The oldest known sculpture in existence dates from 40,000 years ago. “The lion man”, found in Germany in 1939, still exists because it was carved in ivory.
The oldest known paintings date from even earlier. The “Three wild pigs” on the walls of a limestone cave in Indonesia date from 45,000 years ago. They were only discovered in 2021.
In both cases, they are still with us because of the materials used.
As regards sculpture, there are 3 basic types. Assembly, Carving and Modelling.
Assembled works tend to be low-relief and are designed to hang.
London City Fused Glass Art Framed
Julie Anne
Carved works are normally 3 dimensional and are meant to be looked at from every angle.
3 Stone Bears
Alexander Nefedyev Skuridin
Carrara Marble Wild Animal - lion 4
Jean-Michel Garino
Modelled works are normally also 3 dimensional but modeling can be the starting point of a piece which ends up being fired, like clay, OR cast into a variety of metals. Cast works can be produced in editions - all replicas of the original.
UFO Watchers - “Look, they are over there” - Ceramic Sculptures - (Pair)
Dick Martin
And, of course - artists being artists, insist on making things which fit more than one category - or even none.
The uninvited lunch guest
Robert Batt
By the nature of the materials used - all of the above will last several life-times (although not necessarily 40,000 years)