This 19th-century English life-size gilt bronze sculpture delicately captures the poignant beauty of a dead finch, meticulously crafted with intricate detail. In Victorian England, dead birds symbolized mortality, urging contemplation of life's brevity and the importance of virtuous living. This belief imbued such sculptures with profound meaning, reminding viewers to lead just and honest lives. The finch's gilt bronze form, elegantly rendered, speaks to the era's fascination with sentimentality and symbolism. As tokens exchanged on New Year's Eve, such pieces symbolized not only luck and prosperity but also the renewal of hopes and aspirations for the coming year. Displayed in a home or collection, this sculpture serves as a timeless reminder of the Victorian ethos, where beauty intertwined with deeper philosophical contemplation.

4.25 in. W x 2.75 in. D x 1.5 in. H