Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 9

"Mercury with the Golden Blade", 1921 Bronze Sculpture with Male Nude, Austria

$4,200
£3,225.20
€3,699.81
CA$5,901.49
A$6,609.30
CHF 3,448.62
MX$80,729.75
NOK 43,876.54
SEK 41,358.89
DKK 27,611.22

About the Item

Powerful and very rare, this sculpture of a kneeling, fully nude Mercury, with his golden blade in hand, dates from 1921 and was probably sculpted by a German or Austrian artist. Mercury is shown with his winged cap, and his right hand is holding the blade, which was given to him by Apollo in exchange for the lyre and flute. The blade or sword was made of adamantine and Imperial Gold and represented Mercury's divine authority. He used it to slay the Giant Hippolytos during the War of the Giants and behead the hundred-eyed giant Argus Panoptes. The sculptor's monogram is shown, including a capital "W", but the sculptor's identity has not yet been determined. The sculpture rests on its original, richly figured red marble base.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 7 in (17.78 cm)Width: 16 in (40.64 cm)Depth: 6 in (15.24 cm)
  • Style:
    Art Deco (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Bronze,Cast
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1921
  • Condition:
  • Seller Location:
    Philadelphia, PA
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU865146117662

More From This Seller

View All
"Apollo", Large Art Deco Bronze Sculpture w/ Male Nude for Ocean Liner, 1948
By M. Mascherini
Located in Philadelphia, PA
One of the great, indisputable masterpieces of Marcello Mascherini's career, and one of his relatively early works, this large bronze depicting Apollo with his lyre was made for the ...
Category

Vintage 1940s Italian Art Deco Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

"Spear Dancer", Spectacular, Rare Bronze with Male Nude by Brenda Putnam
By Brenda Putnam
Located in Philadelphia, PA
In an era when artists were capturing the exoticism and athleticism of modern dancers, such as Richmond Barthé's depiction of Féral Benga dancing with a large, curved sword or Paul Colin's drawings of Josephine Baker with her skirt of bananas, this sensuous presentation of a nude male dancer with a long spear stands out. The bronze was sculpted in 1926 by Brenda Putnam, who is best known for a series of bronzes showing children at play, often placed in gardens and parks. However, Putnam was ambitious to do more, leaving academic sculpture behind as she collaborated with architect Paul Philippe Cret to create the Puck Fountain for the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C., executed a number of portraits in bronze, exhibited at the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles, and created "The Crest" -- consisting of a a large male nude swimming...
Category

Vintage 1920s American Art Deco Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

"Nude Triton", Larger, Rare Bronze of Nude Male Triton by Netzer, 1920s
By Hubert Netzer
Located in Philadelphia, PA
At once strong and sensuous, this large bronze of a fully nude triton figure, his right arm raised high with his trident, ready to strike, was sculpted in the 1920s by Hubert Netzer....
Category

Vintage 1920s German Art Deco Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

"Modern Dancer", Extremely Rare Depiction of Male Nude, Bronze, poss. Leon Barte
By Emmanuel Andrew Cavacos
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A rare and superb depiction of modern dance in the era of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and modern dance pioneers such as Martha Graham, this figure of a modern male dancer, his ar...
Category

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

"Archer, " Rare, Sensuous Art Deco Bronze Sculpture with Male Nude by Gemignani
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Large, extremely rare and highly sensuous, this Art Deco bronze sculpture shows a nude male figure, kneeling on his right leg and bracing himself on his left, arching his bow in read...
Category

Vintage 1930s German Art Deco Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

"Nude Male with Shovel, " Highly Rare Bronze Sculpture by Oskar Lindenberg
By Oskar Lindenberg
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A rare work by Oskar Lindenberg, a German sculptor who produced few pieces during his productive years, this beautiful nude male bronze captures its s...
Category

Vintage 1920s German Art Deco Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

You May Also Like

Art Deco bronze sculpture athlete with spear by Pierre Le Faguays France 1927
By Pierre Le Faguays
Located in Antwerp, BE
Art Deco bronze sculpture athlete with spear signed by Pierre Le Faguays. The sculpture has a rich green patina with shades of brown. France 1927. This bronze is illustrated on page...
Category

