Antique and very rare animalier bronze of a dog sat upon a tasseled cushion. The cushion is actually a box and the cushion is hinged to the side. Excellent dark brown patination and all in excellent condition. The bronze is signed by P. Lecourtier for Prosper Lecourtier and the box is also stamped for the foundry and retailer Jules Graux of Paris. Prosper Lecourtier was born in Gremilly in 1855 and died in Paris in 1924. He was a pupil of the animalier master Fremiet and Coutan and exhibited in the Salons of Paris at the end of the 19th century., He won a third class medal in 1880, a second class in 1879 and a first class in 1902. His specialised in animalier sculpture especially dogs. 5.5 inches high by 5 inches wide and 4.5 inches deep ( 13.75 cms by 12.5 cms by 11.25 cms). The small foundry of jules graux-marly was active in the 1870s and its bronzes are rarely seen on the market. It was known principally for the casting of ornaments in the style of louis xiii and xiv, examples of which were exhibited at the Exposition Universelle in 1878. In addition it did cast works by a number of distinguished figurative sculptors, including first flower by Carrier-Belleuse and Marguerite by Boisseau. Graux-Marly also cast a fine single horse model by Lenordez, an accomplished and talented equine sculptor, who exhibited a number of works at the salon from the 1850s to the 1870s. An example of the latter model appeared as lot 1063, sotheby's, gleneagles, 1/2 September 1998.