On November 26, 2024, Paris’s Artcurial auction house will present a rare 1875 terracotta maquette of the Statue of Liberty, made by French sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi.
This early study of one of the world’s most iconic monuments is 49 cm (19.3 inches) tall, and estimated between €300,000 and €500,000 (around $333,000–$555,000). The maquette has been passed down through the descendants of Édouard Laboulaye, the French academic who first envisioned the statue as a symbol of liberty. The auction offers a glimpse into the creative process and collaboration between Bartholdi and Laboulaye, the men who brought the Statue of Liberty from concept to reality.
Bartholdi originally designed a version of the Liberty figure as a lighthouse for the Suez Canal, titled Egypt Carrying the Light to Asia, inspired by ancient statues like the Colossus of Rhodes. After the Egyptian government rejected the proposal, Bartholdi redirected his efforts toward a new project. In 1865, Laboulaye hosted a dinner at his home near Versailles where he first floated the idea of creating a monumental statue to symbolize liberty. Laboulaye was an advocate of republican ideals and a professor at Collège de France where he taught courses on the U.S. Constitution. In the Revue des cours littéraires de la France et de l’étranger, he stated: “Appointed professor, my duty was clear. It was to make America known to France.”
Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, Maquette for the Statue of Liberté. Courtesy Artcurial.
Bartholdi, a guest at Laboulaye’s dinner, was inspired by this idea and began the design process that would eventually result in the Statue of Liberty. Made from terracotta and signed by Bartholdi, the maquette features several differences from the version that now stands in New York. This version of Liberty holds a broken chain in her hand—a symbol of the end of the system of enslavement—whereas the final statue holds a tablet inscribed with the date of the American Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776. The model also depicts Lady Liberty with her left leg extended forward and her left arm lowered, presenting a less familiar stance compared to the statue we know today.
This maquette offers collectors and historians a rare insight into Bartholdi’s artistic process and Laboulaye’s pivotal influence. Auctioneer Mathieu Fournier, who will oversee the sale, has highlighted the piece’s significance, stating, “The piece has never been seen on the market, its pedigree is fantastic, its condition fabulous, and it embodies an entire myth.”
Given this maquette’s historical provenance and excellent condition, it is expected to generate significant interest from collectors. The last sale of a Bartholdi model of the Statue of Liberty took place in 2007 at Christie’s New York, where a terracotta version sold for $144,000, far exceeding its pre-sale estimate of $30,000 to $50,000.
For more than two decades, Bartholdi and Laboulaye collaborated on the Statue of Liberty. The full-sized statue, standing at 93 meters (305 feet) tall was unveiled on Liberty Island on the New York Harbor in October 1886. Laboulaye passed away in 1883, three years before the statue’s unveiling, never seeing the completion of his vision. Engineer Gustave Eiffel oversaw its final construction.
The upcoming auction at Artcurial presents an opportunity for collectors to own a piece of history directly connected to one of the most recognizable symbols of freedom. This terracotta model showcases Bartholdi’s vision and also underscores the role Laboulaye played in bringing this project to life.