Attributed to Antonio Susini (1558-1624) Italian, Florence, 17th century

Overall the condition of the bronze is very good. There is some minor wear consistent with age. The joint of the head of the deer is visible, the left antler is loose at its base and bent at the end. A hairline crack runs from the right hind leg of the deer to its back. There are some remnants of glue visible at the edge of the group below the running hound. The ebonised wood socle is in excellent condition.
"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 charming little representation of a deer hunt, together with the following lot, were originally part of a series of hunting scenes, of which four further models of similar size and subject matter are known. Each of them depicts two hunting dogs with their prey: a Boar, a Bear, a Bull and an Ostrich. Sandro Bellesi has attributed them to Antonio Susini on stylistic grounds. Enlarged versions in Doccia porcelain of the pair of Hunting Dog attacking a Boar and Two Bears killing a Hunting Dog were recently sold at Pandolfini's, Florence, 9 October 2007, lot 158. While the attribution of the four other hunting bronzes to Antonio Susini has yet to be validated by the scholarly community, there can be no doubt that the present two bronzes formed part of the same series and display the very same tooling and chasing details in their execution.

Functionally, it is possible that these small bronzes were inspired by the decorations of powder keg caps. But like ivory handles for silverware, which were soon emancipated from their original purpose in order to form collector's items cherished for their beauty alone, these small bronzes show no signs of having been mounted in a functional context, and were created as autonomous works of art.

RELATED LITERATURE
F. Bellesi, "Antonio Susini, Cinghiale con due cani, Struzzo con due cani, Toro con due cani, Coppia di orsi con un cane," Maria de' Medici, 1573-1642: una principessa fiorentina sul trono di Francia, ed. by C. Caneva & F. Solinas, exh. cat. Florence, Livorno 2005, p. 100, no. I.44