AFFORTUNATO GORY (Italy, active 1895 - 1925), author, for FRITZ KOCHENDÖRFER (Mannheim 1871-Osterode 1942), publisher. Paris, early 20th century. "Bust of a lady". Polychrome terracotta. Signed and located on the left side. Publisher's marks and numbering on the back. Measurements: 60 x 44 x 23 cm. Sculpture in polychrome terracotta with warm tones, in Art Nouveau style, representing the bust of a young woman whose hair is gathered in a scarf sprinkled with flowers. Affortunato Gory trained with the master Augusto Rovalta, and after completing his studies he moved to France, where he spent most of his career. He took part in the Salon des Artistes Français on several occasions between 1902 and 1923. He produced his sculptures in the Art Nouveau style, often in bronze, but also chryselephantine, with flesh tones in ivory or white marble. He was particularly brilliant in the execution of female figures, represented as ladies, dancers, oriental or medieval princesses or classical figures, although he also excelled in his busts of young people and children. Today Gory is represented in Art Nouveau museums such as the Casa Lis, as well as in private collections all over the world. Fritz Kochendörfer studied sculpture at the Munich Academy of Art. From then on, he worked mainly with marble in Rome and Florence. When he returned to Germany, he entered the service of Kunstanstalt Schumacher & Co. in Osterode am Harz, where he devoted himself to the production of artificial marble figurines, called "Marmalith", where he achieved great success. Subsequently, he set up his own workshops with products similar to those of Schumacher & Co. At times, the company employed more than 100 people with the production of small marble sculptures and objects in stone and terracotta.