After Antonin Mercié (French, 1845-1916) Antique French Patinated Spelter Sculpture. Jehanne D’Arc

This large antique sculpture depicts the heroine Joan of Arc with perfect poise and dressed in full armor, complete with helmet, mail coif and sword by her feet. The plate armor is shown in all its intricate detail down to the extremely long, pointy sabatons, whose tips can be removed when walking instead of riding horseback. The extra-long tips of this footwear were also a status symbol. With clasped hands and raised eyes, her utter devotion to God and the cause radiates not only from her face but her whole body. The crown she wears looks like a cross between Christ’s crown of thorns at his crucifixion and a laurel wreath as a symbol of military victory. Plaque on base: SALON DE 1906, JEHANNE D’ARC, Par ANTONIN MERCIE de l’Institut. Signed on base: Mercié, famous French sculptor and painter. Height: 26.5 in. Width: 9 in. Depth: 8 in.