A truly beautiful chalkware sculpture of two young and handsome rugby players in the midst of a tackle, probably dating to somewhere between 1910 and 1930. I doubt there is much 3D art out there in the theme of early French rugby, so this is probably quite rare. 

Signed "Novella" and numbered "1210", I was only able to find one other record of a similar item through my research - an auction in 2014 on the Basque Coast of France.

This has been expertly moulded in plaster and painted in gold (bodies) and a very dark green (grass), and would make a fantastic addition to many a collector's home. It also has quite a wistful, homoerotic air to it - all of which makes it more fun to admire. It is of decent size for table-top display - about 18in tall. 

Some damage has been sustained to the sculpture over the years, with numerous chips and grazes. You may wish to have this repaired by a conservator, or leave it displaying the marks of time. In my opinion, it looks beautiful as it is, having survived a scrum or two with the decades! Its overall attractiveness and quality through the wear and tear is why it caught my eye in the first place.

Similar to Pradier, Leonardi, Renova

Bargain start price. Collection only for obvious reasons.