The StoryThe heavy morning fog was still rising off the gravel paths when we first spotted her. She was tucked away in the back corner of a sprawling open-air stall at a bustling marche aux puces (flea market) in France's scenic Loire Valley region. Amid a sea of rusted farm tools and weathered architectural salvage, her striking silhouette stood completely apart. We knew immediately she was something truly special.While she carries the grand, romantic allure of a classical garden goddess, this enchanting late 19th-century beauty is actually a secular portrait of a stylish "Coquette." Cast after a celebrated Belle Epoque design by sculptor Pablo Ramon Jose Rigual, she perfectly captures the effortless elegance of a fashionable young bourgeois lady from the era Crafted from heavy hand-cast iron, her face possesses an exquisite, mysterious charm with a gentle, side-glancing half-smile. She is beautifully adorned in a low drapery bodice and a grand fabric bonnet...
Over a century of life outdoors in a grand European estate garden has blessed her with a weathered, deeply textured silhouette. Her surface boasts a magnificent, authentic patina rich with natural oxidation and remnants of historic paint layers. While the delicate individual metal flowers originally nestled in her headdress have gone missing over the decades, we think this minor imperfection only adds to her storied romance, proving that true beauty only deepens with age [1.12]. A stunning, heavy-duty statement piece ready to bring a touch of Parisian garden history to your sunroom, terrace, or entryway.Details & DimensionsCreator: After Pablo Ramon Jose Rigual (Spanish-French, 1863-1917)In the Style of: Art Nouveau / Belle EpoquePlace of Origin: FrancePeriod: Late 19th Century (Circa 1895)Materials: Hand-Cast IronCondition: Very Good Antique Condition. Structural integrity is excellent with no cracks or repairs. Shows beautiful, age-appropriate surface weathering, rust, and paint remnants. One decorative element from her headdress (delicate floral attachments) is missing, as is typical for outdoor castings of this age [1.12].Dimensions: 22.0" H * 12.0" W * 8.0" D


Condition:
Alterations: Original Condition Unaltered
Imperfections: Some Imperfections
Condition Notes: Aged to perfection...Ribbon not Included

Origin:
France

Materials & Techniques:
Cast Iron, Ornamental & Decorative Materials, Paint

Details:
Country of Origin: France
What type of item is it? Vintage / Antique / Used

Original Condition Unaltered; Some Imperfections; Aged to perfection...Ribbon not Included