^Lot 233 American Indian Plaster Busts - , - c1900 - Cowboy & Native American

Two fetching plaster busts of American Indian figures: 1) A woman, hand painted, with the name “MIGNON” in the front of the base and an “1831” rear inscription. Mignon is a character in Ambroise Thomas’s 1866 opera, “MIGINON” which was based on Goethe’s 1795 novel, “WILHELM MEISTER’S APPRENTICESHIP”. Although there is no artist’s mark on this bust, the style is c1900 and seems very similar to works by the French artist, Emmanuel Villanis, the famous art nouveau sculptor. This bust is 18” tall and stands on a 5” x 6” base. 2) This 19” tall bust of an American Indian man is painted in matching colors with the MIGNON bust. The man is marked “HAWATA” and there are no other discernible markings. He is wearing a bead-and-bear claw necklace. Both very good condition—a great matched pair. - Jacobitz Collection