After Antonin Mercie Quand Meme, patinated bronze, Early 20th century, signed ''A. Mercie'' (Marius Jean Antonin Mercie, 1845-1916, French), and further marked ''F. Barbedienne Fondeur'' and with A. Collas ''Reduction Mechanique'' pastille, depicting an Alsatian mother taking her wounded son's rifle to defend against Prussian troops during the Franco-Prussian war, on a fluted waisted Rouge Griotte marble pedestal base with inset clock dial with Roman chapters, overall, est:$7000/9000
*Price Realized: $7,962.50

33.5'' H x 14 Dia. Literature: This model is illustrated H. Berman. ''Bronzes 1800-1930''. Vol. IV. Atglen: 1994, p. 1196, fig. 4828. Note: This sculpture was executed for the city of Belfort in 1882. There were three other versions executed by the Barbedienne foundry; 34'', 43'' and 50''. A version of this model, dated 1886, is in the collection of the Musee d'Orsay, Paris. Belfort was a French stronghold in Alsace-Lorraine during the Franco-Prussian war. The citizens successfully resisted the Prussian Siege of Belfort from 3 November 1870 to 18 February 1871. Condition: Dimensions of bronze: 25'' x 11'' x 10''. Diameter of clock dial 4''. With a medium brown patina to surface overall. Nicely cast and detailed. General light marks, scratches and rubbing to surface commensurate with age. With some chipped losses to marble base, particularly at edges. With overpainted and infilled repair to marble around right side of dial. Works to clock apparently original and intact. Working condition of clock is unknown and not guaranteed. No key.