Brass? Bake lite material? decorative piece. Curious about artist history

[Coinstar magnet]

This piece I was able to find the artist some time ago but forgot his name. The portion on top of the head was added later I believe. I remember the artist worked in France? And used material needed for the war that was hidden from authorities because of shortages....maybe around WW1?
Maybe someone can find an image similar to this on line. Thanks in advance for any help! And apologize for the sideways photos.

UPDATE! I believe it was originally a bookend by J.B. Hirsch...and the white material may be celluloid. Maybe circa 1920's
I think I also have a lamp by him...

 

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[ARC]

More pictures please... bottom... back etc.

 

[Coinstar magnet]

More photos

I added a couple photos of the lamp as well...the hands were broken off so my wife added the white stone.....we were oblivious that this may be by the same person...we bought them at different times and places...

 

[Coinstar magnet]

Any idea on value? Just wondering. Thanks!

 

[Red-Coat]

Joseph Hirsch left his home country of Romania in the early 1900s and moved to the US as an immigrant. In 1907, he established a company called the “New York Bronze Works” in Manhattan’s lower east side. Hirsch wasn’t an artist. He was a metalsmith and, after a period of importing pieces from French foundries, he began producing his own pieces using imported French moulds (later, also from Italy and Germany)… and he only used the best, from talented artists.

Both of your pieces are cast from bronzed spelter supplemented with what is known as “ivorine”… a simulant for ivory that was usually made from celluloid and also occasionally from casein (milk protein). The ivory trade declined in the period between the World Wars and was in short supply by the 1930s, so these simulants were widely used during that period. Both that, and the styling likely puts both of your pieces sometime between the 1920s to 1930s.

Hirsch’s work is very desirable to collectors. If you had a pair of those bookends in nice condition without the later modification then you would be looking at around $250-300 for the pair probably. As it is, only a fraction of that. The Pierrot lamp in nice condition, if the shade is original, probably north of $300 and maybe as much as $400. However, condition is everything and, since you say the arms have broken off, again only a small fraction of that.

But… and it’s a big but… your pieces may be later copies, and that would make them very much less desirable. As well as being widely copied styles, some of the original moulds still exist. Since 1948 Joseph Hirsch’s son Abraham and his grandson Stanley have been acquiring old moulds from the suppliers originally used by the New York Bronze Works and piecing together broken ones hidden when French foundries were prohibited from using metal for casting statues and other works of art during the wartime periods. I’m not aware of the Hirsch family using those moulds for subsequent production though.

 

[Coinstar magnet]

Fascinating history...perhaps another bookend will appear...the addition was odd...I recall hearing through the previous owner's daughter her mother had some connection with Hirsch..I love that period of time...fortunately we didn't spend an arm and a leg on either piece...they were just interesting enough to buy... thank you!