This strikingly realistic bronze sculpture depicts an inanimate bird, delicately lying on its side. The artist has masterfully captured the texture of the sparrow's plumage and the fragility of the subject with moving accuracy, in the naturalist tradition of the late 19th century. The hollow, unpolished reverse reveals traces of the lost-wax casting process as well as an unusual "CC" marking. The piece as a whole exudes a poetic and melancholic power, typical of the vanitas symbols so beloved by collectors of curiosities.
✦ Origin: France ✦ Estimated period: Circa 1880–1900 ✦ Dimensions: approx. 11 × 5 × 3 cm ✦ Material: bronze with a golden brown wax patina ✦ Condition: very good overall condition, slight natural oxidation on the reverse, original patina preserved
A unique piece of naturalistic inspiration, perfect for enriching a cabinet of curiosities or a collection of 19th-century art bronzes.
