Antique Patinated Spelter Hunting Dogs Sculpture from France

The entrance to the castle of the famed Château de Chantilly is flanked by two colossal statues of hunting dogs, both commissioned by Henri d’Orléans, Duke of Aumale, and completed b...

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...

With a wingspan of five and a half feet wide, this wooden eagle has a commanding presence. Hand-carved in France, circa 1810, the eagle was crafted by a master-level woodworker. Notice how each feather has been carved with incredible detail, showing slight separations in the barbs that make up feathers. The eagle is presented with wings displayed, as if in the midst of flight. Both legs are tucked under the body, as you might see on a gliding bird. The beak is open with a large hole that runs through to the back side, possibly indicating that at one time the eagle held something in its mouth. When Napoleon became Emperor of the French in 1804, he brought about a striking shift in artwork and architecture, embracing the styles of ancient empires...

This terra cotta bust of a monsignor from Dinard, France is signed by the artist with the accompanying date of 1912. An engraving under the left shoulder indicates that the bust was a gift to a Monsignor Blanchet, a well-respected parish priest of Dinard. Msgr Blanchet is depicted wearing a four peak...

This pair of hand carved wooden greyhounds, measuring over 33 inches tall, was made in Italy. They are depicted sitting on their haunches, with their characteristic long, slender t...

Found in a chateau in Loriol du Comtat, in the Provence region of France, this large-scale plaster sculpture is signed and dated by the artist, making it a rare find. Originally part of a boiserie containing a fireplace, the sculpture decorated the main hall of the chateau. The artist, Marius Sain, created the piece for the owners of the chateau in 1914. The lovely depiction of a shepherdess and her flock is a fitting subject for an area of France in which shepherding is such an important part of the culture. The preserved heritage of transhumance in Provence goes back at least 800 years, as evidenced by collections of ancient songs, stories, and art. Life-size in scale, the lovely sculpture features a mix of high-, mid-, and low-relief embellishments. A hooded shepherdess tends to her flock of sheep with a crook in hand. A dog sits calmly at her feet as the flock gathers in front of them. Both the shepherdess and the dog are in high relief, as is the lead sheep. The lamb seen suckling from the front sheep was crafted in mid relief, as is the visible head on the far right of the sculpture. There are a few sheep behind them in low relief. Large trees can be seen on either side of the group, while off in the background (faintly visible) are a castle with four fastigiate Mediterranean cypress trees (known as Stricta) and a spired church. The attention to detail is magnificent, with textured surfaces including the animals’ fur and the uneven ground. A previous owner (recently) had an iron and limestone stand created for displaying purposes. The cream-colored limestone has been cut into three pieces and is inset into the six-legged iron frame. Block print on the plaster can be seen just above the edge of the stand. The letters read Le Soir, which is French for “The Night”. The right side of the sculpture has been signed “M Sain 1914”. Marius Joseph Sain was born in 1877 in Avignon, France. In 1902, Sain moved to Paris to study at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. Through introductions by his older brother and painter, Paul...

This large antique sculpture depicts the heroine Joan of Arc with perfect poise and dressed in full armor, complete with helmet, mail coif and sword by her feet. The plate armor...

Decorate a shelf, table or desk in a study with this beautifully executed dog composition. Crafted in France, circa 1880, the sculpture features two patinated hunting dogs on of a te...

French sculpture "Muse Champêtre", attributed to Louis Moreau. This is a stunning French patinated and bronzed spelter sculpture titled "Muse Champêtre" attributed to Louis Moreau. T...

Pair of French Art Nouveau patinated spelter sculptures French, early 20th century Measures: Figure with lyre: Height 92cm, width 48cm, depth 38cm Other figure: Height 90cm, width 52cm, depth 33cm The spelter works in this pair are after two of the leading Art Nouveau period sculptors: George Maxim and Auguste Moreau. The sculptures portray young women in animated, dance-like postures, wearing flowing dress that recalls Greek wet drapery. One figure holds a musical instrument, while the other spreads her arms as if to music. The figures stand on integral rocky bases above matching marble plinths. Each piece is affixed with a plaque, one reading ‘Libellule par Geo Maxim...

Superb bronze animal group with brown patina representing two dogs, a greyhound and a King - Charles , by Pierre - Jules Mêne . Signature of the sculptor "P.J.MÊNE" on the naturalist...

A beautiful stylized Art Deco sculpture of a cougar, made of green patinated spelter. On a black Belgian marble plinth. Made in France or Belgium aroun...