Mene sculpture?

[Imaginos]

Hello all,

I inherited this piece from my aunt who was an avid collector.

I'm hoping to find out how best to clean a bronze sculpture. It's been in storage for a number of years and has developed some green patina. How much patina should be removed from a bronze and what does one use to clean it so as not to devalue it?

I'd also like to find someone versed in Mene's work so I can have it appraised properly.

Thanks!

[gingertomantiques]

DO NOT CLEAN IT ,
THE PATINA IS ITS VALUE.
to clean a bronze dust it with a soft brush,
but
you can use a rag and with some coconut oil on it.  Coconut oil is natural and will not chemically remove any of the original coloring of the piece.  It returns the piece to it's most natural state.  Although it is not recommended to entirely remove the green patina coloring, coconut oil will succeed in removing some of the excess green coloring on bronze statues

for authentication try this link http://www.artexpertswebsite.com/pages/artists/mene.php

[mariok54]

Hi Imaginos,

First of all, whatever you do, don't clean it, other than a light rubbing with a soft cloth. If it is bronze, and not a spelter figure, over cleaning it will reduce its value dramatically, sometimes by half.
It would be helpful if you could post some clearer photographs, of the detail, the patina, the signature, the base and the underside of the base. Rough dimensions would also be useful.Any idea what the base is made from?
Do you know whether it is actually bronze or possibly spelter, but even if it is spelter it potentially still has quite a bit of value.

[mariok54]

Sorry Gingertom, we seem to have posted at the same time... so don't think that I'm suggesting that imaginario ignore your advice.

[gingertomantiques]

No problem, all advice welcome

[Imaginos]

Thanks very much for the advice! Basically you both said the same thing 

I was reading another column which talked about more aggressive cleaning and I thought it was wrong so very glad I asked.

I'll try to get better pics soon. I haven't been able to find a signature or foundry mark, all I know is it was listed as a Mene when my Aunt aquired it in the 70s. The base is marble. The dimensions are about 5 inches across the base and 4 inches tall. I believe it is bronze from the look and the listing but I'm not sure. I can't seem to find it on any Mene sites I saw so thank you for the link!

The nest has a lid which lifts up I believe to house an inkwell, but the piece is hollow inside clear to the marble.

I never realized it might be valuable till a friend mentioned it was so I thought I should find out more about the piece.

Thanks for the quick replies!

[KC]

http://www.artexpertswebsite.com/pages/artists/mene.php

[Imaginos]

Thanks for the help That looks like a good place to get an authentication from.

Here are a couple more pics of the open top and the bottom of the base. The base is 4 1/4 inches across and total height is 4 inches to the top of the wing.

[KC]

Is that a rat?

[mariok54]

I think it be a very small. nondescript, furry animal with teeth, or a blooming big bird

[Omega Entity]

Looks like a wolf or a dog, to me.

[Imaginos]

It's been listed as "Greyhound dog confronting a nesting bird." It really doesn't resemble a greyhound at all though, more like a fox or coyote. I have no idea if that title was official or just someones interpretation. The listing was noted as coming from the antique price guide summer 1979 but all I have is a clipping.

[waywardangler]

Have you taken the metal sculpture off the marble base to see if there is a marking on the bottom?  it appears to be held on with a bolt and nut.

[Imaginos]

No I havent tried taking it apart. The nut is kind of strange and I wasn't sure it would come apart without damage. I'll look into it to see if I can. Thanks!

[KC]

Quite a few of my bronze pieces have nuts/bolts as well....and they are original from the late 1800's to early 1900's!!!