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Iconic Bronze Sculpture Entitled "Athlete with Spear" by Pierre Le Faguays
By Pierre Le Faguays
Located in London, GB
An iconic large Art Deco bronze sculpture of a strong athletic man in a powerful pose holding a long spear in his hand as he climbs a l...
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Deco Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Art Deco bronze by Ludwif Eisenberger of man in a loin cloth with a rapier
Located in London, GB
Fine early 20th century Art deco period bronze of a fencer holding and bending his rapier. The well modelled figure is naked except for a loincloth and he is seen looking down and flexing the blade of his rapier. Ludwig Eisenberger...
Category

Vintage 1930s German Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Art deco bronze sculpture male nude athlete by Maurice Guiraud Rivière 1930
By Maurice Guiraud-Rivière
Located in Antwerp, BE
Art Deco bronze sculpture male nude athlete with rope by Guiraud Riviere. Patinated bronze on black marble base. France 1930. Literature: 
“Art deco sculpture” by Victor Arwas, A...
Category

Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Sculptures

Materials

Marble, Bronze

French 1930s Art Deco Sculpture Man with Spear by Salvatore Melani
By Salvatore Melani
Located in Saarbrücken, SL
Signed by Salvatore Melani - 1930 Dimension: 47 cm width 42 cm heigh Material: Plaster.
Category

Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Sandstone

Large Original French Art Deco Bronze of a Semi-Nude Male Athlete by Le Faguays
By Pierre Le Faguays
Located in New York City, NY
Pierre Le Faguays (1892-1962) An Impressive and very large 43" high French Art Deco bronze figure of a young athletic man, adorned in scanty attire, almost nude, standing proudly atop a lofty and stylized rocky plinth. His stance exudes strength and confidence as he balances himself gracefully. With arms outstretched in a fluid movement, the sculptor portrays a sense of dynamic energy and prowess. Beautifully cast in a dark green, brown /black variegated patina. In his elevated grasp, the man holds a laurel wreath, raised high above his head. This symbol of victory and triumph represents the pinnacle of achievement. Through the artists eyes, it further conveys the athlete's exceptional skill and dedication to his craft. The artist's attention to detail and skillful execution breathe life into the sculpture, capturing the essence of athleticism and the human form. This remarkable bronze figure epitomizes the grace, power, and triumphant spirit of Olympic competition. It stands as a testament to the artistic brilliance and mastery of Pierre Le Faguays and serves as a timeless tribute to the pursuit of excellence in art as well as in sports. Bibliography : Bronzes, sculptors and founders by H. Berman, Abage, Vol 11, pg 425 Art Deco and other figures,by Bryan Catley,pgs 192-201 Art Deco sculpture by Victor Arwas, Academy Editions, 1992 pgs.121-127 Art Deco sculpture by Victor Arwas, Academy Editions,1975 pg. 38 Dictionnaire des peintres, sculpteurs, dessinateurs et graveurs” by E. Benezit. Gründ 1999, pg 426 The dictionary of sculptors in bronze” by James Mackay, Antique collectors club Dictionnaire illustré des sculpteurs animaliers & fondeurs de l’antiquité à nos jours, by Jean Charles Hachet. --------------------------- Pierre Le Faguays, born 1892 in Nantes, France, gained renown for his innovative approach to sculpting dancers, drawing inspiration from the Tanagra statues. In 1927, he received a prestigious medal of honor for his exceptional work. A close companion of Max Le Verrier, Pierre collaborated extensively with the Le Verrier foundry, which produced numerous pieces of his art. In addition to his given name, he also employed two pseudonyms, Fayral and Guerbe, which were derived from the surnames of his mother and wife respectively. As a leading sculptor, Pierre's creations earned consistent praise for their exceptional craftsmanship and meticulous attention to anatomical precision. His artistic endeavors extended beyond sculpture, as he also designed pieces for Goldscheider in Paris, working under the label "La Stele." Pierre's versatility encompassed various mediums, including ivory, bronze, spelter, stone, wood, alabaster, and ceramics. Notably, he received artistic education alongside his friend Max Le Verrier, studying together at the Beaux Arts in Geneva. Throughout their lives, Pierre maintained strong friendships with both Marcel Bouraine and Max Le Verrier, with the latter's foundry being instrumental in producing many of Le Faguays' statues. The bond formed...
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Deco Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze