Sèvres Porcelain "la Colombe" By François Pompon, 20th Century

"Colombe" (Tourterelle) in Sèvres biscuit porcelain. The "Tourterelle" model, often referred to as "Colombe" by the Sèvres Manufactory, was created in 1919. The Sèvres National Porcelain Manufactory produced editions of this piece in bisque porcelain between 1922 and 1932. Production remained very limited, with approximately 72 pieces made, making it a particularly sought-after model among collectors.

Sèvres biscuit porcelain—unglazed porcelain with a matte finish reminiscent of marble—highlights the delicacy of the modeling and the softness of the forms. This technique perfectly enhances Pompon’s refined aesthetic, based on the simplicity of forms.

François Pompon is one of the greatest French animal sculptors of the 20th century. Born in Saulieu, Burgundy, he trained in Dijon and then in Paris, where he worked as an assistant to great masters such as Auguste Rodin and Camille Claudel.

Beginning in the 1900s, Pompon developed a highly personal style: he simplified the forms of his animals to achieve great purity of line, while maintaining remarkable anatomical accuracy. His most famous work, *The White Bear* (1922), established him as a major figure in sculpture.
Today, Pompon’s sculptures, produced by the Manufacture de Sèvres, are among the iconic works of Art Deco and are housed in several museums, notably the National Ceramics Museum in Sèvres.