Lot #18: Amazon Warrior by Melo

ARMAND LEMO (France, 1811-1935). "Amazon". Signed "Melo" in right hand corner Known for his Art Deco style sculptures, Lemo captures grace and strength in this piece: a depiction of an Amazon mounted on horseback, a stylized archer in the right moment in which she tenses her bow, thus adopting a dynamic and elegant posture. A female figure, clad in a helmet and chain mail, suggesting her role as a warrior or huntress, sporting control and confidence, her right arm extended and her hand holding a spear. Unfortunately, this gal is missing her spear (we're still looking)! The horse, depicted in great anatomical detail, is in motion, its body hurtling forward. Lemo's Art Deco style is in the sculpture's clean, geometric lines and simplified forms. The surface of the bronze (or as we believe, cold-painted spelter), is worn and wearing in a not unattractive patina. Spelter is a zinc-based alloy, often combined with lead or copper, and then "cold-painted" by applying the paint at room temperature to the cast metal, rather than being fired in a kiln. the paint on the pleats of her uniform indicate this process to us. The base also features dramatic Art Deco decorative elements, such as graduated stepped slabs of various colors and grades of polished marble. Based on available art market listings, multiple Art Deco Amazon Warrior sculptures by Melo (pseudonym for Armand Lemo), featuring the warrior on horseback, have been sold or listed by various dealers, often described as rare, cold-painted spelter pieces from the 1930s. Sources: invaluable.com; artprice.com Dimensions: 18.5"H x 29.5"L x 5"D Pickup category timeslot {C}