(A) I just love leading with a strong hand... and this bronze muse affords me that pleasure. Caught here dans le jardin, she's 22 inches tall, and just resplendant in her mint-perfect verdigris patina. She's signed MARTRUS. (e-mail Jack for a price)

OK, so you prefer your nude women indoors? Well, here she is, fresh from her latest photo session:

(e-mail Jack for a price)

(A1) Now we're having fun, eh?! Three quite synchronized skiers zip across the frozen marble slopes, no doubt on patrol against interlopers unsympathetic to l'art deco. Such a precious trio! Don't you adore their handsome patina, and their curvaceous marble platform? Your skiing friends will be insane with jealousy when you invite them over for hot toddies after a day on the slopes. It's about 18 inches wide and 7 tall. (e-mail Jack for a price)

(B) Combinations of lighting and sculpture are soooo rare and soooo glorious when the artist has taken advantage of both media! Here we have a Russian Wolfhound (Borzoi) attentively poised by the light, no doubt patiently awaiting her master's return. She's made of bronze, and fittingly marked "bronze veritable" (the first time I've ever seen that!). Etched into that extraordinary portoro marble base on the back: Editions Reveyrons, Paris. Clearly, we have a "transitional" piece here, the lamp-holder having all the organic design qualities of Art Nouveau. The statue measures 21 1/4 wide, 5 1/2 deep and 14 1/2 high. And... it's heavy!

...and, it's sold to ROBERT!!!

(C) Born in France in 1906, Irenee Rochard became one of France's most celebrated sculptors of the animal kingdom, certainly of the 20th Century. This statue of two doe "caught in the headlights" is so compelling in its animation and artistry. It measures about 23 1/2 inches wide overall, about 13 high, and 5 front-to-back. It's signed on the Portoro marble on the far right. The white stone is onyx.

Andrew tuned right into the beauty of Rochard's work... SOLD!!!

(D) Yet another Rochard sculpture, this one featuring a leaping swordfish (and signed on the black marble); it measures 26 wide, 16 high, and, like most of Rochard's work, made of white metal, with a bronze patina. (e-mail Jack for a price)

(E) This whippet, in my humble opinion, if I'm forced to take sides, is one of Rochard's finest works, and certainly an icon of the Art Deco period. Sleekness, grace and speed were all preoccupations of this time, so what better vehicle to embody these attributes than a whippet!!? I had an identical Rochard sculpture about 10 years ago, and I haven't seen this one since then. And, I might add, the marble base on this one totally eclipses my previous piece. Portoro marble with onyx embellishments inserted, and who knows what that splendid white and red marble on top is called? Overall dimensions are 23 1/8 by 6 1/8 front-to-back; it's 12 1/4 high. The tail has had two (professional) repairs. But, unless you're prone to wandering around with a magnifying glass this won't be a problem; Rochard's artistry surmounts this type of earth-bound complaint! His name, by the way, is etched into the bottom right panel of Portoro marble. (e-mail Jack for a price)

(E1) I have one last Rochard spelter sculpture in my repertoire, this adorable fawn! It's about 14 inches tall, "cute as a darned button!" Step aside, Godzilla! (e-mail Jack for a price)

(F) For a crowd obsessed with speed, economy, power, agility -- all those attributes and more that those lucky people who lived through the Art Deco period revered and emulated, as they basked in the notion that it was a whole new world and ANYTHING was possible -- the panther was one of the quintessential symbols. Right up there with his prey, the gazelle! But the gazelle was a bit too "femme" to be in the same ranks with this power symbol! I've seen a fair number of panther statues during my many trips to France, but frankly this one leaves the rest of them in the veldt. His modeling is downright scary-real -- can't you feel the tension? His patina is superb, a deep, rich green/brown (and yes, he's anatomically correct). The stepped black marble base is in near-perfect condition (a tiny chip or two) and has been beautifully carved; the steps almost have the feeling of being liquid. This guy is made of bronze, and he's massively heavy -- probably a solid casting; the tiny word "BRONZE" is stamped into his left hind foot. Bronze castings of this quality were generally accomplished by the period's finest artists; alas, no signature. I'll be you anything, on the other hand, that those wily French experts could tell us from across the jungle floor who sculpted him! He measures 18 inches wide, 4 1/4 front-to-back, and 9 high. (e-mail Jack for a price)

