Large Terracotta Equestrian Sculpture of a Mare & Foal on Marble Base - 13½" x 22¾"

This charming late 19th- or early 20th-century plaster sculpture depicts a mare standing closely beside her foal, the two animals arranged in a gentle, intimate composition. The mare is modeled with the broad body and strong proportions of a working horse rather than the more idealized, elegant type often seen in equestrian sculpture, giving the subject a grounded, rural character. Her tail appears to be braided or tied, a practical detail often associated with working horses and one that adds a charming note of period realism. The plaster has been given a warm terracotta-colored patina, with darker tones settling into the modeled surfaces and softly rubbed areas highlighting the forms of the horses.

 The work is unsigned and may possibly have originated as a sculptor’s plaster study for an animalier bronze. It was later mounted on a veined marble base, which gives the composition greater presence and stability. The surface shows light age-related wear and variation to the patina, adding to its softly timeworn character.

The tenderness of the subject is particularly endearing, with the foal gently reaching toward its mother’s. It would make a thoughtful gift for a horse lover and sit naturally in a country-house interior, equestrian setting or ranch, on a console, library table or broad mantel.