Designed by Bohumil Kokrda, 1960s

Midcentury Sculpture Nude Woman Designed by Bohumil Kokrda, 1960s

Located in Praha, CZ

- Made in Czechoslovakia - Made of ceramic - Maker: Jitona - Good, original condition.

Category

Vintage 1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Biagio Romeo Signed Bronze Woman Sculpture, Wood Base, Italian, 1996

Biagio Romeo Signed Bronze Woman Sculpture, Wood Base, Italian, 1996

By Romeo

Located in Milano, IT

Beautiful bronze and wood sculpture designed in 1996, fine Italian manufacture. SIGNED. The base is made of lacquered black wood. This form serves as a pedestal for the actual sculpture. The main body is represented by an entirely nude bronze woman, kneeling. The woman is seated on a rock, on which the artist's signature is carved. The woman is represented in a contorted position: in fact, she is seated with one knee on the ground, while her entire weight pivots on the other. With one arm she touches the ground to keep her balance while with the other she touches her head, as if she wanted to be photographed. The woman is completely naked and we can see this from her obvious breasts, but her bottom is also visible. The woman seems to represent a person who wants to be looked at, proudly showing herself in her nudity. A hymn to female nudity and to the beauty and harmony of the body. The sculpture is very beautiful and suitable for decorating classy areas. Bibliography: Biagio Romeo...

Category

1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Elie Nadelman Plaster Cast "Recherche des Formes"

Elie Nadelman Plaster Cast "Recherche des Formes"

By Elie Nadelman

Located in Sharon, CT

A plaster cast of Elie Nadelman's important early proto-cubist Draped Standing Female Figure "Recherche des Formes" c.1908. Height 23", Base 11.50 x 8".

Category

Antique Early 1900s French Art Deco Abstract Sculptures

Materials

Plaster

Large Maquette Sculpture of ‘Close Affection’ by John W. Mills

Large Maquette Sculpture of ‘Close Affection’ by John W. Mills

Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire

A large cold cast bronze resin maquette sculpture titled 'Close Affection' by the acclaimed British sculptor, John W. Mills. Made from resin with a patinated bronze finish, this lif...

Category

Late 20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Resin