Joël and Jan Martel (1896-1966) - Lot 221

Joël and Jan Martel (1896-1966) Sparrow Exotic wood sculpture Signed "J. MARTEL Bears the inscription "MADE IN FRANCE" and the numbers "12B" stamped on the underside Inscribed in ink "Letierce / Janvier 1932" on the underside. Stamped "EDITION / SAS PARIS". H. 11.5 cm Provenance: Private collection, Paris; by descent Following in the footsteps of 19th-century animal sculptors, the Martel brothers set out to faithfully represent the anatomy of animals, while simplifying their forms and focusing on smooth volumes. Their aim was simplicity, with only the main geometric shapes and volumes emphasized. The Sparrow model was a great success, and was published in a variety of materials. The Société des Artistes de Salon brings together sculptors such as the Martel brothers, Edouard Marcel Sandoz and Gilbert Privat, who exhibit at the Salon des Artistes Français, to publish their works on their own. These editions, mainly in wood, were presented at the Salon between the late 1920s and early 1930s.