Shape Number: 1917
Designed by Paul Comoléra (1818–1897), c.1873.
39 1/2 x 21 3/4 x 15 3/4 in. (100.3 x 55.3 x 40 cm)
Born in France, Paul Comoléra studied under Neoclassical sculptor François Rude (1784–1855) and first exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1847. Between 1873 and 1876, he worked at Minton & Co., where he was best known for his animal models. His were some of the earliest examples of what would become a popular trend in the second half of the 1870s for animals realized in majolica. Comoléra worked from direct observation of the live subjects he kept in his studio—a methodology that, in combination with his artistic skill, resulted in highly lifelike forms.