Property of a Long Island Collector
Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi (French, 1834-1904)
“A” Model of the Statue of Liberty, c. 1878-1886
Zinc
Paris, France
H. 51 inches
Bartholdi signature and copyright number, 9939G, dated August 1876, in the mold; the name of the foundry, Avoiron et Cie, Paris, as well as the code letter “A” No. “2? are cold stamped on the base

Famous for being the sculptor of the Statue of Liberty, Bartholdi produced a small number of cast zinc models of the statue for public sale. The foundry impressed on this example, Avoiron et Cie., was the only foundry with which Bartholdi had a contract and reproduced the statue in cast for direct sale. There were a number of sizes: the present example, called the ”four foot” model, was also known as the “A” model, and was the largest produced for direct sale.

Even though Avoiron et Cie cast the models in France, the Statue of Liberty Club notes that ”Bartholdi's copyright, 9939 G dated August 31, 1876, is registered in official records of the United States Copyright Office under the title Statue of American Independence.”

(Note: a gilt-patinated zinc four foot model sold for $18,209 at Christie's, Amsterdam, December 2010 (Sale 2848, Lot 159). In May 1985, another example sold at Christie's, New York for $121,000.)

$3,000-6,000

This zinc statue displays a desirable weathered patina. One sheet metal ray is missing from crown and her raised arm has been broken from the body. It has not been reattached by a conservator but is held in place by a wooden stick that the owner inserted inside the hollow statue so that the arm can be supported by the stick. Also missing two small pieces of the scalloped edge of the torch. Please see detail photographs. Please see detail photographs.