A pair of bronze spaniel chenets

A pair of Louis XVI gilt and patinated bronze dog-form chenets – circa 1780

Height: 23.5 cm. (9 ¼ in.)     Width: 33.5 cm. (13 in.)     Depth: 11 cm. (4 ¼ in.)

Provenance

Collection of George Blumenthal (1858-1941), sold maître Maurice Ader, Galerie Georges Petit, Paris, 1-2 December 1932, lot 114 (ill.) for FF 25,500 to Jean Seligmann

Collection of Horst and Ruth E. Denk, New York

Comparative Literature

Pavlovsk, vol.II, the Collections, Paris, 1993, pp. 179, 193, fig. 45 and 222.

This recumbent dog motif was also used on 18^th Century mantel clocks, such as the identical models found on a Louis XVI gilt bronze clock sold from the Alexander Collection, Christie’s New York, 30 April 1999, lot 166.

These chenets’ former owner, George Blumenthal was a German-born banker who headed the US branch of Lazard Frères in New York. Following retirement in 1925, Blumenthal dedicated the majority of his time to philanthropy. He was a trustee of the Metropolitan Museum of Art for many years, made numerous gifts to the museum, and served as its 7^th president from 1934 until his death in 1941.

Around 1920, he bought a house in Paris with his wife, Florence, which she dedicated to 18^th Century French art. The entire collection of the house was put up for sale in Paris following Florence’s death in 1930, with these chenets appearing under lot 114.