A stunning and extremely lifelike bronze sculpture of two thoroughbred horses. The piece is set on an attractive marble base. Bearing the replica signature of 'J Mene.' This high quality bronze is a hot cast recast of an original produced using the 'lost wax' (cire perdue) process. Sometimes called by the French name of 'cire perdue' or the Latin, 'cera perduta' is the process by which a bronze or brass is cast from an artist's sculpture. In industrial uses, the modern process is called investment casting. An ancient practice, the process today varies from foundry to foundry, but the steps which are usually used in casting small bronze sculptures in a modern bronze foundry are generally quite standardised. Pierre Jules Mêne (1810 -1879), was a French Sculptor and animalière. He is considered to be the pioneer of animal sculpture in the nineteenth-century. Mêne produced a number of animal sculptures, mainly of domestic animals like horses, cows and bulls, sheep, goats, etc., which were in vogue during the Second Empire. He was one of a "school of French animalières" which also included Pierre Louis Rouillard, Antoine-Louis Barye, Auguste Caïn, and François Pompon. Mêne himself specialized in small bronze figures which explains why none of his works exist as public statuary. His work was a popular success with the bourgeois class and many editions of each sculpture were made, often to decorate the increasingly private homes of the period. The quality of these works is high, comparable to Barye's. Mêne also seems to have enjoyed a longer period of success and celebrity than his contemporaries. He is considered to have been the Lost-wax casting expert of his time, later surpassed only by Auguste Rodin. Dimensions in cm: Height 46 x Width 59 x Depth 26 & Weight 22.25 kg Dimensions in inches: Height 1 foot, 6 inches x Width 1 foot, 11 inches x Depth 10 inches & Weight 49.1 lbs Our reference: 01693 Please feel free to email or call us (+44 20 8809 9605) to arrange a viewing in our North London warehouse. Shipping: We ship worldwide and deliver to Mainland UK addresses free of charge. A shipping cost to all other destinations must be requested prior to purchase. To request a shipping quote for the items in your cart, please click HERE. Delivery and return policy: We require that someone be home on the agreed delivery day if applicable, otherwise a redelivery fee will apply. In accordance with Distance Selling Regulations, we offer a 14-day money back guarantee if you are not satisfied with the item. The item must be returned in its original packaging and condition. Unless the item is not as described in a material way, the buyer is responsible for return shipping expenses. Buyers are fully responsible for any customs duties or local taxes that may be incurred on items sent outside of the European Union.