Contemporary and Decorative Sculptures Priced Under $1000
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Two Lions: Jules Moigniez.: Moigniez was best known for his birds but he was also a very competent sculptor of other animals. His pair of Race Horses Little Agnes and Destinee are as finely modeled as any of Isidore Bonheur's famous Race Horses. It is unusual for Moigniez to sculpt jungle animals but his talent is obvious in this fine model of Two Lions. The Lion is considered the King of beasts and this rare model shows two male Lions sitting together. The detail and shaggy manes are expertly shown and one Lion is sitting proudly with his head raised while the other Lion is crouched down snarling.
The bronze has a rich dark patina and is signed in script on the base. It was cast in Moigniez's own foundry and shows excellent details in the cast. A rare model that would please any collector. |
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German Shepherd: Maximilien-Louis Fiot.: Fiot was one of the best of the later Animalier sculptors. His work from the early 1900s show the smooth lines influenced by the Art Nouveau movement. Most of his models are of dogs, he sculpted Wolfhounds, Greyhounds, Terriers, and several German Shepherd dogs.
German Shepherd dogs, also called Alsatians, became very popular in the early 1900s and these dogs were often featured in art work. Fiot did German Shepherds reclining, posing with children, and sitting alertly like this bronze. He captured the protective and intelligent nature of these dogs in his sculptures. |
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Fawn Reclining: Pierre Jules Mene.: Although Mene was best known for his sculptures of domestic animals, he also created many fine models of wild animals. He did foxes, pheasants, and many species of deer.
This small bronze of a Fawn Reclining is finely detailed and captures the Fawn at rest but alert. Mene also used this fawn in other groups but the Fawn alone is rare. A fine 19th century bronze with a rich dark brown patina that was cast by Mene in his own foundry. |
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Setter: Alfred Dubucand.: Hunting dogs were very popular in the art of the 19th century and these dogs were also widely used to put food on the table. Most of the dog breeds were Pointers, Setters, Spaniels, and Retrievers and many of them looked quite different in the mid 19th century than they do today. This makes it difficult to know exactly what breed is shown in a sculpture unless the artist has engraved a title on it. This big handsome dog is probably a Setter or a French Spaniel, or possibly even a Retriever. He is beautifully modeled with much detail in his fur texture and face. This dog must have been popular since Dubucand used the same dog in other compositions, he is shown with a Hare at his feet and also carrying a Pheasant in his mouth. This model was done in two sizes, this is the largest size. We also offer the other two variations, but this bronze shows just the Setter walking in a woodland with foliage on the base and a stump by the dog’s feet.
One of Dubucand’s best works, it is a very fine 19th century cast, and this big bronze would be enjoyed by any dog lover. The bronze has a rich dark brown patina and is signed on the base.
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Tethered Pointer: Pierre Jules Mene.: Pierre Jules Mene was one of the best Animalier sculptors and his hunting dogs are some of his finest subjects. Here is a powerful Pointer shown tethered to a tree stump and straining at his leash. Hunting dogs were popular in the mid 19th century and many different breeds were portrayed in art. Because dog breeds 100 years ago often looked quite different than they do today, this dog could be a hound instead of a Pointer.
A fine model, it was cast in Mene's own foundry and has sharp details and a rich reddish brown patina. This handsome large bronze dog would be enjoyed by any collector or dog lover. |
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Whippet and Hare: Jules Moigniez.: Jules Moigniez was best known for his many sculptures of birds but he also did some fine models of dogs and other animals. This rare bronze shows a Whippet with a large Hare. Greyhounds and Whippets were often used for coursing small game like rabbits and hares, and they were prized by their owners. The bronze captures the moment in which the dog has captured the hare and she is posed looking back for her master. It is hard to tell if this dog is a Greyhound or a Whippet but judging from the large size of the hare, we are thinking she is a Whippet since Whippets are smaller than Greyhounds. The model is also unusual because it depicts a female dog when most art is of male dogs. A rare subject that does not come on the market often, this is a very detailed and realistic cast done in Moigniez’s own foundry. It has a rich dark brown patina and the cast is very crisp. The Whippet is beautifully sculpted and very graceful as she crouches over her prey.
We also have this fine model in a miniature version which is only about 3 inches by 5 inches long, please ask! |
Stag Rubbing Velvet: Alfred Barye.: Some of Alfred Barye's earliest bronze sculptures were of wild animals. He was always modeling animals while working as an apprentice at his father's foundry. This sculpture of a Stag Rubbing Velvet from his Antlers is wonderfully modeled and highly detailed. It is finished in a deep brown/black patina and was more than likely cast and finished in the workshop of Antoine Louis Barye under his father's supervision. The sculptures of Alfred Barye are very rare and as such they are sought after by collectors and museums around the world. |
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Pheasant : Alfred Barye.: Alfred Barye shows his mastery of bronze in this finely detailed sculpture of a strutting Pheasant. With this model Barye shows that his abilities rival that of the great bird sculptors Comolera, Moigniez, and Pautrot. This handsome bronze is finished in a brown and dark green multi-layered patina which is uniquely that of Antoine and Alfred Barye and was most likely cast in his father's foundry during the final years of Antoine's life. We also have another cast finished in a lighter brown patina. An example of this model is illustrated in Kjellberg's Bronzes of the 19th Century on pg. 54. Price: $0.00 |
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Two Wolves: Edwin Deming.: Edwin Deming created many small sculptures of American wild life and American Indians. These small pieces were quickly modeled and captured the nature of the animals they portrayed. Wolves and Bears were among Deming's favorite subjects and he sculpted them at rest and at play. His life in the wild studying the animals brought him much insight into their nature and lives. This small bronze shows Two Wolves affectionately nuzzling each other and rubbing their bodies together. They were probably a mated pair as Wolves are very faithful to their mates.
The bronze has a rich reddish brown patina and is signed EW DEMING and dated 1910 with a copyright symbol. It is a fine example of his work and shows his affection for the animals he studied. |
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Setter and Rabbit: Jules Moigniez.: Jules Moigniez created several sculptures of hunting dogs that are among the finest of his work. He did the pair of the Setter with Rabbit and Pointer with Game Bird and they were exhibited in plaster at the Exposition Universelle in 1855 and bronze casts were shown at the Salon in 1859.
These hunting dogs pair were popular and were cast in three sizes, this single Setter and Rabbit is the middle size. The bronze is a fine cast, with the Rabbit peeking out from under a plant at the Setter standing above him, there is sharp detail in the dog's fur and the patina is a warm brown with a copper gilt that is unique to Moigniez's best bronzes. |
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Setter on Point: Pierre Jules Mene.: Pierre Jules Mene's portraits of hunting dogs are superb and this model of a Setter shows the dog frozen in the instant of having scented a bird. Mene has captured the intensity of the dog while he is on point and waiting for his master to come up. A very fine and lively subject, this bronze is quite rare and does not come on the market often. It is a good early cast with sharp detail and is finished in a rich red brown patina. |
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Raccoon and Frog: Edwin Deming.: Edwin Deming studied American wild animals in their natural habitat and created many interesting sculptures of them. He was a master at capturing them as they lived their lives in the wild. This small bronze shows a Raccoon as he is catching a Frog for his dinner. Raccoons are an unusual subject for sculpture and this is the only bronze of a Raccoon that we have seen. It is modeled in Deming's typical style, showing the form but without the extreme fine detail of the French sculptors.
A rare model, it is signed and dated 1913 on the base along with the Roman Bronze Works foundry mark. It has a rich red brown patina. |
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Running Bird: Ferdinand Pautrot.: Ferdinand Pautrot was considered to be the finest sculptor of birds during his lifetime. His portrayals of birds are so realistic that they seem to come to life. Pautrot had the uncanny ability of capturing a bird at a moment in time, frozen as if in a photograph. In this sculpture, the Bird is stopped in mid stride as he runs before taking off to fly away. The bronze has sharp detail and is finished in a light gilt patina which is typical of much of Pautrot's work.
A fine small model that does not come on the market often, this bronze would be enjoyed by any bird watcher.
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Spaniel 1st Version: Antoine Louis Barye.: Barye sculpted many small bronzes of dogs early in his career, most were hunting dogs, Spaniels, Setters, and Pointers. These were popular and many variations were produced, showing these hunting dogs pointing birds and rabbits and as single sculptures on a simple base.
This fine small bronze is the First Version of Barye's Epagneul, it is the original model done with the dog on point on a simple base with a small tree stump. The dog is frozen on point and Barye has captured the intensity of this hunting dog perfectly. The bronze is a very fine cast with sharp details in the fur and texture. A wonderful example of Barye's best work. |
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Half Blood Horse: Antoine Louis Barye.: Barye created several superb models of Horses including his famous Cheval Turc but the Half Blood Horse is one of his rarer examples. Ferdinand Barbedienne was one of Barye's most ardent supporters and the casts made by Barbedienne in his Paris foundry of Barye's bronzes are always superbly cast, detailed, and finished to the standards as high as Barye's own. This bronze of Half Blood Horse is finished in a rich brown and black patina. Barye's Half Blood Horse is illustrated in the following books: The Barye Bronzes by Stuart Pivar, pg. 220 Price: $0.00 |
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Stag (large): Antoine Louis Barye.: This fine large model of a Stag Calling was first sculpted in 1829 and was cast exclusively by the Susse Freres foundry. The proud Stag prances with his head back as he calls. Stags are often seen as a symbol of royalty and this Stag is a majestic animal. With a large rack of antlers, this Stag is in the prime of his life and shows his ability in his confident stance and manner.
The bronze is one of the larger sizes cast of this model. He is an impressive sculpture done by Susse Freres, one of the finest French foundries of the 19th century. The bronze has sharp details, you can see all the shaggy fur of the Stag, and it is finished in a rich dark brown patina. |
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Retriever: Alfred Barye.: Alfred Barye was a fine sculptor who was often overshadowed by his more famous father Antoine Louis Barye. Alfred did many fine Animalier bronzes during his career. This Retriever Dog is one of Alfred's better sculptures as he really captures the alert expression of the dog.
The Hunting Dog bronze is well cast and finished in a warm medium brown patina with good detail and texture to his fur. It is hard to tell exactly what breed he is, he could be a Setter but he looks most like a Golden Retriever. A fine 19th century bronze of a rare model. |
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Panther and Antelope: Christophe Fratin.: The Animalier sculptors specialized in portraying the relationship between predator and prey. This rare Fratin bronze of a Panther attacking an Antelope shows the big cat in an almost loving embrace with the small Antelope, capturing the moment when the prey ceases to struggle and becomes a meal for the Panther. The cycle of life in the wild depicted in sculpture. This bronze is finished in a dark green and brown patina and is finely cast with much detail. A rare model that is almost impossible to find. |
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Two Terriers: Mathilde Thomas-Soyer.: Mathilde Thomas was a talented sculptress and she created several fine dog groups. She is best know for her "Wind Hunde" or Borzoi which shows a pair of Russian Wolfhounds. But she also did this amusing group of Two Terriers struggling against a rope holding them together. This bronze depicts two Terrier Dogs which are tied together with a rope lead and struggling to get loose. The dogs are both unhappy with being tethered with each other, so they are pulling against themselves in an effort to get free.
A rare model, this bronze does not often come up for sale. It is a fine cast done by the Thiebaut Freres foundry in Paris and has their seal on the base. It has a rich brown patina and such a lively subject would be enjoyed by any dog lover. |
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Ram and Ewes: Charles Valton.: Valton was a talented sculptor who is best known for his models of big cats. His sculptures are well modeled and true to life, he captures the nature of the beasts he portrayed very accurately. This rare bronze is full of character and shows a farm yard scene of a Ram and his Ewes competing for food in a hay wagon. The Ram has his front feet up as he pulls out a mouthful of hay and the Ewes are gathered around the wagon for a meal.
This is a very rare bronze and we have never seen another cast of it. The details are very sharp, and it has a silvered patina which is reserved for the finest bronzes, usually ones that were exhibited. It is cast by the Jollet et Cie Foundry of Paris and bears their seal on the base. |
Panther and Stag: Antoine Louis Barye.: Panther Attacking a Stag is a wonderful large Barye combat group. Barye is best know for his combat groups involving the big cats. He portrays the relationship between his subjects in a most realistic manner. Ferdinand Barbedienne was one of Barye's most ardent supporters and the casts made by Barbedienne in his Paris foundry of Barye's bronzes are always superbly cast, detailed, and finished to the standards as high as Barye's. Our example of Panther Attacking a Stag is finely detailed and wonderfully finished in a multicolor black and green patina. It has an unusual architectural base which is seldom found on Barye's works. Panther Attacking a Stag was done as a pendant to Barye's Tiger attacking an antelope which is the model that is encountered more frequently. These large examples of Barye's work are becoming harder to find as more museums add them to their permanent collections. Other casts of this sculpture are in these museum collections: Price: $0.00 |
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Highland Bull: Isidore Jules Bonheur.: Isidore Bonheur was well known for his superb sculptures of cattle which are considered among his finest works. He created several different breeds of cattle and this is a rare bronze of a Scottish Highland Bull. Isidore's sister Rosa Bonheur visited the Scottish Highlands in 1855 and was strongly influenced by the animals and people that she met there. She did many sketches for later works and certainly would have shared her experiences with her brother Isidore. The Scottish Highland cattle are a distinct breed established in the mid 19th century. They are handsome animals with long horns and shaggy hair. These cattle are very hardy and used to surviving in the rugged Scottish hills,thriving in a landscape where many other bovines would starve.
This rare bronze shows a fine Highland Bull, it has sharp details and a medium brown patina. Bonheur has captured the nature of these unique cattle in this fine model. |
Greyhound and Hare: Antoine Louis Barye.: A wonderful model of a female Greyhound with a Hare she has caught, this bronze is a rare model and a fine composition. The lean structure of the Greyhound is expertly modeled and this is one of Barye's finest works. Greyhound and Hare is one of Barye's early sculptures and this cast was done by him in his own foundry sometime between 1839 and 1845 owing to the detail and quality of the cast and patina. This bronze shows the dog's collar with an open ring, something that was not done on later editions of this model. The Patina is a rich dark brown with green highlights, this is indicative of the type of finish applied by Barye in his foundry. This Model is illustrated in the book The Barye Bronzes A Catalogue Raisonne by Stuart Pivar (pg. 123) and in Antoine Louis Barye Sculptor of Romantic Realism by Glenn Benge (illustration 73), and that cast is in the Walters Museum in Baltimore, MD. Price: $0.00 |
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Mare and Foal: Pierre Lenordez.: Pierre Lenordez created portraits of many of the famous Thoroughbred race horses of the mid 19th century and was well know for these works. He also sculpted other equine subjects, including work horses and brood mares. This bronze is a large well modeled group of a Mare with her Foal. The Mare stands quietly while the young horse nuzzles her neck. The subject of a Mare with her Foal has been done by other artists but few rival Lenordez's talent at capturing horses.
A fine original 19th century bronze with a warm brown patina, this piece would be enjoyed by any horse lover. |
Bull Charging: Isidore Jules Bonheur.: This large finely detailed and finished bronze of the Charging Bull is the pendant to the Bellowing Bull. Isidore Bonheur is best known for his domestic cattle and bulls and this large Charging Bull was cast by his brother-in-law Hippolyte Peyrol and marked with the Peyrol foundry stamp. This cast of the Charging Bull is also stamped Tiffany & Co. showing that it was sold by this famous New York City retailer in the late 19th century. This Bull is finished in a beautiful deep brown patina and has good details in the cast showing the muscles and hide. It is rare to find a pair of such large bronzes and these large impressive Bulls would be the focal point of any room. These Bulls were exhibited by Isidore Bonheur at the 1865 Paris Salon. They were very well accepted at this showing and Sultan Abdul-Aziz commissioned Bonheur to do them in a monumental size for his Palace in Constantinople. Another pair of Bulls were purchased by Samuel Pomeroy Colt for the entrance to his Bristol estate in Rhode Island which is now Colt State Park. These famous bronze sculptures are illustrated in the following books: Animals in Bronze by Christopher Payne pg. 175 These bulls are represented in the collections of most major museums of the world |
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Wolfhound: Maximilien-Louis Fiot.: Fiot did a number of dog sculptures in the early 1900s and focused on the popular breeds at the time. This bronze is a fine model of a reclining Wolfhound. It could be a type of French sheepdog like a Briard or a Beauceron, but most references call this dog a Wolfhound.
