Antique John Harvard U. art sculpture solid bronze cast by Griffoul 1915, 11 lbs for Sale

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Antique John Harvard U. art sculpture solid bronze cast by Griffoul 1915, 11 lbs For Sale

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Antique John Harvard U. art sculpture solid bronze cast by Griffoul 1915, 11 lbs:
$1250.00

"Harvard (John): by William Pierce Roberts. [Statuette of man in colonial costume seated in a chair with manuscript in left hand]. January 8, 1915."
So reads an extract from the Catalogue of Copyright Entries, Works, maintained by the US Copyright Office (part of the Library of Congress). The copyright is in the name of Shreve, Crump & Low Co.This was designed (and is signed) by Roberts on commission from Shreve, Crump + Low, the oldest purveyor of luxury goods in North America, today a high-end jeweler in Boston. Among other works, they were responsible for trophies such as the Davis Cup and the Cy Young Award.
After the sculptor's name is "ARCA." I am trying to find out what that stands for.A wonderful table-top art piece in the figure of John Harvard, the founder of Harvard University. Well, he is credited with founding it, though really he was the first significant benefactor of an existing colonial institution of learning. Mr. Harvard's physical appearance is speculative as there are no known images of the real person.
This is NOT the John Harvard designed by Daniel Chester French in 1884 and sitting in Harvard Yard. Very similar but with differences in details: French version has a book in right hand; Roberts, a manuscript in left hand; slightly different shirt buttons and chair; different face; French version has no books at Harvard's feet, Roberts has pile of 2 books.
My guess is Shreve, Crump + Low commissioned a work inspired by but sufficiently different from French's statue so as to avoid legal issues of copyright infringement.
Cast in solid bronze by Griffoul Founders of Newark, NJ. Griffoul's 3-dimensional pieces always were solid, not hollow and then filled with plaster to save money on cost of materials (as was done by Gorham Founders and Roman Bronze Works).Condition is near mint. No damage to the metal. Finish has some wear from handling over a century but that wear is not really noticeable in the dark patina. It really is lovely. The piece sits flat and stable.
7 3/4 inches tall; base is 6 inches X 3 3/4 inches. Weighs just shy of 11 pounds.
Perfect gift for the Harvard alumnus in your circle.
US shipping only. USPS priority. I pack with care and ship promptly.