follower of Charles-Henri-Joseph Cordier

bearing the inscription C. Cordier.

Bronze in good condition with the usual minor scratches, nicks and tarnishing in places. Wear to brown patina now showing unpatinated bronze beneath mostly to the high relief edges. The signature C. Cordier has been applied within the last 10 years. The top back area of hair on her head has been re-cast and added to the piece later.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Although it is not possible to relate the present life-size model to Cordier, it is interesting to compare the close resemblance with his Venus Africaine, also known as Négrèsse des côtes d'Afrique, that the master first exhibited at the landmark 1851 Great Exhibition in London, paired with the bust Said Abdallah de la tribu du darfour. 

On the Venus Africaine, Marc Trapadoux, philosopher and art critic, wrote in 1860, "Théophile Gautier, our famous poet, has described her dark beauty: I would add, fatal beauty, diabolic beauty which could ravage the senses and the hearts... Her shapely forehead is a wonderful arsenal where her most murderous weapons of love are hidden. Her burning hot eyes, although looking down shyly, her voluptuous mouth, in spite of her reservation pervade a subtle poison. The naive grace of her face will entrance the will of any man and bewitch his reason: she deserves to be called the Venus Africaine. Bought by a slavetrader when she was still a child, this young negress was sold at Guadeloupe where she worked for a rich colonial." (Trapadoux, pp. 14-15, nos. 9-10)