A finely carved walnut bird-dog head, Black Forest, circa 1870, mounted on an octagonal, stepped walnut base.
The head is modeled with exceptional anatomical authority — the broad domed skull, long wavy ears falling heavily to either side, and a carefully observed muzzle all speak to a carver working from close study of the living animal. The expression, at once alert and melancholy, is captured with a subtlety that elevates this beyond workshop production into the realm of portraiture. The wavy coat is rendered with confident, fluid toolwork, with texture convincingly varied between the smoother planes of the skull and the looser fall of the ears.
Particularly notable are the carved eyes, executed not in the glass typical of Brienz workshop production but in the classical manner of the Italian marble carvers — iris drilled, pupil raised — lending the head an intensity of gaze that glass could not replicate. It is the mark of a carver with broader sculptural ambitions.
A distinguished piece for a library, study, or hunting room.
Condition: Excellent, commensurate with age. Walnut mellowed to a deep, even tone. No losses or restoration observed. Minor wear consistent with age and original use.
Dimensions: To follow.
A finely carved walnut bird-dog head, Black Forest, circa 1870, mounted on an octagonal, stepped walnut base.
The head is modeled with exceptional anatomical authority — the broad domed skull, long wavy ears falling heavily to either side, and a carefully observed muzzle all speak to a carver working from close study of the living animal. The expression, at once alert and melancholy, is captured with a subtlety that elevates this beyond workshop production into the realm of portraiture. The wavy coat is rendered with confident, fluid toolwork, with texture convincingly varied between the smoother planes of the skull and the looser fall of the ears.
Particularly notable are the carved eyes, executed not in the glass typical of Brienz workshop production but in the classical manner of the Italian marble carvers — iris drilled, pupil raised — lending the head an intensity of gaze that glass could not replicate. It is the mark of a carver with broader sculptural ambitions.
A distinguished piece for a library, study, or hunting room.
Condition: Excellent, commensurate with age. Walnut mellowed to a deep, even tone. No losses or restoration observed. Minor wear consistent with age and original use.
Dimensions: To follow.
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