Rene Lalique 1930 "Sneaky Sparrow" Paperweight. Signed. Very Good. 1 Small Chip.

Description

René Lalique's glory is largely due to his talent for represent life-size animals. Between 1929 and 1931, he created nine such sparrows ("moineaux") and even 12 if one includes the "Chardonnerets" (finches), smaller but just as dramatic. Of the nine sparrows, only three conmtinued to be offered after 1945, Lalique's death, and iy is a sad story: Over-simplified and mass-produced by machines, they quickly became shapeless (but expensive) lumps of glass totally alien to the originals.
This bird, "Moineau Sournois" (Sneaky Sparrow) was drawn in 1930 and it was not produced again after 1945. It has kept all the details from its creation. It is just over 5" long and 2 1/3" in height. Lalique called it 'sneaky" because it looks absolutely ready to misbehave: It's head is drooped but the eyes are wide open and it is on the prowl, maybe ready to steal some food or to seduce a sparrow girlfriend. The body details around the feathers, the legs and the head are those of a live bird ready to pounce.
"Moineaux Sournois"" is photographed and described (photo 9) in Felix Marcilhac's large book (the unofficial Lalique "Bible"), on page 388 of the 2010 French printing under reference 1066. The caption clarifies that it was made until the early 1940's and never re-introduced later. The signature  is R LALIQUE  in raised block letters (photo 8).
The condition is very good and the appearance perfect: There is a minuscule chip at the very end of the tail,  also an equally minuscule rough spot at the end of the right wing. Both are
impossible to photograph. One must now that absolutely fautless Lalique birds have become impossible to find. This one is in infinitely better condition than most "good" ones.
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