Pelican Sculpture by Franjou, France, circa 1930

Pelican Sculpture by Franjou, France, circa 1930

A spirited Art Deco pelican by Franjou, cast in bronze with a warm brown patina and mounted on a polished black marble base. The form is compact and rhythmic, with stepped wing feathers, a crescent beak, and a suspended ball that adds playful tension. The modeling reduces detail to clear volumes, a hallmark of French Art Deco animalier work, and the profile reads beautifully from every angle.

Franjou’s pelican exists both as a small desk sculpture and as a radiator mascot. Yours is currently on a marble base, which indicates a decorative desk model or a mascot that was later mounted for the desk. If you see a central threaded hole or fixed stud under the bird’s feet, it likely began life as a mascot. If the underside is smooth with no automotive mounting hardware, it was made as a desk sculpture.

Signature: FRANJOU, cast in relief along the tail
Materials: Bronze, patinated, on black marble base
Period: circa 1930
Condition: Light age marks and natural patina consistent with age; presents elegantly