Pierre-Jules Mene Bronze Horse Sculpture

Appraised on: July 15, 2000

Appraised in: Sacramento, California

Appraised by: Eric Silver

Category: Metalwork & Sculpture

Episode Info: Roadshow Favorites (#813)

Originally Aired: April 26, 2004

IMAGE: 1 of 1  

Appraisal Video: (1:28)

APPRAISER: Well, as you know, you have a wonderful bronze here. It's by the French artist named Pierre-Jules Mène. P.-J. Mène was one of the leading sculptors of the 19th century. He was called an animalier sculptor who specialized in sculptures of animals. He was also self-taught and he would go to the zoos and observe animals and sketch them and then make these sculpture groups. He was also a great businessman. Unlike most artists, he was a businessman. He had his own foundry, he actually had a catalog and you could order the, um, sculptures from the catalog. He exhibited quite a bit and won many medals. This particular sculpture was exhibited in the Salon of 1852 and was of two known thoroughbred horses. What's interesting about it is that this is an original one. At almost every ROADSHOW I see this group as a reproduction and usually in smaller versions so it's wonderful to see an original piece of this quality with this patina with this fine casting that's very clearly signed here. As I said, there are so many reproductions of them it's really exciting to see an original one. Uh, now, did you tell me how much you paid for this?

GUEST: Yeah, $400.

APPRAISER: Well, at auction, this would bring between $20,000 and $30,000.

GUEST: Oh! I am very happy!

APPRAISER: Good.

GUEST: Good. That's great.

APPRAISER: Thanks for coming in.

GUEST: Good. Thank you! I didn't know it was that much.

APPRAISER: Oh. Just sit down.

GUEST: Thanks! ( laughs )