Conquistador Large Bronze - France Circa 1910 -1920

A stunning bronze figure of a Conquistador standing 17 inches in height on its wooden plinth. The piece has been fashioned in two parts....the top of the torso and head, and the lower torso and legs. It is signed to the base as L. JALLOT. The only mention we have found of this name is Leon Jallot (1874-1967). He worked as a furniture designer / maker for Maison Bing in Paris before opening his own salon in paris in 1903 and was later joined by his son Maurice in 1917. Leon was highly regarded as an Artist / designer, and maker of fine furniture. We have found that he also did work in bronze producing decorative pieces for adornment of his furniture. We have not found definitive mention of bronze figure work but with his ability to work in design and bronze casting it is of course quite possible that he did try 'his hand' in this field also. Leon & Maurice worked together displaying both individually and together at salons and exhibitions in traditional woods such as palisander, amboyna and camphor. Adjusting to the times, in the late 20s they began to use more glass and metal, introducing a distinctive range of modern furniture: steel card tables, mirrored cabinets, and tea-tables.. Leon retired in the 1940s and died in 1967. Maurice continued the family business until nearly 1950 and died in 1971.