REMBRANDT BUGATTI (1884–1916) – FORMERLY IN THE COLLECTION OF ANATOLE LAFOSSE (1864–1933), THEN PASSED DOWN THROUGH HIS DESCENDANTS African Elephant and Two Does—A “Good Branch,” a model designed around [1904] and exhibited that same year at the Galerie A.-A. Hébrard, then at the Salon of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts, Paris, 1905; our proof from the renowned original edition of three copies cast using the lost-wax method Sculpted group. Bronze cast with a black patina; tinged with brown, particularly on the terrace. Lost-wax casting executed by Albino Palazzolo. Early edition by Adrien-Aurélien Hébrard. Original Sienna yellow marble base. Signed and dated “R. BUGATTI Paris” on the front terrace; bears the stamp “A.A. HEBRARD Cire perdue” accompanied below by three small dots arranged in a triangle on the rear terrace. Bronze only: Height: 38 cm – Length: 75 cm – Width: 24 cm With marble base: Height: 42 cm – Length: 78.8 cm – Width: 28 cm Provenance: - Collection of Anatole Lafosse (1864–1933), owner of the Château du Mézo in Ploeren (Morbihan), member of the Yacht Club de France. - Work remained in the family of the previous owner; passed down through inheritance. Exhibitions featuring this sculpture: - The Rembrandt Bugatti Sculpture Exhibition – Galerie A.-A. Hébrard, 8 rue Royale, Paris, June 15–July 1, 1904 – A plaster cast of *African Elephant* and *Two Does – A Fine Branch* was presented at this event under number 18 in the exhibition catalog. - Salon of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts – Grand Palais, Paris, May 1–June 30, 1905. A bronze cast of *African Elephant* and *Two Does*—*A Good Branch*—presented at this event under catalog number 1712. - Rembrandt Bugatti; Retrospective Exhibition – Royal Zoological Society in Antwerp, July 16–August 2, 1955. A plaster cast of *African Elephant and Two Does—A Good Branch* was presented at this exhibition. Public collections: Musée d’Orsay, Paris – A fragment of the plaster group *African Elephant and Two Does – A Good Branch*, titled *Does and Fawn* (small fawn turning around), is held in the institution’s collections under inventory number RF 35350 Bibliography: - *L’Art décoratif* – No. 71, August 1904. A plaster cast of *African Elephant and Two Does – A Good Branch* reproduced on page 61. - *Art et Décoration*—July 1905. A bronze proof of *African Elephant and Two Does—A Good Branch* is reproduced on page 14. - Valentino Rossi-Sacchetti—*Rembrandt Bugatti, Sculptor*; monograph – Carlo Bugatti and His Art – Imprimerie de Vaugirard, Paris, 1907. A bronze proof of *African Elephant and Two Does – A Fine Branch* reproduced on a separate plate. - Philippe Dejean – Carlo – Rembrandt – Ettore – Jean Bugatti – Les Éditions du Regard, Paris, 1981. A plaster cast of *African Elephant* and two does—*A Good Branch* reproduced on page 353. - Véronique Fromanger – Rembrandt Bugatti, Sculptor – A Meteoric Career – Monographic Catalog – Les Éditions de l’Amateur, Paris, 2016. The bronze proofs of *African Elephant and Two Does – A Lush Branch* are listed on page 282 under catalog number 82; a plaster proof is reproduced on the same page (ref. 82).