“Panther of Tunisia” | Antoine-Louis Barye

ANTOINE-LOUIS BARYE
French, 1796-1875

Panther of Tunisia [smaller version]

Sand-cast patinated bronze
Signed in cast BARYE
Cast executed last quarter of the 19th century

3 1/2" H x 2 3/4" D x 7 1/2" W

An exceedingly fine sand casting of Barye's "Panther of Tunisia", this positively stunning little piece retains its original silky and translucent mottled brown with nuanced black patina. It is a relatively early cast from the 1870/1880 period with the BARYE signature captured directly from the underlying mold and not cold-tooled onto the surface as was necessary for later casts when Barbedienne took over production of the model. As a result, the edges of the signature are raised and humped as the material within the signature was pushed away.

The model's surface texture is largely captured from the underlying mold without the presence of extensive hammering and chiseling beyond the moderate post-casting work required for any raw cast. It is difficult to convey in images just how well one model compares to another, but this example is better than most we've handled. The high copper content of the surface allows this rich autumnal patina to develop and the result is an almost jewel-like surface and extreme variation between the nearly pitch blacks and the brilliant warm tones. Literature: Barye: Catalogue Raisonné des Sculptures, Poletti & Richarme The Barye Bronzes, A Catalogue Raisonné, Stuart Pivar The Founders and Editors of the Barye Bronzes, J. G. Reinis, p. 43-47 [discussion of the role of the F. Barbedienne firm in production of Barye sculpture], p. 31 [reproduction of Catalogue des Bronzes de A.-L Barye 1874] Animals in Bronze, Christopher Payne Bronze Sculpture of “Les Animaliers”, Jane Horswell Bronzes of the Nineteenth Century: Dictionary of Sculptors, Pierre Kjellberg   Condition Report:
Minor patina wear to the edge of the base, other very light handling wear. Overall in exceptional condition, silky and translucent. Ready to place.

ref. 503PTF02W