Édouard Marcel Sandoz

Hélène Rochas collection, Paris

Thence by descent

Emile Schaub-Koch, Sculptures de poissons, Lisbon, 1964, pl. 15

Félix Marcilhac, Edouard Marcel Sandoz, sculpteur, figuriste et animalier 1881-1971, catalogue raisonné de l'oeuvre sculpté, Paris, 1993, our work reproduced p. 174, the model referenced under n° 1500, p. 500

Designed in 1934, upon his return from a stay at the Oceanographic Institute in Monaco, Carpe Plongeante exemplifies Édouard Marcel Sandoz’s profound fascination with the aquatic world. Through his exceptional mastery of bronze casting and patination, developing his own formulas by enriching his casts with copper, iron, and gold, the artist achieved surfaces of extraordinary depth and luminosity.

Infused with a powerful sense of momentum and marked by a distinct Japonist influence, the sculpture captures with remarkable intensity the precise moment the carp dives beneath the water’s surface. Carpe Plongeante ranks among Sandoz’s most accomplished models, showcasing his exceptional gift for composition, particularly in his bold use of the fin as the sole point of support. This daring solution lends the work both remarkable balance and an extraordinary sense of lightness.