The Wolfhound is lying down, relaxed but alert, perhaps waiting for his master. This is a lost wax cast by Susse Freres foundry with their seal and a rich dark brown patina. |
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Greyhound Tom: Antoine Louis Barye.: The Greyhound is one of the most ancient and regal of all dog breeds. They are graceful dogs, and their lean lines make them excellent subjects for art. These sight hounds are often depicted in sculpture over the years, and their form has changed very little over time. Barye's sculpture "Tom" is a superb example of a Greyhound at rest. This model is also interesting because it is a portrait of Barye's own dog named Tom, and it is the only known sculpture of one of Barye's own pets.. The Greyhound Tom is lying down almost sphinxlike, one can see all the muscle and bone structure, it is an incredibly powerful piece. The dog is quietly resting yet you can sense the alertness, he is ready to leap up and run at a moments notice.
Barye first sculpted Tom in 1868 and not many of this fine model were cast. It is certainly one of his finest works. The bronze is finished with a rich brown patina for which many of Barye's best bronzes are known for. Tom is mounted on the original rouge marble base which compliments the bronze very nicely. This model is illustrated in Payne's book Animals in Bronze on page 205.
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Bull Bellowing: Isidore Jules Bonheur.: This large finely detailed and finished bronze of the Bellowing Bull is the pendant to the Charging Bull. Isidore Bonheur is best known for his domestic cattle and bulls and this pair of large powerful Bulls are some of his best and most famous works. The Bellowing Bull is finished in a beautiful rich deep brown patina and has sharp cast details showing the muscles and hide. It is rare to find a matching pair of bronzes and these large impressive Bulls would be the focal point of any room. These Bulls were first exhibited by Isidore Bonheur at the 1865 Paris Salon. They were very well accepted at this showing and Sultan Abdul-Aziz commissioned Bonheur to do them in a monumental size for his Palace in Constantinople. Another pair of Bulls were purchased by Samuel Pomeroy Colt for the entrance to his Bristol estate in Rhode Island which is now Colt State Park. These famous bronze sculptures are illustrated in the following books: Animals in Bronze by Christopher Payne pg. 175 These bulls are represented in the collections of most major museums of the world |
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Panther Surprising a Civet Cat: Antoine Louis Barye.: Barye's sculptures of big cats and their prey are among his best and most popular works. Here is a rare small bronze of a Panther Surprising a Civet Cat which was first modeled in the late 1850s. The Panther had pinned the Civet Cat down with his paw as the Civet twists back to try to defend itself. It is the timeless story of the smaller predator captured by the larger predator showing nature in the wild. Like all of Barye's sculptures, the Panther is well muscled and powerful as he crushes the Civet Cat.
A rare model that does not often come up for sale, this cast dates from about 1870. The bronze has a rich reddish brown patina. This model is illustrated in Payne's book Animals in Bronze on page 149. |
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1st prize Bull: Isidore Jules Bonheur.: This large First Prize Bull Agricultural award trophy was modeled by Isidore Bonheur and cast in bronze by the Christofle Silver Co. of Paris. The bronze Bull is silver plated with an extremely thick layer of silver, yet you can see all the hair details on the Bull, it is one of the most detailed Bonheur bronzes that we have seen over the years. |
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Race Horse Niger: Alfred Dubucand.: This is a magnificent portrait sculpture of a Race Horse stallion named Niger. Dubucand sculpted several horse portraits and this stallion Niger is one of his finest models. The detail captured by the artist in this miniature bronze of a beautiful stallion is breathtaking. The bronze is titled "NIGER Etalon de 1/2 Sang Au Haras du Pin" on the base as well as being signed by the artist. The stallion Niger was from the French stud farm Haras du Pin which was founded in 1715 by Louis XIV and often refered to as the Versailles for Horses. This bronze makes a pair with Dubucand's other Race Horse stallion Kaolin, both models were also done in two larger sizes.
If you were to only have one example of this superb 19th century French sculptor you could do no better than this model. It is expertly cast and finished in a warm brown patina. |
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Pointer with Bird: Alfred Barye.: A rare model of a seated Pointer carrying a Pheasant by Barye's son. Alfred Barye was a talented sculptor and this is a finely crafted and cast bronze of a hunting dog retrieving game. Most bronzes of dogs are of male dog but this one is a female dog. Alfred Barye also did a female bulldog with rats she had killed. This bronze is finished with a rich red brown patina. |
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Setter: Paul Edouard Delabrierre.: Hunting dogs were very popular in the 19th century and the Animalier sculptors created many models and Setters, Pointers, Spaniels, Retrievers, and hounds. These fine working dogs were important in their roles to help hunters find game and to retrieve it. Delabrierre created several different sculptures of hunting dogs and his work is always well modeled and detailed. Here is a sturdy well muscled Setter or maybe a Retriever standing at attention with his head and tail up. A very nice portrait of a hunting dog, this sculpture is made of regule or white bronze, which is a zinc alloy often used instead of the more expensive bronze in casting sculptures.
This handsome dog has a red brown patina with the base finished in a darker brown for contrast. A fine small sculpture done in the 1870s and comparable in cast quality to a bronze cast but it is lighter in weight. Regule sculptures are quite rare now but they are of high quality and represent an important type of 19th century casting that is now lost. |
Stag: Isidore Jules Bonheur.: This large finely detailed and finished bronze of a Fallow Stag calling is a superb example of Isidore Bonheur's talent at creating animals of the wild. Although he is known mostly for his domestic cattle and sheep, his ability to capture the wild animals is well demonstrated by this bronze sculpture cast by his brother-in-law Hippolyte Peyrol and marked with the Peyrol foundry stamp. It is finished in a beautiful rich brown patina. |
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Setter Diane: Pierre Jules Mene.: Mene did some of his best sculptures of hunting dogs in the mid 19th century and this is a fine portrait of a female Setter dog named Diane. She is shown on the alert, frozen in motion as if she has just smelled a game bird. Her head is turned, her legs are stiff, she is stopped by the scent. Unfortunately this model has been copied often over the past 150 years and many of these copies are a caricature of the original. The poor dog's tail has been changed, and these fakes show such a lack of detail that the dog looks like a short haired Pointer and not a long haired Setter.
One can easily see the difference between the copies and the original casts. Our bronze was cast by Mene himself in his own foundry, it shows his attention to detail and a good rich dark brown patina. Diane is a good example of a working field dog doing her job, finding game birds.
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Hunting Dog and Game: Emile Boyer.: This is a very detailed sculpture of a proud hunting dog guarding his master's game bag, gun, and hare. Boyer is best known as a founder, he is known to have cast bronzes for Paul Gayrard as well as other 19th century sculptors and actual sculptures by this artist are extremely rare. This bronze is bolted on to a 3/4" thick contemporary wood base. Price: $0.00 |
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Goat and Kid: Pierre Jules Mene.: Pierre Jules Mene was one of the leading Animalier sculptors of the 19th century, rivaling Antoine Louis Barye in his output of sculpture. Mene was best known for this domestic animals, dogs, horses, cattle, sheep, chickens, and these consist of the bulk of his work. His attention to detail and to realism is unparalleled. Mene also ran his own foundry, or atelier, and thus had strict control of the casting of his bronzes. His son in law Auguste Cain was the head of the foundry, he was also a fine sculptor and the bronzes produced by them are of superb quality in both technique and patina. This model of a Nanny Goat with Her Kid shows all of Mene’s talent in creating a portrait of two animals, a mother and her young one. The Nanny Goat is standing up on a stump with one front leg raised and looking down at her little Kid. The young Goat looks up at her and one would almost expect them to break into a playful frolic together. A charming model, the Nanny Goat and Her Kid was popular and was cast by Mene during his lifetime, and these Mene atelier casts are rare. After his death it was cast by Barbedienne who purchased the rights to the model. This sculpture was also cast in iron by the Coalbrookdale foundry in England in the mid 19th century.
This fine bronze was cast by Mene’s own foundry in the 1850s, and it is a superb cast with sharp details in the features and fur of the Goats. It has a rich dark brown patina which shows the two Goats well. A lively group, it would be a nice addition to any collection or home. This model is illustrated in Payne's book Animals in Bronze on page 266. |
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Ewe Grazing: Rosa Bonheur.: Rosa Bonheur sculpted only 7 bronze subjects that were exhibited in her lifetime. She ceased sculpture in mid 1850's because she did not want to compete against her beloved brother Isidore at the Paris Salons. The Mouton Broutant or Shorn Grazing Ewe is the first sculpture that Rosa Bonheur exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1842. The Grazing Ewe is a wonderful model showing a peaceful Sheep as she eats grass in the pasture. The texture of her wool is so realistic that one expects it to feel soft, which shows the talent of Rosa Bonheur as a sculptor as this model rivals any of her brother's subjects. The patina is a rich deep brown which compliments this bronze very well. This bronze is a fine early cast by Peyrol and does not have their foundry stamp. This is not unusual, the early casts were not always stamped byt the foundry. It is constructed in the manner that was used by Hippolyte Peyrol very early in their foundry operation. Another bronze of this subject is on permanent display at the Museum of Bordeaux, France. Mouton Broutant is illustrated in the following books:
Les Animaliers by Jane Horswell, pg. 177. |
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Panther of India FB: Antoine Louis Barye.: The Panther of India is one of Barye's best known sculptures. Ferdinand Barbedienne the famous foundry owner admired Barye greatly and cast Barye's sculptures for several years using the artist's original master models. Barbedienne took great care to produce casts of the same high standards of Barye himself and that he felt would keep Barye's art in the hearts and minds of all Frenchmen. This cast was done by the Barbedienne foundry, it has their foundry mark and is a sand cast bronze of excellent quality with sharp detail, it is finished in a dark brown patina. The Panther of India is mounted on the original 3/4 inch thick dark green marble base. Please be aware that there are many forgeries of the Panther of India on the market and some bear the Barbedienne mark but they are not genuine Barbedienne casts. Barye’s Panther of India is a stately beast and is shown in repose relaxing like a house cat. His front paw is turned and he has a regal look, yet there is tension shown in the angle of his tail. Like any cat, he is relaxed yet ready for action at any time. The Panther of India is a companion piece to the Panther of Tunis, they were made as pendants and also work well as single sculptures. The Panther of India is illustrated in the following books: Les Animaliers by Jane Horswell, pg. 63. Price: $0.00 |
Borzoi Wolfhound Dog: Marcel Debut.: The son of the famous French 19th century sculptor Didier Debut. Marcel studied under Henri Chapu at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. He exhibited at the Paris Salon from 1883 until the outbreak of the First World War. Though he is best known for his sculptures of people this model of a Borzoi (Russian Wolfhound) or Scottish Deerhound is one of his better known works. Although this sculpture was modeled during the romantic period it shows the style of the impressionistic form of art. The dog is more like those done by Rembrandt Bugatti who sculpted his animals a decade later. This large impressive bronze is finished in a rich dark green, black, and brown patina. It is pictured in the book Les Animaliers by Jane Horswell on pg. 291 Price: $0.00 |
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Doe Reclining: Antoine Louis Barye.: Barye created many sculptures of Deer over his lifetime. These were early models from the 1830s and 1840s done at the beginning of his career and showed Stags, Does, and Fawns in various poses and groups. The model of the Doe Reclining dates from 1840. This Doe was also used in the group Family of Deer which includes a Stag, a Doe, and a Fawn. The Doe Reclining is the pendant or pair to the Fawn Sleeping, they face each other with matching simple bronze bases.
Barye captures the peaceful nature of a female Deer as she rests. This popular model was cast for some years, yet it is not easy to find a cast of it for sale. Our bronze is finished in a rich red brown patina. |
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Pheasant Match Safe: Auguste Cain.: Cain did many fine sculptures of game birds and they were exceptionally well modeled and detailed. Here he shows a cock pheasant with his hen sitting down beside some foliage which is made to be a match holder. Cain did several decorative pieces such as candlesticks, inkwells, boxes and matchsafes but they are not often found today. This rare bronze is finished with a rich dark brown, black and green patina and is a fine example of Cain's work. |
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Horse Felix: Christophe Fratin.: Christophe Fratin was known for his Animalier sculpture and this fine large bronze of a Stallion named FELIX is one of his best works. The Stallion is posed at rest on a simple flat sided base which was used in Fratin's earlier sculptures. He is well modeled in a proud stance with his ears up as he looks around.
An impressive large bronze of a handsome Stallion which is probably a Thoroughbred or Arab horse. This bronze has a rich dark brown patina and has his name "FELIX" stamped on the side of the base. |
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Pigeons: Pierre Jules Mene.: This small bronze of Two Pigeons is taken from the larger group of a Griffon Dog watching Pigeons and it is a rare model. Mene was a master at creating large groups and then using parts of them as separate sculptures.
Set on a round base, the model of the Two Pigeons works very well on it's own, the male Pigeon watches over his mate while she pecks for food on the base. The bronze has good details and is finished in a rich brown patina, it is signed P.J.MENE. |
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Steeplechase: John Skeaping.: John Skeaping was a fine English sculptor who is best known for his many equestrian bronzes. He did portraits in the 1970s of famous race horses of the day, including Mill Reef, Secretariat, Hyperion, Brigadier Gerard, and others. This fine bronze shows a Steeplechaser going over a jump, it is full of action. The rider shows good form and the horse has cleared the jump and is headed for the next one.
A rare model, this is cast number 1 of only 5 bronzes made, it has good details and a rich dark brown patina. A wonderful subject not often found in sculpture done by a master sculptor. |
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Berber Soldier: Emmanuel Fremiet.: Along with his fine small Animalier works, Fremiet did several fine sculptures of soldiers and military figures. This bronze shows a French Zouave soldier from about 1850. The French Zouaves were first recruited from a Berber tribe in north Africa in 1831 as an elite corps. They were known for their distinctive and colorful dress with the red fez, braided blue jackets and loose red trousers.
Fremiet has captured all the detail in those clothes as he portrays a Zouave soldier sitting at watch with his rifle, pack, and gear. This rare bronze has a rich dark brown patina and was cast in Fremiet's own foundry. |
Greyhound: Maximilien-Louis Fiot.: Fiot was a very talented sculptor and created several models of dogs, horses, and wild animals. His style is realistic yet simple with clean lines verging on the Deco style. Here is a superb portrait of a Greyhound dog resting after a hard run. Greyhounds are the fastest dogs and these powerful dogs are often shown in art due to their athletic build. The Greyhound is stretched out with his mouth open as he pants. A wonderful sculpture of a racing Greyhound at rest, this is a rare model. It is a large bronze measuring almost two feet in length, and it is beautifully modeled. This fine sculpture is finished in a multi colored black, brown, and green patina, it is mounted on the original black slate base.
This large bronze Greyhound is priced very reasonably. A Foit bronze in a similar size of Panthers was sold at Christies NY in June 2011 for $17,500.00 USD and our Greyhound is much less. |
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Pair of Song Birds: Ferdinand Pautrot.: Pautrot again shows his mastery at portraying small wild birds in their daily lives. Here we have a fine and rare pair of small Song Birds frolicking up and down some branches as they interact with each other. Two Song Birds on one branch squawk to each other, while a third small Bird hangs from another branch watching them. The details are finely cast and chassed, and show each feather, beak and bright little eye of these lively aviian subjects.
It is quite rare to find a matched pair of bronzes like these that have been together for over 150 years. Each bronze has a warm golden patina with touches of green, and they make a fine and rare group. |
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Cockatoo: Alfred Dubucand.: Dubucand, along with Pautrot and Moigniez, created some fine models of birds during his career. This bronze is of a Cockatoo bird, shown as he preens his feathers. Cockatoos are members of the parrot family and are originally from Australia and the islands nearby. They are fairly large birds with a feathered crest on their heads and a strong beak. Cockatoos are often kept as pets and these intelligent birds have long lives and bond closely with their people. The 1970s TV police show Baretta featured Fred the Cockatoo as the main character's pet, and Cockatoos have been used as mascots for businesses and featured in artwork for many years.
