French Sculpture of Two Cupids Contesting a Heart, After E. Falconet, circa 1850

Made in plaster, circa 1880, this interesting French sculpture depicts Francois Rene de Chateaubriand sitting with his legs crossed in an armchair. A rolled scroll is in his right hand, which rests on his thigh and books and scrolls are strewn beneath the chair. Chateaubriand’s long overcoat is unbuttoned and gathered, showing an elegant frock and bowtie ensemble beneath. Beneath the chair is a shaped plinth with cavetto molding on all sides and “Chateaubriand” incised along the front. Francois Rene de Chateaubriand was born in Saint-Malo, France in 1768, the youngest of 10 children. A noted politician, historian, and author, Chateaubriand had a profound effect on literature, being the first major figure of Romanticism. Chateaubriand was also the original man of letters, a group of French authors that also had burgeoning political careers. A fellow man of letter, Victor Hugo was so inspired by Chateaubriand that he is known for having said “To be Chateaubriand or nothing”. This French plaster sculpture...

This superb French bronze of two shepherds was done for the Salon des Beaux-Arts in 1923 by R. Varnier. Varnier’s ability to sculpt the proper proportions, musculature, and particularly, their emotion, is phenomenal. The dogs are on a mound, chained to a post with their food at its base. One is lying down with an alert face and ears up and forward, while the other is half lunging over his partner with one leg up, his mouth open and his ears forward. The bronze has been patinated and is in very good condition. Varnier’s signature is inscribed on the back base of the bronze as R Varnier...

Lightweight and intricately carved, this sculpture depicts a small, winged cherub flying through wispy clouds. The sculpture was hand-carved in France during the 1700’s. The cherub w...

Standing over 2 feet tall, these high quality bronze statues depict soldiers during the French revolutionary wars. They are labeled and signed Dumaige (French sculptor, Etienne-Henry Dumaige 1830-1888). The statues show incredible detail, excellent proportion, and retain their original, rich, brown patina, which is still in remarkable condition. Each solider has a raised brass placard on the front of the 1 ½” thick square bases: one reads Avant le combat volontaire de 1792 par Dumaige, H.C, while the other is titled “Apres le combat grenadier de 1792 par Dumaige, H.C.”. The designation “H.C.” stands for Hors concours (“standout”), which is used for artwork that is excluded from competition because it has already claimed top honors elsewhere. Avant, meaning “before” shows our soldier as a volunteer drummer. Drums were used on the battlefield not only to provide cadence for the soldiers, but also to issue orders based on the percussion pattern. Here, our soldier’s drum is attached to a harness that runs across his right shoulder. Both hands are gripping the frame of the drum, while there is a drumstick in his left hand. There is a satchel on the soldier’s back as he stands on grass with a small wood fence behind him. Our soldier has a mustache with long braided hair in the back. He is wearing a fluted bicorne with a pomme tuft and has earrings in both ears. His jacket is knee-length in the back, with tasseled epaulets on the shoulders. Apres, meaning “after”, depicts the man as a grenadier, enjoying tobacco after a conflict. The grenadier...

This pair of silvered wooden reliquaries are from France, circa 1750. The backs are still preserved by wax seals, indicating that the relics were never removed. Each reliquary has...

Originally from Austria, circa 1880, this life-sized painted terra cotta sculpture depicts a large and regal pinscher. The seated dog has been hand-painted black, with light traces o...

Magnificent and large sculpture in patinated terracotta, entitled “Deux amours disputant un cœur” after Étienne Maurice Falconet (1716-1791), resting on a terrace decorated with a frieze of pearls and wrapped reeds, the second half of the 19th century, and is distributed in bronze, marble, alabaster, terracotta. Two winged loves are depicted in a fight to retrieve a heart figured on the base. Period: End of 19th Century Circa: 1898 - 1900 Dimensions: height: 50cm - width of the base: 28cm Signed: "Falconet" on the terrace. Marked hollow: GC Below Artist, man of letters and esthetician, the career of sculptor Etienne Maurice Falconet (1716 - 1791) is particularly exemplary. Overcoming the handicap of his birth, this brilliant autodidact with an extraordinary personality has rubbed shoulders with the greatest. Protected by Mme de Pompadour, a friend of Diderot and the Encyclopedists, he has established himself by his talent and his culture. The work carried out at Saint Roch church and his position as director of sculpture work at the Manufacture de Sèvres are in a way the prelude to his work in Saint Petersburg. The imposing Bronze Horseman...

Magnificent and large sculpture in patinated terra cotta, entitled "Two loves disputing a heart" after Etienne Maurice Falconet (1716-1791), resting on a terrace decorated with a frieze of pearls and reeds wrapped in ribbons This work was very successful in the second half of the 19th century, and was produced in bronze, marble, alabaster and terracotta.  Two winged lovers are represented in a fight to recover a heart figured on the base.   Period : End of XIXth century Circa : 1898 - 1900 Dimensions : Height : 50cm - Width of the base : 28cm Signature : " Falconet " on the terrace. Marked in hollow : GC below Artist, man of letters and aesthetician, the career of the sculptor Etienne Maurice Falconet (1716 - 1791) is particularly exemplary. Overcoming the handicap of his birth, this brilliant self-taught man with an extraordinary personality rubbed shoulders with the greatest. Protégé of Mme de Pompadour, friend of Diderot and the Encyclopedists, he was able to impose himself by his talent and his culture. The works executed at the church of Saint Roch and his position as director of sculpture at the Manufacture de Sèvres are in a way the prelude to his work in Saint Petersburg.  The imposing bronze Cavalier...

Bronze group with brown patina featuring Cupids fighting over a heart after Etienne-Maurice Falconet (1716-1791). This work had a great success in the second half of the 19th century...

A very fine French 19th century Patinated bronze Figure of "Milo of Croton and the Lion" after the marble sculpture of Milon de Crotone by renown French...

French sculptor Etienne-Maurice Falconet (1716-1791) is the inspiration for this beautiful, sumptuous mantel clock. His clock, crafted in the late 18th Century and now on display at the Louvre Museum, caused such a stir when it was exhibited over 100 years later, at the Great Exhibition in Paris in 1900 that one reviewer claimed that it "attracted so much admiration from the crowds gathered around that the pressure was sufficient at times to endanger its safety." As well as this famed 'Three Graces...

An enchanting and classical late 19th century patinated bronze study of two cherubs wrestling over a heart, after Etienne-Maurice Falconet (1716-1791).