Rare French Figure of The Statue of Liberty or "La Liberté Eclairant Le Monde" after the Model by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi (French, 1834-1904) , 1878-1886, copper-plated zinc, inscribed "Bartholdi/1875 Registered in Washington 31 August 1876 No. 9939 G", and with foundry marks "C 30 AVOIRON JC PARIS", h. 22 1/4 in., on a rouge marble base, overall h. 28 3/4 in Provenance: Christie's, Amsterdam, December 14, 2010, lot 159; Collection of Dr. Mark A. Geist, Providence, RI . Note: As early as 1878, Avoiron et Cie was authorized by Bartholdi to make copper-plated cast-zinc statues based on his four-foot high modele d'etude. Barthol di earned ten percent on all models sold, but the purpose of the casts was to raise funds for the monumental statue in New York harbor. The casts were made in four sizes, identified by a letter from A to D for 4-foot, 3-foot, 2-foot, and 16 inch high statues respectively. The present lot is indicated with the letter "C". Each letter is followed by a number, assumed to represent the model's sequence in casting. The present one is numbered 30. The Statue of Liberty Club notes only 12 worldwide examples of the model"C" in its census of Documented Avoiron Models.