A sculpture commissioned to represent a pet can be placed in an easily-viewed spot in the home to signify the pet's place of importance within the family. Pet owners might commission a sculpture of a beloved dog, cat or horse after the pet's passing to signify that the beloved animal remains with the family in spirit. Small animal sculptures might also be purchased that represent a favorite bird or wild animal. These might be placed in the home to signify the connection that the owner feels towards a particular wild bird or sea creatures such as whales or dolphins.
The pair of lion sculptures that recline regally in front of the New York Public Library signify the characteristics for which they are named -- Patience and Fortitude. The represent the dignity and majesty of this classic public building. Other animal sculptures often placed on public buildings or in public parks include the eagle, which are often used to signify patriotic service to the United States. Decorative park and garden sculptures and fountains often feature animals associated with water such as fish, dolphins and birds and are placed in these locations to signify the timeless presence of nature co-existing with the man-made environment.
Native American cultures signified the connection and bond between humans and animals by honoring them in sculptures of stone, wood and other materials. Some Native Americans believed that animals were symbolic, and certain animals actually stood as totems that represented the qualities of a person, family group or tribe. Native Americans of the Northwest created totem poles that depicted the heads of animals on one top of the other to signify this animal-human connection. Modern Native American sculptors such as Bear Romero sculpt images of bears, horses and buffalo to signify the spirit of the animal.
The Indian and the Chinese cultures have, for many hundreds of years, imbued animals with significance. The Indians revere animals, especially the cow, for their divinity. The Chinese created a system of astrology based upon the significant qualities of certain animals. The ancient peoples of India revered not only the cow, or bull, but also the elephant and lion, creating sculptures of them to signify the animals' spiritual power. The Chinese use animal sculptures for their spiritual significance in the stone statues of camels, elephants, horses and lions constructed along The Sacred Way, a road leading to the tombs of emperors in Beijing.