Rembrandt Bugatti "Émeu" Bronze Sculpture
Rembrandt Bugatti’s “Émeu” has a striking figure, blending the appearance of both grace and awkwardness. This large, flightless bird stands tall, often reaching over six feet in height, with a slender neck and long, powerful legs that make it an impressive runner. Bugatti applied large pieces of plasticine with his fingers to create a coat of shaggy feathers. The Émeu makes a strong s-shape composition, giving the statue a dynamic appearance.
Item #: YB-21599
Artist: Rembrandt Bugatti
Country: France
Circa: 1904
Dimensions: 8.25" height, 11" width, 6.125" depth.
Materials: Patinated Bronze
Signed: R. Bugatti, and incised 14 with foundry mark Cire Perdue AA Hébrard
Provenance: Hébrard Collection, Paris
Sladmore Gallery, London
Christie's, Monaco, 25 June 1989, lot 19
Acquired from the above thence by descent to the present owner
Literature: Veronique Fromanger, "Rembrandt Bugatti sculpteur: répertoire monographique : une trajectoire foudroyante", Paris, 2016, p. 277, no. 69
Item #: YB-21599
Artist: Rembrandt Bugatti
Country: France
Circa: 1904
Dimensions: 8.25" height, 11" width, 6.125" depth.
Materials: Patinated Bronze
Signed: R. Bugatti, and incised 14 with foundry mark Cire Perdue AA Hébrard
Provenance: Hébrard Collection, Paris
Sladmore Gallery, London
Christie's, Monaco, 25 June 1989, lot 19
Acquired from the above thence by descent to the present owner
Literature: Veronique Fromanger, "Rembrandt Bugatti sculpteur: répertoire monographique : une trajectoire foudroyante", Paris, 2016, p. 277, no. 69
Rembrandt Bugatti’s “Émeu” depicts the bird standing in his enclosure. Large pieces of plasticine applied with his fingers form the emu's body. Bugatti's emus were descendants of specimens collected during the French scientific expedition to Australia. The birds were originally brought to the chateau of Empress Josephine and the grand Jardin des Plantes. Their descendants were brought to the Antwerp Zoo in 1846 where they were successfully bred until 1909, when Bugatti first saw them.
Rembrandt Bugatti’s “Émeu” depicts the bird standing in his enclosure. Large pieces of plasticine applied with his fingers form the emu's body. Bugatti's emus were descendants of specimens collected during the French scientific expedition to Australia. The birds were originally brought to the chateau of Empress Josephine and the grand Jardin des Plantes. Their descendants were brought to the Antwerp Zoo in 1846 where they were successfully bred until 1909, when Bugatti first saw them.
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