Maquette Appraisal

Stylized Bighorn Sheep Bronze Maquette by George Stanescu

This item is a modernist bronze sculpture of a Bighorn Sheep, created by artist George Stanescu as a design entry for a monumental installation at the entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park. The piece is characterized by a sleek, semi-abstract aesthetic with stylized curved horns and a negative space cutout in the center of the body, reflecting a Mid-Century Modern influence on wildlife art. The sculpture is cast in bronze with a polished gold-tone finish that shows a natural aged patina, including darker oxidization in the recessed areas and light surface abrasions consistent with its age and use as a working model. It is mounted on a solid, oval-shaped hardwood base with a warm grain. The craftsmanship is refined, showing smooth transitions between planes and a deliberate use of light and shadow. As a maquette, it serves as a critical historical record of the artist's creative process and the public commission history for the National Park Service, likely dating from the mid-to-late 20th century.