Grotesque little monster

possibly copy after Arent van Bolten, c. 1780 - c. 1900

The body of a snail, the legs of an ostrich, a head that is birdlike yet human: the silversmith Arent van Bolten was fascinated by such bizarre monsters, as is evidenced by his numerous design drawings and prints. This statuette may have once served as an incense burner or an oil lamp.

Artwork typefigure
Object numberBK-16127
Dimensionsheight 17 cm, height 20.2 cm x width 10 cm x depth 15.2 cm (incl. modern socle)
Physical characteristicsbronze

Identification

Title(s)
- Grotesque animal (former title)
- Grotesque little monster
- Grotesque Animal, Oil Lamp
- Grotesque bird (former title)
Object type
Object number
BK-16127
Description
Het dier staat op hoge poten met opengesperde muil. Op de plaats van de vleugels de spiraalwand van een slakkenhuis; geprononceerde genitaliën.
Part of catalogue

Creation

Creation
- caster: possibly copy after Arent van Bolten, Paris (possibly)
- caster , Rome (possibly)
- after design by Arent van Bolten (attributed to), Zwolle (possibly) [rejected attribution]
- bronze caster: anonymous [rejected attribution]
Dating
c. 1780 - c. 1900
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Material and technique

Physical description
bronze
Dimensions
- height 17 cm
- height 20.2 cm x width 10 cm x depth 15.2 cm (incl. modern socle)

This work is about

Subject

Acquisition and rights

Acquisition
purchase 1949
Copyright
Public domain
Provenance
…; from the dealer F. Partridge, London, fl. 698, to the museum, 1949

Documentation

J. Leeuwenberg, 'The grotesques ascribed to Arend van Bolten', Apollo LXXXIII (1966), p. 272-277 (noemt overeenkomstige bronzen en ermee samenhangende prenten)

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Persistent URL

To refer to this object, please use the following persistent URL:
https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/20035645