19th century French school after Jean-Antoine HOUDON (1741-1828) Jean-Baptiste Poquelin dit Molière (1622-1828) Probably Barbedienne edition from 1849 Small life-size bust in bronze with brown patina Stamped "REDUCTION MECANIQUE / A. COLLAS BREVETE" on the back Carries the letter "L" incised on the inside. H. 20.5 cm (traces of oxidation) Related literature -Florence Rionnet, Les bronzes Barbedienne, l'œuvre d'une dynastie de fondeurs, 1834-1954, Paris, Arthena, 2016, model listed under Cat. 240, p. 239. This bronze proof is a reduction of the marble bust of Molière created by Jean-Antoine Houdon in 1778 and now housed at the Comédie Française in Paris.