19th Century Girl Carrying Flower Baskets, Sculpture Signed Auguste Moreau
Auguste Moreau (1834-1917) Antique French Bronze Flower Girl Sculpture
Elegant Late 19th-Century Signed French Bronze with Documented Lyon & Turnbull Provenance
Highlights
• Antique French cast bronze sculpture
• By Auguste Moreau (1834-1917)
• Dating to the late 19th century
• Signed "Aug. Moreau"
• Depicts a young girl carrying twin flower baskets
• Graceful naturalistic modelling
• Beautiful detail to the girl's curling hair and drapery
• Attractive historic bronze patination
• Private Collection of G. S. May Esq.
• Lyon & Turnbull, Edinburgh, 19 November 2020, Lot 612
• Approximately 18 cm high
• Supplied with a Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution
Introduction
An elegant late 19th-century French bronze sculpture by Auguste Moreau (1834-1917) depicting a young girl carrying two flower baskets.
The intimate cabinet-scale composition exemplifies the graceful figurative subjects for which Moreau became known, combining delicately modelled features with the romantic pastoral character favoured in French decorative sculpture during the later 19th century.
Signed "Aug. Moreau", the bronze also benefits from a documented ownership and auction history through the Private Collection of G. S. May Esq. and Lyon & Turnbull, Edinburgh.
Catalogue Details
Artist: Auguste Moreau (1834-1917)
Subject: Girl Carrying Flower Baskets
Date: Late 19th century
Origin: French
Medium: Cast bronze
Signature: Signed "Aug. Moreau"
Height: Approximately 18 cm
Width: Approximately 10.5 cm
Depth: Approximately 7.3 cm
Base Width: Approximately 5.5 cm
Catalogue Note
Moreau presents the youthful figure standing with a basket suspended from either hand.
Her gently inclined head, cascading curls and relaxed pose create an impression of movement despite the sculpture's compact proportions.
Particular attention has been given to the contrast between the smooth modelling of the figure and the textural treatment of her hair, drapery, naturalistic ground and woven baskets.
The two open baskets extend beyond the central figure, creating a particularly attractive silhouette when the sculpture is viewed in the round.
Natural variations within the aged bronze patina further emphasise the modelled surfaces.
Auguste Moreau and French Figurative Sculpture
Born in Dijon in 1834, Auguste Moreau belonged to a distinguished family of French sculptors.
His father Jean-Baptiste-Louis-Joseph Moreau was a sculptor and painter, while his brothers Mathurin and Hippolyte Moreau also became successful sculptors.
Auguste Moreau exhibited at the Paris Salon from 1861.
His long career became particularly associated with graceful representations of young women, children, allegorical figures and pastoral subjects.
These compositions combined naturalistic observation with the romantic decorative qualities highly prized within late 19th-century French sculpture.
Signature
The bronze bears the signature "Aug. Moreau" to the integral base.
Provenance
Private Collection of G. S. May Esq.
Lyon & Turnbull, Edinburgh, Five Centuries: Furniture, Paintings & Works of Art, 19 November 2020, Lot 612.
Subsequently curated and presented by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®.
Dimensions
Height: 18 cm / 7.09 inches
Width: 10.5 cm / 4.13 inches
Depth: 7.3 cm / 2.87 inches
Base Width: 5.5 cm / 2.17 inches
Condition Report
Historic condition consistent with age.
The bronze displays natural variations in patination, age-related surface wear and areas of verdigris. These surface characteristics contribute to the historic appearance of the sculpture.
The underside shows the hollow-cast construction and central fixing.
Please examine all photographs carefully as they form an integral part of the condition report.
Shipping
Worldwide shipping is available.
The sculpture will be professionally packed with appropriate consideration given to the historic bronze surface, projecting flower baskets and finely modelled details. Insured delivery can be arranged according to destination.
Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution
The artwork will be supplied with a Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution issued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®, recording the artwork’s catalogue details, attribution, provenance as stated, and details of the sale. This document accompanies the work as part of its ongoing ownership and provenance record.
Attribution and Research
The historical observations, provenance research, attribution analysis and contextual commentary presented within this catalogue entry represent the professional opinion of Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®. They are offered in good faith as informed scholarly assessments based upon the available evidence, comparative research, published reference material and our experience within the international fine art market.
These observations should be understood as professional opinions rather than definitive statements of fact or guarantees of authorship, attribution, date, origin, provenance or historical interpretation. As with all historic works of art, future documentary discoveries, technical examination, conservation analysis or advances in academic research may refine, expand or revise current interpretations.
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®
Specialising in carefully curated British and European fine art, antiques and historic works of art.
Every artwork is professionally researched and catalogued using comparative scholarship, published reference material and more than two decades of experience within the international fine art market. We are committed to offering collectors works of artistic and historical merit accompanied by transparent provenance research, detailed catalogue descriptions and professional, client-focused service.
Additional photographs and further information are available upon request.
