Four ways a figurine is made, four sets of defects
This page covers indoor pieces for shelves, tables and mantelpieces. Garden statues are on garden statues and sculptures. Indoor figurines from India are made in four main ways, and each has its own typical faults:
- Polyresin. Resin mixed with stone powder is poured into silicone moulds, cured, then hand-painted. Faults: air bubbles at the surface, pinholes, cracks from fast curing, mould lines, and paint that rubs off.
- Sand-cast metal. Brass or aluminium poured into sand moulds, then filed, polished and patinated. Faults: porosity, shrinkage holes filled with putty, sharp flash and uneven patina. See brass and copper décor.
- Carved wood. Hand- or machine-carved, then stained or waxed. Faults: drying cracks, insect holes, mould, and thin parts that snap along the grain. See wooden décor.
- Stone. Marble, soapstone or other stone, carved and polished. Faults: hairline cracks, resin-filled fissures and chipped edges. See marble and stone décor.
Every type shares one risk: protruding fine parts. Fingers, horns, trunks, tails and swords are often cast or carved separately and glued or pinned on, and they are the first thing to break.
What we check on figurines and sculptures
| Check | How it is checked | What fails |
|---|---|---|
| Form against sample | Side-by-side with the approved sample; height and base measured | Soft detail from a worn mould, wrong proportions, size out of tolerance |
| Weight | Weighed against the sample weight | Much lighter: hollow casting or thinner walls than approved |
| Surface | All sides under good light, including underneath | Bubbles, pinholes, casting holes, putty that shows through paint |
| Cracks | Visual check; light tap on stone and metal to listen for a dull note | Hairline or curing cracks, cracks at thin necks and joints |
| Attached parts | Each glued or pinned part pressed gently by hand | Part moves, glue line visible, part missing |
| Stability | Stood on a flat table and nudged; base checked for felt pads | Rocks or tips, sharp base that scratches furniture |
| Paint, patina and gilding | Compared with light and dark limit samples; rub test with a dry cloth where agreed | Colour off range, paint rubs off, patina patchy |
| Edges | Hand run over the casting and the base edge | Sharp flash or file marks left on metal |
Common figurine and sculpture defects and how they are classed
| Defect | Class |
|---|---|
| Heavy piece that tips over easily; sharp flash on a handled edge | Critical or major, as the buyer sets |
| Crack through the body or at a neck | Major |
| Loose or missing attached part | Major |
| Casting hole or bubble on a visible face | Major |
| Weight well below the approved sample | Major |
| Paint rubs off, patina off the limit samples | Major or minor by severity |
| Small pinholes underneath; felt pad off-centre | Minor |
Rules: décor, wood and the toy boundary
- EU: GPSR. Figurines sold to consumers fall under the General Product Safety Regulation.
- EU: EUDR. Statuettes and other ornaments of wood are in HS 4420, which is on the Annex I product list. See EUDR.
- US: Lacey Act and Prop 65. Wood species records for carved pieces (Lacey Act); lead in brass or paint may need a Prop 65 warning.
- Toy or décor? Small, cute animal figures can be judged toys if children are likely to play with them. In the EU, the Toy Safety Directive excludes products for collectors only if the product or its packaging says it is intended for collectors aged 14 and over; folk dolls and decorative dolls are given as examples. The new Toy Safety Regulation (EU) 2025/2509, which applies from 1 August 2030, keeps that exclusion. In the US, CPSC guidance in 16 CFR 1200.2 separates adult collectibles from children's products by theme, price, fragility, display features and how they are sold. If there is doubt, decide before production, because a toy needs testing to EN 71 or ASTM F963.
Packing fragile pieces
A figurine that leaves the factory perfect often arrives with a broken hand. Pieces need a moulded or cut-foam insert, or tight wrapping that supports the protruding parts, not just the body. Resin pieces should not touch each other in a master carton. Heavy metal or stone pieces belong in their own inner cartons so they cannot fall onto lighter ones. A drop test on a full master carton, then unpacking every piece, is the best check of fine parts. Paint and lacquer should be fully dry before wrapping in plastic, or the film sticks.
What to put in your purchase order
- Material, height and weight, with the tolerance for each.
- Light and dark limit samples for hand-painted or patinated finishes.
- Which parts may be attached separately and how (pin, glue, both).
- Base: felt pads, flatness and a stability test if the piece is tall.
- For small pieces: whether they are décor, collectibles or toys, and the label text that goes with that.
- Insert type and the drop test you want on the master carton.