Inaugural Fine and Decorative Arts Sale

Antique 19th Century Bronze Sculpture of Tiger Walking after Antoine-Louis Barye, Barbedienne cast

The auction will start in __ days and __ hours

Start price: $500

Estimated price: $2,000 - $3,000

Description

ANTOINE-LOUIS BARYE

French, 1795-1875

"Tigre Qui Marche"

Dark brown patinated bronze | Signed in base "A.L. BARYE", incised "F. BARBEDIENNE FONDEUR, PARIS", cold-stamped FRANCE | cold-tooled to underside 19.691 | conceived 1841, cast circa early 20th century

5 1/2" H x 2 5/8" D x 10 1/2" W

Lot essay:

Barye’s ability to merge our romantic idealization of nature with a colder reality of nature’s predator is beautifully represented in this striding cat. Originally conceived in 1841, Tigre Qui Marche (Walking Tiger) is a picture of poise and intensity as this powerful beast moves nimbly across a dried cracked desert soil. Barye’s careful study of the animal’s anatomy, which include as preparatory work studies of the face as well as drawings of a flayed tiger’s shoulder and foreleg, culminated in this handsomely detailed model (Benge, fig. 155, fig. 158).

The present example was cast by the foundry of Ferdinand Barbedienne posthumously. They started producing casts of this work in 1877 after acquiring the molds from the Barye estate in 1875 and the firm continued to cast it even after merging with Leblanc well into the 20th century. Signed in the naturalistic rectangular base "F. Barbedienne Fondeur, Paris", this cast was executed circa 1915. It is finished in a wonderful complex overall dark-brown patina with hints of black and a warm orange-bronze hue in relief. The underside is finished in gilt and is cold-tooled 19.691.

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Condition: Fine original condition. Very minor handling wear to raised elements. Cleaned, sealed with wax and a very fine presentation.

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BSA provides written condition reports, along with photographs or video, upon request and at no charge. These reports are prepared in good faith and represent reasonable efforts to describe the lot’s visible characteristics, including observable flaws. However, assessments of condition are inherently subjective and may reflect the personal thresholds or expectations of the viewer. Condition reports, whether written or verbal, are not forensic, comprehensive, or prepared to academic standards. The absence of a condition report does not imply that a lot is free from defects. Any mention of condition in the catalog or report is intended as a general guide only and may not account for all imperfections, restorations, or alterations. All lots are offered “as is, where is, ?? and BSA makes no warranties or guarantees regarding condition. Prospective bidders are strongly encouraged to inspect lots in person or engage a qualified expert for condition-related concerns. BSA reserves the right to decline condition report or image requests at its discretion, particularly when the request is made too close to the auction or when the lot’s value does not reasonably justify the time required.

Dimensions: 5.5 x 2.63 x 10.5 in