Christophe Fratin, also known as Christopher Fratin, was a noted French sculptor in the animalier style, and one of the earliest French sculptors to portray animals in bronze.
He exhibited at the Paris Salon from 1831–1842 and 1850–1862, as well as at the Great Exhibition in London in 1851. Fratin never signed his bronzes but instead used a stamp showing his last name in straight block letters. One of the stamps he used showed the “n” reversed, not by design but due to an error on the part of the maker of the stamp. Bronzes bearing this stamp have the appearance of not seeming to be genuine when in reality they are.
Fratin received monumental commissions in France and elsewhere, including the Deux Aigles Gardant Leur Proie (Eagles and Prey, created 1850) displayed since 1863 in New York City’s Central Park. Many of his small bronzes—including his miniature bronzes which were more affordable due to their smaller size—were sold commercially to the general public during his lifetime. Today, Fratin’s sculpture is on permanent display in the Louvre, the city museums of Metz, Lyon, Strasbourg, Nîmes and at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. The Georg Eisler archive in Vienna also has on display works by Fratin. Reference: Wikipedia
Christophe Fratin Maker’s Mark
Christophe Fratin 1800-1864 FRENCH OURS JOUEUR DE CORNEMUSE (BEAR PLAYING PIPES) bronze, mid-brown patina 10.5 by 11.5cm., 4 1/8 by 4 1/2 in.
Sold for 2,250 GBP at Sotheby’s in 2018
CHRISTOPHE FRATIN (FRENCH, 1801–1864) Coupe aux ours / Bear Cup signed ‘FRATIN’ bronze, mid-brown patina 6 ¼ in. (16 cm.) high; 6 ½ in. (16.5 cm.) diameter
Sold for 2,250 GBP at Christie’s in 2018
Christophe Fratin, French (1801-1864) Pair silver over bronze candelabras with sculpted monkeys and bears. Stamped: Fratin. Height: 23″, Width: 9″
Sold for $18,000 at Sterling Associates in 2013