A FRENCH POLYCHROME-PATINATED METAL FIGURE ENTITLED 'LE FUMEUR', ON PEDESTAL

A student of François Jouffroy, Gaston Veuvenot Leroux was a regular exhibitor at the Paris Salon and the International Exhibitions during the late 19th century. Though he frequently exhibited a variety of subject matter, Leroux is most commonly associated with the 'Orientalist' movement, having achieved acclaim for his figure of Aïda. The present figure was originally conceived as a pair of pendants, which included a female musician also seated atop a decorated column. A pair of bronze pendant figures was sold Sotheby's, London, 2 June 2010, lot 171 (£25,000).