A PAIR OF DOCUMENTARY SEVRES BISCUIT FIGURES OF CUPID & PSYCHE: 'L'AMOUR MENACANT' AND 'LA NYMPHE FALCONET'

1761-1762, CUPID INCISED ON THE UNDERSIDE T1762 AND F, PSYCHE INCISED AT THE BACK ON THE ROCK F AND ON THE UNDERSIDE T 1761, FROM THE MODELS OF 1758 AND 1761 BY FALCONET

Details

A PAIR OF DOCUMENTARY SEVRES BISCUIT FIGURES OF CUPID & PSYCHE: 'L'AMOUR MENACANT' AND 'LA NYMPHE FALCONET'
1761-1762, Cupid incised on the underside T1762 and F, Psyche incised at the back on the rock F and on the underside T 1761, from the models of 1758 and 1761 by Falconet
The winged Cupid seated on a rock holding his right index finger to his lips, his left hand on the quiver of arrows at his left; Psyche seated demurely on a rock, both hands holding the bow leaning against her left leg
9¼in. (23.5cm.) and 9 3/8in. (23.8cm.) high respectively (2)

Provenance

With Matteo, Paris, 17 May 1955 (200,000 French francs)
By descent to the present owner

Lot Essay

Etienne-Maurice Falconet, active at Sèvres 1755-1766.

The incised dates on the present figures confirm them as early examples of these two popular models. Indeed, the model for Psyche was only created in 1761, the same date inscribed on the underside. The inscribed F refers to Falconet in his role as director of the sculpture workshop from 1758-1766.

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