The naturalistic modeling and subject of this group suggests the work of Joseph Brown, head modeler in the 1870's who specialized in animal subjects, including a pair of life-sized tigers displayed at the 1875 Paris Exposition. Also see Marilyn Karmason with Joan Stacke, Majolica, A Complete History and Illustrated Survey, New York, 1989, p. 124 for a description of the present model, described as 'dramatically modeled'; and Victoria Bergeson, Majolica, London, 1989, p. 61, fig. 40.