A bespoke sculpture commission typically takes three to six months from concept to installation, depending on scale, material and complexity. Knowing where the time goes lets you align it with a villa handover, a project completion or an event.
The honest headline
Most commissions run three to six months; large or highly complex pieces take longer, and smaller works less. The single most useful thing you can do is start early. If a piece is meant for a villa completing in Dubai Hills, The Oasis or Tilal Al Ghaf, or for a hospitality opening, begin the commission well before handover so the work is ready when the space is.
Stage 1 — concept and design
The first weeks are briefing, sketches and approvals: agreeing the form, scale, material and finish, and resolving the design against the space. This stage moves at the pace of decisions, so the clearer the brief, the faster it closes. It is also the cheapest place to make changes — far better to refine on paper than in stone.
Stage 2 — fabrication
Fabrication is the longest stage, and it varies by material: marble is carved, bronze is cast, each on its own rhythm. Scale and detail drive the time here more than anything else. This is the craft at the centre of the commission, and it is not a stage to rush.
Stage 3 — finishing and quality
Once the form is complete, the piece is finished — honed or polished, patinated, refined — and checked against the approved design before it leaves. Finishing is what separates a competent piece from a considered one, so it is given its own time rather than folded into fabrication.
Stage 4 — shipping, base and installation
Finally the piece is crated, shipped, and installed on its base, with attention to siting, plinth height and how it meets the space. For a large work this can mean access planning and rigging. Build this stage into your timeline rather than treating it as an afterthought.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How long for a marble piece versus bronze?
Both fall in the three-to-six-month range; scale and complexity affect the timeline more than the material alone.
Can a commission be rushed?
Some stages can be compressed, but fabrication and finishing set a floor on quality — start early instead.
What slows a commission down?
Usually indecision at the design stage, plus very large scale or intricate detail in fabrication.
When should I start to match a villa handover?
Begin at least four to six months ahead so the piece is ready when the home is.
Does size change the timeline?
Significantly — larger pieces take longer to carve or cast, finish, ship and install.
1-OPH is an art atelier based in Al Quoz, Dubai. We design and fabricate bespoke sculpture, water features, and architectural art in marble, stainless steel, bronze, and mixed materials — for private residences, hospitality projects, and developments across the UAE and GCC.
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