This fine bronze is a rare model not often found on the market. The large bird reaches back to clean his feathers as he rests on a branch. The bronze has a warm gold gilt patina with sharp details in the feathers and branch he is perched on. A wonderful subject that will not make any noise, unlike a live Cockatoo! |
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Greyhound: Emmanuel Fremiet.: Fremiet was one of the best of the Animalier sculptors and created many fine models of dogs, cats, horses, and other animals in his early career. He excels at showing the nature of the animal and his works are highly prized today. This bronze shows a fine model of a standing Greyhound dog on the alert. Fremiet did a rare pair of Greyhounds standing on a base and this is one of the dogs from that group.
The Greyhound is a fine cast by the famous Barbedienne Foundry who also cast many works by Barye and other sculptors. The bronze has sharp details and a warm dark brown patina. A cast showing the two Greyhounds is illustrated in Payne's book Animals in Bronze on page 200.
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Tiger Walking: Christophe Fratin.: Tigre Marchant was exhibited in this large size by Fratin at the 1858 Paris Salon and is considered by many scholars as one of his rarest and finest works. The model of the walking Tiger is illustrated on pg. 137 (photo C35) of Animals in Bronze by Christopher Payne and on pg. 323 of Bronzes of the 19th Century by Pierre Kjellberg. At almost 2 feet in length this is a very large, impressive, sculpture. This cast is extremely detailed and superbly finished with a black patina. Fratin is ranked as one of the finer Animalier sculptors and this model has the same power and presence as similar subjects modeled by Antoine Louis Barye. |
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Fawn Sleeping: Antoine Louis Barye.: Barye created many sculptures of Deer over his lifetime. These were early models from the 1830s and 1840s done at the beginning of his career and showed Stags, Does, and Fawns in various poses and groups. The model of the Sleeping Fawn dates from 1840. This Fawn was also used in the group Family of Deer which includes a Stag and a Doe, and it was used in the group of the Stag Rubbing his Antlers on a Tree done in 1857.
Barye captures the peaceful nature of a young Deer as it sleeps. This popular model was cast for some years, yet it is not easy to find a cast of it for sale. Our bronze is finished in a rich dark brown patina and is mounted on the original black veined marble base. |
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Hens and Mouse (silvered): Emmanuel Fremiet.: Fremiet's early work centered on domestic animals and he was a master at portraying dogs, cats, horses, chickens, and others. This rare early bronze shows a barn yard Hen that has caught a Mouse and now is being chased by another hen trying to take the dead rodent away. Surprisingly, chickens will often catch and kill mice and small rats and then even eat them. But it is unusual to find a sculpture depicting such an act. This bronze has sharp detail and a silvered patina, it is stamped 4 indicating it is an early cast.
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Girl La Frileuse: Malvina Hoffman.: Malvina Hoffman moved to Paris France in 1910 to study sculpture with Auguste Rodin. One of her earliest works done under Rodin’s guidence is this model of a young Girl titled “La Frileuse” (The Shiver). The bronze shows a young Girl as she stands nude with her head bowed and her arms held close to her, she is very cold, hence the title of “The Shiver”. Along with Russian Dancers and Anna Pavlova, La Frileuse was one of her best known works and was cast in three sizes, the largest at 39 inches tall is designed as a garden fountain, and the 18 inch version and the 10 inch tall Girl are more for home decoration. Another cast of La Frileuse in this size is in the collection of the Vero Beach Museum of Fine Art in Vero Beach, Florida.
This bronze was cast by the Roman Bronze Works Foundry in New York and has a rich dark brown patina. A lovely model by one of American's finest sculptors.
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Goat: Christophe Fratin.: Very early in his sculpture career Christophe Fratin modeled and had cast small bronzes of domestic animals. These "barn yard" sculptures consisted of cattle, pigs, and goats, as well as other farm animals that were a part of every day life in the early 19th century. These small models are quite rare today.
This very early cabinet bronze of a Goat is expertly modeled and cast. The bronze miniature which is smaller than 3 inches in height shows Fratin to the best of his abilities. He has captured the shaggy fur and sharp hooves perfectly. It is finished in a deep brown patina. |
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King Charles Spaniels: Antoine Louis Barye.: Although Barye is best known for his bronzes of big cats and horses, he did several fine sculptures of dogs. Here is an early model first created in the 1830s when Barye was studying under the goldsmith Fauconnier. The bronze shows two pet King Charles Spaniel dogs resting contentedly on a cushion. The model is a departure from the more usual hunting dogs and may have been a commission from a wealthy patron.
This rare model is shown in all the standard reference books on Barye, but casts of it are not often on the market. The bronze has a dark brown patina with good detail. A cast of this model is illustrated in Payne's book Animals in Bronze on page 227. |
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Setter and Pointer miniature: Pierre Jules Mene.: Mene often adapted his larger works into small miniature versions. Here is a miniature of his Chasse a la Perdrix with a Setter and a Pointer on point. The bronze is finely detailed with a dark brown black patina. It was cast by Mene in his own foundry and shows fine detail. A rare model not often found, as many of these miniature were broken and discarded over the years. |
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Stag (small): Antoine Louis Barye.: Barye's Cerf was first sculpted in 1829 and was edited exclusively by the Susse Freres foundry in several sizes, of which this is the smallest size. It is a well detailed bronze which loses none of the majesty of the proud Stag. It is finished in a dark green and black patina. |
Hen and Chicks: Emmanuel Fremiet.: Fremiet's earliest sculptural works were of small animals. This little bronze group of Chickens has 16 baby Chicks protected by the Hen. The mother Hen spreads her wings over her brood as heads pop out everywhere. It is a lovely small cabinet bronze with a rich dark brown patina in excellent condition. The museum in Gueret France has a cast of this model in their permanent collection of 19th century French bronzes. |
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Stretching Dog: Emmanuel Fremiet.: Fremiet began sculpting small models of domestic animals in the 1840s and later created much larger works and several monuments. This model of a Stretching Dog is one of his earliest sculptures. It was a popular bronze and quite a few were cast in the early to mid 19th century. The dog is shown as he wakes up and stretches out his rear legs and turns his head to stretch his neck. Fremiet was superb at capturing such simple moments in the life of a pet dog or cat. It is hard to tell exactly what breed of dog he is, perhaps a Bull terrier, Greyhound or lurcher. A fine small cabinet bronze, this dog is finished in a rich brown patina, he is signed and has the punch numbers "449" on the base, showing this is an early cast done by Charles More, who cast many of Fremiet's small animals. This bronze is illustrated in the following books: Animals in Bronze by Christopher Payne, pg. 200
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Mare and Dog: Pierre Jules Mene.: Mene's sculpture of a Jument Jouant avec un Chien or a Mare Playing with a Dog was exhibited at the Salon in 1859. It is number 34 in Mene's catalog and is also known as "The Good Companions". Mene created a sensitive portrait of the Mare nuzzling the small terrier, this is one of Mene's best works. The bronze was cast in Mene's own foundry and is well detailed with a mid brown patina.
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Cat Eating: Emmanuel Fremiet.: Fremiet excelled in showing animals as they lived and in this sculpture he depicts a Cat eating. She is crouched down with her head turned as she chews her meal. This bronze is well detailed and shows Fremiet’s talent of creating realistic Animalier works on a par with Barye’s sculptures but often with a less violent theme. In the 1840s Fremiet created several small sculptures of cats and dogs and these are some of his best works. They are sensitive models of domestic pets and are treasured by collectors. This bronze has a rich dark patina and is cast in the 1840s by Fremiet himself or under his direct supervision, it shows high quality of workmanship and finish. It has a period walnut wood base. This sculpture is illustrated in the following books: Les Animaliers by Jane Horswell pg. 196. |
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Greyhound: Pierre Jules Mene.: Mene exhibited the Levrier Espagnol or Spanish Greyhound in 1845 at the Salon. This sculpture is an excellent portrait of a lean racing Greyhound, it was a popular model and was edited in 3 sizes, this is the largest. It was also done with a hare in the dog's mouth. This bronze has the flat sided base used by Mene in the 1840s so it is one of the earliest casts from Mene's own foundry. It is a sharp cast with a rich red brown patina. |
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Lion Cub: Isidore Jules Bonheur.: Here is a wonderful little bronze of a Lion Cub by Isidore Bonheur. While he was better known for his models of domestic animals but he also created some fine sculptures of wildlife too. The Lion Cub is running along, he is in a hurry to go somewhere. This Cub was originally designed as part of the larger sculpture Bonheur did of the Lioness and Cubs. The Lion Cub on his own is a fine model and shows Bonheur's talent.
A rare bronze that does not come up on the market often, it is a good sharp cast with a warm brown patina. |
Borzoi and Whippet: Georges Gardet.: It is easy to see the influence of Emmanuel Fremiet, Gardet's teacher in many of his early works. This portrait of two sight hounds is a very sensitive bronze. You can feel the tranquility and peace in this sculpture. Unlike the violent works of other artist, Gardet presents the world through different eyes. This large bronze was cast by Ferdinand Barbedienne in his foundry and is finished in a rich brown patina. This sculpture is illustrated in the following books: Les Animaliers by Jane Horswell, pg. 266 |
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Persian Stallion (small): Jules Moigniez.: Jules Moigniez was best known for his birds and hunting dogs but this model of a Persian or Arabian Stallion is superb and rivals any of his best feathered subjects. The Persian Stallion was cast in three sizes, this is the smaller size.
The Stallion is standing on a naturalistic base with foliage and a tree trunk, his foreleg is raised and his head is up with his mouth open as he neighs. It is a very fine early cast done in Moigniez's own foundry and has a rich dark brown patina. |
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Deerhound : Paul Gayrard .: Gayrard's Reclining Deerhound is probably one of the best known dog sculptures in the world. A fine model in its own right, the Deerhound was first sculpted in 1848. Unfortunately this fine sculpture has been copied unmercifully for many years, even to the point where Gayrard's name has been removed and other names, such as Deva and Mene have been added to these copies. The copies are not always done in bronze, many are cold cast resin plastic, iron, and white metal. So this is a model to be careful with.
Our bronze of the Deerhound dates from the mid 19th century, it is a superbly detailed original bronze cast with a fine silvered patina. The sliver patina enhances the shaggy fur of the Deerhound and compliments this model nicely, It is mounted on the original fancy beveled marble base which is 7.5 inches long by 4.75 inches wide. A beautiful portrait of a Deerhound at rest.
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Panther Plaque: Antoine Louis Barye.: Along with his sculptures, Barye did several bas relief plaques. The Panther Plaques are the best known and this is a fine example cast by the Eck & Durand Foundry in the mid 19th century. This model is illustrated in Payne's book Animals in Bronze on page 139. |
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Pheasant Plaque: Auguste Cain.: Auguste Cain was a versatile sculptor that produced decorative objects including plaques, candlesticks, and trays along with his sculptures. Bas relief plaques were quite popular in the 19th century and were used as wall hangings and as decorations on clocks and furniture.
This fine 19th century bronze plaque shows a pair of Pheasants as they forage in the woods. It is mounted in the original wooden frame which is 2 inches wide, and the total framed size is 12 1/4" by 7 5/8" (31 cm by 19.3 cm). Game Birds have been shown in art of hundreds of years and this is a handsome plaque that would look well in any home. |
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Monkey Jockey: Paul Gayrard .: In the middle of the 19th century and a full 15 years before Darwin's published work Origin of Species there was a surge in bronze sculptures of animals doing human tasks. Christophe Fratin created his humanized Bears being lamp lighters, dentists, and even reading books. Paul Gayrard also created his famous Monkey Steeple Chase bronze in 1846 which showed a group of four Horses jumping with Monkey Jockeys on their backs. The group is quite rare as are the single bronzes done from the Steeple Chase. The novelty of humanized animals soon wore off and these very unusual and rare bronze subjects are almost impossible to locate today. When Darwin's work came out in 1859 many looked upon these humorous bronzes in a different light and many were discarded.
We are offering two from the group of the Monkey Steeple Chase grouping from Gayrard's original edition done in the 1840's. The Monkey Jockey riding a Horse jumping and a Monkey Jockey on a rearing Horse surprised by a King Charles Spaniel dog. Each is signed and marked Boyer for the foundry that cast them, they are sold as a PAIR only and have been together since they were cast in the mid 19th century. |
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Quail Plaque: Auguste Cain.: Game birds of all types were very popular in the mid 19th century and were often depicted in art. There are many paintings of dead game still lives and this bronze is a similar subject as it shows a brace of Quail hanging.
The bronze is very well detailed with a rich dark brown patina, and the relief of the Quail is 1 5/8" in depth. An unusual hunting still life and a rare model for Cain. This large plaque was cast in the mid 1800s in Mene's foundry when Cain was running the foundry and it is a fine 19th century cast. |
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Monkey Jockey and Dog: Paul Gayrard .: In the middle of the 19th century and a full 15 years before Darwin's published work Origin of Species there was a surge in bronze sculptures of animals doing human tasks. Christophe Fratin created his humanized Bears being lamp lighters, dentists, and even reading books. Paul Gayrard also created his famous Monkey Steeple Chase bronze in 1846 which showed a group of four Horses jumping with Monkey Jockeys on their backs. The group is quite rare as are the single bronzes done from the Steeple Chase. The novelty of humanized animals soon wore off and these very unusual and rare bronze subjects are almost impossible to locate today. When Darwin's work came out in 1859 many looked upon these humorous bronzes in a different light and many were discarded.
We are offering two from the group of the Monkey Steeple Chase grouping from Gayrard's original edition done in the 1840's. The Monkey Jockey riding a Horse jumping and a Monkey Jockey on a rearing Horse surprised by a King Charles Spaniel dog. Each is signed and marked Boyer for the foundry that cast them, they are sold as a PAIR only and have been together since they were cast in the mid 19th century. A cast of the Monkey Jockey with Dog is illustrated in Payne's book Animals in Bronze on page 66. |
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Three Hounds Plaque: Alexander Pope.: Alexander Pope (1849-1924) was best known as an animal painter but he also worked in sculpture and relief plaques. He did wood carvings of game birds and fish, plus a few of horses and dogs. His sculptures are very rare since they date from early in his career, after about 1900 he turned almost exclusively to painting. This is a fine and rare large plaque of three Hounds in high relief. The dogs are at rest and tethered together, the details are very sharp and the depth of the plaque is 2 1/4" (5.5 cm) deep. The plaque is made of a copper electrotype, this technique allows for finer detail in the work.
The Hounds plaque has its original wooden frame and is in excellent condition. A rare work by a famous American artist who was also a sportsman and spent much time in the field with dogs and horses. |
Cowboy on Horse: Friedrich Gornik.: Friedrich Gornik was born in Austria in the later part of the 19th century. He studied sculpture at the Vienna School of Arts and Crafts. His first works were small models of animals done for the many porcelain factories in Austria. After several years working for the porcelain manufactures, he started having his works cast in bronze. His sculptures in bronze include dogs and farm animals, and several large models of mounted horsemen. He also created small decorative items like desk sets, inkwells, and bell pushes.
Like Carl Kauba, Gornik was fascinated by the American West with its Indians and Cowboys. This figure of a Cowboy on his horse is one of his early works and reflects Gornik's interest in American Western folklore. The action is well captured as the Cowboy rides with his lasso twirling above his head. It was cast by the Arthur Rubenstein foundry of Vienna and has that foundries mark on the base. The bronze has a dark brown patina and is mounted on the original 1 1/8" thick green marble base. |
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Woman Holding Small Dog: Emmanuel Fremiet.: This model which is titled "Damoiselle" was exhibited by Fremiet at the 1873 Paris Salon. It was cast by the artist in his own foundry and bears the punch number 1. The detail in the womans clothing is crisp right down to the buckles on her shoes. The flowing of her dress as she walks is captured flawlessly by the artist. This is a large extremely detailed portrait figure. It is finished in a brown patina and mounted on a red marble base. Price: $0.00 |
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Ram and Ewe: Isidore Jules Bonheur.: Along with Isidore Bonheur's fine sculptures of Bulls and Horses, he also did a few models of Sheep. This is a rare large bronze of a Merino Ram and Ewe together. Both sheep were done as separate sculptures but the composition is much better with them together. Merino sheep were popular in the 19th century and were the primary wool producing breed. Bonheur captured the folds of wool with expert detail, and shows the Ewe as she leans affectionately against the Ram.
