AGATHON LÉONARD (FRENCH, 1841-1923)

Conceived as part of a series of eight figures titled Jeu de l'écharpe, Agathon Léonard's diaphanous dancers first appeared in white biscuit porcelain in the Sèvres pavilion of the 1900 Exposition universelle where they were immediately met with critical acclaim. As a result of their success, the Susse Frères foundry acquired the rights to cast them in bronze. Other examples of this model have been sold at Christie's, London, 3 November 2015, lot 66 (22 ½ in. high and with a red marble base), and Christie's, Paris, 19 November 2019, lot 96 (20 7/8 in. high).