If you want a little statue of your pet, there are two main ways to get one. You can commission an artist to sculpt it by hand, or you can have a figurine sculpted from a photo, which is what we do at ForeverPet. Both can be lovely. They differ mostly in cost, waiting time and how personal the process feels. Here is what each one really involves, using prices we found in October 2026.
What does it cost to commission a pet sculpture?
Prices depend on the material and how well known the artist is. Roughly:
- Etsy clay and felt figurines: about $75 to $250. Hand-painted polymer clay pieces commonly sell for about $75 to $105. Small needle-felted sculptures run up to around $250, and framed felt portraits cost more. Very cheap listings, under about $50, are often semi-generic breed models, or arrive unpainted. Read the listing carefully.
- Ceramic or porcelain from an independent sculptor: from about $250. A small piece of around 2½ inches starts near $250 plus shipping, often with about $150 extra per additional pet. Larger porcelain portraits often run $750 to $1,300.
- Bronze: from about $500 to well over $5,000. The artist sculpts in clay first, you approve it, and a foundry casts it. Even stock life-sized bronzes, which aren't custom at all, cost over $5,000.
Many artists ask for a deposit, often half the price, before they start.
How long does it take?
- Etsy clay and resin: often two to six weeks.
- Ceramic: usually four to eight weeks, because the clay has to dry slowly and be fired in a kiln.
- Needle felting from a sought-after artist: some have waiting lists of many months before they can start your piece.
- Bronze: months, because sculpting, approval and casting each take time.
If you need it for a specific date, such as a birthday, a holiday or the anniversary of a loss, ask about the wait before you pay a deposit.
What does a photo-made figurine cost?
At ForeverPet, you upload one clear photo or a short video of your pet. You see a preview of their sculpture and approve it, then the figurine is made, hand-finished and posted to you.
- One sculpted color: Mini (about 3 inches) $24.99, Classic (about 5 inches) $39.99, Grand (about 8 inches) $49.99. You choose porcelain white, midnight black, marble gray, cocoa brown, gold or terracotta.
- Full color: $69, $129 or $219 for about 1½, 2½ or 3 inches, created in your pet's real colors straight from your photo.
- Extra pets: $10 each, from the Classic size up.
- Shipping: free in the US. Most figurines arrive in about a week to ten days.
Side by side
| Etsy artist | Ceramic sculptor | Bronze | ForeverPet | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical price | $75–$250 | $250–$1,300+ | $500–$5,000+ | $24.99–$49.99; $69–$219 full color |
| Typical wait | 2–6 weeks, or months for top felters | 4–8 weeks | Months | About a week to ten days |
| Deposit | Sometimes | Often about 50% | Usually | No; you pay after approving the preview |
| Preview before it's made | Depends on the artist | Often, photos of the clay | Yes, clay approval before casting | Always |
| Extra pet | Varies | Often about $150+ | Priced per piece | $10 |
| Feels like | A handmade gift | An heirloom artwork | A lasting monument | A faithful likeness for a shelf |
Which should you choose?
Commission an artist if:
- You want a one-of-a-kind artwork that carries the artist's own style.
- You'd like to talk it through, share many photos and stories, and be part of the process.
- You're planning an outdoor memorial or a piece to pass down. Bronze and fired ceramic last for generations.
- You can wait, and the budget is there.
Choose a photo-made figurine if:
- You want a faithful likeness without spending hundreds.
- You need it soon.
- You'd like to see exactly what you're getting before you pay.
- You want two pets together without paying a lot more.
Some families start with a figurine now and commission a bronze later, for the garden or the anniversary of a loss. There's no rush and no wrong order. For a wider look at the brands that make pet keepsakes, see the best custom pet figurine makers. If you're weighing a figurine against a plush, read ForeverPet vs Cuddle Clones.
How to get the best result either way
- Pick the photo that looks most like them. Choose one where you can see their face and body clearly, in soft light, taken at their eye level.
- Ask for a preview. With an artist, ask whether you'll see photos of the clay before it's fired or cast. At ForeverPet, the preview comes with every order.
- Check the wait against your date before you pay anything.