SILLA, LTD. | Antiques & Works of Art
Shippensburg, PA
Details
- Dimensions
- 26.5ʺW × 11.5ʺD × 12ʺH
- Styles
- French
- Art Subjects
- Animals
- Period
- Early 20th Century
- Country of Origin
- France
- Item Type
- Vintage, Antique or Pre-owned
Shop Sustainably with Chairish
- Materials
- Bronze
- Condition
- Good Condition, Original Condition Unaltered, Some Imperfections
- Color
- Brown
- Condition Notes
- Very minor patina wear, mostly isolated to the tail and upper portions of the panther's back and a few raised … moreVery minor patina wear, mostly isolated to the tail and upper portions of the panther's back and a few raised elements; otherwise in nearly perfect original condition, carefully cleaned and polished, a brilliant presentation ready to place. less
- Description
-
GEORGES GARDET
French, 1863-1939
"Le Drame au Désert"
Patinated bronze | Signed in cast "Georges Gardet" | cold-stamped 3105 | … more GEORGES GARDET
French, 1863-1939
"Le Drame au Désert"
Patinated bronze | Signed in cast "Georges Gardet" | cold-stamped 3105 | conceived 1887, cast circa 1910
Item # 411RAL12A
A very compelling lifetime cast of Georges Gardet's "Desert Drama", it was conceived by Gardet in 1887 as a young artist just 24 years old. He presented the model in plaster at the Paris Salon of the same year and it was a major success for him. A monumental example in bronze was commissioned from him in 1888 and remains where it was originally placed in the Parc Montsouris in Paris in 1891. In 1891 he won first prize for the group when exhibiting it again at Salon.
This intense scene depicts a lioness returning to her den only moments after a python has killed both of her young cubs. The serpent's body entwines her lifeless helpless children as it tenses its coiled body and readies for a certain battle.
Reductions of this model were cast by Siot-Decauville in several reductions. The present example retains a delightful nuanced patina with autumnal undertones coming through the overall medium-brown translucent patina - it is silky and positively gorgeous. The crisp chiseling and finishing work is notable. The cast is not marked by the foundry, but is almost certainly cast by Siot-Decauville (particularly in light of the four digit serial number, typical of their production).
The scale and overall presence of the model is notable with a total width of nearly 27 inches. Our gallery has handled the smaller reduction (total width of ~ 12"), but this large and imposing dimension is exceedingly rare.
Raw, emotive and incredibly powerful.
Artist Listings & Bibliography:
"Les bronzes du XIXe siècle, dictionnaire des sculptures", Pierre Kjellberg, 1987, p. 342
Measurements: 26 1/2" W x 11 1/2" D x 12" H
Condition Report:
Very minor patina wear, mostly isolated to the tail and upper portions of the panther's back and a few raised elements; otherwise in nearly perfect original condition, carefully cleaned and polished, a brilliant presentation ready to place. less
SILLA, LTD. | Antiques & Works of Art
Shippensburg, PA
Questions about the item?
Featured Promoted Listings
Related Collections
- Vincent Glinsky Sculpture
- Abstract Bird Sculptures
- HLB Studio Sculpture
- Chelsea House Inc Sculpture
- Stainless Steel Sculpture
- Manufacture de Sevres Sculpture
- Antique Brass Finish Sculpture
- Glass Murano Sculpture
- Metal Curtis Jere Sculpture
- Josef Lorenzl Sculpture
- Karl Hagenauer Sculpture
- Isamu Noguchi Sculpture
- Loet Vanderveen Sculpture
- Abstract Wire Sculptures
- Sarreid Ltd. Sculpture
- Meissen Porcelain Sculpture
- Martha Angus Sculpture
- Oggetti Sculpture
- Etruscan Revival Sculpture
- Manuel Felguérez Sculpture
- Sergio Bustamonte Sculpture
- Alessandro Mendini Sculpture
- Susse Freres Sculpture
- Currey and Company Sculpture
- Charles Hollis Jones Sculpture