1 ) Circa 1800 bronze of the Maltese "Ninette" by Claude Michel Clodion (French, 1738-1814)
Circa 1800 bronze of the Maltese "Ninette" recumbent upon a velvet tasselled cushion by Claude Michel Clodion (French, 1738-1814) The bronze is modelled from the tribute to Ninette a terra-cotta statute titled "Mausol'e de Ninette" (at the Musée Historique Lorrain, Nancy) by Claude Michel Clodion (1738-1814). The bronze sits on chamfered marble base. It is illustrated in "Bronze Sculpture of Les Animaliers" by Jane Horswell. The author notes that "although unsigned" it is included for its "exceptional quality and .... rarity". A terracotta version is in the collection of the Musée Cognacq-Jay, Paris, (see image above). It perhaps inspired George Jones’ 1871 Majolica sculpture (see sepia image above) of a Maltese on a tasselled cushion and perhaps even Antoine-Louis Barye's (French, 1796 - 1875) or Emmanuel Fremiet's, (French, 1824-1910) , Spaniels recumbent on tasselled cushions.

2 ) A late 19th century Black Forest umbrella cane stand carved as a Maltese by Claude Michel Clodion (French, 1738-1814)
A late 19th century Black Forest umbrella cane stand carved as a Maltese standing on his hind legs. The carving is inspired by the tribute to "Ninette" a terra-cotta “Mausolée de Ninette” (Mausoleaum for Ninette), at the Musée Historique Lorrain, Nancy, by Claude Michel Clodion (French, 1738-1814). Clodion's statue being flanked by two similar standing Maltese dogs. German, circa 1880. Most likely made in Brienz, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland. The famous travel guide, Baedeker stated at the time that Brienz with a population of 2400 had some 600 working as woodcarvers. The Swiss Woodcarving Museum in Brienz may be visited today.