When he was only 20, the French sculptor Jules Moigniez exhibited one of his works at the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1855.
Extracted from Antiques Trade Gazette | Anne Crane
His teacher Paul Comoléra was particularly fascinated by birds and Moigniez stayed true to similar motifs throughout his career.
The majority of his works were cast by his father, who originally worked as a gilder before buying up a small foundry, devoted exclusively to the production of his son’s models.
More than half Moigniez’s works were sold to collectors in the UK, while others were exported throughout Europe and to buyers in the US.
This 2ft 5in (73cm) long gilt bronze group of a golden pheasant and a lizard, above, is coming up at Mehlis in Plauen on February 27-29 with a guide of €4500.