The bronze has a warm medium brown patina, the cast is sharp and detailed. This rare model does not often come on the market. |
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Setter with Game Bird: Ferdinand Pautrot.: While Pautrot excelled at sculpting birds, he also did fine models of hunting dogs and their quarry. This lively bronze shows a Setter or other hunting dog as he flushes a Game Bird. The dog has stopped in surprise as the bird flies out in front of him. Hunting dogs were popular subjects for art in the 19th century and were often shown in paintings and sculpture. The dog breeds looked somewhat different back then so it is hard to tell if this is a Setter, Spaniel, or a Retriever.
A handsome bronze, this rare model captures a moment in time with the dog and bird frozen as if captured by a camera. A rare model with a warm reddish brown patina, it is signed and marked "BEAUX ARTS" on the base. |
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Ram Sleeping: Rosa Bonheur.: Rosa Bonheur sculpted only 7 bronze subjects that were exhibited in her lifetime. She ceased doing sculpture in 1853 because she did not want to compete against her beloved brother Isadore at the Paris Salons. This bronze is an early cast by Peyrol and does not have their foundry stamp. It is constructed in the manner that was used by Hippolyte Peyrol very early in their foundry operation. The Sleeping Ram is one of the most rare of Rosa Bonheur's bronze sculptures and is almost never seen outside of museum collections. It is finely detailed and is finished in a rich dark brown patina. This bronze is illustrated in the following books: The Animaliers by James MacKay, pg. 49 |
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Bull Running: Isidore Jules Bonheur.: Isidore Bonheur was one of the best of the Animalier sculptors and excelled at portraying horses and cattle. His Le Grand Jockey is one of the finest sculptures ever done of a Race Horse with his Jockey, and his Bulls and Cows are also superb. Many of his models of Bulls were made into agricultural awards and were treasured by their recipients.
This fine large bronze shows a powerful Bull in full stride with his head down. Bonheur has captured the nature of this strong and muscular Bull as he charges. A fine model not often offered for sale, this is one of Isidore Bonheur’s best sculptures. The bronze has an oval base and is finished with a dark brown patina. |
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Setter carrying a Pheasant: Jules Moigniez.: Moigniez was well known for his birds but he also did several fine modles of hunting dogs. This sculpture shows a Setter as he retrieves a Pheasant for the hunter in his soft mouth. Moigniez also did a much larger bronze of a Setter carrying a Pheasant, but this is a completely different subject. The Setter carefully holds the Pheasant, ready to bring the game bird back to his master. Moigniez has captured the soft fur and plumed tail of this favorite hunting dog with accuracy.
The sculpture is made of Regule which is a zinc alloy often used in the mid 19th century for casting sculptures. Usually one finds the works of Comolera, Gayrard, and Arson done in Regule or white bronze, and it is rare to see a sculpture by Moigniez cast in this metal. Bronze metal was quite expensive in the 19th century and many sculptors had their works cast in Regule due to the high cost of bronze metal. |
Hound and Turtle: Henri Alfred Jacquemart.: Jacquemart is best know for the many monuments he was commissioned to execute in France. Early in his career he sculpted a few models of animals. Among his best known and one of his finer small bronze works is the Hound looking at a Tortoise. This bronze was cast by the Delafontaine Foundry in Paris and stamped A*D on the base, the mark for this foundry. A popular bronze which does not often come up for sale. The Hound with his long ears, studies the slow moving Tortoise walking in front of him. The bronze is well cast with a rich dark brown patina.
This bronze is illustrated in Animals in Bronze by Christopher Payne on pg. 220. and is also on the reverse side of the dust jacket. |
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Goats: Christophe Fratin.: Fratin was a versatile sculptor who created many sculptures of both wild and domestic animals including a few of goats. His works are well modeled with a rough texture that is unique to his style. This amusing group shows a Billy Goat cavorting around a Nanny Goat that is lying down. It is a rare model with much detail in the shaggy fur of the Goats, and it has a rich dark green and black patina. This sculpture is illustrated in the following books: i>Les Animaliers by Jane Horswell, pg. 88. Price: $0.00 |
Borzoi: Hugo Franz Kirsch.: Hugo Franz Kirsch was born in Hainsdorf, Germany in 1873. Little is know or has been written about this competent German artist. Kirsch was employed by the Rosenthal porcelain company where he modeled animals that were cast by them. Very little of the work that he produced for Rosenthal was signed by him. This impressive, large bronze of two Borzoi dogs is one of only a few works done in bronze by Kirsch that bear his signature. The two dogs are in repose and the sculpture captures their regal bearing. The bronze is a good cast stamped Austria and is finished in a wonderful black and green multicolored patina. |
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Bird Eating Berries: Jules Moigniez.: Moigniez was well known for his many sculptures of birds of all types and their activities. His work is always well detailed and true to life, showing his subjects as they live their lives in the wild. He really captures avian life and his birds are shown nesting, fighting, eating, flying, courting and taking care of their young ones. This interesting bronze shows a Song bird or maybe a mocking bird as it reaches up to eat berries from a vine. The Bird stretches up on his toes to reach a ripe juicy berry, and as many farmers can attest, the birds seem to know which berries are the best and ripest ones.
A fine and lively model, this bronze is a mid 19th century cast done by Moigniez in his own foundry. It has sharp details and a warm golden patina and is signed on the base. |
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Hunting Dog and Bird: Prosper Lecourtier.: Lecourtier was best known for his sculpture of the Chained Mastiff titled "Garde au Chien", but he also did other models of dogs. Here he shows a Hunting Dog as he looks for game, and the game bird is hiding by his feet. Hunting Dogs of all types were very popular in the 19th century and were often depicted in artwork. The dog could be a Retriever, Setter, or Spaniel, or another breed, he is well modeled and the bronze captures the instant he scents the hidden bird.
A handsome model in a useful size for a desk or table, this bronze is a fine 19th century cast with a warm brown patina.
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Fox and Vixen: Pierre Jules Mene.: Mene was best known for his larger bronzes of horses and hunting scenes but he also did some fine small models of wild and domestic animals. His small sculpture of a dog Fox and his Vixen is one of his better subjects. A well balanced composition, the male Fox stands beside the reclining female Vixen. Both Foxes were done as single sculptures but they work better as a pair on one base. This bronze is a good 19th century cast with a painted finish which was often done on the Austrian bronzes but this is not an Austrian bronze. The Foxes are a red brown and the base is a greenish gray color.
A well known model which is shown in almost every book on the Animalier bronzes. |
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Arab Stallion Saddled: Pierre Jules Mene.: This fine large bronze is one of Mene's best horse sculptures. It is related to his Arab Mare with Saddle and Rifle which has the saddle on the ground with a rifle leaning on it. Mene's horse bronzes are his finest works and this one shows all the detail he is known for.
The bronze was cast in Mene's own foundry in the mid 19th century, it has superb details and a rich brown and black patina. A top quality bronze, it is one of our best pieces. |
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Dog and Turtle: Alfred Dubucand.: This is a fine and rare model by Dubucand of a large Dog watching a Turtle crawling along. The Dog looks quite surprised by the slow reptile which is moving along ignoring the Dog. The theme of a Dog watching a Turtle is best known in Jacquemart's famous model of a large Hound watching a Turtle. It was done by a few other sculptors including Victor Chemin and this example by Dubucand. Dubucand is best known for his fine sculptures of horses and hunting dogs and this is a rare model. The Dog shown could be a hunting Hound or a Retriever of some sort as dog breeds in the 19th century looked quite different than many modern breeds.
The bronze has a rich dark brown patina and sharp details in the cast. An amusing composition of the Hound with the slow Turtle.
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Husky FB: Emmanuel Fremiet.: Emmanuel Fremiet sculpted many small animals at the start of his career and they remain popular today. His small bronze of a Husky or Samoyed dog is well known and it is a charming model. The dog is alert, perhaps watching for his master.
A very elegant cabinet bronze that would enhance any collection. This bronze is cast by the famous Barbedienne Foundry in Paris and bears their mark, it is mounted on the original green marble base and has a warm gold gilt patina.
This sculpture is pictured in the book Les Animaliers by Jane Horswell on page 187. |
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Setter and Pointer with Partridge: Pierre Jules Mene.: Mene created many sculptures of hunting dogs in his career but none are as well done as this model of a Setter and a Pointer frozen on point with a Partridge hidden in the brush in front of the dogs. The tension of the hunting dogs as they eye the game bird is superbly shown, one almost expects the bird to flush and fly away. The title of this work is Chasse A La Perdrix or the Partridge Hunt, it was a popular model and was cast by Mene for some years and also by his son in law Cain after his death. Unfortunately there are also many newer copies on the market as well but these lack the sharp cast details of the originals and are usually mounted on a marble base. Our bronze offered here is a superb bronze that is one of the earliest casts since it is both signed and dated 1847 on the base. It was cast by Mene in his own foundry and has the highest level of finishing and detail. The model is no. 25 in Mene's catalog and was exhibited in the 1848 Paris Salon both in wax and the next year in bronze.
The hunting dogs in this sculpture are Sylphie the Setter and Tac the Pointer, both appear as single models. Chasse A La Perdrix was also done in cast iron by Coalbrookdale in England in the late 19th century. A large handsome piece that captures the pair of dogs working together to find a game bird. |
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Hare Running: Jules Moigniez.: Moigniez sculpted several rabbits and hares during his lifetime. The best known are the large pair of Hares titled Chasse Ouverte and Chasse Fermee which depict a male and female with young. Moigniez also did a Hare with a Tortoise illustrating the fable, and several other small bronzes of hares and rabbits. These bronzes are very popular today and rarely come on the market. This bronze of a Hare is shown running and has a gold gilt patina. |
Two Whippets: Pierre Jules Mene.: Mene exhibited a model of this sculpture in the Paris Salon of 1848 and it appears in his catalogue of that same year as sculpture number 93. This model was a very popular bronze after its exhibit at the salon. It is one of the artist's most beloved work and is one of the models that come to mind when the artist is thought of. The Whippets are named Jiji and Gisella, they are well loved pets. The tension that Mene portrays between the two dogs as they wait to see who will be the first one to move for the ball is uncanny. This bronze is illustrated in the following books: Art Bronzes by Michael Forrest, pg. 185 |
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Fox Standing : Pierre Jules Mene.: Mene did several smaller models of Foxes during his career but this standing Fox is larger than most. This Fox was used as part of the group of Two Hounds Cornering a Fox but it works very well as a single sculpture. The Fox is standing slightly crouched with his mouth open as he snarls. The fur texture and detail is excellent in this bronze which was cast by Mene in his own foundry.
The bronze has a good dark brown patina and is signed and dated 1847 on the base. The model of the Two Hounds with the Fox was done in 1849 so the single Fox was created before the larger group. |
Miniature Pinscher: Pierre Jules Mene.: Mene modeled many of the popular dog breeds of his day and this alert dog is most likely a Miniature Pinscher or Min Pin as they are known today. This sculpture of a Miniature Pinscher is one of his more obscure works. He has managed to capture the essence of this feisty breed in the bronze. The dog is in a playful pose and this is a charming piece which would be a classic addition to any collection of the artist's work. The dog is standing on an Oriental rug and the pattern can be seen on the base of the sculpture. This is a model that is seldom encountered. It was cast by Mene in his own foundry and is finished in a rich brown patina. This bronze is illustrated in the following books: Animals in Bronze by Christopher Payne, pg. 234. |
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Bear Cub: Eli Harvey.: Eli Harvey was a master at depicting animals. He spent much time at the NY Zoo studying and sculpting various animals. This small Bear Cub is an amusing model and must have been a favorite of his. The Cub is standing tall with his paw held up to his nose as if he is being shy.
A fine small bronze, this is a lost wax cast with a rich dark brown patina and it is dated 1908. Another cast of this same Bear Cub was sold at auction for over $6500 USD, our bronze is priced far less. Bears are always popular in sculpture and do not often come up for sale. |
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Spaniel Fabio (mini) : Pierre Jules Mene.: Mene first sculpted Fabio in the early 1840s, it was done as a portrait of a favorite hunting dog. The model was so popular that Mene had it cast in 3 sizes, this is the smallest size or miniature version. The dog is a French Spaniel or a Setter, both were popular breeds at the time. This miniature bronze has all the character of the larger versions and captures a hunting dog pointing game. It is a fine cast with good details and is mounted on the original red marble base measuring 5/8" thick by 6 5/8" long (17cm). A fine example of this classic Mene sculpture. This bronze is pictured as a full page illustration in the book Les Animaliers by Jane Horswell on page 139. We are also offering a larger size of this sculpture |
Stallion : Pierre Jules Mene.: This small model of a Stallion is finely detailed and shows the horse trotting proudly. It was first sculpted in 1846 and this example was cast some years later in the mid 1860s. It is illustrated in the book Animals in Bronze by Christopher Payne on pg.289. Pierre Jules Mene is considered to be the finest sculptor of horses and this beautiful cabinet bronze would make a fine addition to any collection of French bronzes. Miniature bronzes are quite rare because many were given to children as toys when they went out of favor in the early 20th century.
This bronze is probably a model of the Arab Stallion Ibrahim which was done in a much larger size and shown with the horse standing at attention. The long mane and head are very similar to Ibrahim but this model was only done in this size. The bronze is finished in a warm brown patina. |
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Pheasant: Pierre Jules Mene.: Pierre Jules Mene sculpted very few birds in his long and successful career. This bronze sculpture of a pheasant is one of his more obscure sculptures. Mene preferred to create domestic animals and dogs rather than game birds as his patrons were Parisians who longed for the simple farm life or could relate easier to saddle and carriage horses rather than game animals.
This bronze sculpture was formerly the property of Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge and was in her extensive collection of French animalier bronzes until her death. |
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Bull and Cow with Calf Pair: Pierre Jules Mene.: The Bull and the Cow With Calf are some of Mene's finest work. The original sculptures were created in the 1840s and were very popular. Mene cast both models in two sizes, of which this is the large size. Because of their popularity, this pair was cast in Austria and dates to about 1890. They are stamped "Made in Austria" and have Mene's signature on them. The Bull measures 9 1/2" by 15 1/8" and the Cow with Calf is 9" by 14". They are good casts with dark brown patinas and are offered for much less than the 1840s versions would cost. The proud Bull and the Cow mothering her Calf are very handsome and would enhance any dining room or library. |
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Setter: Jules Moigniez.: This is a large, finely detailed, and expertly cast, model of a Setter dog which is finished in a rich red brown patina. Moigniez was well know for his bronze sculptures of dogs and his life like renditions of hunting dogs gets him as much acclaim today as it did in his lifetime. |
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Chained Mastiff: Prosper Lecourtier.: This large finely modeled powerful sculpture of a chained Mastiff or fighting dog by Lecourtier was exhibited at the Paris Salon of 1878 and was one of his most popular subjects. The bronze is finely cast and the detail is exceptional even down to the working clasp on the chain attached to the dog's collar as well as the broken pottery bowl on the base under the dog. The sign on the post is in English "BEWARE OF THE DOG" showing that it was made for the British or American market. The subject of guard and and fighting dogs, the Mastiffs and Bulldogs, was very popular at this time all through Europe, England, and the United States. These dogs were the forebearers of the modern day pit bull terriers and a photo of this same model was used on the cover of Semencic's book "The World of Fighting Dogs" published in 1984.
A large impressive sculpture that makes a statement in any room, and a special piece for anyone interested in the early bulldog breeds. The bronze is finished in a rich dark brown patina. |
Two Terriers: Jules Moigniez.: This is a very whimsical miniature cabinet bronze of two Terrier dogs looking at a hole. The dogs are quite serious after running the object of their interest to ground. Moigniez has done a fascinating job of capturing the intensity of this breed. Small cabinet bronzes are very hard to find as very few survive today. This little jewel is very detailed and finished in a brown patina. |
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Walking Pointer: Jules Moigniez.: Moigniez was an expert at capturing working dogs. The Walking Pointer is a pendant to the Walking Setter, they face each other and make a handsome pair for a library or dining room.
