Charming Petite Bronze Rabbit in Grooming Pose by Van Rozen - 5½"

This adorable petite bronze rabbit, signed Van Rozen, dates to the early 20th century and is cast in bronze with a dark patina. The animal sits upright on its haunches with forepaws lifted to touch its muzzle in a grooming pose, one ear cocked forward and the other slightly turned, capturing a naturalistic and endearing moment. The modeling is lively and tactile, with subtly worked surfaces around the belly and flank; while figurative, it is also stylized in a way that feels distinctly modern, anticipating the taste and lines of Art Deco. Signed Van Rozen above the rear right paw.

Rooted in the French Animalier tradition after Barye and Mène, the sculpture is by Jeanne Marie Van Rozen, born Jeanne Sluyters (1876-?) and sister of the artist Georges de Feure. Working under the pseudonym Van Rozen, she exhibited at the Salon des Artistes and the Salon d’Automne. The intimate scale and painterly facture align with Parisian lost-wax casting practices of the period, when artists sought to create expressive, lifelike bronzes for the domestic interior.

This bronze brings a charming, whimsical note to a writing desk, mantel, or library shelf, offering a quiet focal point full of warmth and character. It also makes a delightful accent in a nursery or on a bookcase, where its intimate scale and playful naturalism invite close viewing and add a touch of gentle humor to the room.