World Treasures: Important Russian, Asian, European & American Works
November 19th & 20th, 2013
auction closed
Day One - Lots 1-490G
Day Two - Lots 491-936


 
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LOT 164
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Lot 164
FREDERIC AUGUSTE BARTHOLDI (French 1834-1904)
Oceania
Bronze with brown patina
Signed on base “A BARTHOLDI”
Height 13 inches (33 cm), length 18.5 inches (47 cm)
Estimate:  $6,000 - 8,000  
Price Realized: $25,000.00

This extremely rare allegorical bronze represents one of the four Continents (Asia, Oceania, Africa, America) that surrounded the original Bruat Fountain executed by Bartholdi. The Allegories were exhibited at the Salon of 1863. The fountain, built in tribute to Admiral Armand-Joseph Bruat (1796-1855) who was born in Bartholdi’s hometown of Colmar, was inaugurated in 1864. It was the first in Colmar to have a system to stream water. Sadly, the work was destroyed by the Nazis in 1940. However, in 1958, the bronze statue was restored and placed on a new fountain. The original sandstone heads are kept at the Bartholdi Museum. Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965) said in his writings that the head of the figure of Africa as sculpted by Bartholdi was what inspired him to be a doctor in the African bush.


Frederic Auguste Bartholdi is of course best known for his famous statue titled Liberty Enlightening the World, better known by its more commonly used designation, the Statue of Liberty. In 1870, Bartholdi designed the Statue of Liberty to mark the Franco-American alliance of 1778 leading the charge in fundraising in both France and the U.S. so as to execute what has come to generations of the worlds oppressed as a true beacon of hope.


All items are sold “AS IS” and there will be no returns based on condition. The items sold are often of considerable age and will exhibit wear, usage and damage often not listed in the catalog entry. The absence of condition remarks in the catalog entry DOES NOT mean the item is in perfect condition. Prospective buyers are in ALL CASES responsible for determining the physical condition of lots. No employee or agent of Jackson's International Auctioneers and Appraisers is authorized to make on our behalf or on that of the consignor any representation or warranty, oral or written, with respect to any property. Therefore, if a prospective bidder has not examined the property to their satisfaction before the sale, or his/her agent has not inspected the property, Jackson's recommends that they not bid on the property. All dimensions are approximate. The condition of frames is not guaranteed.