This large sculpture of a Pointer is finely detailed and finished in the rich multicolor brown and copper patina that is unique to the bronzes cast by Moigniez and his father in his own foundry. |
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Terrier and Frog: Jules Moigniez.: This is a very whimsical miniature cabinet bronze of a Terrier dog looking at a Frog. The dog is quite taken back by the appearance of the frog and has raised his front paw as though afraid of the small animal. Small cabinet bronzes are very hard to find as very few survive today. This little jewel is very detailed and finished in a silvered patina. |
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Pair of Pheasants: Auguste Cain.: Auguste Cain was a talented sculptor in his own right even though he was somewhat over shadowed by his more famous father in law Pierre Jules Mene. Cain created many smaller sculptures and was especially fond of game birds. This pair of Pheasants, a Hen and a Cock, are very well done showing his attention to detail. They face each other and are only sold as a pair. They were done as singles too, and the Cock Pheasant was also used as on the top of a bronze box by Cain as a finial.
It is rare to find a pair that is still together after so many years, which is why we will not sell them separately. The Hen is 3" tall by 6 1/2" long (7.6 cm by 16.5cm) and the Cock is 5 5/8" tall by 8 1/2" long (14.3cm by 21.6cm). The two Pheasants have a rich brown patina and are each signed on the base. |
Fighting Sparrows: Jules Moigniez.: If there were ever a master at capturing birds in bronze it would have to be Jules Moigniez. He received his formal training from Paul Comolera who up until his puple's debut was hailed as the finest bird sculptor of all time. Moigniez soon claimed this honor and even to this day no other artist has approached the detail and accuracy in the fine feather details. This work Combat de deux Moineaux is a masterpiece not only for the detail of these two small antagonists or the intensity of the "battle" between them but the complexity of the model is amazing. One sparrow has been knocked to the ground, wings, legs, and tail flailing and the other swoops down upon his rival. You can almost hear the screams coming from both open beaks. It is cast with such meticulous attention to detail and composition that you would almost believe the he cast two live birds instead of creating a work of art from metal. This bronze would have to rank as one of his most important bird sculptures. It is finished in a rich brown patina. It is interesting to note that Moigniez's teacher Paul Comolera also cast a model of this same subject around the time this sculpture was created. |
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Mouse on Oyster: Auguste Cain.: Along with his more traditional work, Cain sculpted a few whimsical pieces like this small model of a Mouse trying to open an Oyster shell. It may have been designed as a paperweight since it is a perfect size and weight for this task.
The bronze is finely detailed and has a warm golden gilt patina. This small cabinet bronze would be enjoyed by anyone who likes Animalier sculpture. A cast of this bronze is illustrated on page 365 of Payne's book Animals in Bronze. |
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Setter with Pheasant: Alfred Dubucand.: Alfred Dubucand was a fine sculptor and his Animalier works rank among the best of this genre. His horses, dogs, and birds are his best work. Bronzes of hunting subjects were very popular in the 1860s and this Setter carrying a Pheasant would have decorated a dining room or library. It is a fine portrait of a working Setter retrieving game for his master.
Dubucand cast this model in two sizes, this is the larger size and shows great detail in the fur of the dog and the feathers of the Pheasant. It has the foundry marks of EV 235 stamped on the base and has a rich dark brown patina. A wonderful large piece for a hunting enthusiast or setter owner.
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Setter: Hans Muller.: This is a fine model of a hunting Setter frozen on point by the listed Austrian artist Hans Muller. The bronze is finished in a rich brown patina and is mounted on a 9" by 4 1/2" by 1" thick highly figured marble base which has a repaired crack that is barely visible. It was cast around the turn of the century by a Vienna foundry, signed H. Muller and stamped Austria. Many of Hans Muller's bronzes including a model of this sculpture are in the Simu Museum in Bucharest. |
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Setter: Hans Muller.: This is a humorous sculpture by the listed Austrian artist Hans Muller. This scratching Setter dog is finished in a gilt patina and is mounted on a 6" by 4 " by 1" thick highly figured red marble base. It was cast around the turn of the century by a Vienna foundry and is signed H. Muller on the reverse side. Most of Hans Muller's bronzes including a model of this bronze are in the Simu Museum in Bucharest. |
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German Shepherd: Charles Paillet.: German Shepherd Dogs or Alsatians were very popular at the turn of the century and many artists portrayed this breed in paintings and bronzes. Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge loved the breed and her kennel was well known for their fine German Shepherds, she also had many Shepherds in her huge art collection. This sculpture of a German Shepherd by Paillet was awarded the Gold Medal when it was exhibited and this bronze has the Gold Medal award seal impressed into the base. It is extremely finely detailed and finished in a gold dore patina similar to that of the exhibition sculpture.
A large impressive bronze that would be enjoyed by any dog lover and a special piece for a GSD person. |
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Queen Victoria: Paul Paulin.: Paul Paulin (1852 - 1937) was born in Chamaliers, France on July 13th 1852. He was a dentist by profession but was a great admirer and student of the arts. This admiration led him to model and cast in bronze portrait busts of several of the most famous French artists and notables of his time. Among his most recognized portraits are Renoir, Degas, Monet, and Queen Victoria of England. Paulin exhibited his bronzes at the Salon des artists Francais from 1882 to 1889 and starting in 1901 he exhibited at the Salon des Beaux-Arts. An exhibition of Paulins works took place in 1983 in Clermont-Ferrand, France. This was the largest showing of his works ever assembled in one location. The bronzes came from many museums throughout France as well as works held in private and corporate collections from all over the world.
A fine portrait bust of this famous monarch, Queen Victoria would be enjoyed by any British history fan. There is currently a popular PBS series on her life titled "Victoria". This bronze was cast by the Valsuani foundry in 1901. |
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Setter Pointer Pair: Christophe Fratin.: Hunting dogs were one of the most popular subjects done by the Animaliers. These working dogs were portrayed doing their jobs of pointing birds and retrieving shot birds.
Fratin sculpted this Setter and Pointer as a pair, they are both on point after game birds. The Setter is 4 3/8" tall by 9 3/4" long (11.5cm by 25cm), and the Pointer is 4 3/4" tall by 9 3/8" long (12cm by 24cm), they are finished in a light brown and copper gilt patina. Each dog is signed and shows Fratin's characteristic shaggy texture in the fur coats of both dogs. |
German Shepherd: Louis Riche.: The Riche bronze German Shepherds above has been SOLD, but we have several other fine Riche German Shepherd dog bronzes that are available. These range from a large 22" long reclining German Shepherd dog to a handsome Seated German Shepherd about 10" tall. All are fine bronzes, please ask about them!
This is an earlier variation of Riche's Chiens Policer which he exhibited at the 1914 Salon. It is a very large impressive group of two German Shepherds and is wonderfully modeled and finished in a gilt patina. The character and expression that the artist has captured in the dogs is uncanny. Louis Riche is one of the finest sculptors of the German Shepherd breed. This bronze was cast by the Colin Foundry in Paris and has their foundry seal. Deux Chiens Policers is illustrated in the book Animals in Bronze by Christopher Payne as illustration D117 on page 243. |
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Lion: Charles Valton.: This is a finely detailed and superbly cast bronze sculpture of a Lion grooming after feasting on a gazelle. The sculpture shows the strong influence of Valton's teacher Antoine Louis Barye. It is in exquisite condition and is finished in a rich brown patina. |
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Goat Kid: Paul Wayland Bartlett.: Paul Bartlett did many studies of animals while he lived in France. This amusing life sized head study of a young Goat was cast by him in his Paris studio. It depicts a Goat Kid in remarkable detail with his ears out and his eyes alert. There is a cast of this model in the Smithsonian Museum, where it is listed as having been first sculpted in 1877.
This Goat's head is one of his earliest works and it seldom comes up for sale. The bronze is finished in a rich warm brown patina and signed on the base. It is a fine sand cast done by Bartlett. The works of this American artist who lived most of his life in Paris are in many museum collections and are hard to find.. |
Cougar: Edwin Deming.: After Edwin Deming and his new bride returned from their honeymoon in the South West he set about sculpting the wild animals that intrigued him from his journeys. Deming cast a few bronzes in his New York City studio and contracted with Roman Bronze Works to do others. This Fine example of his Cougar with Cub was cast by Roman around 1900 and sold by Deming from his studio. |
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Navaho Boy: Edwin Deming.: Edwin Deming lived among the Navaho, Zuni, and Hopi Indian tribes. He would return to these native peoples of New Mexico and Arizona for inspiration for most of his life. Deming sculpted very few bronzes of the native American people whom he found fascinating, preferring to concentrate on the animals of the west but his wife wrote eleven books on the Indian lore and customs. This wonderful bronze sculpture depicts a young Navaho boy trying to restrain his bear cub from eating the contents of a pot. Deming portrays the natural connection between the native people and the animals of their world very well in this sculpture. There is a look of affection on the boys face and his restraint is more of a hug than an attempt to control the cub. This very rare bronze was cast by the Roman Bronze Works of New York and dated 1910. It is finished in a deep dark brown patina. |
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Merino Ram: Pierre Jules Mene.: Mene was one of the finest of the Animalier sculptors and well known for his portrayals of domestic animals. While Mene sculpted mostly horses and dogs, he also did farm animals. His Bulls are powerful, his Goats inquisitive, and his Sheep are accurate portrayals of the popular Merino breed of the 19th century.
This fine bronze of a Merino Ram has the animal posed on a log with his head up scenting the air. The Ram is a very detailed bronze cast in the 1840s, it has the flat sided base that Mene used during this time. It has a rich brown patina, it is signed and stamped 44 on the stump, and is mounted on a newer 11 1/4" long black marble base. One of Mene's best sculptures, this Merino Ram is a rare model. This model is illustrated in Payne's book Animals in Bronze on page 371.
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Quail Pair: Jules Moigniez.: Jules Moigniez was a master at portraying birds and this is one of his most famous and best models. It shows a pair of Quail foraging and eating grain. The birds are well modeled with good detail, and the composition is well done with one Quail standing up eating and the other one reaching for a grain of wheat.
Game birds like these Quail were popular subjects in art in the 19th century and a bronze like this would still have wide appeal today. This bronze has a warm golden brown patina and is a fine cast done by Moigniez's own foundry run by his father in the mid 1860s |
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Mouse eating Sugar Cubes: Alphonse-Alexandre Arson.: An amusing cabinet bronze of a Mouse eating Sugar Cubes by Arson who was known for his humorous bronzes. The subject of a Mouse nibbling a sugar cube or block of cheese must have been popular in the mid 19th century as it was also done by Valton, Masson, Cain, and others. This Mouse is gilt bronze and signed on his rump and on red marble base. The contrasting gilt bronze is complimented by the rouge marble. A fine and rare miniature. |
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Retriever: Alphonse-Alexandre Arson.: Arson was a fine Animalier sculptor but his work is not as well known as his peers. He created many small and amusing groups of humanized mice and frogs, but this large bronze of a Retriever dog shows fine portrait of a hunting dog. This bronze is a sharp cast in an impressive large size, it captures the character of a favorite hunting dog. There are no existing records to show the exact breed of dog nor what his name was but he is a superb quality bronze measuring 16" long. Most of Arson's bronzes are small and this is a large model that is rarely offered for sale. |
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Pointer with Hare: Pierre Jules Mene.: Mene did several sculptures of hunting dogs and this Pointer sitting beside a dead Hare is an excellent example of his work. There is a larger more complex bronze showing this same Pointer sitting by a large tree stump with a rifle, game bag, and dead game birds and a hare leaning against the stump. This composition is much simpler as it is just the dog with the hare at his feet on an oval base. The bronze has a rich dark brown patina with sharp details, and it was cast by Mene's own foundry in the 1860s. A fine and rare Mene bronze. |
Portrait: Robert Tait McKenzie.: Robert Tait McKenzie (1867-1938) was born on May 26th 1867 in Almonte, Ontario, Canada and died in Philadelphia. He was a doctor and a graduate of McGill University, class of 1892. Upon his graduation he was appointed as director of physical education and demonstrator of anatomy at McGill. In 1904 he was appointed physical education director at the University of Pennsylvania where he stayed until his retirement in 1930. It was his teachings in anatomy and medicine that first led him into sculpture and his first recorded bronze was in 1902 of a series of four masks depicting fatigue. His first models were his student athletes and his work consists of portrait busts and plaques as well as statues. His only recorded monumental work was the bas-relief titled Joy of Effort for the wall of the Stockholm Olympic stadium for which he was to receive a special Olympic Gold Medal from the King of Sweden in 1912. This Bas relief is a portrait of Emmeline Reed Bedell who was a graduate of Vassar and there is one of these plaques in their collection. She was also a beneficiary of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and a generous patron of the Arts in the 1920s. Our plaque was cast in 1909 by the Roman Bronze Works foundry in New York City. It is mounted in the original wide walnut wood frame which sets off the plaque. Books documenting McKenzie's life are: Dictionary of Western Sculptors, Mackay (1977) |
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Terrier: Laura Gardin Fraser.: This small sculpture of a seated terrier is signed Laura Gardin Fraser and dated 1930. She was very fond of doing models of dogs, a subject that she thoroughly enjoyed. This little Terrier was cast by the Kunst Foundry and is finished in a beautiful red brown patina. |
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Bacchante: Charles Paillet.: Charles Paillet was better known as an Animalier sculptor but he also did a few other subjects, including automobile mascots. His figurative works are quite scarce. This bronze shows a Bacchante nude female figure dancing with wild abandon. She is smiling and happy, she has grape leaves twined in her hair and each hand holds a cymbal while she gracefully balances on one leg in her dance to the god of wine.
A fine and rare work, this lovely Lady has a warm brown patina, she is signed on the bronze base by her feet and is mounted on the original 1 1/2 inch tall beveled sienna yellow marble base for a total height of 8 inches (20.3 cm).
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Panther and Muntjac Deer: Antoine Louis Barye.: Many of Barye's best works are the big cats he created in both sculpture and painting. This model of a Panther with a Muntjac Deer is one of his later works, done in the 1870s before he died. The Panther is resting after his kill and Barye used the step of the base to add height and interest to this composition.
Barye's later sculptures were cast in smaller numbers than his earlier works and the model of the Panther and Muntjac Deer rarely comes on the market. The bronze has a rich dark brown, green and black patina and it is mounted on the original dark green veined marble base. This model is illustrated in Payne's book Animals in Bronze on page 149. |
Burro: Maeble C. Perry.: Maeble Perry was born in Idaho on February 11th 1902. She moved to Illinois and studied sculpture under Albin Polasek. Maeble Perry won the following awards for sculpture: Alliance award 1931, Evanston Woman's Club 1933-34 and 1936-37, and the Art Institute of Chicago in 1939. Maeble Perry entered her bronze sculpture titled Jeff in the competition of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1939. She was awarded a first prize for this sculpture. The Art Institute has a cast of this model on display in their permanent collection. |
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Sparrow (gilt): Ferdinand Pautrot.: Here is another of Pautrot's small bird studies, this time it is an angry Sparrow with all his feathers puffed up. He flaps his wings and opens his beak to tell off whatever has annoyed him. Sparrows are bright and fiesty little birds and will often take on much larger birds in defense of their nests and over food.
This Sparrow has a gold gilt patina which Pautrot used on many of his bird sculptures. The gold color shows off the fine details much better than a brown patina does. A well detailed small bronze that would go well on a desk or in a cabinet. |
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Duelist Henry III: Emmanuel Fremiet.: Fremiet was best known for his Animalier bronzes but he also did a large number of human figures, from Roman warriors and charioteers, to Arab soldiers and military figures, and including well known French royalty.
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The Rattlesnake: Frederic Remington.: Remington first sculpted The Rattlesnake in 1904 and it is considered one of his best sculptures, showing the fluid movement of the bucking horse and rider. This model presented a challenge to show the horse up on two legs twisting and recoiling from the dangerous snake at its feet. The cowboy is equally startled and is almost caught off balance, grabbing his hat while trying to stay on his horse. A powerful composition, it focuses all attention and movement to the small but deadly rattlesnake. The Rattlesnake won much praise when it was completed and was called the work of a master's hand. It was Remington's 12th sculpture and went on to become one of his most popular works in bronze. It tells a dramatic story of life in the old West. Our bronze of The Rattlesnake was copyrighted and cast by a company called Museum Collections Inc. in conjunction with the Buffalo Bill Historic Center in 1979. These authorized casts were made from the original Rattlesnake cast 17 in the Museum's collection, thus insuring the sharp detail in this bronze, and sold through The Buffalo Bill Historic Center in Cody Wyoming in the early 1980's. It is cast 946 out of a edition of 1000 bronzes. We decided to offer a couple of the best high quality Museum reproductions of Remington's famous bronzes because the prices of the original bronzes are way beyond most collectors. This is a way to enjoy his bronzes in a form almost identical to the original without spending a huge amount of money.
