Description

Magnificent Bronze Lion de Belfort by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi A magnificent bronze Lion de Belfort by the renowned French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, creator of the original monumental Lion of Belfort and the Statue of Liberty in New York. This exceptional example is an official bronze cast by Thiébaut Frères (Fumière), circa 1906–1926, one of the most prestigious French foundries responsible for casting many of Bartholdi’s officially authorized works. The sculpture was retailed by J.B. Schmitt & Fils of Belfort, the publishers and authorized distributors of the original Lion de Belfort, and the only firm officially authorized by Bartholdi himself to produce and market reproductions of his celebrated monument. Of particular rarity and interest, the sculpture retains its original paper label, remarkably well preserved and still attached. This surviving label adds considerable authenticity, provenance, and historical interest to the piece. A superb example for collectors of Bartholdi, French bronze sculpture, and late 19th-/early 20th-century French foundry works. Dimensions: 27.5 × 16 cm Weight: 2,756 g Foundry: Thiébaut Frères (Fumière) Date: Circa 1906–1926 Retailer: J.B. Schmitt & Fils, Belfort Inv: G26279