A cast bronze toad - image-1

Lot 1726 Dα

A cast bronze toad

Auction 1196 - overview Cologne
20.05.2022, 10:00 - Decorative Arts incl. Highly Important Mortars the Schwarzach Collection Part IV.
Estimate: 3.500 € - 5.000 €
Result: 4.375 € (incl. premium)
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A cast bronze toad

Golden brown cast bronze with fine chocolate brown natural patina and chased and engraved details. Cast from nature. The feet slightly worn, the front of the right back leg broken (lost and patinated). W 8.5 cm.
Padua, early 16th C.

Cast from life of amphibians, reptiles and other small animals are known to have been made by bronze founders in Padua and Nuremberg in the 16th century. Both cities were major centres of bronze casting during the Renaissance. Casts of animals from nature were designed to cater to the interest in natural history during the era as well as displaying the artistic abilities of their makers.

Provenance

Private collection, Rhineland.

Literature

Cf. cat. Die Beschwörung des Kosmos, Europäische Bronzen der Renaissance, Duisburg 1994, cat. no. 111.
A further example in the Staatlichen Kunstsammlung Dresden, inv. no. ZV 3131.