19th Century French Spelter Hunting Dog and Bird on Marble Base Signed C. Masson

$2,200

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Decorate a man’s office or library with this antique dog and bird sculpture composition. Created in France circa 1870, and standing on a rectangular marble base, the sculpture depicts a hunting setter holding a pheasant in his mouth; the composition is signed on the base by French artist “C. Masson”. The large dog figure is in excellent condition commensurate with age and use, and adorns a rich patinated verdigris finish. A wonderful addition for any ranch house or hunting lodge! Clovis Edmond Masson (1838-1913) was a French animalier sculptor. Born in Paris, he was best known for his intricate, expressive bronze figures that depicted birds, dogs and hunting scenes. A pupil of Barye, Rouillard and Santiago he exhibited his animalier sculpture regularly at the Salon from 1867 until 1909. Starting in 1867 with the ‘Indian Tiger Hunt’ in plaster. His work is often playful and inventive with a certain licence from his mentor, Barye. Casts vary in quality but are often of quite a high standard. Over the years at least fifty-two of his works were exhibited at the Salon by Masson, chiefly of the cat family with titles such as ‘African Leopard defending its Prey’ in 1881, some deer such as ‘Fighting Stags’ in 1883, and horses, one of which is possibly based on Barye’s Cheval Turc. The most common of his statues on the open market today are his animals of the cat family, often powerfully modeled in a manner that seems to anticipate the forms and style of the 1910 to 1930 period. His son Jules- Edmond Masson also became a sculptor and studied under his father. Listed in the Benezit (see last picture). 23.75″W x 6.5″D x 15″H

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