Search 0
4,447  PAGES BROWSED TODAY PAGES TODAY • 0 ANTIQUES UPLOADED TODAYNEW ARRIVALS
Sorted by
Per page
JOIN AS A SELLER DEALER LOGIN
Selling Antiques Logo
0
Saved
GIFTS
LATEST STOCK
Home
Return
Dealer Login
500+ Shops
Dealers
Newly Added
0
Saved
Antiques dealer?
Join as a Seller
Sort Order
Items Per Page
sellingantiques.co.uk
Browse Categories
Sort order
Relevant Links
Items per page
ID #SA1050788
FOR SALE
£3,000
Email Phone
Save
A Large 19th Century French Animalier Bronze of a Recumbent Greyhound After Christophe Fratin (1801-1864)
For sale by Isherwood Fine Art
for sale €3,510     $3,810
£3,000
Isherwood Fine Art

Isherwood Fine Art

Sellingantiques Verified Since Oct 2023
Browse dealers 37 items
  • About Us
    16th to 19th century old master, british and european paintings and sculpture, specialising in period portraiture. Member BADA, LAPADA.
  • Trade Associations
    Isherwood Fine Art is a registered member of LAPADA  BADA 
↓ Relevant Links
Id #SA1050788
PDF SHARE
SAVE

A Large 19th Century French Animalier Bronze of a Recumbent Greyhound After Christophe Fratin (1801-1864)

19th century
Description

A large late 19th century bronze figure of a recumbent greyhound after French animalier sculptor Christophe Fratin (1801-1864), with a warm brown patina on a rouge griotte marble base. Signed 'FRATIN' on collar.

Bronze length: 37cm

Base length: 41cm

Bronze height: 18cm

Total height: 22cm

Christophe Fratin was born in Metz in France in 1801. He first studied sculpture under Pioche in Metz under whom he honed his technical skills. He then became a pupil of the painter Theodore Gericault in Paris where he pursued his career as a sculptor.

Fratin first exhibited at the Paris Salon as early as 1831, where he showed ‘Fermer – An English Thoroughbred’. The popularity of Fratin’s sculpture in England had a significant impact on his career. His modelling style reflected his imaginative mind and sense of humour, particularly in his humorous modelling of bears.

Fratin was asked to sculpt life-size monuments for French cities, including his home town of Metz. At the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London he was considered the greatest animalier sculptor of the day. Fratin’s bronzes can be found in several museums outside France including the Wallace Collection in London and his reputation stretches as far afield as Germany, Austria and America, where there is a life-size sculpture of two eagles in Central Park, New York.

Date of Manufacture

Isherwood Fine Art has dated this Antique Bronze Greyhound Sculpture to the 19th Century.

Independent Date Guide ID 08355516
Dealer's Item Date19th Century
Sellingantiques Date19th Century
Sellingantiques agingItem 115-160 years old
ResultsDates match
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to THE 19TH CENTURY:
Cast script lettering on the collar: standard marking on later foundry editions.
Deep brown patination with rubbing on raised ribs: handling over many decades.
Crisp chasing to paws and head: skilled workshop finishing directly after casting.
Moulded rouge marble base: traditional French mounting stone.

This Independent Date Guide was compiled by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. It works only from the photographs shown on this page and is never told the date the dealer has declared. It is a guide, not a guarantee of age, and occasional errors can occur.

Physical Dimensions
Height
22cm (8.66")
Width
41cm (16.14")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1050788
Dealers Notes

Isherwood fine art

Description
A large late 19th century bronze figure of a recumbent greyhound after French animalier sculptor Christophe Fratin (1801-1864), with a warm brown patina on a rouge griotte marble base. Signed 'FRATIN' on collar.
fig 1. A dark bronze sculpture of a recumbent greyhound resting atop a rectangular red and white veined marble base.
fig 1. A Large 19th Century French Animalier Bronze of a Recumbent Greyhound After Christophe Fratin (1801-1864)

Bronze length: 37cm

Base length: 41cm

Bronze height: 18cm

Total height: 22cm

Christophe Fratin was born in Metz in France in 1801. He first studied sculpture under Pioche in Metz under whom he honed his technical skills.

