Early 20th Century French Bronze Sculpture “A la Fontaine” Signed Émile Carlier

$3,900

About

This elegant antique bronze sculpture titled À la Fontaine captures a tender rural moment between a young woman drawing water and a child leaning forward to drink from the pitcher. The composition is intimate and beautifully balanced, with the standing figure gently tilting the vessel while the child reaches upward, creating a sense of quiet movement and everyday life. The figures are finely modeled with expressive faces, naturalistic gestures, and softly flowing drapery that reflect the refined craftsmanship of French academic sculpture. Cast in solid bronze with a rich, warm brown patina, the sculpture displays wonderful depth and surface detail throughout the garments and textured ground beneath their feet. The group is raised on a circular green marble base fitted with a brass title plaque reading “CARRIER,” while the bronze itself bears the sculptor’s signature. Created in France circa 1920, the work relates to the oeuvre of Émile Joseph Nestor Carlier (1849–1927), a respected French sculptor trained at the École des Beaux-Arts who exhibited regularly at the Paris Salon. Carlier was particularly admired for his genre and allegorical compositions celebrating rural life, rendered with both technical precision and gentle human sentiment. This antique bronze has a strong sculptural presence and displays beautifully from every angle, making it an excellent decorative focal point for a console, pedestal, or library table. In excellent antique condition commensurate with age and use, with a beautifully preserved patina. Dimensions: 12.5″W x 12.5″D x 28.5″H Weight: 108 lbs.

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