Bronze Statuette of Venus, 2nd Half 19th Century

Small Italian bronze of Aphrodite or Venus on a patinated wooden base. Size of the statuette: 23 cm.

Small ceramic statue of the Dancing Faun after the original by Massimiliano Soldani-Benzi from 1695/1697.

Pair of crater vases in the classicist style with figural scenes on the wall and square plinth. The vases are also decorated with acanthus leaves on the belly and on the rim. The sid...

Red marble casket with pyramidal lid and fitted brass vessels. Light bumps.

Large wall mirror in gold patinated frame with shell and garland decor and central medallion crowning.

Fluted column in mahogany veneer, with a white marble top and fire-gilt appliqués in the fluting. The chest of drawers stands on a round, multi-profiled base over gilded paw feet. Th...

Large walnut wood sculpture in the round, depicting Saint John in the position he usually has at the foot of Christ on the Cross. Beautifully expressive face, framed by expertly curl...

A small French 19th Century bronze statuette of a putti A small French bronze statuette of a putti playing the flute standing on a cl...

GRAND TOUR MODEL AFTER ANTIQUITY Naples, Italy (19th Century) "The Callipygian Venus" Sand-cast and patinated bronze signed foundry mark in the base "Fonderia Artistica Sommer Napoli" (active by 1885-1916) cast late 19th century Item # 402KRG29Z A beautifully cast Grand Tour reduction of the Callipygian Venus after the life-size statue of antiquity, the sculpture was executed by the boutique foundry established by Giorgio Sommer (German/Italian, 1834-1914) for the casting of sculpture in bronze and later the carving of sculpture in marble. Giorgio Sommer was a German photographer who spent most of his career in Italy, moving to Naples in 1857 where he first established his photography business. At some point thereafter he opened the foundry, which was rather successful, likely due to the very fine quality of output the firm produced. While most records show the foundry opened in 1885, sources suggest they were producing sculpture early in the 1870s before exhibiting in 1885. Thereafter they produced illustrated cataloges of their sculpture for marketing and distribution. He died in 1914 and the foundry survived him only two years before closing its doors in 1916. The present example is a richly detailed model with extensive carving and articulation of the underlying model; note the rich stylus work in Venus's hair, the handiwork apparent in the repeating motif around the base and the raised signature of the foundry, which is captured directly from the mold and not simply cold-tooled onto the base. The surface throughout is characterized by perfection: smooth and exquisitely finished garments and skin all finished in a medium-brown translucent patina. The model depicts the Callipygian Venus, also known as the Venus Kallipygos or the Aphrodite Kallipygos. The term "Callipygian" is derived from the Greek words "kallos" meaning beautiful, and "pyge" meaning buttocks. The original is an ancient Roman marble statue...

Bronze statuette of St. Jerome, or St Hieronymous, in the manner of the Venetian sculptor Alessandro Vittorio (1525-1608) by the lost wax technique of bronze casting, which leaves a ...

A 19th century French Bronze depicting a Moroccan Male wearing a fez and carrying two jugs of water. Base is labeled with "Prix de Rome" , a group of scholarsh...

Bronze sculpture of Venus, Louvre museum. Large sculpture of Venus made in the 19th century by the louvre museum. Height: 96 cm. Good condition.