Choosing your first sculptural object

Measure the whole space

Record the object’s height, width and depth, then measure the proposed base and the route into the room. A sculpture needs clearance around it as well as a surface beneath it. Ask for its weight before choosing a plinth or shelf.

Look from more than one side

A stone opening can disappear from one angle and become the strongest part of the work from another. View the object at different heights and in softer light. For glass, notice how the colour changes against a pale wall or a darker background.

Ask what is included

Request a written description of the material, finish, condition and any edition number. Packing, delivery and installation may be separate costs. Confirm those details before deciding; a quoted object price does not describe the whole purchase.

Leave room to decide

Keep the measurements and photographs together, and return to them after a few days. Choose a piece for the way you want to live with it. A maker’s name or an edition size alone cannot promise future resale value.