Lot 161: f - Anna Coleman Ladd American, 1878-1939 , A convalescing soldier and an officer

both signed: A. C. LADD and stamped: IDEAL CASTING CO PROV. R. I. one inscribed: ODDMEDODD on the base bronze, mid to dark brown patina

measurements note both: 53.5cm., 21 1/16 in.

In 1917 Anna Coleman Ladd was working together with her doctor-husband for the American Red Cross in France. She set up a studio producing face-masks for mutilated soldiers awaiting reconstructive surgery at the Val-de-Grace Military Hospital near Paris. For her humanitarian work she was made a chevalier of the Legion of Honour in 1934. It was undoubtedly at this time that she modelled the present figures, one entitled Oddmedodd reflecting the improvised nature of the convalescents clothing; and the other, presumably a portrait of a French officer with the Croix de guerre and his helmet tucked beneath his left arm.

RELATED LITERATURE
Greenthal et al., pp.365-70