There are only about 100 original Roman Bronze Works casts of this model, and one sold at Sotheby's NY in 2008 for $265,000, another in 2009 went for $158,500, another one sold at Christies in 2009, and brought $134,500. This posthumous Museum cast from the original is reasonably priced so one can enjoy this fine Frederic Remington classic Western bronze without breaking the bank! |
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Moliere: Emmanuel Fremiet.: Moliere was the stage name for Jean Baptiste Poquelin who was a 17th century French playwright and actor. He was a traveling actor for some years before he started writing his comedies and satires. Royal patronage helped his career and he became famous and popular. His best known works are Le Misanthrope, L'Ecole des Femmes, Le Malade Imaginaire, and many more.
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Pointer and Hare: Prosper Lecourtier.: Hunting dogs and the hunt were popular subjects in 19th century art. This small bronze is of that genre and shows a Pointer dog retrieving a Hare for his master. Pointers, setters, and Hounds were the most popular hunting dogs of that time, along with Spaniels, all of them worked to point and fetch game for the hunters. This bronze is well detailed and is mounted on the original 3/4" thick marble base. A nice piece for a man's desk or for a cabinet. |
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Boston Terrier: Katherine Lane Weems.: Katherine Lane was well known for her animal and dog sculptures which were mainly of Whippets. Early in her career, she also created this amusing small bronze of a seated Boston Terrier that was designed as a car mascot. Animal automobile mascots were very popular in the early days of the automobile and this one shows an amusing little dog sitting with head up alertly. The breed looks to be a Boston Terrier, but it might be a pug, or another type of bulldog. The bronze is signed and dated 1927, it has a rich green, brown, and black patina. This rare model was cast by the Roman Bronze Works NY foundry but this one is not marked. A fine small bronze by one of the finest of the American women sculptors.
A small bronze of a Rabbit by Katherine Lane Weems recently sold for over $7100.00 USD in January 2011. Her work seldom comes on the market and brings a strong price. Our little dog is one of her earliest sculptures and it is very reasonably priced. |
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Foxes and Pheasant: Pierre Jules Mene.: Mene did several small sculptures of Foxes which often turn up on the market but this larger bronze of a pair of Foxes quarreling over a dead Pheasant is a rare model.
It was created in the mid 19th century and is an interesting composition which captures one Fox crouching over the Pheasant and warning the approaching Fox to stay away from his dinner. The other Fox has paused, with one paw raised, as he looks at the dead bird hungrily. Mene's animals are always true to life and this is one of his better works. A fine large bronze, it has sharp details and a rich black and dark brown patina. |
Colombian Expo Medal : Augustus Saint-Gaudens.: This is the Medal that Saint-Gaudens was commissioned to create for the 1892 Worlds Colombian Exposition in Chicago. This medal is in perfect original condition with its original metal two sided display case, also in original perfect condition. This is a bas relief casting, a style that Saint-Gaudens was famous for. |
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Sparrow on Branch: Ferdinand Pautrot.: Pautrot was the creator of many fine small sculptures of birds showing their daily lives. This model of a Sparrow on a Branch is a rare model. The Sparrow is clinging to the Branch while he chirps. The bronze is finished in a rich brown patina and has sharp details to the Sparrow's feathers and the plants on the base are well defined. A nice bronze for the collector's cabinet. |
Dachshund : Katherine Lane Weems.: Katherine Lane Weems was the owner of many Dachshunds during her life. She was commissioned to do this plaque in 1933 for the Dachshund Club of America. The plaque shows a head study of a Smooth Dachshund, she also did plaques with head studies of Wire Hair Dachshunds and Long Hair Dachshunds. The plaque was cast in two sizes, this is the rare larger size. |
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Dog licking his leg: Victor Chemin.: Victor Chemin created several small models of dogs during his career. He depicted hunting dogs at work and at play, and his dogs are well sculpted and true to life. This bronze shows a Dog, perhaps a Collie or other herding breed, licking his leg. The dog's shaggy coat is well done and the bronze has a light brown patina. |
Setter: Lila Wheelock.: Lila Wheelock was born in 1890 and spent her life in New York and Connecticut. She studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of Design, and was a member of the National Association of Woman Artists. Her work was exhibited in the National Academy of Design, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the PA Academy of Fine Arts. Her small sculptures of animals were quite popular yet she is not well known today.
Lila did several small models of dogs and this one is a fine portrait of a Setter dog reclining. Unlike her Borzoi, this dog is alert with his head up, perhaps looking for his master. A fine bronze done in 1909, it is marked as cast #2 of a small edition with probably no more than 4 cast. A rare example of her work. |
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Springbok Antelope: Brenda Putnam.: Brenda Putnam sculpted several small animals during her career. These small bronzes are quite rare and sought after, they are charming little pieces. The Springbok Antelope was a gift by the artist to a young art student in 1941 and it was an inspiration to his work. The young Antelope is resting but alert and looks for danger. A well done bronze, it has a rich dark brown patina and is signed and dated 1941. |
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Fabio (large): Pierre Jules Mene.: This model was first cast by Mene in 1840 and it is a portrait of the French Spaniel named Fabio. The French Spaniel is an ancient breed, very much like a Setter. Mene executed very few commissioned portraits of animals instead concentrating on the successful commercial business in sculpture that he had established. The rare examples of his portraits were always cast later in larger numbers and sold to his customers usually by placing a bird or rabbit in the dog's mouth. This model was produced commercially as a companion to his portrait of the Irish Setter Medor and they were both cast in the same sizes and facing each other. Our cast of Fabio has sharp detail and the rough coat of the dog is very textured, it has a rich brown patina. This sculpture is different in that it is the same portrait model that was commissioned by the dog's owner. This bronze is pictured as a full page illustration in Les Animaliers by Jane Horswell on page 139. We are also offering a miniature size of this bronze |
Indian Maiden: James Earl Fraser.: James Fraser was best known for his classic iconic sculpture titled "The End of the Trail" which showed a tired and defeated American Indian and his horse. But he also created other Indians such as this portrait of a young Indian Maiden done in 1921. She has a quiet dignity and is dressed simply in the clothing of her culture. A fine small bust by one of the most important American Western sculptors, she is mounted on a 2 inch thick beveled marble base. |
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Whippet and Spaniel: Pierre Jules Mene.: Mene exhibited a model of this sculpture in the Paris Salon of 1848 and it appears in his catalogue of that same year as sculpture number 96. This model was a very popular bronze after its exhibit at the salon. This is the companion group to the well known Jiji et Giselle which shows two whippets or Italian Greyhounds playing with a ball. This rare bronze group shows a whippet or Italian greyhound and a King Charles Spaniel standing over a broken fan on a base which is textured to look like carpet. In their play the dogs have knocked down and broken their owners fan. The tension that Mene portrays between the two dogs as they await to see who will be the first one to move is uncanny. Our bronze has a golden brown patina with sharp details in the dogs and the base. It is a fine early 19th century bronze cast in Mene's own foundry. Unfortunately this popular sculpture has been copied many times over the years, but the copies lack the fine details of the 19th century original bronzes. This bronze is illustrated in the following books: Animals in Bronze by Christopher Payne. pg. 202 |
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Owl and Mouse: Antoine Louis Barye.: The model of the Owl with a Mouse is one of Barye's earliest animal sculptures created in the late 1820's. The Owl sits perched on top of a single boulder with its prey, a Mouse, clutched in its talons. Barye has captured the full detail of the Owl's feathers in its outstretched wings captured in the moment of flight.
This example is finished in a dark brown and green patina and is a fine cast by the famous Barbedienne Foundry of Paris who cast many of Barye's models. The early miniature works by Barye do not come up for sale often and are highly sought after by collectors. It is a powerful model that seems much larger than its small scale. |
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Bull (mini): Jules Moigniez.: This is a very detailed miniature cabinet bronze of a prize Bull. Moigniez did a few of these small cabinet bronzes but they are very hard to find today as very few survived. This little Bull is very detailed and finished in a light brown patina. |
Lynx: Edward Kemeys.: In 1971 the Kemeys Foundation authorized the casting of a limited number of Kemeys bronzes made from the artist's original plasters and master models. The foundry that did the bronze casting was the same foundry used by Harry Jackson who advised them and helped with the project. Most of these Kemeys models were not cast in large numbers and the project was not finished so few of them exist today.
This is cast number 3 of the Lynx Washing which is a rare subject. The Lynx or Bobcat is shown grooming itself in a pose often seen in our pet cats. The bronze has sharp detail and is finished in a rich brown and green patina, it is mounted on the original 1 inch thick marble base. |
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Rolling Bear Cub: Anna Hyatt .: An amusing model of a young Bear playing with his feet. This is one of Anna Hyatt's early sculptures cast by the Gorham Foundry with their foundry stamp GORHAM CO and the cast number of Q 5, meaning that it is cast number 5 of the edition. Gorham cast a total of 138 bronzes of this model. It is a fine cast finished in a rich brown patina. |
Will Rogers : Hughlette Wheeler.: This is a cast of Will Rogers that was created as a plaster by the American artist Hughlette Wheeler which was cast in bronze after the artist's death. The edition was planned to be cast in 100 bronzes, but it was not completed and only 30 or less were actually cast, then the molds were destroyed.
This is cast number 19 and finished in a brown patina. Wheeler created several bronze sculptures of the famous American satirist Will Rogers including a monument of him on his favorite horse "Soapsuds" that was erected to honor Rogers. |
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Great Dane: Alfred Barye.: This fine bronze of a Great Dane dog by Alfred Barye is a well detailed sculpture and is finished in a dark brown and green patina. The Great Dane was used to hunt wild boar and they are a powerful dog. This model is one of Alfred Barye's best works and shows his talent as a sculptor. The dog's muscles are well sculpted and he is on the alert. He stands proudly on a slanting oval base which Alfred used on many of his sculptures.
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Song Bird on a Branch: Ferdinand Pautrot.: Pautrot was a master at portraying birds of all varieties. He created a large number of different species of birds and some of them are quite rare today. One could build a collection of just Pautrot birds and have many different sculptures. Here he has created a Song Bird on an oak branch with leaves. The detail is superb and you can see all the lines in the feathers of this small bird. It is a fine example of Pautrot's talent in depicting bird life. |
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Two Pointers: Pierre Jules Mene.: Pierre Jules Mene sculpted this fine model of Two Pointers in 1857 at the height of his career. These Pointers were also done as separate sculptures but they lack the presence of the dogs sitting together on the elaborate base with foliage and a large tree stump. Large exhibition size bronze sculptures by Mene rarely come on the market as he cast very few outside of special requests. This magnificent sculpture of his model of two Pointers at rest is cast by Mene himself with meticulous attention to detail both in the foundry work and the patina. Mene was considered to be the finest sculptor of dogs during his lifetime and this bronze more than justifies that respect and title. Hunting dogs were the most popular and Mene's Pointers, Setters, and Hounds are superb depictions of their respective breeds. This bronze would be premier addition to any collection of 19th century Animalier sculpture. A model of this sculpture was exhibited by the artist at the 1857 Salon. This bronze is illustrated in Les Animaliers by Jane Horswell (pg. 141) |
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Pointer with Bird: Jules Moigniez.: This is the Pointer with game bird which is one of a pair of working dogs done by Moigniez in the middle of the 19th century. These two bronzes are in extraordinary condition and have been a pair since they were first sold in the 1860's. It is very rare when a pair of bronzes stays together for over 150 years and these two sculptures are a fantastic find. Moigniez was a master at sculpting dogs and these two impressive bronzes are some of his finest works. They are both finished in a light brown patina with the rims of the bases done in gold dore to set them off. Because of this attention to the patina these were a special request from the client. |
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Short Horn Bull: Frederick Roth.: Roth was one of the foremost American animal sculptors of his time. He was known for his portraits of dogs and other domestic animals. This large bronze of a Bull by a fence could be a commissioned portrait of a prize winning Bull because it is a Short Horn Bull.
The Bull leans against the fence and stretches his neck out, while he swishes his tail. The bronze has a dark brown black patina and is signed and dated 1907, it is cast by Roman Bronze Works NY and marked underneath as cast number 1. A fine bronze by one of America's best Animalier sculptors. |
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Setter with Rabbit: Jules Moigniez.: This is the Setter with Rabbit which is one of a pair of working dogs done by Moigniez in the middle of the 19th century. These two bronzes are in extraordinary condition and have been a pair since they were 1st sold in the 1860's. It is very rare when a pair of bronzes stays together for over 150 years and these two sculptures are a fantastic find. Moigniez was a master at sculpting dogs and these two impressive bronzes are some of his finest works. They are both finished in a light brown patina with the rims of the bases done in gold dore to set them off. Because of this attention to the patina these were a special request from the client. |
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Greyhound: Alfred Barye.: Alfred Barye was an excellent sculptor and some of his best work was of dogs. This amusing bronze shows a Greyhound or Whippet reaching back to bite at an itch on his back. The lean hound is well muscled and is standing on three legs while he bites his back. Alfred Barye did a Seated Greyhound which is a common model and has been copied many times but this Greyhound chewing his back is a rare model. The bronze is finished in a rich brown patina.
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Rooster and Hen: Auguste Cain.: Auguste Cain was a fine Animalier sculptor and created many barnyard subjects. This bronze of a Rooster standing over a Hen sitting in a large basket with sheaths of wheat and a scythe is designed as a pin tray. This interesting model shows the chickens amongst the grain looking for mice which was a common occurrence during harvest time. The Rooster stands over his Hen while she rests in the basket.
The bronze is beautifully designed and has sharp details in the cast, the handle of the scythe is even textured. This rare bronze is finished in a rich dark brown patina. An early model, it was cast by Cain in Mene's own foundry. |
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Stag Calling: Isidore Jules Bonheur.: Isidore Bonheur was well known for his bronzes of cattle and horses but he also sculpted fine examples of wildlife. His Stag Calling or Cerf sur un Rocher shows a proud Stag on a rock calling to his herd. This fine model makes a pair with the Fallow Stag we are offering. The pendant Fallow Stag faces this Stag and they compliment each other well. This Stag has fine details, you can see the texture in his fur and he has a fine rack of antlers. He is on a rocky base and signed Isidore Bonheur on the base. It is unusual for Bonheur to sign his full name as he normally signed I. Bonheur. This fine and rare bronze was cast by the famous Peyrol foundry circa 1855. Hippolyte Peyrol was Isidore's brother in law and the Peyrol casts are of superb quality. A fine bronze for the collector or hunter.
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Tiger devouring a Gazelle FB: Antoine Louis Barye.: Barye's model of Tiger Devouring a Gazelle is a pendant to his 1831 Tiger and Gavial combat group except the petite Gazelle is shown more as prey than as a worthy opponent in the Gavial crocodile portrayed as in his earlier work. Barye created two variations of this model, the 1st version had the entrails of the Gazelle spilled out over the base of the sculpture in a rather gruesome but realistic manner. To broaden the appeal of this subject Barye removed this feature from the later editions of this work and this one is of the 2nd variation without the Gazelle's entrails.
This powerful bronze sculpture is a fine cast by Ferdinand Barbedienne in his Paris foundry and is finished in a wonderful black, brown, and green multi colored patina. This model is illustrated in Payne's book Animals in Bronze on page 147.
We also have a cast of the 1st version available, with the entrails of the Gazelle showing, it is a fine Barye Atelier cast with a rich dark patina. Please enquire. |
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Pointer with Birds: Ferdinand Pautrot.: Pautrot was an excellent sculptor of both game birds and hunting dogs. Here he captures a lighter moment with a Pointer sitting and watching the two birds at his feet. The dog is alert and keeping his attention on the birds while they flutter around in front of him. A well sculpted and amusing small bronze which is a little different than the usual hunting theme of dogs with game birds. The Pointer has rather a surprised look on his face which adds to the interest of the piece.
