Le Ratapoil (or possibly a caricature study from the Les Célébrités du Juste Milieu series)
Sculpture, portrait bust • Honoré Daumier
Style & Movement
French Realism / Romantic Caricature
Medium & Technique
Cast bronze with a dark brown/black patina; modeled with expressive, clay-like manipulation
Creation Period
Mid-19th Century (Original modeling c. 1832-1850; casting potentially late 19th or early 20th century)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 15-20 cm in height; vertical portrait format on a marble base
Subject Description
A caricature-style bronze head of an elderly man with exaggerated features, including a prominent brow, deep-set eyes, and a protruding lower lip. The subject likely represents a political figure or a social 'type' (the 'Ratapoil' or agent provocateur).
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good; the bronze shows some surface dust and minor oxidation typical of age
Estimated Market Value
$15,000 - $35,000
Auction Estimate
$10,000 - $25,000
Provenance History
Unknown; requires inspection of foundry marks (such as Valsuani or Barbedienne) often found on the back or base of the neck
Art Historical Significance
Daumier's sculptures were revolutionary for their raw, non-academic style, influencing future modernists like Rodin and Picasso. They served as three-dimensional models for his lithographic caricatures.
Notable Features
Highly tactile, 'fingered' surface quality typical of Daumier’s clay models; mounted on a variegated red marble plinth; expressive physiognomy characteristic of 19th-century French political satire.
Condition Issues
Slight surface wear to the patina on the high points of the face; minor scuffs on the marble pedestal; potential dust accumulation in recessed areas
Conservation Recommendations
Professional cleaning with a soft brush and distilled water; application of a microcrystalline wax (like Renaissance Wax) for protection; keep in a stable climate-controlled environment