Cast Bronze Sculpture of Hand

This cast bronze sculpture depicts a woman, captured in a moment after she just finished a swim at her favourite lake. She’s gazing upon the view, reclining on a rock as she air drie...

For sale a magnificent early 20th Century gilt bronze sculpture, cast using the Lost Wax (in French, 'Cire Perdue') process. This fine sculpture is a cast of Richard Alexander Hudnut's hand and was produced by the renowned Montagutelli Frères foundry in Paris in 1912. The sculpture is in very good vintage condition, signed "Richard Alexander Hudnut 1912" and carries the oval "Montagutelli Freres Paris Cire Perdue" foundry stamp to the underside. Richard Alexander Hudnut (1856-1928) was an American businessman recognised as being the first American to achieve international success in cosmetics manufacturing. After graduating from Princeton University, he toured France and returned with the idea of introducing French-style perfumes and cosmetics to American women. The Richard Hudnut company once maintained separate US and European headquarters on Fifth Avenue in New York City and on the Rue de la Paix in Paris, respectively. Although his fortune had been built around cosmetics and beauty products...