Antique French Art Nouveau Alabaster Portrait Bust 19th C

This is beautiful antique French Art Nouveau alabaster shoulder length bust of a beautiful maiden, Circa 1890 in date.

The stylized Art Nouveau face and body has been sensitively modelled in alabaster on a shaped floral base.

There is no mistaking its unique design and superb quality, which is certain to attract attention and make it a talking point in any room of your home.

Condition:

In excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 64 x Width 38 x Depth 22

Dimensions in inches:

Height 2 feet, 1 inch x Width 1 foot, 3 inches x Depth 9 inches

Alabaster - is a name applied to varieties of two distinct minerals, when used as a material: gypsum and calcite also known as onyx-marble, Egyptian alabaster or Oriental alabaster.

In general, but not always, ancient Alabaster in Egypt and the Near & Middle East is calcite. Alabaster in medieval Europe is gypsum. Modern Alabaster is probably calcite, but may be either. Both are easy to 'work' and as both are slightly water soluble, have been used for making a variety of indoor artworks and carvings, as they will not survive long outdoors.

The finer kinds of alabaster are employed largely as an ornamental stone, especially for ecclesiastical decoration and for the rails of staircases and halls. Alabaster is also used widely by the sculptors.

In Europe, the centre of the alabaster trade today is Florence, Italy.

Our reference: A3437

Internal Ref:

A3437

Date of manufacture : 1890