Finely Chiselled Silvered Bronze Duck, French Work, circa 1970

This beautifully crafted silvered bronze duck is a fine example of the high standard of French decorative animalier sculpture in the post-war decades. The bird is depicted in mid-stride, its body inclined forward with the natural, slightly ungainly gait of a duck on land — a pose that captures perfectly the good-humoured vitality of the subject. Every surface is worked with exceptional care: the plumage is rendered feather by feather in crisp, minutely detailed chiselling, and the silvered finish gives the piece a cool, lustrous shimmer that changes beautifully in different lighting conditions.

Silvering was a popular finish for decorative bronzes of the mid-to-late 20th century, valued for its cool reflectivity and the way it brought out the precision of the chiselling beneath. On this duck, the technique is used to superb effect, the play of light across the sculpted feathers creating an almost impressionistic sense of texture and movement. The quality of the base casting and the fineness of the subsequent hand-chiselling suggest the work of a skilled French foundry or atelier accustomed to producing objects of high decorative merit.

The piece is one of a set of three ducks, each sold separately, which together form a charming composition — a small family or a group of birds in different attitudes of movement. Collected individually, each duck is fully satisfying as a standalone sculpture; grouped together on a mantelpiece, sideboard, or dining table, they create an animated and coherent decorative ensemble of real distinction.

A delightful animalier bronze in excellent vintage condition. Dimensions: W. 22.5 × D. 8.5 × H. 13.1 cm.