Pompon assisted both J.A.J. Falguière and J.A. Mercié prior to joining Rodin's atelier where he worked primarily with marble. In 1922, Pompon received critical recognition when his Polar Bear was first exhibited. Twelve other examples were executed in marble over the next ten years--one of which is in the collection of the Musée D'Orsay and another in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Cf. A. Duncan, ed., The Encyclopedia of Art Deco, New York, 1988 and C. Chevillot, L. Colas, A. Pingeot and L. de Margerie, François Pompon 1855-1933, Paris, 1994, cat. no 122D for other examples