1930s Animal Sculptures

Large panther sculpture on wedge-shaped black marble base bronze with original patina by Maurice Prost signed: M. Prost Original Art Deco,...

Beautiful bronze Art Deco sculpture of a walking panther on a Belgian black marble base. Signed by Maurice Prost with Susse Freres founders' signature. France ca. 1935. Literat...

A striking iconic early 20th century Art Deco bronze study of a prowling panther with rich black patination lightly rubbed to a golden hue on the raised areas, which captures the eye...

Panthère en Marche, an Art Deco patinated bronze sculpture of a stylised panther prowling over an angled slate base. Signed M. Prost and engraved Susses Fres Editrs Paris to base. ...

A powerful and sleek model of a black panther walking, this work captures the Art Deco movement with its mechanized minimalism and proportions while in every way representing the spirit of the Animalier school. A trained animalier, Maurice Prost was incredibly skilled at both realism and the careful minimalism heralded by the Art Deco movement - Payne’s "Animals in Bronze” showcases a resting panther by Prost that perfectly juxtaposes this form, it’s perfect realism and inordinate detailing lending credibility to springboard into minimalism. The sculpture is finished in a nearly matte black patina and joins through the original Belgian black marble base with large screws tucked under felt. The edges of the base are lightly ground to only hint at the naturalistic bases generally associated with animal sculpture, the pure and gorgeous black marble stone cut with a slight taper in depth and a stronger taper in height. For the serious collector of Art Deco period works, this is a piece with gravity that represents the era in a most powerful manner. Artist biography: Maurice Prost was born in Paris in 1894, apprenticing under a sculptor at age 14. In December of 1914, the majority of his left arm was amputated after an accident, though he continued to sculpt despite the loss. He set up his first workshop in Rue E. Cresson in Paris and subsequently moved his shop in 1926 to Brunoy. The Exposition Universelle in 1937 proved a turning point in his career, at which he exhibited and was recognized for his sculpture of Pegasus and from which he received numerous large commissions - his two four meter sculptures of Pegasus were commissioned for the Bridge de l’Alma. From 1920-1930 he exhibited regularly at Salon des Artistes Fraçais, achieving honorable mention in 1922 and a silver medal in 1936. He exhibited in 1927 at the Susse Gallery in Paris, in 1930 at the Parisian Gallery of Edgar Brandt and at the Colonial Exposition in 1931. In 1933 he received the Légion d’Honneur and a large number of his works are held in the Brunoy museum. Prior sale results: Sotheby’s, Paris, 2010, lot 36, 24 3/8” edition; achieved 10,000 EUR. Freeman’s, Philadelphia, 2008, lot 76, 14 3/16” edition; achieved $ 6,875 USD. Bonhams, London, 2015, lot 69, 64.5cm edition; achieved $ 10,654 USD. Christies, London, 2011, Sale 3697, lot 264, 14 5/8” edition; achieved $ 7,022 USD. Sotheby’s, Paris, 2007, lot 109, 64.5cm edition; achieved 9,600 EUR. Literature: Art Bronzes, Michael Forrest, 1988, p. 220-221, half page illust. 3.171. E. Benezit Dictionary of Artists, Gründ, 2006, Vol. XI, p. 425-426. Susse Frères 150 Years of sculpture 1837-1987, Editions Susse Frères, Pierre Cadet, 1992, p.75. Maurice Prost, Sculpteur et Peintre Animalier (1894-1967): Exposition Musée. Municipal Robert Dubois-Corneau, Brunoy, April 10 - September 30 2007, pp. 25 and 46. Maurice Prost Sculpteur Animalier (1894-1967), Pierre Kastelyn, éd. Concorde Art...