19th Century Swiss Black Forest St. Bernard Dog Sculpture

This beautiful sculpture has been carved from solid French oak during the latter half of the 19th century. The style is that of Black Forest, with realistic depictions of branches, leaves, grapes, and more. Originally a French clock, most of the timing mechanisms have long been removed. The elaborate carving depicts a man harvesting wine grapes on rocky terrain dotted with vegetation. Our gatherer, who is clad in an overcoat and large brimmed hat, is carrying a hod (hotte in French) full of freshly picked grapes. A large wooden bucket...

This large Black Forest walnut cave a liqueur is from 19th century France. The box has a working lock and key and the interior contents are visible through the beveled glass sides. I...

This intriguing Black Forest inkwell has been meticulously hand carved from wood and dates to 19th century Switzerland. The piece depicts two men attempting to milk a cow. The man wearing a hat is struggling to control the cow by pulling on the bovine’s tail; his bespectacled partner is situated next to the cow in an attempt to milk it. The ground immediately beneath these three figures is a rocky formation of varying height. Below this is a wooden terrain that also has quite a lot of depth. Among the forest-like environment, there are two indentations that house the colored and cut glass inkwells. The colored portions of the mushroom-shaped wells are a rustic orange that ties in nicely with the dark brown wood used in the carving. The wells are then capped with silvered lids. One of the glass containers has a perforated top, which would have held the pounce or sand (pounce pot). This would have permitted the writer to sprinkle the sand on the paper before inking to aid in the drying process. Excess pounce was often poured back into the container. The milk cows...

Cast in France during the 1800s, this patinated bronze bust depicts a woman soldier, based on the style of hair and the ceremonial accoutrement on the armor cuirass. Our stoic soldier has a four-petal flower adorning the breastplate (to the viewer’s left of the artist’s signature-Dubois). On each side of the flower is a dangling strap for the helmet that protects the heroine. At the top of the helmet is a mythical creature, resembling a dragon with a long three-prong tail, with the outer two tendrils curling along the sides of the helmet. A thick bun protrudes from the back of the open cabasset-style helmet. The style of the helmet is reminiscent of the 19th century Paul Dubois bronze...

This is a stunning pair of French fireplace bronze doré chenets from the 1800’s. Each chenet has a putto standing on a large cluster of curled acanthus leaves. Beneath the leaves are thick bases with cavetto molding adorned with a series of C-scrolls. Grapevines and wheat husks emanate upwards from the leaves, giving the chenets some additional height. One of the putti is pulling a grapevine over his shoulder, while the other one has a sickle in his hand. French chenets...

This well detailed terra cotta statue of a woman filling a water jug is from the late 19th century and measures over 30 inches high. The woman is holding a jug under the spout of a fountain; the spout is depicted as a lion mascaron. Beneath the lion spout...

A 'Black Forest' Dog Group The naturalistically carved limewood group shows the bitch couchant and her three playful pups; glass eyes are used in all the figures, in the manner of Walter Mäder...

Fine and rare Swiss Black Forest carved St. Bernard Dog relaxed laying down with its head resting. The figure carved from a single piece of wood beautifully sculptured with a natural...

A 'Black Forest' Carved Dog Group Constructed in naturalistically carved and stained limewood, on a rectangular base with radiused angles, the bitch couchant, and attending to her two pups, all fitted with realistic glass eyes, in the manner of Walter Mäder...

A Swiss Black Forest hand carved limewood study of a St Bernard Mountain rescue dog. This very pleasing and beautifully hand carved small black forest lime wood study is of a seated...

A black forest cattle group Carved in lindenwood, the naturalistically carved swiss cow, calf and bull stand on an elliptical base of grass and rocky outc...

These elegant antique wall plaques were crafted in the Alps of Switzerland, circa 1880. The trophies compositions are displayed on a scalloped board decorated with leaf motifs around...