This bronze has a rich dark brown patina and is mounted on the original beveled black slate base. A rare model that is not often offered for sale, it is a fine example of Pautrot's expertise in depicting dogs and birds. |
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Bull Rearing: Antoine Louis Barye.: Barye originally sculpted the Rearing Bull in 1841 but he did not cast it in bronze until 1845. The Bull is shown in the instant he rears up on his hind legs but his heavy bulk will bring him back to earth very quickly. This model was also adapted into Barye's Bull Attacked by a Tiger by adding a Tiger to the base that is reaching up and grabbing the powerful Bull as he rears in an effort to trample the predator under him. Bulls have been a popular subject in art for centuries as a symbol of power and masculinity. Barye sculpted several fine models of Bulls during his long career and the Rearing Bull is one of his best. He shows the heavy beast in action and captures the Bull's character perfectly. This impressive bronze was cast by Ferdinand Barbedienne and is finished in a rich dark brown patina. This bronze is illustrated in the following books: |
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Pointer on Point: Pierre Jules Mene.: This beautifully modeled and finished bronze sculpture of a working Pointer dog is Pierre Jules Mene at his finest. He is in his element with hunting dogs and this bronze is one of his more popular subjects. It is a superb composition of a hunting dog on point. He glances back at his owner seeming to say "here it is". This is an excellent opportunity to add an exceptional 19th century original bronze to your collection. Please be aware of fakes of this model, it is another one often copied over the years. The copies lack the fine details of the 19th century original. Our cast of this fine model is one of the best from Mene's own foundry, you can see the fur texture of the dog's coat and every toe nail on the dog's feet, his face is exquisite with the Pointer's intensity. Plus the oak leaves on the base are cast separately and attached, the bronze has a rich brown patina not found on the copies. Mene's Chien Braque is illustrated in the following books: Les Animaliers by Jane Horswell pg 129 Price: $0.00 |
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King Charles Spaniel: Jules Moigniez.: Here is an early model of a King Charles Spaniel scratching his side. It is very much like the 18th century bronzes in style. The later works by Moigniez have a rimmed base and this fine dog has a flat base with a textured ground which would date from the early 1850s.
The original black slate base is also typical of the early bronzes. And the King Charles Spaniels were very popular during this time. It is signed on the base and the texture of the Spaniel's coat is very well defined. A wonderful example of an early dog by Moigniez, it is finished in a rich mid brown patina with hints of old gilt. |
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Dancing Lady: Max Kalish.: Max Kalish was best known for his portraits of men at work but he also did a few nude studies. This wonderful large bronze shows a Lady dancing gracefully with her arms aside while she sways to the music. She is very well modeled and is cast by the Meroni Radice Foundry in Paris that Kalish used for most of his bronzes. She is finished with a rich brown and green patina and is signed and dated 1930 on the bronze base, the green marble base is a newer addition. Two of Max Kalish's bronzes of men laboring were sold in 2013 for over $25,000 each. We are offering this rare nude study for much less, and she is priced in the low four figures.
A fine example of this well known American sculptor's work, she would be an impressive bronze for any collection. |
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Kevel: Antoine Louis Barye.: This small delicate model of a Kevel antelope was first sculpted by Barye in 1825 while he was studying under the goldsmith Fauconnier. Barye did a number of small sculptures of rabbits, hares, deer and antelopes during this time and these small animals are quite a contrast to the powerful muscular big cats that he became known for in later years. The Kevel antelope was never edited in large numbers so it is a fairly rare model. This bronze was cast some years later than its original creation in the 1820s, it lacks the superb detail of an early cast so it was probably cast in the 1870s.
The bronze has a dark brown patina and is mounted on its original 5/8" by 3 3/4" marble base. |
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Mouse: Brenda Putnam.: A whimsical study of a Mouse grooming himself. Brenda Putnam modeled and cast several small animals mainly as amusement and as gifts to personal friends. She is known for her larger garden sculptures but her small Rabbits and Mice have a unique charm. Another example of this bronze Mouse is in the collection of Brookgreen Gardens and was a gift from the artist to Anna Hyatt Huntington.
This fine small bronze Mouse Grooming was cast by the artist in about 1940. It is finished with a silvered patina. |
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Saddled Horse: Gaston D Illiers.: Gaston D'Illiers was known for his fine sculptures of horses and this small bronze shows a Horse with his tack and saddle. The details on this miniature bronze are well done with sharp detail. The horse is finished with a rich dark brown patina. |
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Pointer: Antoine Louis Barye.: Along with his famous bronzes of Lions and Tigers, Barye created some fine models of hunting dogs. He first sculpted this Braque or Pointer dog and his companion piece the Epagneul or Spaniel in the 1840s. This Pointer is the First Version and it is the pendent to the Barye Spaniel. The base is a simple textured ground and the dog is captured on point with his foreleg raised and all his muscles tense.
The model was first created in the 1840s and our bronze was cast some years later in the 1850s. It has good detail and a rich dark green and black patina. A cast of this model is illustrated in Payne's book Animals in Bronze on page 224. |
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Stag (medium): Antoine Louis Barye.: Barye first sculpted this fine model of a Stag calling in 1829. It is one of the few Barye models which seems to be edited exclusively by Susse Freres foundry who cast it in several different sizes.
The proud Stag had his head up calling as he walks giving the sculpture a good sense of movement. The bronze has excellent detail and is finished in the rich dark green and black patina which the Susse foundry is well known for. |
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Fox: Ferdinand Pautrot.: The Fox has long been celebrated in fable and legend for his cunning, and there are many paintings of foxes created over the years, yet there are not many sculptures of this wily canine.
Pautrot has sculpted a Fox on the hunt who has just caught a plump game bird for his dinner. There is a hollow stump behind the Fox and possibly it was made as a match safe. A very rare and nicely cast 19th century bronze of a Fox in the wild, it has a light brown patina. |
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Wolf: Edwin Deming.: Edwin Deming's sculptures were exclusively of the wild animals of the American West. Bears were his favorite subjects and he earned the name Eight Bears from his Indian friends. Along with bears, he did several models of wolves.
Deming's sculptures of wolves showed them at rest and at play. This model shows a Wolf sitting on his haunches. Deming captures the character of the Wolf as he sits quietly at rest. This bronze is signed and dated 1910, it has a light brown patina.
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Lion: Frederick Roth.: This small bronze Columbia Lion is a miniature of the large Lion monument that Roth did for Columbia University. The full-sized version was a gift from the Graduating Class of 1899, and it was installed in 1925 at Columbia University's Baker Field at 218th and Broadway in New York City, where it resides today.
Roth was one of the best of the American Animalier sculptors working in the early 20th century and this Lion shows his talent for portraying animals of all types. The Lion roaring is a powerful image even in this small size. He is well detailed and attached to the original black base. |
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Indian with Basket: Edwin Deming.: Deming was one of the best of the American Western sculptors from the early 20th century. His works are rare and hard to find. He sculpted many small American animals, especially bears at play. But he also did several fine models of American Indians in their every day life. This fine bronze shows an Indian girl sitting with a basket held in her arms. She wears a shawl over her shoulders and is sitting on the ground cradling the basket, perhaps she is preparing corn for a meal. Deming's Indian subjects are sensitively portrayed in scenes of their daily life. This Indian girl has a quiet dignity much like Charlie Russell showed in his Indian women.
She is well cast with good detail, a rich dark brown patina and she is mounted on a green marble base that is 5 1/2 inches long by 4 3/4 inches wide. This bronze was cast by the Deming family and is marked E.W.D. Estate. A very fine Western bronze by one of the best of the early sculptors working at the turn of the 19th century.
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Stag: Pierre Jules Mene.: Pierre Jules Mene created several sculptures of deer. This bronze was one of his best known stags models. It was initially created in 1843 and produced over several years in three sizes, this being the middle size. It is listed in in Mene's catalogue as sculpture number 118. Mene adds realism to this bronze by having the stag strain upward to browse foliage from a tree. This is a highly detailed and finely cast bronze sculpture and is finished in a light brown patina. We also have this same Stag in the larger size of 14 1/2 inches tall (37 cm) in a Gilt patina cast by Susse Freres, it is an impressive bronze offered at a reasonable price. This bronze is illustrated in the following books:
Les Animaliers by Jane Horswell, pg. 107 |
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Stag Grazing: Antoine Louis Barye.: Barye created many small models of deer during the 1820s. These early works are characterized by the deep plinth bases with beveled edges as is shown in this small Stag. A rare model, the Grazing Stag is typical of Barye's sculptures done when he worked under the goldsmith Fauconnier.
This small bronze of a Stag Grazing was cast some years later than its original creation in the 1820s, it lacks the superb detail of an early cast so it was probably cast in the 1860s. It is still a fine model and has a rich dark brown patina. |
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Fighting Sparrows: Ferdinand Pautrot.: In 1860 both Paul Comolera and his student Jules Moigniez created models of two sparrows locked in "combat" for the salon. Ferdinand Pautrot decided to also submit a model of two sparrows in combat to compete with these other sculptors by submitting a model of the same subject. The contrast between these three examples of the same subject are striking. Each artist has taken the identical subject and rendered it in a similar manner but each artist has kept their own unique style. By far the rarest of these three examples is the one by Ferdinand Pautrot. In our 30 years of involvement in bronze sculptures we have only seen one example of this subject by Pautrot. We are honered to be able to offer the works of Pautrot, Comolara, and Moigniez and thier subjects of Combat de deux Moineaux View our Combat de deux Moineaux by Paul Comolera View our Combat de deux Moineaux by Jules Moigniez Price: $0.00 |
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Partridge: Ferdinand Pautrot.: This is an expertly modeled and superbly cast bronze sculpture of a Partridge catching a butterfly. Ferdinand Pautrot was considered to be the master at capturing birds. The detail that he places in this lifelike bronze is just amazing. Words cannot describe the almost "life" that this sculpture presents. It is finished in a dark coppery guilt patina very similar to those used by Jules Moigniez and it may have been cast by Moigniez in his foundry for Pautrot. |
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Where the Best of Riders Quit: Charles M. Russell.: Charlie Russell lived the true cowboy life and would have seen and ridden many bucking horses. Some of the wilder horses would fight and intentionally throw themselves backward in an attempt to injure the rider. Russell was familiar with such horses and used the theme in an illustration he did in 1889. Much later in 1921 he sculpted this subject in one of his largest and most popular sculptures "Where the Best of Riders Quit". His wife Nancy later wrote a description about it -- "The old-time cowpuncher knew his horse and it was often a battle of wits when he was `breaking’ him to ride. This horse is making a fight and is figuring on landing on his rider. This rider, being of the best, is thinking too. As he steps off his fighting horse he will be standing beside him when he lands and, having a hold of the cheek piece of the hackamore, will help the horse bump his head a little harder when he hits the ground. As the horse comes up the cowpuncher will grasp the horn and will be in the saddle when he gets on his feet again. Most horses think twice before they throw themselves a second time.” Russell completed the model in 1921 and a version was shown that year in Denver at the Brown Palace Hotel. The first casts were done by Roman Bronze Works in NY and later casts were done by California Art Bronze Foundry. The plaster casting model was damaged after Russell's death and was reworked. After 1927, Nancy Russell supervised the casting of this work and after her death other posthumous casts were produced by several foundries. This bronze offered here is from one of those posthumous editions. It was cast by Classic Bronze in El Monte California in 1980 from one of the originals. It is cast number 1 from a proposed edition of 50 casts but the edition was never completed. There were probably less than 10 of these large bronzes cast by Classic Bronze before they stopped production of it. The bronze has a rich red brown patina and it mounted on a 2 inch thick walnut wood base. It is signed by Russell and marked "JHM Classic Bronze 1/50 Copyright 1980 M.S.D.C.". It has sharp detail and is full of action. There are only 15 Roman Bronze Works casts of this model, and one sold at Sotheby's NY in 2008 for $469.000, another sold in 2006 brought $352,000. A cast by California Art Bronze was sold in March 2017 at the Russell Museum auction for over $300,000.
This posthumous cast from the original is reasonably priced in the low 4 figures and one can enjoy this Charles Russell classic Western bronze without breaking the bank!
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Deer: James L. Clark.: James Clark was best known for his sculptures of African big game animals but he also did a few North American animals. His model of a Virginia Deer lying down is a peaceful work showing the doe resting but alert with her ears up as if she has heard something. Clark's talent with anatomy is shown clearly in this small bronze. A fine and rare subject by one of the best of the American Animaliers, the bronze was cast by the Roman Bronze Works and is finished in a rich brown patina. |
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Walking Lion FB: Antoine Louis Barye.: Barye is best known for his bronzes of the big cats and the Walking Lion is one of his most famous sculptures. The model was first created in the 1840s and it has remained popular well into the 20th century. The famous Barbedienne foundry cast the Lion Qui Marche for many years and their casts are of very fine quality. It is a icon of Barye's work and examples can be found in museums and collections world wide. This powerful Lion also has been used as a symbol by MGM studios who issued a copy of it. The muscle structure of this powerful beast is sculpted in such perfect detail that you can see the ripples as he strides along. The Lion's mane is shaggy and well detailed, his mouth is partly open and the whole animal gves the impression of strength and power. Barye sculpted a Walking Tiger as a pendant to this Lion but the Lion looks very well on his own. The Lion qui Marche has been copied in plaster and other materials over the years. The Caproni Brothers company in Boston during the early 1900s made plaster models of many famous bronzes and this Lion was one of their most popular sculptures. Caproni plaster casts were sold to schools and teachers to use as examples and even though plaster is fragile, many have survived today. This bronze was cast in the 19th century by the Barbedienne foundry and has their mark of "F.BARBEDIENNE Fondeur" inscribed on the base. The Lion is finished in a rich dark green and black patina. Barbedienne cast both the Lion and Tiger starting in the 1860s for some years and these bronzes are much prized today. The Walking Lion is illustrated in the following books: Art Bronzes by Michael Forrest, pg. 168. Other casts of this sculpture are in these museum collections: Price: $0.00 |
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Spaniel Version 2: Antoine Louis Barye.: The model of the Epagneul No 2 was first sculpted in 1840. It was a popular subject and was cast in many variations. The Spaniel dog is used in a group with another dog pointing birds and also in one with the dogs pointing rabbits. This cast is the original form of the single dog, but it was cast about 1860. The bronze has sharp details, you can see all the texture in the dog's fur. It is finished in a rich dark brown patina and mounted on a 1" thick green veined marble base. This bronze is illustrated in the book Animals in Bronze by Christopher Payne on page 225. |
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Saint Francis of Assisi: Malvina Hoffman.: This bronze is the head of Saint Francis of Assis, it is a study from Malvina Hoffman's full figure sculpture of Saint Francis of Assisi. She created St Francis in 1935 in a 19 inch size and later did a 58 inch size in 1939. Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge was a great admirer of Malvina's sculpture and had a cast of the largest size of St Francis installed on her property at Giralda. Malvina Hoffman studied under Rodin and was influenced by his style of sculpting parts of a larger work, such as the hands of a figure, or the figure's head, done as small sketches before he completed the larger finished work. She did many small bronze sketches of parts of her larger sculptures and this is one example. The head of Saint Francis is well modeled and shows him with his head tilted back in prayer. The bronze has a rich brown patina with added touches of gilt to highlight it, and it is mounted on the original 1 1/2 inch thick ebonized black wood base.
Very few of these working studies were cast and there are probably only 2 or 3 of them in existence. A rare model of a famous animal lover by one of the most important American sculptors.
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Wolf Seizing a Stag Clock: Antoine Louis Barye.: Barye is best known for his superb bronzes such as Cheval Turc, Theseus Slaying the Minotaur, Roger and Angelica on the Hippogriff, Lion and Serpent, Tiger devourant un Crocodile Ganges. Along with those models, Barye did a few decorative objects such as this wonderful Clock. This is a fabulous piece, a Miroy Freres, Paris Clock surmounted with the 1843 bronze of Barye's Stag Seized by a Wolf. The clock is made of Ormolu bronze mounts and hand carved panels of black Belgian marble inset on the sides and front. The Clock dial is white porcelain and inside the Clock is stamped "Miroy Freres Btes SGDG A Paris". The Clock measures 21 inches long by 16 inches tall (53.4 cm by 40.7 cm) and the Barye bronze measures 19 inches long by 9 inches tall (48.4 cm by 23 cm). Most of Barye's decorative objects are small so this fine large Stag and Wolf Clock may have been a special commission and it is probably unique. Miroy Freres was one of the best Clockmakers of the 19th century and Queen Victoria purchased 5 of their sculptural mantel Clocks in 1855. The company also won a Medal in 1851.
