You’re not in Ancient Greece—Busts are the Newest “Cool Girl” Design Trend
Posted in Angelcityfurniture
I’ve always felt a strange kinship with Abraham Lincoln, probably because we were born on the same day—February 12th. So when I first moved to New York City, now 10 years ago, I remember shopping at Urban Outfitters and spotting my favorite president in the form of a bust bank in the sale section. For $9.99, I had to buy it, even though I was on an assistant’s salary and pretty much always broke. It was copper like a penny (duh), which wasn’t going to work for me. So I gave it a coat of white matte spray paint on my fire escape, let it dry, and started using it to hang necklaces.
Two apartments later, Honest Abe’s still going strong. And you know what? I’ve started noticing that busts have been popping up in house tours on the site and in Instagram-y vignettes at hip places like the Glossier showroom. Busts really are quickly creeping out of museums and into the homes and haunts of 2019’s “cool girls.”
Guess I’m not the only one all about Abe. I think that’s him, this time in gold, in a cute D.C. studio . Busts are a great way to top a stack of books or a little cubby shelf. Something this size and in a shiny color adds a little dose of weirdness and definitely sparks conversation. I mean, I’m wondering if this homeowner is also mine and Abe’s birthday twin.
Smaller busts are great for styling out mantels too. You can’t get too crazy with what you put on these perches, because they’re only so wide. Candles are a likely accessory for this spot, so it’s nice to add something a little more unexpected if you can.
Or you could put a bust right on the floor and use it as an oversized door stopper? At least, that’s what it looks like is going on here in this Chicago couple’s home . Something this large sitting on the ground will definitely draw the eye down, so you shouldn’t have to worry about people bumping into it for the most part.
Same apartment, another bust. This is the perfect example of how a little guy (or gal… or animal, for that matter) can amp up a shelf. I’m also intrigued by the fact that these books have been arranged spine in. Totally impractical for reading but an interesting and graphic design element that I’m digging here.
Yes, this is yet another one of those same homeowners’ bust-like sculptures. They’ve officially made me feel like it’s cool—not creepy—to use more than one bust in a home, though to be fair, this one is more of a dismembered head. Minor detail though.
And if you caught comedian Phoebe Robinson’s house tour last year, you might know that she has a bust on a side table in her home office. So they make a great decorative object for a tabletop vignette as well. You don’t need much else, unless you happen to have a copy of your own book to set beside it.
The best place to score a truly unique bust is probably at a flea market or garage sale, but you can find some older-looking options at retail too. Resins can be really convincing and are much lighter if you plan on moving your bust around from room to room. So that’s another positive about going new. Here are a few of my favorite non-vintage busts available right now.
Vito Bust Statue , $69.95
Leave it to CB2 to create a decent sized, vintage-looking bust at a sub-$100 price point. They’re kind of killing it right now across the board so I’m not even surprised.
Pericles Pink Ceramic Plaster Bust Statue , from $69
Bright pink paint makes everything happier, including a bust of Pericles, the ancient Greek general and orator.
Creation Core Indoor/Outdoor Heads Planter , $19.88
Turning busts into planters is a thing too—get into it. For real though, this may be the lowest-key way to try this trend since you have pretty greenery to fall back on, should you be worried about the quirkiness of a bust reading as creepy in your place.
Design Toscano Charles Dickens Sculptural Bust , $199.95
This bust of Charles Dickens is a must for the well read. Imagine him sitting right by your bookshelf, presiding over your collection.
Latitude Run Fox White Resin Bust , $38.99
If you like a little whimsy, this fox bust could be your new best friend. Try one on a mantel or side table.
Grecian Female Bust , $24
This ceramic gal is the perfect shelfie-sized bust for your living room or home office.
Judy Bust Statue , $129
She’s a beauty, and large enough to dominate a living room console or dining room sideboard. Or you could use her in your bedroom to hold your statement necklace collection.