Lot 212
Copper Sculpture by Dan Ostermiller "Le Toad" (1994)
Copper Sculpture by Dan Ostermiller "Le Toad" (1994)
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Dan Ostermiller (American, b. 1956). "Le Toad" copper sculpture, 1994. Initialed and dated on posterior. A whimsical yet finely modeled miniature sculpture of a toad, rendered in dark-patinated bronze and raised on a black marble plinth. Titled "Le Toad," this 1994 work reflects Dan Ostermiller's celebrated gift for endowing animal subjects with both naturalistic detail and expressive presence. The toad is shown crouched in a compact pose, its knobby skin, alert eyes, and squat form carefully observed yet animated with an almost anthropomorphic gravity. Ostermiller, long regarded as one of America's leading animal sculptors, draws on his background in taxidermy and deep study of wildlife to imbue such intimate works with authenticity and personality. In this small-scale piece, he captures both the physical essence of the amphibian and the quiet humor of its character, demonstrating the same compositional refinement found in his monumental bronzes. Size: 2" L x 2.25" W x 1.75" H (5.1 cm x 5.7 cm x 4.4 cm); 6" H (15.2 cm) on included custom stand.
"Le Toad" distills the qualities that define Ostermiller's oeuvre: a balance of elegance and charm, acute observation grounded in anatomical knowledge, and a sculptural language that transforms ordinary creatures into enduring symbols of presence and vitality.
Dan Ostermiller has been featured at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum's "Prix de West" show for 20 years. The following is the artist biography that accompanied their recent exhibition: "Dan Ostermiller's works are usually given the label 'animal sculpture,' yet within that field can be found a wide range of subjects. From the barnyard to the Great Plains, and from the back porch to the Zambezi Valley, his animals are studies in elegance and power.
A thorough knowledge of animals, acquired from years of experience working with his father, Roy Ostermiller, a renowned taxidermist, is the foundation for Ostermiller's work. Drawing from his many travels abroad, he creates animal figures in context with their natural surroundings. His work has a realism that is not only an accurate rendering of the subject, but also a sophisticated composition of line and form. His grounding in taxidermy lends authority, while his technique gives his work spontaneity. Infusing each design is personality - a combination of the sculptor's and the subject's. This spirit, the feeling the work imparts, is the hallmark of an Ostermiller sculpture.
A fellow of the National Sculpture Society and the Society of Animal Artists, Ostermiller served as president of the National Sculpture Society from 2011 to 2014." (source: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum website)
Provenance: private Kensington, Maryland, USA collection
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#197261
- Condition: In excellent overall condition. Initialed and dated on posterior.
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