Are these horse ornaments solid bronze?

Many sculptures are cast in solid bronze, while others are hollow-cast to reduce weight and material costs. Heavier utilitarian items such as doorstops are typically made of solid brass or cast iron. Checking the underside or base often reveals the casting method and the thickness of the metal used. Weight alone does not determine whether a piece is solid bronze.

What is an animalier bronze?

Animalier refers to nineteenth-century sculptures that depict animals with strict anatomical accuracy and lifelike energy. Artists studied subjects in motion, resulting in dramatic and naturalistic representations. These pieces were produced primarily in France and Austria, becoming popular ornaments for domestic interiors. Signatures on the base often indicate the specific sculptor.

How can I date a brass horse doorstop?

Victorian and Edwardian doorstops exhibit sand-cast construction marks, heavier weight and wear appropriate to their age. Surface patination and the style of the mounting hardware provide additional clues to the decade of manufacture. Later reproductions often lack the crispness of detail and the specific weight distribution found in nineteenth-century originals.