Antique ( Art Deco ) Bronze toned Sculpture of an Armorer Blacksmith -

Dimensions are ; 20 5/8" high , 8 1/4" wide at its widest point , with a base measurement of 4 3/4" high with a bottom diameter of 6 5/8" . Material is oil rubbed bronze toned spelter with a base of spelter and wood . This is a dramatic piece of German origin and depicts a young male blacksmith wearing leather clothing for foundry work and a cap . It has the smooth and powerful sensibilities of that classically austere Art Deco period . He stands looking at part of a helmet that he's holding in his left hand and ostensibly creating . In his right hand he holds a casting foundry hammer . The pose is classic , the face is classic and the overall appearance of the piece draws from classic sculptural images across the ages . The young man's pose is actually of a somewhat erotic nature . He' s young , well muscled and seems to display himself just as much as the objects he holds . Blacksmiths are consistently shown as figures of power and transformation , requiring strength , ability and imagination in order to lift , hammer and shape raw hard metals , particularly bronze and steel into objects of want , desire and danger . Think of Vulcan , Roman god of the Forge , and the vast catalog of art he is depicted in . It took years of apprenticeship to acquire the knowledge and deftness to reliably create objects which were desired to be both functional and beautiful , so it's no surprise that images of Blacksmiths were and are the kind that interest and fascinate us . This very piece was partly fashioned in that crucible of creation . No signature is found on it and the sculptors name has escaped our efforts at investigation ( thus far ) , however it's a wonderful piece with a decidedly Art Deco thrust . Very often pieces like this are missing small items such as the helmet or hammer , but this sculpture is intact and it's all the better for it . The 'oil rubbed bronze' finish is perfect for a piece of this age . There are no defects we've found and all in all this is a magnificent display piece for anywhere you place it . It is quite rare and this piece has the additional quality of being in beautiful condition. It gives the space it occupies a feeling of calm strength . A true 'Mans work of Art' .