Auguste De Wever (1836-1910) Hindu Birdcatcher

A superb 19th-century bronze piece, representing a Hindu fowler standing on an elephant skull and holding two birds in the air, sitting on a bamboo stick, by Auguste De Wever (Belgian 1836-1910). Old casting probably from the foundry of the Compagnie des Bronzes signed De Wever, entitled Oiseleur Hindu (on a plaque).
This cast iron has a rich blackish patina with green and brown undertones.

Auguste De Wever

Remarkably little is known about the life and career of Auguste De Wever. He joined Charles Wiener, where he learned the art of making medallions. Besides being a medalist, he is also a sculptor. He created numerous sculptures according to the current Parisian fashion and can compete with the best sculptors of his time in terms of technique and execution (e.g. Mathurin Moureau, Pradier, etc.). His best-known themes are allegorical figures. , operatic characters and “genre” pieces. In addition, he designed and created vases and funerary monuments that are easily recognizable thanks to finely carved bronze bas-reliefs, often applied to granite obelisks. His works were generally cast by the Compagnie des Bronzes. His works can be found at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Brussels.
Source: Engelen-Marx Sculpture in Belgium