Posted 3 years ago
SandyShores
(52 items)
These two sculptures are VERY heavy in weight. They were shipped to the U.S. from France by my uncle during WW II while he was
stationed there. They were originally surrounded by a red vinyl type material and my mom added this brown velvet, I believe over the
red vinyl. My uncle died in 1945, so they were purchased before this. I don't know if the sculptures are pewter, bronze, or what they are made of. They are silverish in color and have not been cleaned since the 1940's. It is some type of metal. I would like to know what kind of metal and what these sculptures are called. The backs don't give me any information.
It is definitely made of spelter. With that metal it was easy enough to get good results when casting. I came in second to an auction (not ebay) about 30 years ago where I was bidding at my favourite auction house. Theirs were somewhat larger but similar subject and identical corners. Theirs was of Marguerite in similar pose with Mephistopholes but yours just goes on from there, different couple. Nice score.
Wow! I learned so much. Thank you for sharing. I guess I will have to find a way to tell who the artist/sculptor is. At least now I can call them "French Spelter Sculptures". I knew they were bought in France, looked French, but since I am not
an expert on this did not want to label them as such. I looked up spelter after you responded and learned it is not too valuable, but I suppose it goes by the artist and condition as well. Thank you so much for enlightening me!
If anyone else has additional information to share about these, I would appreciate hearing from you.
I am not sure how to find the artist. I don't know if opening up the back would take any value away from this. Any suggestions?
A lot of times (most) you will never find out who the sculptor was. If it is not marked on the front of these - they are never marked on the back. The internet is too new. I have all the books on bronzes and spelters inc the encylopedia of Bronzes etc. You also have to realize that most of these (99%) with a scene in the background are never marked and prob sculpted in the foundry so you will never find a signature to them. Period.
Okay, thanks. That saves alot of work and perhaps damage, if I tried to do it myself.