Bronze Figure of a Standing Woman with Upswept Hair by Nancy Banks

A bronze figure like this holds a room, drawing the eye and keeping it. Cast in bronze and modelled as a standing woman with an elegant upswept hairstyle, one hand resting easily on the hip, she has the elongated proportions and expressive, hand worked surface that recall the modernist figurative sculpture of the mid twentieth century. The dark patina catches the light across every ridge and hollow, giving the whole piece a sense of movement even in stillness.

She carries a real piece of provenance. The base is inscribed to show it was made by the artist Nancy Banks, at her address at Marine Gate in Brighton, the modernist clifftop block built in 1939 on Marine Drive. That named authorship, spelled out in full, sets her apart from the many unattributed decorative bronzes on the market.

Standing 36 cm tall on a pale marble base, she is a statement without being overbearing, poised and confident in the pose. The bare upper body and long draped lower half give her a timeless, classical feel, while the textured finish keeps her firmly modern. Bronze gives her a satisfying weight in the hand, and the surface has developed a deep patina with soft green highlights in places, the natural character of aged bronze, all shown closely in the photographs.

A piece like this deserves a spot where it can be seen in the round. Stand her on a mantelpiece, a bookshelf or a hall table where the light can move across the bronze, set her against pale walls or among books and vintage art for contrast, or give her a plinth of her own. She works beautifully in a modern interior and brings a note of contrast to a period one. A proper bronze figure is the difference between a room that is decorated and one that is collected.

Condition is very good, with an even patina and the rich surface you would hope for, all shown closely in the photographs. The marble base sets her off beautifully and gives a reassuring stability.

A figure like this rewards a considered spot. Place her on a mantelpiece, a bookshelf or a hall table where she can be seen in the round, against a pale wall that lets the dark form read clearly, or among books and vintage art for a collected, gallery feel. She works as a sculptural anchor in a colourful room or as a striking contrast in a pared back one. This is the sort of piece that gives an interior a sense of soul and individuality, a genuine find for anyone who loves figurative art.