Impressive French Bronze Bust of Jean Mermoz Aviator on Marble Base A. Ouline

Presented is a fantastic quality bronze bust of French aviator Jean Mermoz (b.1901-d.1936). This bronze is by Alexandre Ouline, a renowned Belgian sculptor active c. 1918-1940. Ouline lived in and did much of his work in France, so it's no wonder the heroic figure of Jean Mermoz caught his artistic eye. The bust depicts the aviator in a very dynamic style, with his head turned to the left and the look of wind blowing in his hair. By his right shoulder is a stylized mass of clouds or waves with a double propeller plane at the forefront. The bronze is mounted on a rectangular base of sumptuous black marble, with striking orange veining.  Mermoz came to be regarded as one of the most important figures in early trans-Atlantic aviation and in particular worked as a carrier for Air France delivering airmail just prior to the second World War. In 1936, Mermoz disappeared at sea during his last such flight after a hasty repair of one engine, and neither he nor any of the crew or the plane wer