After a model by Leonhard Kern (1588-1662) South German, 17th century

Overall the condition of the bronze is good with some minor wear and dirt to the surface consistent with age with some dust to the crevices. The patina has some areas of flaking and is rubbed throughout. The group was cast in sections, joints are visible to the forearms and ankles. The joint to the proper left wrist of the woman on the left is displaced. A section was inserted at the ankle of the woman on the left. There are original round plugs to the shin of the proper right leg of the woman on the right and the back of the proper right lower leg of the woman on the left. There are some small nicks, including to the elbows at the reverse of the group. There are a few specks of white paint, including to the top of the head of the woman on the left and the chest of the woman on the right. There is a repair to the side of the base on the left and a chip to the upper edge on the right side and a few further minor nicks around the edges.
"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."

There is another 17th-century German cast of this model in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (inv. no. 1982.60.121). The composition is widely believed to derive from an ivory carving in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, which has been convincingly attributed to Leonhard Kern (Cone, op. cit., p. 172).

RELATED LITERATURE
P. Cone, The Jack and Belle Linsky Collection in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New Haven and Yale, 1984, pp. 172-173, no. 91