Posted 11 years ago
mikelv85
(1230 items)
Saw these yesterday at VOA and didn't want to wait till tomorrow and fight the 50 percent off crowds for their end of the month blow out. These would have been gone for sure. I was glad they were still there today ! They are made by Alva Studios who do museum reproductions. These are from 1979 and are signed and marked with the title around the back of each bust. They are 14" high on their brass roman column pedestals and are super heavy, almost 5 lbs.each ! The busts themselves are a composite stone powder/resin called "Alvastone" that imitates marble. They were loose from their bases and I had to tighten the bolts that hold them all together. Alex has a tiny defect in the ruffle of his shirt. Looks like there was an air bubble in the composite that popped thru from being bumped. The originals in the Louvre are by Jean Antoine Houdon a famous 18th century French sculpture. He sculpted portrait busts of many philosophers and political figures as well as friends. His busts of Benjamin Franklin, Washington and Voltaire are very well known as are these. Louise and Alexandre Bronginart the children of French architect Alexandre Theodore Bronginart. Nice overall condition too!
-Mike-
You have some really wonderful things Phil !
these are gorgeous -- thanks for sharing pics and information
This is really puzzling me. There is basically nothing about this company online. One of the Ebay listings calls the composite material they use for the marble reproductions "Alvastone". There is an Alva Studios Museum Reproduction Catalog on Amazon but no history or background anywhere. Considering they reproduce everything that's in museums from jewelry to sculpture, you'd think there would be something about them.
"The word Alvastone was a Trademark filed on January 31, 1979, by Alva Museum Replicas, Inc., of New York, a subsidiary of New York Graphic Society Ltd."
Diane Von Basedow, Inc. is mentioned too. Closed in 1991.
Thank you for the info vetraio50 :) I figured they were out of business by now. That's possibly why there isn't too much about them. I believe they started in the 50's. There's a lot of pieces for sale online from that decade.
I have just gotten these two small statues from my mother. She is 98. I remember seeing them as a child on our bookshelves. Unfortunately the girl child was broken at one time and 'glued' back together. The boy child is still in wonderful shape. These are not from the Alva Studios Museum as they are too old. They are signed in the plaster. If these are reproductions, any ideas on where reproductions may have come from during the 40's or the 50's or earlier? I have no history information on them except that my father bought them for my mother. They were married in the 30's I believe. Thanks!
I have a set that are red ware with a thin white slip over them. I am looking at them as I write -- they are in my bedroom on the mantle and remind me of my children although neither resembles either of my children in the slightest. I found them for a few dollars at a thrift shop years ago. Houdon's life masks are really fascinating.
My grandfather gave me this exact set in EXCELLENT condition many years ago. Is anyone interested in it. I'm not a collector.