Pair Of Gilded Carved Wood "greyhound" Sculptures, Italian Work, Mid-20th Century.

This pair of animal sculptures is carved in the round from solid wood. The compositional scheme, designed as a mirrored pair (en pendant), features two seated greyhounds (or whippets) facing each other. The anatomy of the animal is treated with great acuity: the prominent musculature of the chest, the proud head raised towards the sky, and the pinned-back ears give the subjects a posture that is both obedient and majestic. The figures, sporting painted collars, rest on wide, flat-profile circular bases.

Technically, the work illustrates the excellence of mid-20th-century Italian gilding workshops. The wood is covered with gilding applied over a red clay bole (bol d'Arménie), creating a warm play of depth. The collars and bases feature a silvered finish that contrasts with the animal's body. This type of large-format decorative statuary aligns with the neoclassical revival and the Hollywood Regency movement. The greyhound, a quintessential aristocratic symbol, was commonly used by decorators to adorn grand entry halls or theatrically flank a fireplace.

Condition report: Good overall condition. The polychromy and gilding display a beautiful patina of use. Slight rubbing and surface wear (particularly on the raised areas of the musculature) subtly reveal the underlying red bole, attesting to the age and authenticity of the traditional gilding technique. These sizable pieces will bring a strong, classical sculptural presence to a demanding interior.