(G) And why shouldn't the French have a love affair with the seagull (they have with everyone else)? This wonderfully patinated white metal gull measures about 20 inches across, the same high. He can be placed in one of four positions, diving to the left or right, climbing to the left or right. (e-mail Jack for a price)

OOoooooooooo, Monsieur MAN!!!! Note how the textured surface lends additional authority to this... "piece..."

Click here for a closer view; not intimate, closer!

(J) Marked "Tinos" along with Made in Denmark... and Arte Bronze; 11 inches across. HEAVY! (e-mail Jack for a price)

(L) Signed "M. Le Verrier" on the back of the stone, a signature we all know and respect, one of the lions of Art Deco sculptors. About 9 1/2 inches tall, to the top of the bow. White metal on stone, with a verdigris patina, gold-leafed loincloth...a handsome, well-proportioned man...

Bob's appreciative eye rules the day again! SOLD!!

(M) A white metal statue on onyx and Portoro marble base; the spear is silver-plated, the horns an early type of plastic. Great tension in the figures!

THIEVES broke into the store and stole this statue on 5 January 2009. If you see it, give me a call! 415 518 2123. IT WILL SURFACE AGAIN!!

(N) A bronze plaque signed and by the noted sculptor and metalworker Henry Dropsy. The rich patina lends to the power of the image, "Education d'Hercule." It's dated 1924, and it stands about 8 inches high; and with its stand it's over 10 inches wide. (e-mail Jack for a price)

(O) Bronze sculpture signed "BE..(illegible) .ST" It stands 7 inches proud. Oh, my, let's see... could this be an abstraction....? (e-mail Jack for a price)

(P) Diana the huntress, letting go her arrow at 5:53, Pacific time. Yes, the clock's been expertly renovated from stem to stern, chiming on the half hour and the hour. With the two garnitures as arranged above this impressive trio measures 37 inches across, and we have 21 1/2 inches of height to the top of Diana's mighty bow. The metalwork is all spelter, and the bases a combination of onyx and Belgian black marble. I've had this sculpture without the clock, once before, and it was signed Uriano. This one isn't signed but I hereby proclaim: Uriano!

All gone -- Diana, her clock, her bow, her scantily clad self... SOLD!!!

(Q) Mighty Masters of Marble, les Francais...and that's my alliteration for today (I can hear your sigh of relief)! How appropiate and wonderful to employ the medium of marble to depict a fish, as marble comes from the ocean floor (or what once was the ocean floor), the result of eons of sediment forming the stone under the pressure of the water's weight. Phew, there I go with the alliteration again!! So... the fish itself, which cleverly and masterfully incorporates no less than four immaculately joined colors of marble, swivels to your heart's desire, just touch him with a finger and he's off and swimming. Or, flick his tail and watch him spin like a fishtop! This sculpture stands about a foot tall. (e-mail Jack for a price)

(S) Seemingly levitating above a block of black marble, this Greek-like (Roman-like?) bust has a rich verdigris patina and is, of course, solid bronze (and is so marked on the back). Whether Boyer, E. is the subject or the artist, I dunno. I only buy these things... At nearly 17 inches tall, its presence is formidible. Hey, I've got an idea, GOOGLE E. Boyer!! (e-mail Jack for a price)

(T) Another bust at 17 inches of height is this lovely Asian or Eurasian Deco-period woman, perched upon a faux-painted wood plinthe. The glaze has a subtle crackle finish, barely discernible in this photo. The muted colors, the hair style, the crook of the neck -- it's "ooo-la-la" time again in the hen-house, n'est-ce pas? (e-mail Jack for a price)