Large Decorative Polished Brass Duck Sculpture, French Work, circa 1970

This commanding brass duck sculpture presents the bird in a posture of alert, upright dignity — neck stretched to its full height, beak raised, body balanced on small, delicate feet. At 35 cm tall and 33.5 cm in length, the piece has a substantial physical presence that gives it real authority as a decorative object. The warm, rich patina of the polished brass — developed over decades into a deep golden tone with areas of gentle oxidation — gives the piece an organic quality that distinguishes it from purely decorative novelties and places it in the tradition of serious animalier bronzework, here executed in brass.

The duck has been one of the most beloved subjects in French decorative metalwork throughout the post-war period. Brass ducks were produced in countless workshops across France and Italy, and the finest examples — cast with care, chased with attention to the natural texture of the plumage, and finished to a high polish — acquired a sculptural dignity that went well beyond their origins as ornamental objects. This piece, with its confident, naturalistic modelling and its impressive scale, clearly belongs to the upper register of that production.

The elongated neck and slightly open beak give the figure a note of animation and alertness — the bird is not merely standing but actively engaged with its surroundings, its posture suggesting a sentinel or a bird responding to a sound. This quality of arrested movement is the hallmark of skilled animalier work, and it lifts the piece above the merely decorative into something with genuine sculptural interest.

A handsome and characterful brass sculpture with strong presence. French work, circa 1970. Dimensions: W. 33.5 × D. 11 × H. 35 cm.