Set of Three Finely Chiselled Silvered Bronze Ducks, French Work, circa 1970

This exceptional suite of three silvered bronze ducks represents one of the most complete and characterful decorative ensembles in the French animalier tradition of the post-war period. The three birds are conceived at different scales and in entirely different poses — the large duck standing upright with neck raised and beak open as if calling; the medium duck moving forward in a lively walking stride; and the smallest caught in the act of feeding, head bent low and tail raised — together evoking the full vitality and humour of these most familiar and beloved of birds.

Each piece is worked in the same technique: cast in bronze and finished with silver plating, then hand-chiselled with exceptional care to render every feather group, every texture, every surface variation of the bird’s plumage. The silvered finish, now with a warm vintage patina, gives the entire suite a luminous coherence, the three pieces reading as an unmistakable family while each rewards individual examination. The quality of the chiselling is well above average production: the sculptor clearly had a deep affinity for the subject and an assured command of the medium.

Decorative groups of birds were a staple of French interior decoration from the 18th century onward, and the tradition found renewed expression in the post-war decades as French craftsmen and foundries produced superb silvered and gilded animalier pieces for the luxury market. This suite would have been a prestigious gift or a considered purchase for a discriminating collector, destined for a library, a dining room, or a drawing room where its wit and quality could be fully appreciated.

The three ducks may be offered and sold as a complete set or individually. Together, they constitute an animated and distinguished decorative group. Dimensions of the largest piece: W. 40 × D. 16.5 × H. 34 cm.