French Antique Bronze Crocodile Fountain Head Water Feature In the manner of Antoine-Louis Barye, c.1920

🐊 Rare French Antique Bronze Crocodile Fountain Head / Water Feature
In the manner of Antoine-Louis Barye, c.1920

🎨 Subject & Medium
A rare and impressive early 20th-century French bronze crocodile fountain head, firmly in the animalier tradition. Cast in bronze and measuring an impressive 59cm in length, it was conceived as a working fountain rather than a purely decorative ornament: internal metal pipework carries water through the body and out via the open jaws, so the crocodile appears to spit a stream directly into a pond or basin below 💦.

The choice of subject is highly unusual and instantly memorable. While most period garden fountains feature classical masks, dolphins, lions, putti or mythological figures, a full-length crocodile is distinctly uncommon in a domestic context. Crocodiles do appear in architectural ornament and the broader history of art, but they are far from standard fare in garden sculpture. Here, the reptilian form lends the piece an exotic, slightly theatrical presence that sets it well apart from more conventional fountain heads.

🧩 Composition & Technique
This sculpture sits squarely within the animalier tradition associated with Antoine-Louis Barye and his followers. The modelling is naturalistic without being overly anatomical:

• Carefully rendered scales along the back and tail

• Webbed feet planted firmly beneath the body

• A powerful tail sweeping to one side, introducing a dynamic curve

• Wide open jaws revealing the interior of the mouth, where the water exits

In profile, the crocodile looks as if it has just hauled itself from the water and is about to move forward again. The braced legs and splayed claws give the figure tension and weight, while the arched tail stops the silhouette from feeling static. The engineering is neatly integrated within the sculpture – the fountain mechanism is entirely practical but does not interrupt the overall line or character of the piece.

Decades of outdoor life have produced a beautifully complex patina: warm bronze tones on the raised areas, with greenish verdigris settled into the recesses and around the detailing. The surface shows the expected honest signs of age – gentle rubbing to the snout, feet and tail tip, plus minor knocks from garden use – giving the work depth and authenticity that modern reproductions rarely match. Stylistically and technically, the combination of robust plumbing and lively naturalistic modelling is entirely in keeping with inter-war European decorative bronzes, supporting a date of around 1920.

📏 Dimensions

• Length: 59 cm

• Width: 25 cm

• Height: 18.5 cm

• Weight (unpacked): 3.5 kg

These proportions give the crocodile real presence as a focal point beside a pond, on a terrace or even in a garden room, while still being practical to handle and reposition.

🕰️ Historical Significance
This crocodile fountain head stands at the crossroads of two key trends in late 19th- and early 20th-century taste:

1. The rise of animalier sculpture – championed by artists such as Antoine-Louis Barye, whose work combined close observation of animal forms with strong decorative impact.

2. The growing role of designed water features in domestic gardens – fountains, statuary and architectural elements increasingly used to create atmosphere, narrative and focal points.

Within this context, a crocodile used as a functioning fountain head is both typical and rare. It is typical in its use of naturalistic animal modelling adapted to a decorative object; rare in its choice of creature. Instead of the familiar lions, dolphins or classical masks, the sculptor has chosen an exotic reptile more strongly associated with exploration, empire and the natural world beyond Europe.

As a surviving period piece that retains both its fountain function and original patina, this work offers a tangible link to inter-war garden design and collecting habits. It can be enjoyed as a decorative sculpture, an authentic piece of garden history and a continuation of the animalier tradition adapted specifically for outdoor domestic use.

❤️ Why You’ll Love It

✅ Striking focal point – At 59cm long, it immediately draws the eye whether set by a pond, on a terrace or in a garden room.
✅ Full of character – Open jaws, sweeping tail and finely worked scales give it drama, presence and a touch of humour.
✅ Genuinely antique – Original patina, honest wear and integrated plumbing all attest to a true period bronze, not a modern copy.
✅ Versatile – Use as a functioning fountain head or as a standalone sculptural statement indoors or out.
✅ Collectable – A distinctive example within the sought-after world of animalier bronzes and early 20th-century garden sculpture.

📜 Provenance

• Private collection, Vale of Glamorgan

• Notable auction house in Wales

• Curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD

🔍 Condition Report
In good decorative condition, with a rich, naturally developed patina:

• Warm bronze tones on the high points

• Greenish verdigris in the recesses and around details

• Honest wear and a few minor knocks from long outdoor use

• Light rubbing to exposed areas such as snout, feet and tail tip

• Some small losses/holes commensurate with weathering and age

A later drilled service or fixing hole is present at the back, introduced during its working life as a fountain to accommodate plumbing or securing. This is typical of practical garden fittings and is not structurally significant. The casting feels sound with no visible structural cracks, and the bronze carries its age well.

Internal pipework is present; however, as with any period fountain head, it should be checked, adapted or extended by a suitably qualified installer before the piece is brought back into use as a working water feature.