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Lot 400 ANIMAL INSPIRATION Animals have appeared in all forms of art throughout history, from ancient cave paintings and Egyptian iconography to paintings of family pets in more modern times. However, the trend for animals in art reached new heights in the 19th century with famous animalier sculptors such as Antoine-Louis Barye. The skilled and naturalistic treatment of the animals in the lots below elevates them as a subject matter to the level of other Academic genres. The bronzes below directly relate to this animalier tradition. The bison is a particularly rare subject. Although bronzes of bulls and horses are more common, they remain extremely desirable and popular with collectors today. The elephant table ornaments will prove an excellent talking point at any dinner table, whilst the realistic handling of the pair of pugs truly reflects their historical connection with the royals. For a more contemporary interior, the brightly coloured enamel of the napkin rings encapsulates the polychromatic nature of the butterfly wing and would complement any modern table setting.
A FRENCH BRONZE MODEL OF A BULL
EARLY 20TH CENTURY, AFTER GUSTAVE HIERHOLTZ (1877-1948)
Closed7 February 2012
Price Realised
GBP 3,000