Neoclassical Cast Marble Sculpture, Paolina Bonaparte as Venus Victrix, C. 1950

Cast in England in the 1900s using reconstituted stone, this charming pig and four piglets statue has developed a lovely weathered patina from exposure to the elements. Reconstituted stone is organic stone that has been crushed into small bits (if you look closely, you can still see pebble inclusions within the casting). These fragments are then combined with cement and sometimes coloring pigments are added to the mix. The resulting aggregate is poured into a mold where it is left to harden. After the blend has set, the mold is removed, rendering a durable work of art. Our weathered cast stone pig...

Made in plaster, circa 1880, this interesting French sculpture depicts Francois Rene de Chateaubriand sitting with his legs crossed in an armchair. A rolled scroll is in his right hand, which rests on his thigh and books and scrolls are strewn beneath the chair. Chateaubriand’s long overcoat is unbuttoned and gathered, showing an elegant frock and bowtie ensemble beneath. Beneath the chair is a shaped plinth with cavetto molding on all sides and “Chateaubriand” incised along the front. Francois Rene de Chateaubriand was born in Saint-Malo, France in 1768, the youngest of 10 children. A noted politician, historian, and author, Chateaubriand had a profound effect on literature, being the first major figure of Romanticism. Chateaubriand was also the original man of letters, a group of French authors that also had burgeoning political careers. A fellow man of letter, Victor Hugo was so inspired by Chateaubriand that he is known for having said “To be Chateaubriand or nothing”. This French plaster sculpture...