French Terra Cotta Portrait of WWI Soldier in Belgian Infantry Costume

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13" (33 cm.) Terra cotta head with artistically painted facial features including moustache, armature wrapped body with terra cotta hands and feet, mounted upon wooden base. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: Infanterie Belge 1917 (ink label on base). Comments: from a series of 1917 WWI Allied soldiers which were created for a 1934 exhibition at the Musee de la Guerre in Vincennes, France and were featured in a 1934 article in the French magazine L'Illustration. Value Points: rare portrait doll, wonderfully preserved is wearing green khaki woolen uniform comprising very heavy long overcoat with flap pockets and button front, matching pants, leather boots, leather spats, brown leather belt with pouches, metal helmet, carrying elaborately leather-wrapped duffle bags, bed roll, cooking pots, wooden-soled clogs, shovel, canteen and cup, and cigarette.