AUGUST GAUL (1869 Großauheim/Hanau - 1921 Ber... Lot n° 32

Sitting little lion ("Dusselchen"). Bronze on marble base. 1898 (difficult to read). 24,2 x 10,8 x 14,2 cm. Signed "Gaul" and dated. Gabler 41. Estate casting of the 1930s with vivid, partially lightened, black-brown patina and wonderfully thin plinth. Bronzed, but not devitalized! In deceptive calm, the lion cub sits on its plinth. A closer look, however, reveals the playfulness of the young animal and the imminent jump to an unknown destination. All the bones and muscles of the little body are on the alert and stretched to the utmost. The buttocks are in turmoil, the hips are slightly askew, the hind legs lift barely noticeably, the tail whips away excitedly to the left side. The necessary support is provided by the comparatively huge front paws, which are extended diagonally forward. The large head sits, slightly tilted to the left, on a curiously stretched neck. The fine ears are pointed, the eyes look focused, the nose sniffs softly and a throaty growl seems to escape unconsciously from the concisely worked out mouth. However, there is no threat to the viewer and the predator, tamed by the additional fixation on a marble base, thus becomes a quite home-suitable preciousness. Total height with base 24.8 cm.