This week, we're presenting some of our favorite felines—The LEO in Summer—which can be found in our LEO Design on-line shop.
Antoine-Louis Bayre (1795-1875) is arguably the world's all-time greatest animalier—that is, a sculptor (or painter) of naturalistic animals. He began his studies as an apprentice jeweler, working under Napoleon's goldsmith. He was admitted into the École des Beaux-Arts, in Paris, and enjoyed spending time sketching the animals in the ménagerie at the Jardin des Plantes (the city's botanical garden which contained a small zoo—housing the animals moved from Versailles during the French Revolution).
Bayre captured faithfully the naturalistic attitudes—the characteristic energy—of the various animals he drew and, later, modeled as sculpture. Although he also won large commissions—of historic and mythological subjects—he was called, and will always remain best known as, "The Michelangelo of the Ménagerie."
The cast iron bookends, shown above, were made in the 1920's by Bradley & Hubbard in Meriden, Connecticut. They still wear their original, rich, chocolate bronze patina. And they feature a "mirrored" pair of Barye's "walking lions." Most pairs of bookends are produced with two identical members. Often this works just fine. But a mirrored pair, like we show above, requires two different moulds, higher production costs, and a lot of extra effort as the "true pair" is kept together through the casting, finishing and packing process. With a mirrored pair, both lions can "face-forward" on the bookshelf. One doesn't have to look at a lion's rear end as he slinks into the back of the bookshelf. Click on the photo above to learn more about them.
More Summer Lions tomorrow and in the days to come.
Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
We also can be found in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com).
Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only). 917-446-4248