BEING OFFERED IS THIS TRULY SPECTACULAR!! AND PREMIUM AGED QUALITY!! ANTIQUE POMPEIAN BRONZE CLAD MFG. (NEW YORK CITY), NOSTALGIC ARTIST / SCULPTOR SIGNED: PAUL HERZEL LISTED ARTIST…. DAVENPORTS , LARGE SIZED WILD GRIZZLY BEAR BRONZE CLAD ART STATUE – SCULPTURE – BOOKEND, IN VERY GOOD TO EXCELLENT AGED CONDITION (PLEASE VIEW MY PHOTO’S). IT IS VERY HEAVY AND SOLID EARLY BRONZE CLAD WITH A FANTASTIC DARK AGED PATINA!! IT HAS NO BREAKS OR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE AT ALL!! IT IS QUITE STUNNING AND VERY IMPRESSIVE LOOKING IN PERSON!! IT IS A TRUE JOY JUST TO HOLD, SEE, FEEL, AND MARVEL AT!! IT HAS NOT BEEN WASHED, CLEANED, OR WAXED. IT MEASURES: 7 1/4 ” LONG, X 5 3/4 ” HIGH, X 2 1/2 FRONT TO BACK. IT WEIGHS A VERY HEFTY THREE AND A HALF POUNDS PRIOR TO PACKAGING!! IT HAS GREAT ATTENTION TO FINE EARLY PAUL HERZEL / POMPEIAN BRONZE CLAD ARTISTIC DETAILING TO IT!! IT WILL CONTINUE TO APPRECIATE IN VALUE!! IT HAS NORMAL SURFACE WEAR AS SHOWN. IT IS GUARANTEED ANTIQUE POMPEIAN BRONZE MFG. Paul Herzel, German/American (1876 – 1956). Paul Herzel was born in Silesia, Germany in 1876. He died in May of 1956 at the City Hospital in New York City at the age of 79. When he was seven years old his family emigrated to the United States locating at St. As a young boy, he began drawing, painting scenery along the Mississippi River, and modeling clay which he found along the river bank. His father died when Paul was 14 or 15, and he went to work as a machinist with the American Brake Company in St. While working there, he also began to study painting at the St. Louis Art School at about age 22. During this time, he helped to establish the Brush and Pencil Club of St. Herzel became interested in the animals at the Forest Park Zoo in St. Louis and began making sketches, paintings, and models. When about 28 years of age, he went to Europe visiting art museums and copied Velasquez’ paintings in Madrid. Returning to the United States, he located in New York and began the study of sculpture at the Beaux Arts Institute of Design. There, he frequented the Central Park Zoo and continued the study of animal form and applied it to his work. Two of his paintings “Blesbok” and “White- tailed Gnu” were acquired by the New York Zoological Society. In addition to his art work, Herzel became involved in the Socialist Labor Party and served as their treasurer for twenty years. He also was a member of their national executive committee and once was a candidate for the New York State Supreme Court. He is primarily known for his sculpture, although he completed hundreds of paintings and sketches throughout his career. Herzel won the Barnett Prize of the National Academy of Design in 1915 for “The Struggle” a sculpture of a boa constrictor strangling a tiger. The same work also won a prize given by Mrs. Other popular works include “The Pirate”, “Bucking Horse”, “Lion and Zebra”, “The Yank”, and “The Riveter” which was acquired by the Moscow Museum of Modern Western Arts. Apparently for some time, Herzel was employed by the New York Zoo Society painting background scenery for the animal’s cages. The library of that society contains some of his paintings. Following his death in 1956, some of his paintings were kept in a closet at the home of his surviving brother, Fred Herzel of St. Fred Herzel would give away his brother’s paintings on special family occasions.
