Terracotta Figurine – Putti with Goat, Neo-Rococo, France (5979)

Terracotta figure — two putti with a goat (groupe d’enfants à la chèvre), Neo-Rococo, France, late 19th century

This charming terracotta figure depicts two putti — plump, playful children — with a goat amidst flowers and foliage: one stands in a climbing pose, the other reclines over the animal’s back. The terracotta figure belongs to the Neo-Rococo genre of sculpture from the late 19th century, when masters revived the light, sensually playful spirit of 18th-century Rococo — the same era in which Claude Michel (Clodion), the most famous master of putti and bacchante groups, worked. Such figures adorned bourgeois salons, mantelpieces, and writing desks, embodying the idyllic, carefree scenes of the Belle Époque.

Dimensions: Height 38 cm × width 27.5 cm

A snapshot of the Belle Époque: Clodion paused at the door of his workshop in Paris. Warm summer air drifted through the open window, and something soft and round emerged on the clay surface — a curve, a movement, a child’s foot in the air. He touched the damp clay with his thumb and gently smoothed a line. Behind him, an apprentice asked a question, but he merely smiled and did not reply. Some moments belong only to the hands and the clay.

Manufacturer and Signature

An engraved artist’s signature is visible on the base (see photos), which is not clearly legible and has not been deciphered. Based on style, material, and execution, the figure aligns with the tradition of Neo-Rococo terracotta from the late 19th century. This is a period piece of terracotta with an artist’s signature.

Rarity and Significance

The composition of putti with a goat is a classic Rococo and Neo-Rococo motif, associated with Clodion’s legacy. Signed terracotta works in this tradition are decoratively noble and of interest to collectors.

Application in Interior Design and Photography

An excellent accent in a classical, Rococo, or eclectic interior — on a mantelpiece, console table, desk, or bookshelf. A warmly decorative and highly photogenic object.

Gift Idea

A charming gift for an art and antique enthusiast or collector.

Condition

The dark brown, bronze-imitating surface characteristic of terracotta, with age patina and minor surface wear consistent with the object’s age. The condition of the item is fully reflected in the photographs.