Tonnelier, Homme appuyé sur une pelle des deux mains, Puddleur à la tenaille avec masque et tablier, and Balayeuse

Details

AIME-JULES DALOU (FRENCH, 1838-1902)
Tonnelier, Homme appuyé sur une pelle des deux mains, Puddleur à la tenaille avec masque et tablier, and Balayeuse
Each signed 'DALOU' and with Susse Frères cachet; Tonnelier with a 'W' stamped next to the cachet, Balayeuse inscribed 'Susse Fr. Edt', Homme appuyé and Puddleur à la tenaille inscribed 'Susse Fr. Edts' and 'cire perdu'; three with a sticker to the underside marked '10467/1'
bronze, mid-brown patina
Tonnelier: 6 ¾ in. (17.5 cm.) high
Homme appuyé: 7 5/8 in. (19.5 cm.) high
Puddleur: 7 1/8 in. (18 cm.) high
Balayeuse: 6 ½ in. (16.5 cm.) high
(4)Each conceived circa 1889-1898.
These bronzes circa 1910.

Special notice

These lots have been imported from outside the EU for sale using a Temporary Import regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the Hammer price. VAT is also payable (at 20%) on the buyer’s Premium on a VAT inclusive basis. When a buyer of such a lot has registered an EU address but wishes to export the lot or complete the import into another EU country, he must advise Christie's immediately after the auction.

Brought to you by

Giles Forster

gforster@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2146

Lot Essay

Jules Dalou, a dedicated republican and former communard, was a fervant champion of the working man. Thus towards the end of his life, the artist began an ambitious personal project to create a monument “à la glorification des travailleurs”. Taking it upon himself to visit mines, factories, and farms, the artist created numerous studies of every type of labourer, imbuing them with great dignity and respect. Unfortunately Dalou died before his project could be realised, the casts of the present models only produced posthumously (see A. Simier, Jules Dalou, le sculpteur de la République, Paris, 2013, pp. 202-301).

More from The Collector: Silver and 19th Century Furniture, Sculpture, Ceramics & Works of Art

View All