Object Description
A large fine Art Deco patinated bronze figure of “The Riverman” by Maurice Guiraud-Rivière (French, 1881-1947), circa 1920 in date.
This powerful sculpture is modelled and cast as a muscled semi-clad male clad only in a loin cloth and bearing his back into the arm of a large tiller.
The bronze is raised on a rectangular black marble plinth base and is signed Guiraud-Rivière and with ETLINGHAM PARIS and BRONZE foundry stamps.
This high quality antique hot cast solid bronze was produced using the traditional “lost wax” process, otherwise known as the “cire perdue” method.
Condition:
In really excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation with three minor chips to the mable base.
Dimensions in cm:
Height 47 x Width 64 x Depth 27
Dimensions in inches:
Height 1 foot, 6 inches x Width 2 feet, 1 inch x Depth 11 inches
Maurice Guiraud-Riviere (French, 1881 ~ 1947)
Maurice was born in Toulouse the 10 February 1881, he was a painter, draftsman, and sculptor. He was the nephew of the Theodore River, and student of the National School of Fine Arts where he studied under the direction of Antonin Mercie. He exhibited at the Salon of French Artists from 1907, and also at the Salon comedians. He was a sculptor during the Art Deco Period. Mostly his works were focused on women, sports, aviation or automotive. The majority of his works have been published by the Etling foundry which, founded in 1909, was very active in the edition of Art Deco bronzes and represented many sculptors of this artistic movement. Maurice Guiraud-Rivière is also known for producing car mascots.
Lost Wax Method
sometimes called by the French name of cire perdue or the Latin, cera perduta is the process by which a bronze or brass is cast from an artists sculpture.
In industrial uses, the modern process is called investment casting. An ancient practice, the process today varies from foundry to foundry, but the steps which are usually used in casting small bronze sculptures in a modern bronze foundry are generally quite standardised.
Our reference: A3135