Skip to main content
Items Similar to Rare Large Scale Pastoral Plaster Sculpture from Loriol-du-Comtat, France, 1914
Goddess Wall Relief, Vintage French Plaster, Circa 1920-1940, 29.5"
Goddess Wall Relief, Vintage French Plaster, Circa 1920-1940, 29.5"
French Limestone Saint Sculpture
French Limestone Saint Sculpture
Early 20th C To Scale Plaster Cast of The Ludovisi Throne Grand Tour E.P Warren
Early 20th C To Scale Plaster Cast of The Ludovisi Throne Grand Tour E.P Warren
Mid-Century Ceramic Wall Relief, Europe
Mid-Century Ceramic Wall Relief, Europe
19th Century French Cast Cement Pastoral Animal Statue
19th Century French Cast Cement Pastoral Animal Statue
"Grazing goat", studio plaster, by Pierre-Jules Mêne, Paris, France, circa 1844
"Grazing goat", studio plaster, by Pierre-Jules Mêne, Paris, France, circa 1844
Video Loading
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 22

Rare Large Scale Pastoral Plaster Sculpture from Loriol-du-Comtat, France, 1914

$18,500
£13,833.30
€16,156.49
CA$25,992.48
A$26,325.33
CHF 15,122.57
MX$319,228.51
NOK 175,419.99
SEK 178,557.38
DKK 120,786.87

About the Item

Found in a chateau in Loriol du Comtat, in the Provence region of France, this large-scale plaster sculpture is signed and dated by the artist, making it a rare find. Originally part of a boiserie containing a fireplace, the sculpture decorated the main hall of the chateau. The artist, Marius Sain, created the piece for the owners of the chateau in 1914. The lovely depiction of a shepherdess and her flock is a fitting subject for an area of France in which shepherding is such an important part of the culture. The preserved heritage of transhumance in Provence goes back at least 800 years, as evidenced by collections of ancient songs, stories, and art. Life-size in scale, the lovely sculpture features a mix of high-, mid-, and low-relief embellishments. A hooded shepherdess tends to her flock of sheep with a crook in hand. A dog sits calmly at her feet as the flock gathers in front of them. Both the shepherdess and the dog are in high relief, as is the lead sheep. The lamb seen suckling from the front sheep was crafted in mid relief, as is the visible head on the far right of the sculpture. There are a few sheep behind them in low relief. Large trees can be seen on either side of the group, while off in the background (faintly visible) are a castle with four fastigiate Mediterranean cypress trees (known as Stricta) and a spired church. The attention to detail is magnificent, with textured surfaces including the animals’ fur and the uneven ground. Block print on the plaster can be seen at the base. The letters read Le Soir, which is French for “The Night”. The right side of the sculpture has been signed “M Sain 1914”. Marius Joseph Sain was born in 1877 in Avignon, France. In 1902, Sain moved to Paris to study at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. Through introductions by his older brother and painter, Paul, Sain was able to immerse himself in a collective of artists known as Salon de la Société coloniale des artistes français (“Salon of the Colonial Society of French Artists”) that traveled abroad to create commissioned pieces. By 1914, Sain had returned to France, gaining an appreciation for water carriers and shepherds, which would become prevalent in his later works.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 82.5 in (209.55 cm)Width: 81.25 in (206.38 cm)Depth: 24 in (60.96 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Plaster,Wood,Hand-Carved
  • Place of Origin:
    France
  • Period:
    1910-1919
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1914
  • Condition:
    Repaired: Small, minor re-attachments of plaster. Additions or alterations made to the original: A previous owner had the plaster professionally cleaned and restored. The same owner also had wooden supports added to the verso side. Wear consistent with age and use. Good antique condition. Commensurate wear with old fills and repairs. Minor losses with light rubs and separations. Professionally restored and cleaned. Wood supports on verso can be removed during installation. Light chips to base, near LE SOIR.
  • Seller Location:
    Dallas, TX
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 821-151stDibs: LU906325687242

More From This Seller

View All
19th C. Plaster Allegorical Personification of the City of Saint-Étienne, France

19th C. Plaster Allegorical Personification of the City of Saint-Étienne, France

19th C. Plaster Allegorical Personification of the City of Saint-Étienne, France

Located in Dallas, TX

A plaster personification of the French city of Saint-Étienne, this plaster sculpture dates to the era of Beaux-Arts style, which was prevalent in France from the mid-1800s to the en...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Beaux Arts Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Plaster

Large Carved Limestone Garden Statue from a Property in Nice, France, Circa 1860

Large Carved Limestone Garden Statue from a Property in Nice, France, Circa 1860

Large Carved Limestone Garden Statue from a Property in Nice, France, Circa 1860

By Antonio Canova

Located in Dallas, TX

This large limestone garden statue faithfully interprets an original marble statue from 1802 depicting the goddess Venus stepping out of a bath. Our statue was hand-carved circa 1860...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Neoclassical Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Stone, Limestone

A Heavy Carved Stone Armorial Relief from a Chateau in Nice, France, Circa 1700

A Heavy Carved Stone Armorial Relief from a Chateau in Nice, France, Circa 1700

A Heavy Carved Stone Armorial Relief from a Chateau in Nice, France, Circa 1700

Located in Dallas, TX

Dating to circa 1700, this hand-carved stone relief plaque was once an architectural element at a chateau in Nice, France. The robust, nine-and-a-half-inch-thick stone, which is crea...

Category

Antique Early 18th Century French Animal Sculptures

Materials

Stone

Circa 1790 Painted and Outcurved Oval Bas Relief Panel from Austria

Circa 1790 Painted and Outcurved Oval Bas Relief Panel from Austria

Circa 1790 Painted and Outcurved Oval Bas Relief Panel from Austria

Located in Dallas, TX

A fascinating Neoclassical piece of art from Austria (circa 1790), this oval panel has been hand-carved with a bombe (out curving) form that accentuates the bas-relief figures. The i...

Category

Antique 1790s Austrian Neoclassical Wall-mounted Sculptures

Materials

Wood, Paint

Signed Antique French Plaster Sculpture, A Renaissance Boy and His Dog, C. 1880

Signed Antique French Plaster Sculpture, A Renaissance Boy and His Dog, C. 1880

Signed Antique French Plaster Sculpture, A Renaissance Boy and His Dog, C. 1880

Located in Dallas, TX

More information coming soon… Attributed to Provin Serres, a French Academic sculpture and disciple of Mathieu Morin, this large plaster sculpture depicts a boy with his faithful do...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Renaissance Animal Sculptures

Materials

Plaster, Wood, Paint

Weathered Cast Stone Pig and Piglets from England, 20th C.

Weathered Cast Stone Pig and Piglets from England, 20th C.

Weathered Cast Stone Pig and Piglets from England, 20th C.

Located in Dallas, TX

Cast in England in the 1900s using reconstituted stone, this charming pig and four piglets statue has developed a lovely weathered patina from exposure to the elements. Reconstituted stone is organic stone that has been crushed into small bits (if you look closely, you can still see pebble inclusions within the casting). These fragments are then combined with cement and sometimes coloring pigments are added to the mix. The resulting aggregate is poured into a mold where it is left to harden. After the blend has set, the mold is removed, rendering a durable work of art. Our weathered cast stone pig...

Category

20th Century English Animal Sculptures

Materials

Stone, Cast Stone

You May Also Like

"Standing Sheep", studio plaster, by Pierre-Jules Mêne, France, circa 1864

"Standing Sheep", studio plaster, by Pierre-Jules Mêne, France, circa 1864

"Standing Sheep", studio plaster, by Pierre-Jules Mêne, France, circa 1864

Located in Paris, FR

« Mouton debout », sculpture by Pierre-Jules Mêne (1810 – 1879). Workshop plaster. Biography Pierre-Jules Mêne, France (1810 – 1879) French sculptor. Son of a copper turner, Pier...

Category

Antique 1860s European Animal Sculptures

Materials

Plaster

19th Century French Cast Cement Pastoral Animal Statue

19th Century French Cast Cement Pastoral Animal Statue

19th Century French Cast Cement Pastoral Animal Statue

Located in Mckinney, TX

Late 19th-century French cast cement recumbent pastoral animal with a beautifully weathered surface and remnants of historic white and gray paint. Time and elements have softened the...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Animal Sculptures

Materials

Cement

"Grazing goat", studio plaster, by Pierre-Jules Mêne, Paris, France, circa 1844

"Grazing goat", studio plaster, by Pierre-Jules Mêne, Paris, France, circa 1844

"Grazing goat", studio plaster, by Pierre-Jules Mêne, Paris, France, circa 1844

Located in Paris, FR

Grazing goat, par Jules-Pierre Mêne, circa 1844. Workshop plaster. Biography Pierre-Jules Mêne, France (1810 – 1879) French sculptor. Son of a copper turner, Pierre-Jules Mêne w...

Category

Antique 1840s French Animal Sculptures

Materials

Plaster

Cow and calf, studio plaster, by Pierre-Jules Mêne, France, circa 1850

Cow and calf, studio plaster, by Pierre-Jules Mêne, France, circa 1850

Cow and calf, studio plaster, by Pierre-Jules Mêne, France, circa 1850

Located in Paris, FR

Sculpture representing a cow and her calf, signed Pierre-Jules Mêne. Cartridge « PJ MENE » on the front of the terrace. France, circa 1850. Workshop plaster. Biography Pierre-Jule...

Category

Antique 1850s French Animal Sculptures

Materials

Plaster

Plaster Sculture by Ruth Milles (1873-1941). Art Nouveau, early 20th Century

Plaster Sculture by Ruth Milles (1873-1941). Art Nouveau, early 20th Century

Plaster Sculture by Ruth Milles (1873-1941). Art Nouveau, early 20th Century

By Ruth Milles

Located in Knivsta, SE

Charming Plaster Sculture by Ruth Milles (Sweden, 1873-1941). A young girl with a bouquet of flowers. Art Nouveau, early 20th Century. Ruth Milles is the sister of the world famous ...

Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Art Nouveau Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Plaster

More Ways To Browse

French Antique Scales
Carved Plaster
Antique French Plaster
French Pastoral
Wood Architecture Sculpture
Large Plaster Sculpture
Antique Boiserie
Water Carrier
Large Garden Sculptures
The Shepherdess
Antique Water Carrier
Wood Carved Garden Sculptures
Paul Sain
Pastoral Sculpture
French Architectural Panels
Fruit Swag
Garden Plaque
Antique Relief Tiles
View All Popular Figurative Sculptures Searches