Items Similar to White Bear
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 12
François PomponWhite Bear1931
1931
About the Item
White Bear
by François POMPON (1855-1933)
Amazing original edition sculpture made in white mat porcelain biscuit.
Stamped in the paste " S – Sèvres – Manufacture nationale France "
with the date-letter " d " used in 1931.
Monogramm stamped in the paste " MR " (for Michel Renault, moulder working in Sèvres from 1928 until 1952).
Perfect condition
France
1931
height 21 cm
length 39 cm
depth 10,5 cm
Model edited by the Sèvres manufacture between 1924 and 1934, by contract No 1459 of December 5th 1923, for a period of 5 years tacitly renewable.
Pompon shut down the contract on May the 26th 1930 for January 1934, the mould had been broken on December 26th 1940.
A similar model is represented in "Pompon, catalogue raisonné ", Editions Gallimard, Rmn, 1994, Page 211, n°122C.
Biography:
François Pompon (1855-1933) is known for his animal sculptures whose innovative style is characterized by the simplification of shapes and polished surfaces. Pompon entered as an apprentice in the workshop of his father, Alban Pompon (1823-1907) who was a "compagnon du devoir" of the carpenter-cabinetmakers. Thanks to a scholarship obtained by the parish priest, he left in 1870 for Dijon where he became an apprentice stonemason with a marble worker. He attended evening classes at the School of Fine Arts in Dijon, first in architecture and engraving with Célestin Nanteuil, then in sculpture with François Dameron (1835-1900).
After a short stint in the army in 1875, Pompon arrived in Paris where he became a marble worker in a funeral business near the Montparnasse cemetery. He attended evening classes at the Petite École, the future National School of Decorative Arts. His teachers were the sculptors Aimé Millet (1819-1891) and Pierre Louis Rouillard (1820-1881), also professor of anatomy, who showed him the menagerie of the Jardin des Plantes.
In 1890, François Pompon entered the studio of Auguste Rodin (1840-1917), where he worked as a practitioner at the marble depot, rue de l'Université. He quickly gained the master's confidence since he ran the workshop in 1893. His role then was to pass on the accounts, pay for the marbles and supervise the work. It is in this same workshop that he met Ernest Nivet and Camille Claudel. He worked for a long time as a practitioner for other sculptors such as Jean Dampt in 1885, Antonin Mercié in 1888, Alexandre Falguière in 1890, or René de Saint-Marceaux from 1896 to 1914, as well as for Camille Claudel. Pompon was interested in the art of the Far East and he was deeply marked by the Japonism then in vogue at the time. He also admired Egyptian art exhibited at the Louvre. His first known animal sculpture represented a "Lucane" (1874).
François Pompon's final choice to work only with animals was made in 1905, when the animal-subject was in tune with the times, with the dissemination of the discoveries of primitive and prehistoric civilizations in journals such as Le Premier Volume des albums Reiber (1877) and Le Japon Artistique (1888-1891), the Universal Exhibitions of Paris (1867, 1878 and 1889) and the oriental animal bronzes brought to Paris by Henri Cernuschi from 1873. He then decided to simplify the shape of his sculptures. He polished surfaces and removed details. During the First World War, René de Saint-Marceaux died in 1915, and Pompon, too old to be mobilized, found himself out of work. The animals in the plant garden having been slaughtered, Pompon had to cease his activity as a sculptor to live on small trades: employee of the Samaritaine in 1916, then worker in various workshops.
But it was not until 1922 that François Pompon became famous for sending the "Ours blanc" (polar bear) to the Salon d'Automne in that year, where his work contrasted with its modernism on the aesthetics of the realistic sculpture inherited from the 19th century. Pompon's works were published by the Hébrard Foundry until 1922. Then Pompon followed his workshop manager Claude Valsuani to whom he entrusted his models when he took over his father's foundry at 74 rue des Plantes in Paris.
- Creator:François Pompon (1855-1933, French)
- Creation Year:1931
- Dimensions:Height: 8.27 in (21 cm)Width: 15.36 in (39 cm)Depth: 4.14 in (10.5 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:PARIS, FR
- Reference Number:Seller: N.80471stDibs: LU2514216373562

About the Seller
5.0
Recognized Seller
These prestigious sellers are industry leaders and represent the highest echelon for item quality and design.
Established in 1992
1stDibs seller since 2023
7 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 11 hours
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: PARIS, France
- Return Policy
Authenticity Guarantee
In the unlikely event there’s an issue with an item’s authenticity, contact us within 1 year for a full refund. DetailsMoney-Back Guarantee
If your item is not as described, is damaged in transit, or does not arrive, contact us within 7 days for a full refund. Details24-Hour Cancellation
You have a 24-hour grace period in which to reconsider your purchase, with no questions asked.Vetted Professional Sellers
Our world-class sellers must adhere to strict standards for service and quality, maintaining the integrity of our listings.Price-Match Guarantee
If you find that a seller listed the same item for a lower price elsewhere, we’ll match it.Trusted Global Delivery
Our best-in-class carrier network provides specialized shipping options worldwide, including custom delivery.More From This Seller
View AllParrotlet
Located in PARIS, FR
Parrotlet
by Armand PETERSEN (1891-1969) & SEVRES Manufacture
Sculpture in white paste porcelain
Signed « A. Petersen »
Old edition artwork. Stamped by the porcelain manufacture of ...
Category
1930s French School Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
Torso of a woman
Located in PARIS, FR
Torso of a woman
by Auguste HENG (1891-1968)
Sculpture in pink marble stone
Signed on the base " A. Heng "
Presented on an olive-wood base
France
circa 1925
height 34,5 cm
height ...
