This sculpture, c. 1910 by the Italian artist Gugliemo Pugi, depicts a prowling tiger bearing his teeth on a solid marble terrain. The modern and sleek finish suggests an early example of the art deco style. An art deco animal sculpture in marble is a rarity and very difficult to find. The defined musculature, fur and movement in the marble bring the animal to life. Pugi’s technical mastery is demonstrated in the exceptional realism of the work. The base is signed « G. Pugi ».

Guglielmo Pugi (Fiesole, 1850 – 1915)

Born in 1850 in Fiesole (Tuscany, Italy), the Italian sculptor Guglielmo Pugi was a master of the Art Nouveau style. Pugi resided in Florence until his death in 1915, establishing his workshop, « Guglielmo i figli », with his two sons Gino and Fiorenzo.

His sculptures, carved directly in alabaster or Carrara marble (white or veined), were mainly exported to the United States. Several of them were presented at the Pan-American Exhibition of 1901 in Buffalo, as well as at the World Fair in St. Louis in 1904.

Several noteworthy sculptures and portraits are preserved in the historical alabaster museum in Volterra, Italy. Additionally, the bust of King Humbert I stands in the main
square of his hometown, Fiesole.

After Pugi’s death, his two sons carried on his legacy, taking over the workshop and changing the name to: »Fratelli G. e F. Pugi » (Brothers G. and F. Pugi), signed « Flli Pugi ».