Mêne, Animals, and Sculptures

B and JD send me a beautiful bronze sculpture of two horses facing each other, one smaller and one larger, the head of one on the shoulder of the other. B and J wonder if this is an original by Pierre-Jules Mêne (French 1810-1879), a great sculptor of animal figures, who was called an animalier, a type of sculptor revered in the late 19^th century France for his figures of animals. The work of great animaliers sold very well in England, a country known for hunting, racing, and blood sports in general. 

Mêne was one of the greatest sculptors of animals in the last part of the 19^th century. 

Why I love this work is the title – in French, L’accolade: Groupe de chevaux arabes, and the word “accolade” is being acted out (anthropomorphically) by the larger horse. It seems that the smaller horse – an Arabian of perfect confirmation – has won a race, and the larger horse is caressing the little horse’s shoulder. That is the exact meaning of the ancient word “accolade,” which in medieval usage meant the touch on a future Knight’s shoulder of “grace” – the chivalric accolade which made the man a Knight in perpetuity. These horses are part of that ceremony – the conferring of an honor, recognition of an award, or praise by a superior that confers prestige.

This is a bronze sculpture – and to tell the truth, it is hard to say if it is original or a re-cast. A re-cast is easy to produce and can be discerned only by an expert looking closely at the seams in the bronze. A recast means that the original bronze has been “fitted” with a plaster overcast, and then “reversed” into a bronze sculptural copy based on the negative space of that mold. An original bronze is created from the interior mold which is the exact opposite technique of an “overcast.” However, the market in the late 19^th century didn’t differentiate much as there were no copyright issues. Any bronze foundry house could reproduce a bronze sculpture – signature and all – as that mark is part of the “relief” of the bronze that could be cast. Values therefore are subjective. 

Unless a connoisseur can tell if a work is an original bronze, the market will pay similar prices for a Mêne which is “after” the original, or an original Mêne. Animal sculptures have always been popular, especially bronzes of well-done horses, such as L‘accolade.

Other works by Mêne are diverse and – for a change – not related to the hunt, which is not a popular theme in bonzes today. Some of the titles that have sold are Chasse au Lapin (1853) – yes, a chase for a rabbit, in which Mêne has sculpted a “groupe chiens au terrier” at 8 x 15 x 7” – the dogs eagerly looking down a fox hole, to no avail. This work sold at the Continental auction house De Vuyst for $4,000. 

Another work which is also “after” Mêne – a reproduction, albeit a good one from the late 19^th century – is a cold-painted bronze, meaning that the “bronze” is but a painted surface. The piece depicts a pair of Setters and a Pointer at 9 x 17”, and sold at Bonhams Skinner this September for $700.

Mêne also sculpted “putti,” naked male baby figures, often winged. An example of this is a piece by a follower of Mêne (credited as “from the studio of”) called Paar grosse puttenfigurern mit Fisch auf einer Kugel Sitzend; literally “a pair of large cherub figurines sitting with a fish on a ball.” A delight for the 19^th century connoisseur, this sold for $600.

Another style of the last 19^th century which went hand-in-glove with the animalier style was the exotic horseman. These were mounted warriors astride steeds from China, the Arab countries, and Africa, all nobly dressed in exotic costume. One by Mêne – Reitender Afrikanen mit muskete – features a figure holding a European style weapon. A large work at 25 x 18 x 9”, the piece sold in Dusseldorf for $4,900.

Possibly one of the most delightful of all sculptures by Mêne is the confused little dog, sentimental and anthropomorphized; an animalier bronze called Chien et Pigeon. The piece shows a griffon hound quizzically gazing on two pigeons dining at his feeding bowl as he cocks an ear in wonderment. This sold at an English Auction called Dreweatts for $800.

The Pierre-Jules Mêne sculpture L ‘accolade, which is owned by B and J D is valued at $5,000.