The Barye bronze is made for the Clock, the base is specially fitted to the Clock and it is a superb original cast dating from 1843. The fur detail in the Stag and the Wolf are wonderful and this bronze is a rare model in its own right. A rare masterpiece.
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Gazelle: Antoine Louis Barye.: Barye sculpted several small models of Gazelles and Kevel Antelopes in the 1840s. They were popular subjects and were cast for some years. This bronze shows a Gazelle standing at rest with his ears up listening for danger.
Barye was a master at depicting any animal he turned his hand to and this Gazelle is beautifully done. The bronze is finished with a rich dark brown with a little green patina, it is a fine cabinet bronze of a graceful Gazelle that does not often come on the market. |
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Bacchante and Infant Faun: Frederick MacMonnies.: One of MacMonnies' most famous sculptures is the Bacchante with Infant Faun. It was cast in several different sizes by both French and American foundries and it was quite controversial when it was first made in the late 19th century. The image of a dancing nude was shocking to many and it was censored and condemned by critics. An 83" size model of this sculpture by Frederick MacMonnies was cast by the Thiebault Freres foundry and offered as a gift to the Boston Public Library by the architect Charles Follen McKim in 1896. The sculpture was to be placed in the garden court of the library. The Woman's Christian Temperance Union caused such a public outcry citing its "drunken indecency" that the gift was refused by the library. McKim gave the statue to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York where it resides today. The spectacle that was made regarding this gift gave MacMonnies and this model a great deal of notoriety in the United States. A model of Bacchante and Infant Faun is in the permanent collections of most of the museums in the United States and France.
Because the Bacchante with Infant faun was so popular, it was also cast in other materials besides bronze. The bronzes were done in several sizes and the larger casts are rare and sell into the high 5 figures. The sculpture we offer here was done of terra cotta with a bronze patina applied to it so it looks just like a bronze. These terra cotta Bacchante sculptures are fragile and not many have survived. Our Bacchante is signed on the side of the base and was retailed through the Frank Herschede Company Jewelers and Silversmiths of Cincinnati Ohio, which was a prominent store in the early 1900s.
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Shore Bird: Paul Edouard Delabrierre.: A wonderful depiction of a Shore bird or Snipe running along. Birds were a popular subject in bronze in the mid to late 10th century and Delabrierre has captured his subject wonderfully. |
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Hound: Pierre Jules Mene.: Mene did many studies of dogs, especially hunting dogs. His setters, pointers, and hounds all show great individuality and most are models of particular dogs. This study of a Hound is well modeled and must have been a popular sculpture. Mene first sculpted him in 1843. The Hound has been reproduced in Parian ware and also by many of the porcelain manufacturers such as Copeland, Nymphenburg, and Meissen. The bronze is finished in a rich dark brown patina and is cast by the Susse Freres foundry.
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Baby Robin: Paul Wayland Bartlett.: Paul Bartlett spent most of his life in France and working with the Animalier sculptors of the time. He was influenced by Emmanuel Fremiet and this can be seen in the small model of a Baby Robin. Fremiet sculpted many small animals in his early career and Bartlett followed his example. The Baby Robin sits quietly, with alert eyes and quiet pose showing the nature of a fragile baby bird. The bronze has a very dark brown almost black patina and it was cast by Paul Bartlett who was known to have cast many of his small sculptures. Other casts of this model were cast by the Limerick Company Foundry in Baltimore, Maryland.
This small bronze must have been a popular one since other examples of the Baby Robin are in the collections of Brookgreen Gardens, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and Tudor Place historic home. |
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King Charles Spaniel 1st Version: Pierre Jules Mene.: Mene did many small models of dogs during his career and several of them were of small pets like the King Charles Spaniel. This sculpture of a King Charles Spaniel is one of his early works done in the early 1840s. The frisky Spaniel is standing on a carpet patterned base with his head up in an alert pose. The character of a well loved pet is perfectly shown.
This model was a popular one and many were cast in the 19th century. Unfortunately it was also often copied. Our bronze is a fine original 1840s cast from Mene's own foundry and shows sharp details in the dog's fur and his feet. It has a rich mid brown patina, a fine example of one of Mene's best small dogs. |
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Fox in Trap: Alfred Dubucand.: Early in his career Alfred Dubucand sculpted mostly wild animals. This bronze sculpture is of a dog Fox caught by its tail in a leg hold trap. Dubucand captures the essence of fear in the eyes and expression of the animal as it realizes that it no longer is free.
A rare model that shows the harshness of life, it is not very popular today and such traps are rarely used and are outlawed in many places. This bronze is expertly modeled with sharp details and finished in a gold dore patina. |
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Setter and Hare: Alfred Dubucand.: Hunting dogs were very popular in 19th century art, and these dogs were also widely used to put food on the table. Most of the dog breeds were Pointers, Setters, Spaniels, and Retrievers and many of them looked quite different in the mid 19th century than they do today. This makes it difficult to know exactly what breed is shown in a sculpture unless the artist has engraved a title on it.
This well modeled bronze sculpture of a Setter Dog is expertly cast and finished in a medium brown patina. Alfred Dubucand shows his abilities in this sculpture and one can easily see the influence of Barye, his teacher, in the attention to detail taken with both the dog and the hare at its feet. This fine bronze sculpture would be an excellent addition to any collection or for the sporting or dog enthusiast. |
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Hounds: Alfred Dubucand.: Dubucand was one of the more talented of the Animalier sculptors. His bronzes of dogs, horses, birds, and wild animals were well detailed and life like. His hunting dogs and hounds are among his best work. He sculpted two small pairs of Hounds and this is one of them.
These Two Hounds are hot on the trail, one is scenting the ground and the other has his head up baying. The accuracy in both dogs' fur and muscles is superb, and the forest ground shows leaves, branches and rocks below the dogs. The Hounds have a soft golden patina while the ground they are on has a rich brown patina, such multicolor patinas are often found in Dubucand's bronzes. |
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Lion and Serpent (Sketch): Antoine Louis Barye.: One of Barye's most famous subjects was the Lion and Serpent, and he sculpted several variations of it. From the critics' comments "The Lion roars and the Serpent hisses..." and it is considered one of Barye's best compositions. This model was first created in 1833 and is titled Lion au Serpent No 3 (esquisse). It is a "sketch" model showing the Lion raising his paw to hit the snake, unlike the other versions where the Lion has his paw on the snake's body. This small model was very popular and was cast for many years in the mid to late 19th century.
Our bronze offered shows good detail and has a superb dark green, brown, and black patina which is typical of Barye's best bronzes. A handsome small model of a powerful subject.
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Bull and Dogs: Christophe Fratin.: A fine and rare 19th century model of a Bull trampling two Bulldogs. Bull baiting was a common sport in the early 1800s and the dogs used for this had to be tough and agile. These Bull and Terrier crossed dogs were the forbearers of the modern pit bull. Fratin did several sculptures of these early Bulldogs and they must have been a popular breed at the time. This rare bronze is a sharp well detailed cast with a rich brown patina. |
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Setter Walking: Jules Moigniez.: The Walking Setter is a classic Moigniez model and one of his best works. It is the companion piece to the Walking Pointer and they were often sold as a pair with matching patinas. This bronze is a fine early cast done by Moigniez's father and showing the sharp detail and unusual golden gilt patina typical of his father's foundry work. The dog has a fine coat which shows every hair in this superb sculpture, he is on the alert for game birds as he walks along.
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Arab Mare with Saddle and Gun: Pierre Jules Mene.: Mene's sculpture L'Accolade of the Arab Stallion and Mare is one of his most famous works and was the basis for several other sculptures. From The Accolade, Mene produced the Arab Stallion Saddled, Cheval Libre, and this fine model of an Arab Mare with Saddle and Gun.
The Mare is posed with her saddle at her feet with all its straps and decorations, and leaned against the Saddle is an old Rifle. An excellent portrait of well bred Arabian Mare with her native Saddle and gear. The bronze has good details and a rich brown patina. |
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Roman Jester: Antoine Louis Barye.: Barye's model of Le Petite Fou de Rome, or Roman Jester, is an interesting sculpture that was created about 1874 and cast in bronze a short time later. Both Ballu and Pivar in their books suggest that Barye cast this model directly from an authentic Tanagra figurine, which would explain the fact that none of these sculptures are signed. That also would coincide with the 1870s excavations in the Boeotian city of Tanagra when large numbers of these figures were discovered, and they would have caught Barye’s interest. These figures also appealed to Barye's friend the great Orientalist artist Jean-Leon Gerome. In his sculpture titled Tanagra, Gerome depicted a seated woman with Tanagra figures on her hand and strewn around her feet. One of the figures peering out of the ground is that of Le Petit Fou de Rome. These small Fou de Rome bronzes were not cast in large numbers and do not come up for sale often. Some were cast by Barbedienne foundry but most of them have no foundry mark at all.
Our bronze of Le Petite Fou de Rome is a good 19th century cast with a rich dark bronze patina. He is mounted on the original yellow sienna marble rectangular base which has Barye's name engraved on it. An unusual piece for a Barye collection.
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Brussels Griffon: Pierre Jules Mene.: This is a single standing Brussels Griffon dog. A rare model, it is wonderfully modeled and highly detailed bronze sculpture with a rich copper brown patina which Mene used on some of his bronzes. Pierre Jules Mene was a master at portraying dogs. With this portrait of a Griffon he captures the perky nature of this friendly breed of dog who is standing alertly looking at something that has caught his attention. |
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Bull Terrier: Alfred Dubucand.: Dubucand sculpted quite a few dog breeds during his career and one of the more unusual ones is this small model of a Bull and Terrier cross which is a fore bearer of the Bull Terrier. Rat catching contests were popular in the early 1800s and the dogs used for this needed to be quick and agile, yet with a hard bite and having the determination to keep after the rats even while suffering from many rat bites. Money was wagered on this sport and it was a hard life for the dogs and many died from infected bites.
Terriers were crossed with Bulldogs of the time to get a small tough dog that could quickly catch rats and take the pain of their bites. These Bull and Terrier crosses were good working dogs and Dubucand sculpted two of them, one more Bulldog looking and one more Terrier looking. This bronze is the Terrier type, it has good detail showing the muscles of the dog and his powerful build, with a rich brown patina. |
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Greyhound: Alfred Dubucand.: Dubucand did several hunting compositions of dogs with horses and riders. This single Greyhound is from one of those models, the Arab Hunter on horseback with two Greyhounds standing beside the horse. The two Greyhounds were also done as a pair and as single sculptures, they were cast in two sizes. Our Greyhound is the smaller size showing the single hound at rest, he is well detailed and has a gilt patina. All of the Dubucand Greyhound sculptures are rare and this one is a nice size for a desk or cabinet. |
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Setter: Charles Valton.: Valton was best known for his Chained Mastiff and his sculptures of big cats but he also did some other fine small models. This bronze of a Setter hunting is an excellent example of his talent. Hunting was very popular in the mid 19th century and bronzes of hunting dogs and game birds were sought after to use as decorations for the home. Setters and Retrievers with their long fur were good subjects for sculpture. Our Valton Setter is well detailed, he is frozen in motion as he trots along searching for a bird. He has a rich brown patina and is mounted on a 5 7/8" by 1/2" (15 cm by 1 cm) rouge marble base. |
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Quail: Ferdinand Pautrot.: Pautrot was a fine Animalier sculptor who created many models of birds that were popular in the 19th century. His work rivaled that of Moigniez and Comolera. Most of his birds are shown in a natural setting. Game birds were very popular in the mid 19th century and sculptures of Quail, Grouse, and Pheasants adorned many homes. These game bird sculptures continue to be popular today and are enjoyed by nature lovers as well as hunters. This large life sized bronze shows a Quail as he struts along with his wings out doing a courtship display while he calls for a mate. The Quail is captured in mid step and the details on this bronze are superb.
The Quail is finished in a mid brown patina and is on a naturalistic round base with a stump and an oak branch. A fine model that enhance any collection. |
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Song Bird Singing: Ferdinand Pautrot.: Pautrot was a master at portraying birds of all varieties. Here he has created a small song bird on a branch captured in mid song. The detail is superb and you can see all the lines in the feathers of this small bird. It is a charming piece which shows a happy bird. |
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Pointer Walking: Pierre Jules Mene.: P.J. Mene did many sculptures of hunting dogs and this model of a Pointer Walking is one of his best works. This Pointer was cast in 3 sizes, this one is the largest size. He was done as just the dog alone, and with either a bird or a hare in his mouth. Pointers are one of the best hunting dogs and were very popular in the 19th century. They have been the subject of many paintings and sculptures. This bronze showed a lean well muscled dog and not a pet but a true working dog bred to run for hours on the hunt in the fields.
Mene first sculpted this fine model in the 1840s, and the early casts had a flat rim on the base. Mene used a beveled rim on the bases after 1860, so this cast dates to the 1860s. A fine sharp cast, it has sharp details and a rich red brown patina. |
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Lion: Thomas Cartier.: Thomas Cartier was an excellent sculptor working in the early 1900s. He is best known for his sculptures of Lions, Tigers, Panthers and other big cats. Many of these were incorporated into decorative objects such as clocks. This powerful model shows a proud Lion posed on a rocky base with his head and tail up. The Lion is well sculpted with a full mane, the bronze has an interesting two color patina with the base done in brown and the Lion in a golden brown.
An impressive large bronze Lion that would be a focal point of any room. A true King of Beasts done in bronze. Many of Cartier's sculptures were cast in white metal but this one is definitely a bronze cast dating from about 1905. This model is illustrated in Payne's book Animals in Bronze on page 125. |
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Terrier: Christine Baldwin.: Christine Baldwin was a master at portraying purebred dogs and her bronzes were of many dog breeds. This little Terrier might be a Cairn, a West Highland White Terrier, or maybe a Scottish Terrier. This happy dog is sitting up begging for attention. He is signed and dated 1986 on the base and stamped as cast number 1 in an edition of 50 bronzes. We also have a Bloodhound and a Pig by Christine Baldwin, please ask. |
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Agricultural Plaque: Isidore Jules Bonheur.: A 19th century finely detailed bas-relief plaque of Cattle and Sheep by Isidore Bonheur. The sculptor creates the feeling of depth with the heads of the Bull and the Cow rising away from the background. The plaque is mounted to a 7" by 10 1/2" oak panel. It has a presentation on the oak panel which says "Ste D'Enct A L'Agriculture De La Dordogne. 1929". This Award dedication is newer than the 19th century plaque. It was a common practice after the First World War through the 1930'sto use an older Animalier work and place a dedication on it for an agriculture prize or award. |
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Chow Chow Dog: Franz Ziegler.: Franz F. Ziegler was born in Hamburg, Germany on December 5th 1869, and came to America in 1892 where he first studied under Karl Bitter. In the early 1900s he became a contract artist for the Gorham Company foundry in Providence, Rhode Island until his retirement in 1932. He produced silver designs and bronze sculptures that were sold by Gorham in their store for several years. Little is known about this competent American sculptor.
Chow Chow dogs were very popular in the early 1900s. This portrait of a Chow Chow dog is a very well executed portrait of the breed, showing the thick coat and lion like head. It is signed and dated 1915, and finished the deep brown patina used by Gorham Foundry. |
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Mare and Stallion (mini): Pierre Jules Mene.: The Accolade was one of Mene's most famous works, and a model of this sculpture was first exhibited in the Paris Salon of 1852. It immediately met with vast public approval and success and was eventually cast in three sizes. This one is the smallest size and is considered a miniature. Mene did several of his full size models in miniatures and they are quite rare today. Interestingly, in this miniature version, both horses are stallions while the original model showed a stallion and a mare. The bronze has a light brown patina and is mounted on the original 1" thick by 5 5/8" long beveled rouge marble base. |