Early 20th Century Animalier-Style Bronzed Hunting Dog Sculptures or Bookends – Pair

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Description

A handsome matched companion pair of vintage cast-metal hunting dog sculptures, each modeled in a stalking/pointing pose and finished in … Read more A handsome matched companion pair of vintage cast-metal hunting dog sculptures, each modeled in a stalking/pointing pose and finished in a richly aged bronze tone.

French Animalier-style hunting dog sculptures in the tradition of Pierre-Jules Mêne and Alfred Dubucand.

Rather than being duplicate castings, the two dogs exhibit subtle sculptural variations in the positioning of their heads and necks, contours of their bodies, and direction of their long tails. The closely related but individual poses create a particularly appealing matched pair when displayed facing one another.

Each dog is finely modeled with pronounced musculature and rib detail, articulated paws, collar, expressive facial features and a long tapered tail, reflecting the influence of the European animalier tradition. The figures rest on identical architectural plinths featuring clipped corners, a raised upper platform and molded perimeter detailing.

Substantial in the hand at approximately 3.2 pounds each, the sculptures work beautifully as decorative objects on a mantel, console or library shelf and have sufficient weight to function as bookends.

The pair is unmarked. The precise maker, date and metal alloy are unknown. The metal is nonmagnetic, with areas of naturally occurring finish wear revealing a gray/silver-toned metal beneath the bronze-colored surface. No sculptor or manufacturer’s attribution is being made.

Older green felt remains on the undersides. The felt on one sculpture was carefully lifted during examination for a possible maker’s mark; no marking was found. See less