CAST BY BOYER FRERES FROM A MODEL BY EMILE HEBERT, LAST QUARTER 19TH CENTURY

This finely-cast bust is inspired by the tale of 'The Blue Bird', taken from the contes de fées by Madame Marie-Cathérine D'Aulnoy (d. 1705). Here Hebert chooses to capture the encounter between the tale's heroine, Florine, and her princely suitor who was transformed into a blue bird by the villain queen. The inscription engraved to the front of the bust reads 'Blue bird, color of the sky, fly to me quickly'.

A similar bust and companion candelabra were sold, Hotel Drouot, ?????????????????