Jaguar dormant (Sleeping jaguar)

Dating from 1837, Jaguar dormant was first offered in Barye's 1845 catalogue. The present example has a smaller base (or rather, the jaguar fills more of it) than is usually seen, and the fact it is a lost wax cast, with cire perdue inscription, may classify it as an early épreuve d'artiste. Unfortunately, the identity of Marguerite Pfléger, to whom this cast is dedicated, remains obscure.
Another cast of this model was sold Sotheby's New York, The Marshall B. Coyne Collection, 6 June 2001, lot 290 ($7,200).