French Antique Bronze Sculpture “Family of Bears” by Delabrierre

PAUL-ÉDOUARD DELABRIÈRRE
French, 1829-1912

"Famille d'Ors" [Mother Bear and Her Cubs]

Medium-and-light brown patina on sand-cast bronze
Signed in cast "E. DELABRIERRE", foundry marking verso "D. et S."
Paris, circa 1900

7" H x 8 1/4" diameter

A very nice sand-casting of Delabrierre's Mother Bear and Her Cubs, this scarce model is perhaps his most endearing. Presumably being cast after his 1850 submission to the Paris Salon [no. 3306] of Famille d' Ours, the model captures the distinctly human characteristics of the beast and her young. The larger cub sleeps on her withdrawn arm and shoulder with its head resting on an outstretched paw while the smaller sibling feeds off of his mother in the hollow formed by their bodies. The scene is spinning in a circular tumble of three intertwined bodies resting on a rough cave floor. The foundry marking verso of "D. et S." is unknown to us, but another model by Delabrierre was also cast by the same foundry.

Unusual and quite difficult to find, this is a most pleasant look at the softer side of this powerful creature.

Condition Report: Very fine original condition, some minor wear to patina around base. Cleaned and sealed in conservator-grade wax.

ref. 202APF12Z