CAST AFTER THE MODEL BY AUGUSTE-FREDERIC BARTHOLDI (1834-1904), LATE 19TH/EARLY 20TH CENTURY

Avoiron's Liberty Enlightening the World was an authorized reduction of perhaps the most famous statue in the world, Liberty Enlightening the World, installed in New York harbor in 1886. This colossal female figure, holding a torch aloft in her right hand and a tablet in her left hand, was modeled by Auguste Bartholdi (1834-1904), hammered in copper sheet, and supported on a wrought-iron armature designed by Gustave Eiffel. Many coppies were made both before and after its installation in New York. Bartholdi reserved for himself the right to produce statues in terra cotta and bronze, the latter cast by Thiébaut Frères in Paris. As early as 1878, Avoiron et Cie (56, Avenue Voltaire in Paris) was authorized by the sculptor to make copper-plated cast-zine statues based on Bartholdi's four-foot high modèle d'etude. Bartholdi earned ten percent on all models sold, but the purpose of the Avoiron casts was to raise funds for the monumental statue in New York harbor. Avoiron acquired a partner named Clément in 1881, and the firm then became known as Avoiron et Clement. It continued production until 1886, and it is estimated that as many as three hundred statues were made in four sizes. Each size is identified by a letter from A through D for 4-foot, 3-foot, 2-foot, and 16-inch high statues respectively. The present lot is indicated with the letter C. Each letter is followed by a number, assumed to be represent the particular model's place in the sequence of casting. The present one is numbered 30. The two largest statues were generally fitted with gas or electric lamps instead of metal flames. (C.A. Grissom, Zinc Sculpture in America 1850-1950, New Jersey, 2009, p. 200)