detto Clodion, Erotic scene with satyrs

Oval plaque in gilded bronze; mm 250 x 190. This very refined plaque depicts an erotic scene played by a Nymph and two satyrs. The female figure rides a satyr while the other embraces her. The naked woman holds in her hand a kind of scepter whose meaning is evident. Signed Clodion, this gilded bronze oval could belong to an early production of the great French sculptor. The quality of the chiseling, almost goldsmith-like, and of the casting as well as the gilding are evident. Clodion's bronzes were replicated during the 19th and 20th centuries and, although they are signed, it is not easy to distinguish between mediocre and contemporary works. Quality can be an excellent starting point.