One 19th century putto marble sculpture, signed 'Pigal'

Made in France in the late nineteenth century, this fine sculpture, rendered with great skill and sensitivity, depicts a young boy, or cherub or putto, accosted by a large bird, that seems interested in the fruit or vines which he is clutching in his hands. In this depiction, the playful nature of the interaction is emphasised. The bird steps with one foot onto the cherub's leg, and only raises one wing and does not squawk agressively at the child.

The boy looks back with an expression that is both defensive yet also bemused and intrigued, viewed from the left his face opens up into a gentle smile. Other elements, such as further vines or grapes to the boy's right have been stripped away to focus on the interaction. All the elements are sculpted by someone clearly at great ease working with marble, and the piece is signed 'Pigal', possibly a shorter form of Jean-Baptiste Pigalle, but this is speculative. Overall the piece sits 48cm high and 33cm wide.