Luxembourg, Netherlands, Germany. ADOLPHE OF NASSAU WEILBURG, ARCHDUKE OF LUXEMBOURG. By Adolphe Rivet (1855-1908). Large cast bronze studio model. From the archive of the Delande company, Paris. 9 inches in diameter. $600.

Adolphe Rivet, sculptor and medallist, was born at Varetz (Corr?ze) on July 30 1855. He was a student at the ?cole des Beaux-Arts, where he studied under Jules Cavelier, Hubert Ponscarme and Oscar Roty. He exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Fran?ais, where he received an honorable mention in 1888 and a second class medal in 1908. He died at Gentilly (Seine) on November 8 1925. ———— This is a “studio model,” from the Delande company archives, the main purpose of which would have been to serve as a model from which dies would have been made using a reducing machine. Only a very limited number of studio models would have been made with just a few being sold, disseminated or used for special purposes. In some cases, only one “master” studio model would have been created solely for use in the process of die-making. (Delande et Cie. of Paris was a company that manufactured and distributed medals, decorations, flags, and trophies. In was founded in the late 19th century and closed its doors in the 1980s. It had customers throughout the world and produced military decorations and uniform ornamentations for several governments).