Signed C. Masson, this finely modeled late 19th-century French sculpture depicts a dynamic pair of hunting dogs, each carrying a game bird in its mouth. Cast in spelter and finished with a warm copper-brown patina, the piece is emblematic of the animalier tradition, celebrating the realism and vitality of the sporting life. Weight 35 pounds.
The composition features two distinct hounds: one with a smooth, short-haired coat and the other with richly textured fur and feathered ears. Both are rendered mid-stride with expressive detail-muscular forms, alert eyes, and gracefully arched tails-capturing the moment of the hunt with striking naturalism. The dogs are mounted on an oval base with textured ground simulating forest terrain, and the whole is elevated by a stepped plinth in contrasting black and gray marble.
The work bears the signature of Clovis Edmond Masson (1838-1913), a French sculptor celebrated for his lifelike animal figures. Masson trained under Antoine-Louis Barye and exhibited regularly at the Paris Salon beginning in 1867. Though crafted in spelter-a more affordable alternative to bronze-this sculpture retains the fine casting and nuanced surface work associated with the leading animaliers of the era.
In excellent condition with its original patina intact, this decorative piece offers a handsome addition to a library, hunt room, or mantel display in a refined country or classic interior. Listed in the Benezit.
Measures: 22.5" W x 8" D x 13.25" H


Condition:
Alterations: Original Condition Unaltered
Imperfections: Some Imperfections
Condition Notes: Excellent - Wear consistent with age and use

Origin:
France

Materials & Techniques:
Bronze, Marble

Details:
Art Subjects: Animals
What type of item is it? Vintage / Antique / Used
Country of Origin: France

Original Condition Unaltered; Some Imperfections; Excellent - Wear consistent with age and use