Marble Double Inkstand with Bronze Dog

The Bronze Dog

• Breed: This is a French Bulldog (Bouledogue Français). You can tell by the iconic “bat ears” (upright, broad at the base, and rounded at the top) and the short, square muzzle. The “sitting up” or begging pose was a very popular motif for this breed during the French Belle Époque era, when French Bulldogs were the “it” dog of Parisian society.
• Marks: The “BRONZE” stamp on the base is a standard mark of quality often found on French art bronzes from this period. It confirms the piece is cast in solid bronze rather than spelter (a cheaper white metal alloy).
• Detailing: Note the finely cast “ruff” or collar around the neck and the muscular, compact build, both hallmarks of the breed’s early 20th-century aesthetic.

The Marble Base

• Type: This is likely Grand Antique marble (also known as Grand Antique d’Aubert). This prestigious marble is quarried in the French Pyrenees and is famous for its dramatic, “brecciated” appearance—stark black background with large, swirling fragments of white and grey.
• Design: The base includes a pen rest (the long horizontal groove in the front) and rests on four original gilt-bronze bun feet. The underside shows the rough, unpolished state typical of antique slabs, along with the original square nuts holding the components in place.

The Inkwells

• Construction: These are “stepped” domed inkwells with small finials. They are made of brass.
• Components: Two removable metal inserts.

Summary:

French Belle Époque Bronze & Grand Antique Marble Double Inkstand

A fine antique desk set, circa 1890–1910, featuring a central bronze figure of a French Bulldog in a charming “begging” pose. The figure is realistically cast with a detailed collar and the breed’s signature “bat ears,” stamped “BRONZE” on the integral plinth.

The stand is crafted from a substantial slab of highly variegated Grand Antique marble, noted for its dramatic black and white brecciation. It features a hand-carved pen rest channel and two domed brass inkwells with original liners. The piece is elevated on four gilt-bronze bun feet. An elegant example of French desk furniture from the turn of the century.

• Origin: France
• Period: Late 19th / Early 20th Century
• Materials: Bronze, Grand Antique Marble, Brass