Category
1920s Art Deco Nude Sculptures
Materials
Stone
Pair of bookends with Elephants
By Ary Bitter
Located in PARIS, FR
Pair of bookends with Elephants
by Ary BITTER (1883-1973)
Pair of bronze sculptures with a nuanced greenish light brown patina
Raised on their original veneered amaranth burl bases
...
Category
1930s Art Deco Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Bogota's Glory
By Henri Bouchard
Located in PARIS, FR
Bogota's Glory
by Henri Bouchard (1875-1960)
Sculpture in bronze with a nuanced yellow-brown patina
Signed "H. Bouchard" on the base
Cast by "Siot" (stamp)
France
circa 1927
height...
Category
1920s Art Deco Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Apollo
By Henri Bouchard
Located in PARIS, FR
"Apollo" by Henri Bouchard (1875-1960)
An Art Deco period masterpiece!
Exceptional bronze sculpture with a golden-brown patina
Signed " H. Bouchard "
Unique piece
This work personifies Apollo, god of the Arts. Represented here as Apollo Musagète, leader of the procession of muses and winner of the serpent Python.
This subject was commissioned to adorn the entrance to the Palais de Chaillot in Paris, and whose monumental bronze is still exhibited there.
To participate in the Venice Biennale in 1938, Henri Bouchard had reduced in 1937 the large Apollo of the Palais de Chaillot, which had not yet been installed.
Vintage cast by Bisceglia (cast founder stamp) made during the artist's lifetime.
Incised dedication below signature : " à mon cher ami E. Sandoz "
This is a unique cast made for the sculptor Edouard-Marcel Sandoz (1881-1971).
This cast was exhibited at the 1938 Venice Biennale.
France
1937
height : 82 cm
width : 45 cm
depth : 30 cm
weight : 31,2 kgs
Stickers under the bronze cast :
- Sticker mentioning that this cast has been exhibited at the Venice Biennale of 1938 under the number 354 ("Biennale Internaz. d'Arte Venezia – 1938 – XVI – 354").
- Sticker mentioning that this cast went through Italian customs ("ne – merci – dogana italiana – visitate - 9622")
- Damaged Sticker mentioning the name ("A…") and the address ("25…") of the owner of the cast (maybe for the workshop "Atelier Henri Bouchard", 25 rue d’Yvettes, 75016 Paris).
Provenance :
- Edouard-Marcel Sandoz, Paris, according to the dedication.
- Property from the Collection of Seymour Stein (entrepreneur and founder of Sire Records, famous American record label ; and avid collector of 19th and 20th century fine art...
Category
1930s Art Deco Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
$193,835
Cockatoo
By Edouard-Marcel Sandoz
Located in PARIS, FR
Cockatoo
Head turned to the right, with a raised and spread out crest
by Edouard-Marcel SANDOZ (1881-1971)
A bronze sculpture with a dark brown patina nuanced with green
Signed on t...
Category
1930s Art Deco Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
You May Also Like
Eleanor Rhino Whiskey Cups
By Rachel Hubbard Kline
Located in Kansas City, MO
Artist: Rachel Hubbard Kline
Title : Eleanor Rhino Whiskey Cups
Materials : Porcelain, Underglaze, Glaze, Decals
Date : 2018
Dimensions : 4" x 3.25" x 3.25...
Category
2010s Art Deco Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic, Clay, Luster, Stoneware, Glaze, Underglaze, Porcelain
Price Upon Request
Keith Murray Pottery designed for Wedgwood in the 1930's
Located in Brookville, NY
Keith Murray Pottery 6" matte green vessel. Excellent condition, normal wear on the bottom. We also have a larger collection of Keith Murray pottery in large Moonstone and Bombe, celadon polished glaze bowls and many others. Please contact for further details and photographs. Keith Murray was both an architect and industrial designer, considered one of the most famous industrial designers for art deco ceramics.
This green piece photographed, has a matching one in yellow. Each are 950.00 or $1700. for the pair. We have an extensive collection of his pieces, many not illustrated here. Please inquire for further photographs.
All from Keith Murray designed for Wedgwood in the 1930' and illustrated in the book "Wedgwood Ceramics...
Category
1930s Art Deco Still-life Sculptures
Materials
Clay
“Adam and Eve”
Located in Southampton, NY
Very rare Art Deco three dimensional terracotta sculpture of Adam and Eve by the Austrian artist, Virgil Rainer. Hand painted by the artist. Signed bott...
Category
1920s Art Deco Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta, Plaster
$4,800 Sale Price
26% Off
Terracotta Galloping Horse. Signed by Giorgio Rossi (1894-1981)
Located in Firenze, IT
Terracotta galloping horse.
Signed on the base by the sculptor Giorgio Rossi (1894-1981).
Period: 1930-40
Terracotta modeled by hand by the artist. Unique piece.
Dimensions: Heigh...
Category
1930s Art Deco Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta
Portrait of boy, terracotta sculpture, 1930s-40s, Giorgio Rossi (1894-1981).
Located in Firenze, IT
Portrait of boy, terracotta sculpture, 1930s-40s, Giorgio Rossi (1894-1981). Tuscan Sculptor.
Terracotta modeled by hand by the artist. Unique piece.
Dimensions: Height 31 cm.
The...
Category
1930s Art Deco Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta
Woman's face, terracotta sculpture, 1930s-40s, Giorgio Rossi (1894-1981).
Located in Firenze, IT
Woman's face, terracotta sculpture, 1930s-40s, Giorgio Rossi (1894-1981). Tuscan Sculptor.
Terracotta modeled by hand by the artist. Unique piece.
Dimensions: Height 27 cm.
The ch...
Category
1930s Art Deco Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta