|
|
|
|
France
Page 3
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
“Rally to the Standard, the Flag must not Fall!” (Item FRAN 3-1) |
||||||||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION:Here is a large piece of 19th-century French sculpture; a masterpiece really capturing great valor, emotion, and militant action. It depicts a pair of French cuirassiers dismounted as one snatches the regimental standard from his comrade who is wounded—possibly mortally—and cannot carry it any further. Rather than let it fall into enemy hands, which would be a disgrace, the helmeted cuirassier comforts his comrade and lifts the sacred flag afresh in an act of martial defiance and pride. In two of our pictures we added a cuirassier sword to give size perspective to this massive sculpture. The sword is one of the very large cuirassier swords. The actual height from the bottom of this sculpture to the flagpole top is 29 inches. From the bottom to the top of the man’s helmet is 27 inches. This is a large statue. In one of the pictures you can see that probably many years ago there was a repair at the point where the flag bearer’s hand clutches the pole. The repair was done at this point and I’d have to say it was not too professional; however, it does not really detract from the overall look of the statue and if it is on display as it would be (frontal viewing) it would never be noticed. The flag in the depiction is broken (broken, but undefeated!). This is part of the saga portrayed here. The flag is meant to be depicted as broken. There is a saying in German: “Der Man darf fallen; die Fahne nicht!,” “The man may fall, but the flag, never!” In French it is something like this: “L’homme peut tomber, mais le drapeau jamais! This is a very dramatic and heroic depiction in statuary. The material is of spelter, or white metal, but is heavily bronze coated. Depending on the subject and the artist often a spelter sculpture is worth as much or often more than a similar bronze piece by a lower-rated artist. This particular one is certainly of a desirable subject and by world-famous French sculpture H. Moreau. So in essence, we have here a first-class piece of art sculpture regardless of the repaired damage and it is priced very competitively considering all.
PRICE: $2,200.00; a great price for this rarity! |
|
|||||||||
|
Victory Statue in Bronze (Item FRAN 3-2) |
|||||||||
| DESCRIPTION:This is an incredibly fine bronze sculpture of the winged victory. It depicts a female figure in Romanesque attire while wearing the steel helmet of the French poilu. She appears with eagle’s wings and the branches of victory clutched in her hands. On her breastplate is the traditional lion face as used by the Roman Legionnaire officers of history. On the base or plinth is a saying by marshal Foch and the dates 1914-1918. The saying is: “Gloire a las camarades de technique morts pour la France,” and then his signature. A rough translation is: “Glory to the companions of divisions who died for France.” Could this be for the armored divisions? Can you help? In any case, this is a beautiful sculptor’s highly detailed and dramatic memorial to a heroic and noble countenance. The plinth has great design, as well. On each side of the plinth are two drilled holes. We believe this was to secure the piece to a wooden stand of some kind. This, of course, was done at a later time than when the sculpture was issued. Although this was unfortunate, it doesn’t detract from the overall beauty of the sculpture. The piece with plinth measures 10 inches to the top of the helmet; 11 inches from the base to the highest point of the wingtip; 16 inches from wingtip to wingtip; and the base is 6 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches. There is no signature, but it does have foundry marks. This is an elegant desk piece for the WWI enthusiast or a great display cabinet treasure for collector or museum.
PRICE: SOLD |
|
|||||||||||
|
Belgian Double-barreled Percussion Pistol (Item FRAN 3-3) |
|||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION:This fine pistol was produced by the company known as Scholberg & Gadet on the Rue Viegnis 186 in Liege, Belgium. They were registered as gun makers in 1861, although they may well have produced earlier. This fine weapon looks be from the 1861 period. This finely crafted pistol has a foliate and scroll carved walnut stock which is a bit worn from use. Both lock plates are engraved and inlaid with the names Scholberg and Gadet on the right side. On the left side the proud individual gunsmith (A. Pelotas), who made this particular weapon has his name inlaid. The hammers are engraved and the barrels feature a double line of inlay just forward of these hammers. The screw located on the left side of the lock plate appears to be an old replacement. This is certainly an elegant pistol which has surely seen some turbulent history. The length of the entire pistol is a little more than 12 inches. The barrels are about 6 3/4 inches in length. It’s still quite mechanically good and tight as well. The triggers and hammers respond in crisp action. This is a museum piece for sure--a neat-looking weapon and historically important as a great 18th-century firearm.
PRICE: $2,500.00 |
|
||||
|
Small Bust of Napoleon (Item FRAN 3-4) |
||||
| DESCRIPTION:This very good likeness of Napoleon Bonaparte is probably made of heavy-gauge white metal with a thick bronze-plated finish. It’s mounted on a nicely grained piece of Italian marble. It’s about 6 inches high and about 3 1/4 inches wide from shoulder to shoulder. The detail is extremely good. Even his medals stand out in detail. This is a very nice depiction of le Emperor at the height of his fabulous military career. It probably dates to turn of the 20th century.
