Just The Most Incredible Finely Observed & Detailed Little Antique Bronze Figurine of a Sparrow?

THE STORY - When I first saw this little bird (I have called it a sparrow in my title but I cannot be sure) in an auction catalogue I was struck by how much animation there was in its form, with the spread of its wings the turn of the head and its open beak, it was just so beautiful and so finely cast. And this little guy is a survivor for at some point in its life it has been broken off from its original base, whether it was the two feet that held it up or something else he was set on, but understandably he was just too beautiful and too fine not to restore, hence his feet are now implanted in a simple square wooden base which allows him to stand and be admired perfectly. The bronze would date I believe to the Victorian era circa 1870 and I have a feeling it could be French as there were a collection of fine artists such as Ferdinand Pautrot, Louis Theophile Hinge and Paul Comlera who embraced the study of animals and birds around them in their natural habitat instead of the grand animals such as lions and tigers that had previously been popular subjects. It was the intimate observations of their work which I think can be seen in this piece as well as the fine casting, although sadly it carries no marks identifying is creator. And it is lovely when the light catches the bronze as there are traces of gold that are highlighted from the original gilt it must once of had.

AGE - Circa 1870

CONDITION - As I have already mentioned above this darling little bird has been given a new life with the wooden block it now sits in and I have to say it feels very stable in this base, I do wonder when this was done as the glue around his feet appears to be brown making me think the glue was old, but it could be that the bronze has discoloured the glue. Apart from this the bronze is in very good condition with a beautiful patina and a lovely highlighting from the worn gilt.

DIMENSIONS (Approx) - Height 4" / 10cm, Width 4" / 10cm, Depth 3&1/2" / 9.5cm

Indeed this is not the first French Victorian Bronze of a bird I have had in my shop as this little guy reminds me very much in its quality and its observations of the Bronze 'Fallen' Birds I have been lucky to have found, although the subject of this one is very much alive. I can't help but wonder where and how he was originally displayed, unable to escape the thought that it would have been somewhere like a desk where one could simply sit and admire the little guy's beauty, for there is so much beauty in this little bronze.And I have to say I really like its new wooden base or plinth as it offers no distractions as I sit gazing at the little guy.