“
He then became a pupil of the painter Theodore Gericault in Paris where he pursued his career as a sculptor.
Isherwood Fine Art
fig 2. A dark bronze sculpture of a recumbent greyhound resting atop a rectangular red and white veined marble base.
fig 2. A Large 19th Century French Animalier Bronze of a Recumbent Greyhound After Christophe Fratin (1801-1864)

Fratin first exhibited at the Paris Salon as early as 1831, where he showed ‘Fermer – An English Thoroughbred’. The popularity of Fratin’s sculpture in England had a significant impact on his career. His modelling style reflected his imaginative mind and sense of humour, particularly in his humorous modelling of bears.

fig 3. A dark bronze sculpture of a recumbent greyhound resting atop a rectangular red and white veined marble base.
fig 3. A Large 19th Century French Animalier Bronze of a Recumbent Greyhound After Christophe Fratin (1801-1864)

Fratin was asked to sculpt life-size monuments for French cities, including his home town of Metz. At the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London he was considered the greatest animalier sculptor of the day. Fratin’s bronzes can be found in several museums outside France including the Wallace Collection in London and his reputation stretches as far afield as Germany, Austria and America, where there is a life-size sculpture of two eagles in Central Park, New York.

Date of Manufacture

Isherwood Fine Art has dated this Antique Bronze Greyhound Sculpture to the 19th Century.

Independent Date Report ID 08355516
Dealer's Item Date19th Century
Sellingantiques dating19th Century
Sellingantiques agingItem 115-160 years old
ResultsDates match
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to the 19th Century:
Cast script lettering on the collar: standard marking on later foundry editions.
Deep brown patination with rubbing on raised ribs: handling over many decades.
Crisp chasing to paws and head: skilled workshop finishing directly after casting.
Moulded rouge marble base: traditional French mounting stone.

This is an independent date report produced by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. The process uses the photographs shown on this page. The system is never told the date the dealer has declared. This report shows that the two dates corroborate.

Height
22cm (8.66")
Width
41cm (16.14")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1050788
Isherwood Fine Art
Isherwood Fine Art
Sellingantiques verified Since Oct 2023

16th to 19th century old master, british and european paintings and sculpture, specialising in period portraiture. Member BADA, LAPADA.

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Isherwood Fine Art Profile Page

Trade Associations

Isherwood Fine Art is a registered member of LAPADA  BADA 

PDF SHARE
SAVE
A dark bronze sculpture of a recumbent greyhound resting atop a rectangular red and white veined marble base.
1 / 11
Archive I A dark bronze sculpture of a recumbent greyhound resting atop a rectangular red and white veined marble base.

A Large 19th Century French Animalier Bronze of a Recumbent Greyhound After Christophe Fratin (1801-1864)

Archive II A dark bronze sculpture of a recumbent greyhound resting atop a rectangular red and white veined marble base. View II
Archive III A dark bronze sculpture of a recumbent greyhound resting atop a rectangular red and white veined marble base. View III
Archive IV A dark bronze sculpture of a recumbent greyhound resting atop a rectangular red and white veined marble base. View IV
Archive V A dark bronze sculpture of a recumbent greyhound resting atop a rectangular red and white veined marble base. View V
Archive VI A dark bronze sculpture of a recumbent greyhound resting atop a rectangular red and white veined marble base. View VI
Archive VII A dark bronze sculpture of a recumbent greyhound resting atop a rectangular red and white veined marble base. View VII
Archive VIII A dark bronze sculpture of a recumbent greyhound resting atop a rectangular red and white veined marble base. View VIII
Archive IX A dark bronze sculpture of a recumbent greyhound resting atop a rectangular red and white veined marble base. View IX
Archive X A dark bronze sculpture of a recumbent greyhound resting atop a rectangular red and white veined marble base. View X
Archive XI A dark bronze sculpture of a recumbent greyhound resting atop a rectangular red and white veined marble base. View XI
FURTHER BROWSING

Visitors also looked at these ⇣

Enlarged Archival View
Isherwood Fine Art

Isherwood Fine Art
Telephone 07984 699799
Location
Bath
Somerset
United Kingdom

By appointment only.

