A rare cast bronze sculpture of dancing apes by the well known and acclaimed French sculpture Christophe Fratin (1800-1864). The base is stamped FRATIN between the large and smaller apes, there is a small recess on the base indicating a missing part, see photos. Condition well patinated and consistent with the assumed age of mid to late 19th century. Fratin was highly regarded for his animal sculpture, in which he expressed a sympathetic and sensitive understanding of the animal's forms. This, in the early stages, was presumably influenced by his father, who was a taxidermist. Fratin also studied under the Romantic artist Gericault. Although he exhibited prolifically at the Salon (1831-1839, and 1850 -1864) and at the Great Exhibition of 1851, these anthropomorphic portrayal of bears and apes were for private amusement. Fratin worked very closely with the Paris foundries which produced his bronzes. See Christopher Payne, Animals in Bronze, Antique Collectors' Club 1988, page 68, B1.