PRICE: $126.00 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Book 1813-1815, Illustrierte Geschichte der Befreiungskriege (Item FRAN 3-5; KBOOKS 2-6) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION: 1813-1815, The Illustrated History of the War for Freedom is a fantastic huge volume measuring 9 1/2 x 15 inches and is almost 2 inches thick. It was published in 1915 in celebration of the jubilee of the 100th anniversary of the German military resistance against Napoleon. By Professor Harttung, is has 414 pages and 343 illustration with 40 full-page spreads depicting scenes from this epic struggle. This, like no other, is the story of the war that changed the world forever. It actually was a world war since Britain, Scotland, Russia, and other European nations joined to defeat the forces of France. The pictures are all from famous historically correct paintings executed during the time of the conflict all the way up to just after the turn of the 20th century. Some of the full two-page illustrations are breathtaking to the fervent historian. Page after page depicting every battle from the beginning of Napoleon’s conquest of central Europe to his final defeat at Waterloo is excitedly covered. The notables on both sides are depicted in great detail. The greats such as Field Marshal Blucher appear lifelike within the pages. The battle scenes depicting the British and German forces acting in unison the French foe makes one think of Hitler’s ultimate agenda and goal. He wanted a repeat of this Aryan cooperation against another common enemy of the west—Soviet Russia—but Britain had other plans. England’s suicide as a great nation was the direct result of its anti-European stance. Stop me! I’m wishing and daydreaming again. We wish we could show you all of the hundreds of great pictures because almost every one of them is a treasure in itself. Inspiring! and thrilling as much as a book can be. The edition is ultrarare, even in Germany and is deserving of placement in a museum or great collection.
PRICE: $300.00 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Two Sculptures of French Soldiers from the 1870 War (Item FRAN 3-6) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION: These handsome figures are typical French soldiers of the 1870s to the late 1880s. The soldier with the beret on his head is an alpine mountain troop called Les Chasseur Alpins. He reaches into his cartridge box for more ammunition; he wears a short sword with all-brass fittings that was used by enlisted ranks of the combat troops. He would be equivalent to a grenadier in the British sense, and at his feet there is a grenade. He wears a full infantry pack with blanket roll. The other soldier is a Zouave, and he stops in the heat of battle to light his pipe. He is dressed in the typical uniform of Les Tirailleurs Algeriens. His uniform originated with the North Africans, who fought alongside regular French infantry, but this uniform was so powerful that it was taken up by other divisions of non-African troopers, and even was adopted by certain of the Union forces in the American Civil War. He wears a turban used only by these supposed elite troops. He wears the full backpack with blanket roll. The sword he carries is the all-brass-handle artillery short sword. He also has a bayonet scabbard attached to the belt. At his feet there is battlefield rubble and a cannonball. The figures measure about 14 inches high and are fashioned in a spalter-style material (white metal), but “strong and firm.” They really are a choice set of military figures and are in pretty perfect shape, except one bayonet is broken toward the tip.
PRICE: $950.00; for both |
|
|||||||||||
|
Miniature Portrait of Napoleon by Armand Berton (Item FRAN 3-7) |
|||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION:Armand Berton, 1854-1927, was a very famous French artist of the realist school. He was so famous that the French Academy of the Arts instituted an Armand Berton Poussielgue prize for talented artists, one of he most prestigious awards for artists in the world. Armand Berton was known for his portraits; especially nudes. One of his nudes brought $50,000 in 13 x 10 size according to the price guide by H.J. Davenport. The information we have obtained also mentions that he was deaf. He was born in Paris. He was a history and portrait painter, a pupil of Millet and Cabanel with medal third class, 1882. Many famous works such as ‘Evening’ (1880), ‘Eve,’ ‘Woman with the Rose’ (1882), ‘A Grasshopper’ (1883), ‘Modern Fable Seated upon Antique Ruins’ (1884). The artist was also a miniaturist evidently and his fine realistic style is evident in this very elegant portrait of L’Emperor Napoleon. The work is done on ivory which was the traditional mode for fine miniatures of the time. When a high intensity glass is used the ivory graining is evident. The signature of Berton appears at the right of the portrait. The frame is of royal magnitude employing the Bourbon crown because that is the royal house he served earlier when as a young officer as this portrait shows him to be. Also depicted is the eagle of the French Empire. The frame is in a rich antique-gold finish with a dot pattern and applied ceremonial wreaths and ribbons. The back of the frame has a substantial stand, but also has a ring so if one desired to hang the portrait instead of displaying it on a table this could be an option. This is probably one of the finest miniatures we have ever seen of this great subject. It was not anybody less than landed gentry or royalty that would be the past owner of this elegant and important object d’art. “Vive l’Empereur!”
PRICE: $1,950.00; a screaming bargain—famous artist, famous subject |
Page Three |
Please refer to item designator in parentheses in all correspondence.
Please E-mail for any additional information you may need.
