Jean-Baptiste, called Auguste Clésinger

Overall the condition of the marble is very good with minor dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. The marble retains its beautifully carved surface. There is a restored break running through the owl’s claws and tail. The owl’s proper right claws also appear to have been reattached and restored. The tip of the owl’s proper right ear is reattached. There are a few small chips, including to the base. There are a few small naturally occurring inclusions, including to the back of the base, the owl’s tail, and to the back of the tortoise.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This playful model appears to date from before 1868 and is the pendant to a similar group entitled Owl with a Skull. While the latter appears to have a memento mori meaning, causing Théophile Gautier to describe it as 'the philosophical interrogation of a feathered Hamlet', the precise significance of the present, arguably more humorous, model is less clear. We can only guess at what the owl might be conveying to its reptilian companion.

RELATED LITERATURE
P. Fusco and H. W. Janson (eds.), The Romantics to Rodin, Los Angeles, 1980, p. 179