This is an erotic bronze of semi naked female figurine tied to a classical column after E M Falconet. This high quality piece is made from the lost wax process (cire perdue). The attention to detail is fantastic and the sculpture, set on an attractive marble base, is extremely lifelike. It bears signature 'Nick'. Condition: In excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm: Height 36 x Width 16 x Depth 18 & Weight 3.2 kg Dimensions in inches: Height 1 foot, 2 inches x Width 6 inches x Depth 7 inches & Weight 7.1 lbs Etienne Maurice Falconet (1716-1791) was the eminent 18th century French sculptor, arguably one of the more critically underrated artists of the period, leaned towards a rococo style of working, especially in his nudes. He was however capable of producing great works of Baroque sculpture, such as his famous equestrian statue Monument to Peter the Great ("The Bronze Horseman") (1766-78), arguably the greatest piece of Petrine Art in St Petersburg. Falconet became director of sculpture at the Sevres porcelain factory and later director of the French Academy of Fine Arts. Falconet's chief rival was the more classically inclined Jean-Baptiste Pigalle (1714-1785). Falconet was born into a large, poor family in Paris. Initially apprenticed to a carpenter, his skill with clay figures attracted the attention of the sculptor Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne (1679-1731) who accepted him as one of his pupils, alongside the slightly older Pigalle. Although his most successful early work was his statue of Milo of Croton, which gained him membership of the French Academy in 1754, he first came to public attention in the Paris Salon of 1755 and 1757 with his sensitive marble sculptures L'Amour (1754) and the Nymphe Descendant au Bain ("The Bather") (1757, Louvre, Paris). By this time his patrons included the powerful Madame de Pompadour, who in 1757 secured for him the post of Director of Sculpture at the new Royal Porcelain Factory at Sevres. Over the next nine years, he breathed new life into the manufacture of small-scale unglazed porcelain figurines, influenced to a degree by the suggestive paintings of Francois Boucher (1703-70) and by mid-century theatrical designs. Examples include "Falconet's Enfants", a set of white biscuit table sculptures of putti, illustrating the Fine Arts, designed to accompany and complement the factory's grand dinner services. The fashion for such small works quickly spread to the other porcelain makers across Europe. During this time Falconet also wrote numerous pamphlets and other publications on art, including the chapter on "Sculpture" in the prestigious French Encyclopédie, in which he argued that modern sculptors had surpassed the ancients. In total, when eventually published in Lausanne (1781-1782) his writings on art, amounted to six volumes. He also found time to complete several marble sculptures, including Pygmalion and Galatea(1763, Louvre, Paris). Lost Wax Method 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 artists 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. Our reference: 04208 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.