Pair of bronze "Cat and Dog" andirons with double patina, 19th century

Pair of andirons
Cat and Dog
Bronze with double patina, gilt and brown
19th century
Circa 1880
Cat: H. 34.2 - W. 28 - D. 18 cm
Dog: H. 36 - W. 23.5 - D. 15 cm

A pair of andirons depicting a cat and a dog in bronze with a brown patina, mounted on gilt bronze bases. The bases are adorned with drapery falling over a carved apron of laurel branches, and rest on four fluted, twisted feet.

This pair of andirons is one of the versions following the model made for the Prince of Condé and delivered in 1773 for the sum of 1120 livres. Several versions of the pedestals are known: a pedestal on four tall fluted feet; a pedestal adorned with drapery falling over the apron sculpted with laurel branches, resting on four twisted fluted feet; and a pedestal sculpted with posts, ending in square feet decorated with medallions and acanthus leaves, mounted on square fluted feet. The Caffiéri family, Philippe and Jacques, were an important dynasty of sculptors and bronze workers of Italian origin, who emigrated from Naples to Paris where they worked primarily as "sculptors to the king" for the French crown, at the request of Cardinal Mazarin. Admitted to the Academy of Saint Luke as a sculptor, Jacques Caffieri was appointed master founder and chaser around 1715. At his death in 1755, Philippe Caffieri worked almost exclusively for the royal court and created numerous pieces of furniture for the châteaux of Versailles, Fontainebleau, Choisy, Marly, Muette, and Compiègne. An identical pair is reproduced in: H. Ottomeyer / P. Pröschel, Vergoldete Bronzen - L’oeuvre en bronze du baroque tardif et du classicisme, Munich 1986, vol I, page 201 Fig. 3. 14. 12.

Ref: VQ84HL5ZZD