Object Description
An antique Italian carved serpentine sculpture after the Uffizi boar dating to the early 19th century.
This seated wild boar displays impressive carved details and a pleasing scale as it sits proudly raised on a rectangular integral plinth.
The striking neoclassical style is showcased through the smooth serpentine and notable features of the boars.
You can just imagine this sculpture sat pride of place on a mantle piece or side cabinet, for passers by to admire.
Uffizi Boar
This classical sculpture is generally thought to be based on the story of the slaying of the Calydonian boar by Meleager. The boar had been sent by Diana to ruin the countryside of Aetolia as she had been offended by Meleager’s father, King of Calydon.
The antique figure is first recorded as being in Rome in the 1550’s. By 1568 it was in the Pitti Palace in Florence and by 1591 it had found its way to the Uffizi. It was badly damaged by a fire there in 1762 but was then restored.
This statue has terrific presence as a figurative work and this example is much enhanced by lots of moss and lichen accumulated over many years of exposure to the elements.
The boar is depicted having been suddenly disturbed from his sleep, half rising, showing his tusks, his ears twitching, his snout sniffing the air trying to detect the source of danger. He is growling as; indeed, this is a dangerous wild animal. This pair are a much smaller scale model of this iconic sculpture, but the details of its original depiction remain.