Viewing in London by appointment.
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/isherwoodfineart
Verified Since Oct 2023
Items For Sale 37
Items Sold 38
Isherwood Fine Art
Isherwood Fine Art
Verified Since Oct 2023
View Dealer Info
Location: Bath, Somerset, United Kingdom, , By appointment only., , Viewing in London by appointment.
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/isherwoodfineart
Verified
Oct 2023
For Sale
37
Sold
38
A dark bronze sculpture of a recumbent greyhound resting atop a rectangular red and white veined marble base.
A large 19th century French animalier bronze of a recumbent greyhound after Christophe Fratin (1801-1864)
Ref: SA1050788
A dark bronze sculpture of a recumbent greyhound resting atop a rectangular red and white veined marble base.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Detail View 4
Detail View 5
Detail View 6
Detail View 7
Detail View 8
Detail View 9
Detail View 10
Archival Detail

Strictly Vetted Dealers

Every single antique dealer on our platform is individually approved by our internal team. We verify their professional trade history, ethical standards, and photographic quality to ensure a secure, high-standard buying environment. Upon joining, every dealer agrees to a strict 9-point code of conduct. While issues can occasionally arise, our dealers typically resolve them swiftly and directly with the buyer. In fact, since our founding in 2002, Sellingantiques has only had to step in to help resolve an issue on roughly five occasions—a true testament to the quality of our dealers and their dedication to your happiness.

Secure Transit

Our dealers are highly experienced in packing and shipping fragile, high-value antiques. Because you are in direct contact with the dealer, you will be able to easily go through all available shipping and insurance options together to ensure your item arrives safely.

The Sustainable Choice

Antiques are the ultimate green purchase. By choosing historical pieces over newly manufactured goods, you completely eliminate the carbon footprint of modern mass production while preserving exceptional, timeless craftsmanship.

Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectSculptures
  • Period19th century
  • StyleAnimalier
  • MaterialBronze, Marble
  • ColourDark Brown, Red, White
  • MotifsRecumbent dog pose, Collar detail, Veined marble plinth
  • SizeH 22 cm (9 in) x W 41 cm (16 in)

This large late 19th century French animalier bronze sculpture depicts a recumbent greyhound resting on a rectangular rouge griotte marble base. The piece is crafted from dark brown bronze with a warm brown patina, mounted upon a red and white veined marble plinth, and features a detailed collar around the dog's neck. The dog is modelled in a lying posture with outstretched front legs and the signature 'FRATIN' inscribed upon the collar, capturing the naturalistic style of animalier art. The sculpture stands 22 cm high and spans 41 cm wide. Positioned upon a mantelpiece or styled within a gentleman's library, this decorative bronze adds character to traditional interiors. The red and white tones of the stone base complement the dark brown finish of the metal figure, creating a balanced display of nineteenth-century sculpture. The piece brings historical sculptural design to domestic settings without requiring extensive arrangement.

FAQs

The Animalier movement emerged in 19th-century France, characterised by artists who specialised in creating anatomically accurate and expressive bronze sculptures of animals. Spearheaded by sculptors such as Antoine-Louis Barye and Christophe Fratin, these works captured both domestic and wild animals in realistic, dynamic, or resting poses.

These sculptures were typically cast in bronze using either the lost-wax (cire perdue) or sand casting method before being hand-chased to refine surface details. They were finished with chemically applied patinas to achieve rich tones and mounted onto bases made of polished marble, slate, or stone.

Authentic period bronzes feature fine hand-chased details, natural surface wear, and a multi-layered patina that shows age rather than uniform paint. Look for foundry marks or founder stamps, crisp artist signatures cast into the base, and period-appropriate mounting hardware on the underside of the plinth.

Place the sculpture on a dark wood mantelpiece, a structured sideboard, or within a tailored bookcase alongside leather-bound books and brass accents. The warm metallic tones and classical motif complement both traditional study settings and contemporary spaces needing organic texture.

Dust the bronze gently with a dry microfibre cloth or horsehair brush, avoiding abrasive chemicals that can strip the original patina. Protect the marble base by wiping it with a soft, slightly damp cloth, and apply a light coat of microcrystalline wax to the metal annually to guard against humidity and oxidisation.
items
Add keywords to the filter
Price
£100
£250000
Era
Period
Style
Material
Origin
Stock Location
Recently Added
Online Payments
Categories