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Few people are aware of a phenomenon in the 19th century regarding small size bronze female figures like this one. These very detailed bronze sculptures with a fairly explicit erotic character, where very much wanted for smoking rooms and offices, typical places where only gentlemen tended to reside. They were called 'Bacchantes' or 'Goddesses', made in limited editions and sold in discretion. Although several artists of that era have produced this type of sculptures, only few of them were keen on putting their signature on it.
This naked lying mountain nymph (Maenad) is accompanied by grapes, wine mug and jar, tambourine and fruit, all typical for a Bacchante scene. The sculpture displays a nice even dark green bronze patina, with exquisitely detailed casting quality. The nymph' s body is well proportioned, lying in an elegant and defying pose with vine leaves in curly long hair. Interesting to notice, is the 'Thyrsos' next to her, a rather odd looking fennel stalk, wrapped with ivy-leaves and vines, topped by a pine cone, around the base of which is tied a ribbon. In the Bacchae of Euripides, the Maenads are able to bring up wine, water, milk and honey by touching the Thyrsos to the ground or tapping in against a rock, which seems to have happend here.
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